Mackenzie Thurman: Candidate Profile

Back to Libertyville-Vernon Hills High School District 128 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: LibertyvilleWebsite: Voteforthurman.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteforThurman/Office sought: Libertyville-Vernon Hills High School District 128 School Board Age: 24Family: Lisa Don Thurman Parents. Wyatt: Brother.Occupation: Marketing Analyst; AmazingCosmeticsEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, University of Missouri-Columbia.Civic involvement: Field Organizer for Illinois Victory Campaign 2016, Congressional Intern United States House of Representatives.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers There's been a lot of talk over the past year in District 128 about school spending and high taxes. Are budget cuts needed? If so, where would you cut and why?There is absolutely no doubt that the current and future financial outlook the district is facing is unfavorable. The district has been, and currently is, running a deficit, with this years being roughly 16 million dollars if you include the 8 million budgeted for capital projects. The difference will be paid out of the district's reserves, which are dwindling rapidly, and have even been predicted to run dry by 2021 if current spending is not controlled. That being said, making budget cuts when it comes to the education of our community's youth is no easy task. However, something has to be done to balance the district's budget. I plan to work with the district's administration, teachers, and even students, to brainstorm ways to drive down operating costs by increasing efficiency while holding funds allocated for education at a stable level. I do not believe in a cut to any funds that are allocated towards the education of a student. Many who live in the community, whom may have children in the district, or have been a product of the district themselves, like myself, can attest to the quality of the education District 128 provides, and any reduction of such quality is unacceptable.Do you support proposals to build a new pool at LHS or the now-shelved plan for a second gym at VHHS? Why or why not?I myself being a graduate of Libertyville High School can comment first hand on the quality, or lack thereof, regarding the pool at LHS. It is widely known that the pool is in a decrepit state, is too small for major events, and because of its size, aquatic teams at times find themselves practicing in the hallways due to lack of water space. Vernon Hills High School is also experiencing a lack of space as well concerning their open floor gym space. Due to this, there can be conflict over space allocations for extracurricular activities, and reduced scheduling options for students. While I know firsthand the importance these facilities can have on a student's experience, I believe due to ongoing uncertainties taking place in Springfield at the moment, commissioning such projects would be an irresponsible risk. Until we receive more clarification on the status of various rumored legislation, such as a property-tax freeze, we cannot afford to take such financial risks. However, once there is clarification on such pending legislation and a responsible budget, I do desire to continue with such projects; working with the community to reach an agreement on the best way to allocate funds to do so.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 one of the largest mistakes that have been made, and is often continued to be made, is the attempt to evaluate all students with a one-size-fits-all approach, generally in the form of standardized testing. It is my firm belief that each student is unique, and each student needs to be uniquely evaluated. Teachers themselves are in the best position to evaluate their students and their successes. By allowing teachers to focus on their student's success, and giving them flexibility to design lesson plans around each students needs, we can remove the pressures teachers often face of "teaching to the test," and allow them to engage in high-order thinking instruction, which is proven to be more effective long term.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?There are two major areas of the district's budget that much of the deficit is driven from, capital projects and debt service; these alone account for roughly a 16 million dollars. Fortunately for the taxpayers, this current fiscal year is the last year in which the district owes payments on the bonds that were issued in 1997 to fund the construction of Vernon Hills High School. Although this alone will not bring the district into the green, it will be a major first step. Although tax increases must occur to offset an increase in inflation, which will almost certainly be reflected within any new teachers union or administrative contracts, they should not increase more than the inflation rate barring an unforeseen circumstance in Springfield. In regards to student fees, District 128 has kept its student fees at the same level for quite some time, and some would argue that it has fallen below the levels of similar schools in the surrounding area. I believe that is something the school board needs to take a hard look at and evaluate. While there are many different solutions to reducing the deficit, none of this can be done, or should be done without public input. Transparency and collaboration with the community is vital to the success of not just the district, but also the community it represents.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?School choice is undoubtedly one of the most contentious issues at the given moment when it comes to education legislation. While school choice offers enhanced flexibility when it comes to a student and their parents determining where they are to be educated, it also can create an incredibly unstable financial situation for a district. If a voucher system is put in place the district could see a loss of a few students, which would reduce the districts revenue, while fixed costs would likely say the same. District 128 is extremely fortunate to be an incredibly strong school district that offers exceptional academics, extracurricular activities, and other forms of growth. Because of this, it is unlikely that if any kind of voucher system was put in place that the district would see a large group of students exercising their right of choice. That being said, we as a district cannot control what occurs within legislature at both the state and federal level, therefore it is vital that the district is continuously up to date on pending legislation so if school choice legislation were passed, we would not be caught off guard.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I believe in reaffirming our commitment to the arts, vocational training, and other "Ëœalternative' lanes of education. For several years there has been an ever-increasing emphasis on education revolving around science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Although there is no denying its importance in today's world, we must also treat students in other fields with equal importance. Students should never feel pressure to pick a career field against their own desires because society tells them to. I will work to ensure students of the arts and vocations are treated and offered the same opportunities as STEM students.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Joe Biden. His desire to make the world a better place began at a young age like mine and has remained committed throughout many obstacles.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Treat other the way you would like to be treated. Today's world is more divided than ever, but we remain humans, and kindness always prevails.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would spend it on doing things outside of my comfort zone, for you learn the most doing things most uncomfortable to you.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Geography. The world is an interesting place with much to learn. My love for maps drove my exploration of it, which greatly expanded my knowledge.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I would tell my future children to follow their heart and do in life what makes them smile.