Sandra Ficke-Bradford: Candidate Profile
Back to Barrington Unit District 220 School Board
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<p class="disclaimer" style="font-size:16px;color:#666;"><strong>Note:</strong> 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.
<h4><strong>Jump to:</strong></h4>
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<h3 class="breakHead">Bio</h3>
<strong>City:</strong> Barrington
<strong>Website:</strong> to be provided
<strong>Twitter:</strong> Candidate did not respond.
<strong>Facebook:</strong> www.facebook.com/Sandrafor220
<strong>Office sought:</strong>
Barrington Unit District 220 School Board
<strong>Age:</strong> 49
<strong>Family:</strong> Married 24 years
3 children in high school and middle school
<strong>Occupation:</strong> Director of Operations, Motorola Solutions
<strong>Education:</strong> BS Industrial Engineering, Purdue University
MS Engineering Management, Northwestern University
<strong>Civic involvement:</strong> Barrington Community School District
➢ Enrollment Monitoring Committee, Chairperson, 2007-2008
➢ Parent Volunteer
Barrington United Methodist Church, Member since 1999
➢ Building Committee, Head of Interiors, 2000-2003
➢ Futures Committee, 2004-2005
Women's Business Council at Motorola Solutions
➢ Chair, Professional and Personal Growth Committee
<strong>Elected offices held:</strong> Barrington School District 220 Board of Education, 2009-present
➢ Secretary (elected by board colleagues)
➢ Finance and Insurance Committees
➢ Insurance Committees
➢ Enrollment Monitoring Committee
➢ Labor Management Committee
➢ Resource Allocation Committee
<h3 class="breakHead">Questions & Answers</h3>
<h3 class="briefHead">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?</h3>
We are fortunate to live in an outstanding district with an engaged community, motivational teachers and excellent students. If elected to serve, I am committed to making decisions in the best interest of the students, as well as all community members and staff.
While we need to keep focused on finances, we also need to continue to challenge ourselves to ensure Barrington 220 students are prepared for life after high school.
My 6 years on the Finance Committee and 2 years on the Policy Committee will be instrumental to the board as it navigates through the tumultuous, financially unstable times we face in our state's immediate future. I am able to contribute immediately upon election.
I'm also running for re-election as I am excited about upcoming projects such as long term facilities planning and digital age learning. The over-crowded facilities in District 220 were one of my motivations to get involved at the district level. Many of our schools face space shortages, resulting in the need for things like mobile classrooms which are not a good term-long solution. Facilities planning is important to ensure we are best utilizing the space available and can plan for the future of the district physically and financially. In addition, the board has made a great investment in digital age learning and application in the classroom. We need to advance the use of leading edge technology to prepare students for success in life after high school and to give students and teachers more options.
<h3 class="briefHead">What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?</h3>
While District 220 recently experienced all-time high ACT scores and consistently ranks among the state's top 5% school districts academically, I believe there is always room for improvement. District 220 has invested in strong leadership in data measurement and analytics. We should continue to take advantage of this and look for high risk areas and ways to improve. I would also like to continue understanding and assessing better ways to ensure all learning types and styles are used in evaluations, student measurement and curriculum.
<h3 class="briefHead">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?</h3>
Barrington 220 has excellent curriculum offerings at all levels, but should continue to enhance the offerings for all levels of learners and unique learning types. The Board of Education has the responsibility to ensure the administration has the funds to procure or develop curriculum to meet the educational needs of the students in Barrington District 220. The Board should also set the expected policy and direction for the curriculum and ensure the curriculum is refreshed. As mentioned previously, I am excited about the growth of digital age learning and best preparing the students of Barrington 220 to lead our future.
<h3 class="briefHead">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?</h3>
Maintaining a balanced budget is a high priority for me as a member of the Board of Education. It is critical that the 220 Board monitors decisions at the US Federal and Illinois state level that impact education, such as a property tax freeze. At this time I do not see a need for tax or fee increase.
If budget cuts become necessary, I would advocate for cuts outside the classroom wherever possible. During my service on the Finance Committee, we monitored consumables such as natural gas and energy to find operational savings. We also found ways to creatively fund DSEB borrowing and reduced expense to the district. I will continue to work to find cost savings measures outside of the classroom.
<h3 class="briefHead">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?</h3>
Barrington 220 is a destination district. I do not anticipate that school choice options and vouchers would have a very large impact on District 220 because of our outstanding reputation and the high-quality education that we deliver. Some children who attend private or parochial schools might be able to obtain a voucher that paid for a small percentage of their education, but I don't think 220 would see an exodus of students from the 220 schools to attend private schools-- in part because the voucher would likely only cover a small portion of the cost, but also because many families move to the district because of our fine public schools.
<h3 class="briefHead">What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?</h3>
I supported changes to the school start times to improve the learning experience for all children in the district based on research, community feedback (survey and town hall conversation), and professional insight. I am committed to continuing to listen to ensure the change is a success, and if there are widespread problems with the new schedule, I will work to ensure it is modified to meet the student and community needs.
<h3 class="briefHead">Please name one current leader who most inspires you.</h3>
My pastor at BUMC, Chris Winkler.
<h3 class="briefHead">What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?</h3>
My parents taught us to never judge anyone.
They encouraged us to walk in the shoes of others to learn, experience and grow.
<h3 class="briefHead">If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?</h3>
I would spend even more time with my mother.
Marion, always smiling, was a teacher, a friend and my inspiration.
<h3 class="briefHead">What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?</h3>
Math taught me to solve complex problems. In every professional and civic role I've held I'm able to quickly analyze, understand and solve issues.
<h3 class="briefHead">If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?</h3>
To work hard at whatever they are doing and to continue to love and support one another.