Edward Yung: 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: InvernessWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: @edyung300Facebook: Eddie YungOffice sought: Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 School Board Age: 65Family: Mary Yung- wife, Annie Yung - daughter, Michael and Jason Yung - sonsOccupation: ArchitectEducation: Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies University of Illinois UCMaster of Architecture University of Illinois UCCivic involvement: Volunteer in the Northwest Suburban Alzheimer WalkProvided reduce fees Architectural Services to several Non-For Profits Organizations in Chicago land area Architect for the Palatine Township Food Pantry. Illinois High School Association Volleyball RefereeElected offices held: School Board member for CCSD15School Board member for D211Questions 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 am a firm believer in public education. I believe that our secondary education system must provide as many different options and programs that can direct a student in choosing his career and life paths. It is essential that the system be broad enough to prepares our students to be successful in the next phases of their lives whether it be college or other career choices. It is imperative that the schools have the best teachers and staff that can provide these options and programs as well direct our students to understand citizenship, loyalty as well as independent thinking. The strength and future of our nation is dependent on how the this next generation is educated. I want the future leaders of the world to come out of our schools.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?As always, success has been looked upon as national standardized test scores results such as the ACT and the SAT, State exams and college admissions in many school districts. These are methods that really only give you a snapshots of what a particular set of students are doing at the time of these tests. They are adequate if you are looking at a snap shot of the group annually. Individual assessment such as Individualized Education Program (IEP) is only true method of evaluating a student. Not every student is the same and grouping them through standardized tests can leave individuals lost in a system that is geared for success at looking at test scores. I believe the district needs to look at each student individually and develop a program for them. The district needs to monitor them after graduation and even college. The true success of an education system has to be evaluated whether a student has become successful in life. Test scores are only a snap shot. Success in life can only be monitored if the district has prepared them to handle the future and all the obstacles they faced afterwards.District 211 became nationally recognized for both its disagreement with the federal government and its subsequent written agreement over the handling of transgender students' locker room access. How would you characterize your own agreement or disagreement with the board's action? What would be your position on the board's future handling of such issues?I believe that an individual at this phase of life is still what their body dictate their gender is. I do not necessary agree with an individual transgender's right to have access to opposite sex locker rooms or bathrooms. I believe the gender whose facility that is being used has also has the right to physical privacy. However the agreement made by the district and the Department of Education is appropriate as long as privacy is achieved for all parties involved which means the transgender student cannot physical expose themselves or have the opportunity to observe others that may be physical exposed. The threat of loss of Title 1 money did not please me to least bit as I felt the district was being held hostage. I feel the need for Title 1 money is important to assist in the programs it was intended to help. This agreement is the best compromise I feel at this time. However with the national political atmosphere that is happening in Washington, this whole issue may be mute depending the law suits that will be coming forth to the Supreme Court later this year.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?Budget has always been a problem issue in the past. School funding from the state has always been inadequate as I know that Illinois has been in the bottom five in providing money to the school district. This creates the whole issue of local school funding is pretty much dependent on local property taxes. What also creates an issue for the school districts are unfunded mandates that the state legislature have imposed. Dictating certain directives for the school districts that cost money and telling the districts that they have to fund it out of their own budget is unfair. We need more representatives in the state legislature to believe in providing more support to public education and start increasing the amount of money to school districts and provide relief to the taxpayers. At this time I do not believe any cuts are necessary at this time. However I do believe the Board of Education needs to keep a close eye on it's spending yet maintain a balance in it's reserves for maintenance issues and possible catastrophic problems that need immediate attention and cash. I do not at this support the need for any tax or fee increases. If the district can monitor it's spending and keep within it's means tax or fee increases would not be necessary.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 feel every school in our district should provide the same curriculum and opportunities as any other school. Given this reasoning no one student should need or want to go to another school in the district. I feel a voucher system would be detrimental to any school or school district. Giving the opportunity for students to pick and choose any school creates a situation where a school district has no basis to properly plan their budget. Some schools may be in high demand and would have plenty of student voucher money to work with. Where as with other school there demand may may not be as high and therefore the funds would not be available to operate a proper curriculum. Vouchers create a uncertainty in how much money the district would have year to year. How can a school or school district plan a budget if you know your monies can fluctuate from one year to the next. I feel that it is imperative that a district's board of education have plan five years in place understanding that population growth and economical situations can and will affect your budget. The only way to maintain a budget and maintain the actual physical parts of district (buildings, maintenance, classroom room material books, etc.) is always to plan ahead. A voucher system defeats that purpose.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I feel it is important that a school board member understand what is going on inside the schools themselves. The need to attend one or two meetings a month inside a school board room is imperative, however I feel that attendance to school events and activities is also a must. How does a board member know or understand what goes on in a district if they only attend just the meetings themselves? How does a board member know if the decisions that were made have a positive or negative impact on the students or staff? Visibility of board members gives the teachers and staff the understanding that a board member cares about what is happening day to day. It is important that a board member sees the interaction between teachers and students. It is important that board members see student involvement to all activities such as athletic and academic events and competitions. It is encouraging to the teachers to know that the board members are interested and watching what they are doing and seeing what types of relationships and interactions that are evolving between student and staff.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.There is really no current leader that inspires me the most. I try to take the best qualities of many leadersWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Education is always considered the road to success.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Nothing, I believe every event in fact has an effect on what kind of person I am now.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math was one of my favorite. It is imperative that an architect has a good knowledge of math to understand structural design.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Knowledge. Physical attributes can come and go, but knowledge with stay with you forever.