Shirley DeCorte: 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: NapervilleWebsite: electdecortefor203.comTwitter: @shirleydecorteFacebook: Candidate for Naperville School District 203Office sought: Naperville Unit District 203 School Board Age: 70Family: Three grown children, four grandchildren.Occupation: Educational AdministrationEducation: BA Board of Governor Degree from Northeaster Illinois Univ. 1976MA Early Childhood Education National College of Education 1981MA Administive Leadership Type 75 cert. Northeastern Illinois Univ. 1996ED.D Education National Louis Univ. 2004Civic involvement: Current:Naperville Senior Task ForceLWVPast:Chicago Association for Education of Young Children-Treasurer Board MemberDuPage Association for Education of Young Children--Board MemberScout LeaderChurch Youth Group Sunday School leaderCoached Children's sports Helped with social service projectsElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers With growing concern around mental health and addiction, what should the district do to build mentally healthy students, support the mental health of students who have mental illnesses and help students avoid addiction?Positive caring relationship-building between educational staff and students helps our students be mentally healthy. Good role models, open communication, active lives with many options for involvement in what interests them promotes healthy emotional and mental growth. Parent education and support programs on emotional health helps build a caring community. Adult interaction with students at all ages, acting as role models, supports healthy lifestyles. Supporting students with mental health issues means there must be caring adults with well-developed relationships with students who can recognize illness and will take steps to support these students within the school (all of the education community) and out of school. Training of professional staff to recognise problems is essential. Helping students avoid addictions is difficult and has to be a part of the total education plan beginning in the primary grades by promoting healthy living, critical thinking skills, and responsible choice making. Again, having many options for students to become involved and active in experiences that interest them is important. It is critical to have activities that even introverts who do not seek out group activities will respond to. Starting at a young age to promote not so much a "Say no to drugs" attitude as a "Healthy Living" attitude gives students a rationale for thinking for themselves and knowing the benefits of healthy living. These two articles give more information: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/healthy-students/toolkit_pg6.htmlhttp://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/6/1379Research and a local opinion survey have shown there could be benefits to starting the school day later for junior high and high school students. What changes, if any, do you think should be made to the school schedule and why? How should the district adjust class periods, teacher preparation time, busing, student activities or other factors to account for any schedule changes?I believe this is possible, but I would like to see it as an option for students--with some students choosing to start early and some having a later start time. It would take a great deal of planning and the will to be flexible. Another article: https://www.verywell.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-starting-school-later-2609565How 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?As an educator, I have led and participated in many parent, school board, faculty, committee and municipal meetings. While I am seeking the voters trust to be elected as their school board member as an individual, if elected, I will become part of a team. I do not have an agenda, I do have a robust passion for excellence in education. I believe the two main areas of board responsibility are legislative and administrative. Legislative responsibilities include adopting and following policy. Effective boards adopt policies that give direction to the superintendent and staff, enabling them to manage the district. Boards seek appropriate input in the development of policy, and after adoption should hold the superintendent and staff accountable for its implementation. The importance to the administration side of a board includes responsibilities such as approving and monitoring the budget, approving and monitoring district contracts, and hiring and evaluating the superintendent and appropriate staff. Effective board members refrain from trying to perform management functions that are the responsibility of the superintendent and staff. As board members, it is our responsibility to ensure that the schools operate well; but it is not our responsibility to run them. Local school board membership is a public office and a public trust and members must swear an oath to uphold laws pertaining to public education. In today's complex society regarding public education, effective board members should participate in professional development activities and commit the time and energy necessary to be informed and effective leaders.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?District #203 is very fortunate to have a projected fund balance of over $167 million dollars by the end of FY "˜17. There are obviously sound funding and finance practices and methodologies in place. The preparation, adoption and action on the district's budget is a yearly process involving the employees, administrators, the Board of Education, and input from the community. It does not happen overnight. Needs are determined at the building level and conveyed by administrators to the District's Administrative Office and to the Board of Education. The District builds the budget based on the identified needs, revenue projections, and priorities of the Board. The spending of the district should be guided and prioritized by the goals and objectives of the Board; the types of programs being delivered; enrollment and staffing needs; requirements to maintain the district's instructional centers; requirements imposed upon the district by the federal and state governments; and contractual agreements. Open and honest dialogue regarding the implementation and evaluation of current and/or future programs and services should be channeled through committee structure. At the moment I see no need for a tax increase or to cut programs or services currently offered to our stakeholders. While the State of Illinois has major financial obstacles to overcome, locally, District #203 is financially sound and in a position to continue to deliver a first class education to its students.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?Many parental surveys indicate that although people may be critical of public schools in general, most believe their own school is doing a good job. I believe the majority of families will choose to continue in their neighborhood schools. I think a district survey specifically asking families what they want in terms of school choice within our community would need to be done. Perhaps making some of our schools choice schools with special programs or providing some range of choice within the district would work for our community. Community involvement in designing the plan would be essential.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The district will need to deal with the state's lack of a real budget and how that affects local budgeting. Shifting the cost of funding teacher pensions and school funding reforms are still open items in budgeting concerns. I believe students' best interests should always be the basis of our actions and that equity and the right to a quality education are foremost considerations. Do we have an achievement gap and are we doing enough to end it?Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Inspirational comes in flashes but not from any one person. The Pope and Warren Buffett offer much to admire.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I learned that family is important and that we are responsible for our own happiness.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?At 70 years I'm satisfied with life and not sure I would do-over anything, although I might skip some painful losses.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Loved math in elementary and high school, reading and research in later years. My favorite subjects were practical in daily life and my career.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Live a rounded life. Physical well-being, emotional health, and intellectual growth are important. Always choose kindness. Volunteer and donate to good causes.