Pedro Rivas: Candidate Profile

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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: Sugar GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kaneland Unit District 302 School Board Age: 51Family: Spouse MaureenSons: Blaine - College Soph Adam - Sr. KanelandOccupation: Quality Assurance AnalystEducation: BS Computer Information SystemsCivic involvement: School Board Member since 2013Boys Scouts of AmericaHabitat for HumanityElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?My way of giving back to the community.There is no particular issues that motivate me, outside of supporting Kaneland schools and community.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?I believe measuring a students is very individual as the responsibility I both at home and school.Actual measurements per the State keep changing and difficult, so therefore our admin should be responsible to formulate our own measurements to compare locally.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?Curriculum guidelines are formulated by the state and our school makes adjustments and changes accordingly.As a board member, we support and ask questions of clarification for better understanding.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?Our budget for the next several years at Kaneland will be spending at a deficit. The board will continue to work with the admin to reduce spending and work for a balanced budget in the next few years. As at home, I believe that spending should be kept within the budget provided.Sometime this can not be avoided, so all parties need to work together to get this accomplished.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?There are many factors that come to play in a voucher vs public school system in my view. I believe a solution can be found in everything as long as the right balance is found to help educate all students in all circumstances.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Wishing that a system is created where all parties are held accountable and responsible in our children's education.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.None that stand outWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Having to take advantage of the opportunities provided and make the best of them.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I always try to live in the here and now.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?General Ed and the inspiring teachers who spent time and energy helping. This presented me the understanding of helping, sharing and growing others.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Appreciate, enjoy and make the best of the opportunity presented and remember where you came from.