Ginna Ericksen: 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: WheatonWebsite: ginnaericksenCusd200.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Ginna Ericksen for District 200 School BoardOffice sought: Wheaton Warrenville District 200 School Board Age: 55Family: My husband, Matt, and my four children: Nick, Melissa, Peter, and Emily, who were all educated in District 200 schools.Occupation: Community Volunteer. Former Guidance Counselor Intern and Long-Term Substitute in D204.Education: BA in Economics, Kenyon CollegeMS in School Counseling, National Louis UniversityCivic involvement: Humanitarian Service Project: Board of Directors, Coordinator of Secret Pal Program and Senior Citizen Christmas Program; Cancer Society: Road to Recovery driver;Naperville Area Humane Society; DuPage PADS; Girl Scouts of DuPage County; Cub Scouts Pack 365;Newcomers Club of Wheaton, Winfield and Warrenville: 2nd VP and President; CUSD 200:Citizens Advisory Committee; Operation Safe Celebration; Hubble Referendum Committee; Hubble PTA; D200 Gifted Task Force; GATES 200; Wiesbrook: Battle of the Books founder and coach; Newsletter editor; Committee Chair: Wrapping Paper Fundraiser, Holiday Shoppe; Volunteer: Room Parent, LLC, Literacy, Reader ParentElected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers How will you address the success of failure of your building referendum? How will you continue to inform the community about your commitment to funding capital projects regardless of the outcome?I am in favor of passage of the building referendum that will appear on the April 4 ballot for CUSD 200. I believe that the Board has gone through a very thorough process of research and discussion. They have invited the community into this process and have developed a plan that addresses facilities needs across the entire district. I have been touring the district and talking to principals, and I truly believe that the repairs and improvements to the buildings that have been proposed will benefit the children and the programs that we are trying to deliver to them. If this referendum passes, I look forward to overseeing the process by which the work is completed. If it does not, the Board will have to determine priorities and seek creative ways of funding the work that needs to be done. At its January meeting, the current Board passed the Sherman Dergis policy, which uses a research-based model to set aside specific amounts of money annually for capital renewal projects. I will uphold this policy.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 think that it is important to use a variety of means to measure student success. CUSD 200 is a data-driven district. We make use of standardized testing and our own local assessments to measure student achievement and growth. We compare our data to that of our benchmark districts as well as noting year to year trends within our district. I believe that standardized testing is necessary but that it is only one of the pieces that can be used to evaluate the success of our programs. Students have a variety of learning styles, and we can use a variety of ways to assess their mastery of content and their acquisition of critical skills. From what I have seen in our schools, I believe that District 200 teachers are using innovative teaching and assessment methods.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 School Board should act as a Board of Directors for the administration of the district. The Board should hire a superintendent in whom they can have confidence to, in turn, hire capable staff to develop curriculum. Board members should model the practice of lifelong learning that we are trying to instill in our students, by staying educated and aware of current trends and best practices in education. This will then inform our conversations with district administration.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 largest budget issue currently facing CUSD 200 is the recently developed Master Facilities Plan. As I previously stated, I support passage of the referendum to finance the implementation of this plan. Other factors potentially affecting our budget are the formula that is used to determine the amount of state aid that we receive and conversations about teacher pensions taking place in our state legislature. CUSD 200 has managed to pass a balanced budget for the last seven years without having to raise student fees. If the referendum does not pass I would hope to explore alternative sources of funding the district's needs before having to have the hard conversations about program cuts or fee increases.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?I believe that state funds should be used for public education. Individuals should not be able to use vouchers to attend schools that are selective in their admissions or that do not provide all services that are required by law in public schools. This would include services for students with disabilities and for those from lower socioeconomic levels. I also believe that vouchers used to attend parochial schools violate the concept of the separation of church and state.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?From my conversations with principals across the district, I believe that we currently have an environment of mutual respect and support between our building administrators, central office administration, and the School Board. Open channels of communication flow in all directions. There is transparency at the School Board and administration levels. Community input is sought and considered. All of these practices benefit our students. As a Board member I will join in this spirit. Our talented and devoted teachers are our most important assets in CUSD 200. It is important for the Board to do everything possible to support our administration in their efforts to continue to attract and retain this caliber of staff. I believe that we offer quality programs to our students and that there is an attitude in our schools of wanting to continually improve these programs and find innovative ways to deliver them. As a Board, we need to remain receptive to new ideas that address the ever-changing needs of our diverse community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Angela Merkel, because of her strong leadership and the values she espouses. She provides an important role model for young girls in today's world.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Always have your eyes open for ways that you can be of help to others.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I do not believe in do-overs. Every experience is an opportunity for a life lesson, whether positive or negative. You learn and move on.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Reading, because it's made me a lifelong learner and a better communicator.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be kind, and avoid judging others, because everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.