Gale Pavlak: Candidate Profile

Back to Kaneland Unit District 302 School Board

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: ElburnWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kaneland Unit District 302 School Board Age: 69Family: Husband, four children, eight grandchildrenOccupation: RetiredEducation: BA - Business Management/AdministrationCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?At this point, very satisfied. Our test scores are improving and with curriculum being adjusted and/or added, test scores should go higher. Courses (especially in science [using Next Generation Science Standards] and Common Core math curriculum) have been added to or adjusted in the middle school and high school to challenge students in all subject matter. The processes in the grade school identify students that need additional help so that they can succeed to higher levels. Our Fox Valley Career Center is offering classes for students (including students from 5 other districts) that will give them a great start whether the student goes to college or not. But there is always room for improvement. The staff is always looking at instructional alternatives that will challenge and allow their students to grow. The board is always looking for processes and improvements that are affordable to help our students be successful and college, career and community ready.What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases for local schools? Again, be specific.First, I am a fiscal conservative, not a fiscal extremist. Our family has lived at the same address in Elburn for 37 years---we know about the changes, positive and not, that this district has encountered. Kaneland has reduced planned expenditures by over $7 million dollars over the past 5 years. At the beginning of this period, courses, staff, and extra-curricular activities were reduced or eliminated. The school budget has been balanced for the past 4 consecutive years. The district has not had to resort to deficit spending as other districts have. The Kaneland district covers 142 square miles---one of the largest districts in the state. As everyone should know at this time, the financial state of affairs in Illinois is horrible at best. Senate Bill 16, now renamed Senate Bill 1, would reduce the amount of State funding to the Kaneland District by approximately $2.4 million dollars per year, implemented incrementally over a four year period. Additionally, with the pension law appeal being determined in the courts, the legislature may shift the cost of pensions from the State to local school districts, which would add another expense to Kaneland's budget. Kaneland operates under the tax cap laws which drive how much revenue can be expected from the Tax Levy. This year the CPI was 1.5%---next year the CPI has been determined to be 0.8%. With very limited additions to revenue, the district may be required to consider additional restrictions and/or reductions. We are committed to our taxpayers and our kids!Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?I was a substitute teacher in the Kaneland, Batavia and Geneva school districts over a five year period after I retired from the private sector. Being a substitute teacher for those years gave me a lot of insight as to how the districts operate, both from a teacher and administration standpoint. My time at the other districts also allowed me to see firsthand the differences and similarities of all three districts. I asked a lot of questions, and still do. That experience is invaluable. Prior to being elected to the Kaneland School Board four years ago, my husband was a school bus driver and one of my sons was a teacher, now Dean of Students. Kaneland is in the process of approving a Nepotism policy and I am compliant with the proposed policy.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups -- teachers, support staff, etc. -- what posture should the school board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?My forty years in the private sector in Human Resources also included union negotiations. Kaneland has two contract negotiations coming due in the next few months. As an individual that understands the negotiation process, I will not answer any of these questions. I trust that both the unions and administration will come to a fair agreement. The School Board has the final decision regarding any agreement. The collective bargaining process uses an interest-based approach in which both sides find common ground. The district values its employees to provide the best education for our children.If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?First of all I would need to understand what is meant by a substantial increase. Secondly, our district is not in a position, with all of the other financial issues that may be coming in the near future, to grant substantial increases of this type.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I ran for this position four years ago with "common sense" being the one thing that I felt was important, and now, that is more true than before. The School Board has to consider the needs of the entire community that live within this district---that means 9 different townships. I am currently the Board Secretary. It is important that the members of the board bring a variety of strengths and experiences to the table. It is also necessary that all Board members act in a respectful manner to all students, staff, administrators, and community members. Being disrespectful, inflammatory, and acting like a bully to these individuals and/or groups are not qualities of a productive School Board. If a member has an ax to grind, they should not be elected to the School Board. Board members are seated to further the education of our KIDS, while considering the needs of the communities involved and that includes our tax payers. Kaneland is very fortunate to have a number of advisory groups that interact with the board and administration. The Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) reviews many issues that affect the budget, etc. This committee consists of individuals that direct the financial issues in their work places. They work with auditors, state and federal regulations, etc. The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) brings the concerns of the communities to the Administration and School Board and help measure the pulse of the District. All of these relationships emphasize one extremely important thing---our KIDS must come first!!!!Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis--He brings us to the common core. The difference between right and wrong and how we treat people is what we deserve in return.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That you only are accountable for your words and actions. No one else is. You own both.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Finish my degree a lot sooner than I did.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math -- In Human Resources and in life you use math every day for just about everything you do.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Only do to someone else what you would want to happen to you. That goes for actions and what you say. The Golden Rule!!