Eunice McConville: 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: LisleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lisle Unit District 202 School Board Age: 46Family: Spouse - Ron McConvilleChildren - three sonsOccupation: AccountantEducation: BS in Accountancy, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignRegistered CPACivic involvement: Current Lisle 202 School Board Member Board SecretaryTreasurer for Lisle Education FoundationVolunteer for various events and school organizationsElected offices held: Lisle 202 School Board MemberFormer Treasurer for Lisle HSO CouncilTreasurer for Lisle Education Foundation 2012-PresentQuestions 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?I have served as Lisle 202 School Board member since 2012. I am in my second year serving as the School Board's Finance Committee Chairperson and Board Secretary. Serving on a school board is a tremendous responsibility that requires its elected official to spend the time studying and participating in conversations that impact the education of our community's biggest asset, all children. I am passionate about the education of all students and would like to continue to be a voice for our stakeholders and an advocate for the District, as we continue to work to improve academic performance, nurture growth for all students, expand educational offerings, and ensure that each student has a safe, educational environment and the necessary knowledge and skills to be college and career ready. I also want to continue to be involved with and progress toward building a new elementary school that will better serve the ongoing needs of all students in the future. All initiatives must be addressed within our fiscal means.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?While Illinois standards have changed significantly over the years, what remains constant is Lisle CUSD 202's commitment to educating all students both academically and social-emotionally. Over the past few years, we have seen the State's focus transition from ISAT to PAARC and ACT to SAT. State assessments do not provide immediate feedback on student progress; therefore, the District utilizes other local assessments for more frequent and immediate student growth measures for each student. These local assessments impact how administrators and staff address learning needs and provide supports to ensure all students progress. We have high expectations for all students, and it becomes increasingly difficult to effectively administer multiple testing. I feel strongly that our educators are committed to continuously collaborating and assessing students to ensure that teaching can be differentiated to meet every student's learning needs and improve individual student growth. If I were to propose any changes, I would recommend the State provide a means to better define and gauge student success more frequently and consistently.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?I believe that the education of our students is the biggest responsibility of any school board. For those that lead the District, there are two roles: The District Administrators and the School Board. Curriculum is the "what and how" a school teaches. Curriculum is the product of the professional educator who has committed his/her career in developing that expertise. The school board's primary duties in providing a quality education are to develop goals and policies to support curriculum that best meets the needs of all students in order for each to be college and career ready. With the implementation of the Core Curriculum Standards, the current Board and Administration spent much time listening to its community through its two community engagements, Vision 202 and Vision 202: Chapter 2. Through this process, the current Board and District developed a Continuous Improvement Framework to help guide the District's long-term planning for education. The current Board has been committed to setting high expectations and continuously expanding Advanced Placement course offerings and other more rigorous curriculum, as well as formulating ongoing initiatives to support the dynamic and diverse learning needs of all our students and prepare them for college and the workforce.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?The District is an excellent steward of Lisle 202's finances. Lisle 202 has received Recognition, rated as a 4, which is the highest financial rating given to Illinois schools. Lisle 202 has budgeted and spent wisely and conservatively over the years to ensure that we maintain adequate reserves to compensate for the uncertainty of State funding, rising costs such as insurance, and on-going facility needs. Because of diligent budgeting, I do not believe cuts or fee increases are necessary in the immediate future. To address the issues of two aging buildings and the changing educational needs of our children, the District is moving forward with constructing one new elementary building. As a current Board Member, I have supported the construction of the new elementary building without having to increase taxes more than is currently paid. As the District moves forward with the new elementary building, it is important to ensure that spending continues to be done within budget and with the ongoing focus on improving the education of our 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?Offering broader educational selections, does not necessarily equate to better education, especially in a district such as Lisle. Lisle 202 strives to meet the needs of all students and does so in an inclusive manner. As a Board Member of a public school, I do not support a voucher system. Unless a voucher system completely funds a student to attend another school, the District will realize financial losses, and families will incur additional cost. Financial resources would be best applied to continue to improve the educational opportunities for the entire Lisle 202 community, so that all students have equal access to high quality education. As a Board Member and community stakeholder, it is imperative that we make our opinions known at the State level that the vouchering system does not benefit all children or our community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Theo Epstein, President "â#128;œ Baseball Operations for the Cubs. He is a man with a plan, who supports others' talents to achieve greatness.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Value yourself and othersIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I don't think we are limited to one do-over. We almost always have opportunities to make things better.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?High School Accounting where I learned organization and common language are essential in business.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?How you say it is just as important as what you say.