Margaret Babcock: 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: PalatineWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Palatine District 15 School Board Age: 6302Family: Husband John; son JakeOccupation: Cancer Services Volunteer; School Board President, HomemakerEducation: Volunteer for Cancer Services at Northwest Community Hospital for 25 years, serving as a hospice volunteer, a facilitator for cancer support group and a liaison at the American Cancer Society/NWCH wig boutique. Worked at Allstate Life Insurance Company where she earned the designation Fellow, Life Management Institute specializing in Personnel Administration.Civic involvement: Member Women's Club of Inverness; District 15 Board of Education, currently serving as President. Long-time volunteer at NWCH.Elected offices held: School Board President; Master Board Member designationQuestions 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 considered many factors when making the decision to again run for a board member position. What have I learned; what was accomplished and do I have the desire for another term? The decision was easy. I have learned the importance of public education and its benefits on the entire community; building productive citizens, maintaining home values and ensuring continued growth and interest in building our community. There has been progress including improved and rigorous curriculum positively impacting our students; major accomplishments completing our key life safety projects on time and under budget; balanced budgets, excellent audited fiscal results and healthy reserves, with all benefits that ensures (excellent bond rating = excellent borrowing rates = excellent value for taxpayers); and a forward thinking teacher's contract designed for continued savings while retaining our talented educators. There is much more to do: evaluating community input and their priorities; maintaining our twenty aging schools; finding room for full day kindergarten and making sense of our school boundaries. I believe in public schools and I believe in District 15. I am confident that my experience, energy and passion for our school community will be an asset on the Board of Education.What was your position on the district's proposal to build two new schools, which failed in the November election? Why? How should the district address its facilities needs over the next two years? Would you support another referendum, and if so, how do you think a plan can be developed that would pass?The Board made a decision to proceed with a referendum question based on recommendations of a life safety community group after months of study, and on assessment of educational needs recognized by our district leaders. It was important to all that the community make the final decision. They spoke. While you reference this as a failure, many positives have resulted. Awareness was raised and discussion started on the state of our schools and possibilities for the future. That discussion continues with an independent committee comprised of community members to promote open communication and compile a list of priorities that the community would like to see examined by the district. The needs are still there; aging and over-crowded schools,updated boundaries, all day kindergarten. In all of the meetings I attended regarding the plan for two new schools, there was not one group that did not support some part of the plan. With additional community input I believe we can build on the positives of the plan and move forward. At that time, I would have no hesitation recommending again that this be put on a ballot for community decision.As contract talks come up with other employee groups, do you believe the district should ask for concessions, expect costs to stay about the same, or provide increases in pay and benefits? If you are an incumbent, why did you support the 10-year teacher contract? If you are a newcomer, what's your view of the contract? Would you support similar length contracts for other employee groups? Why or why not.The Board will shortly begin negotiating with employee groups whose contracts expire this school year. I believe it is important to enter into negotiations with an open mind and work towards ends that benefit both the employee group and the taxpayers. I do support the ten year contract. I believe it offers stability to our district with average NET salary increases of less than one percent. It is always advantageous to negotiate multi-year contracts. However, whether it be a three, five or a ten year contract, should conditions arise that impact the finacial stability of the district drastically, we would have to review all expenses including contracts. It is important to remember that in the last ten years we have maintained fund balances and had exceptional audited fiscal reviews inspite of the funding uncertainty of state and federal government. As the Herald itself reported in its teacher salary article on 12/29/16, District 15 teachers are neither listed in your top end salary list nor in the lowest paid salary list, putting them somewhere in the middle ground. That would indicate to me that contracts have been negotiated in a fiscally responsible manner while retaining our talented educators.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?Our two main budget issues are salaries and maintaining our twenty aging schools. Our contracts have and will be negotiated in a way that ensures fiscal responsibility. The district, with board direction to the superintendent, has been diligent in watching expenses closely. For example an insurance committee has been established to monitor insurance costs. As a result, the district has been able to keep those increases under two percent. That is accomplished by building a relationship of trust between employee groups and management Our major life safety projects will be completed this summer. Last year's projects were completed on time and under budget. The board reviews its tentative budgets on a routine basis and updates its five year plan accordingly. Budget projections have been spot on. It was suggested by candidates in past elections that reserves would be severely depleted by 2016 and the district, if left unchecked, would face financial disaster. That simply has not happened and not by accident. Our reserves are healthy, our budgets are balanced and business has been conducted in a fiscally responsible manner benefiting the community and ensuring world class educations to all 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?It is incumbent on us to continue to maintain the standing we have in the state and the community of being a first class school district. If there is one thing that I have learned about our schools in my school visits and attending the many communication meetings conducted throughout the district, it is that parents and students love their individual schools and are fiercely loyal to them. If the state or congress enacts law, the board will observe those laws. Until such time the district needs to concentrate on providing the very best education possible to all students.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Keeping up with neighboring districts is the minimum standard. District 15 leadership, with board oversight, has the talent and expertise to develop strategic programs to address current and future needs of all students. Proceeding with the consent and cooperation of our connected learning community is key. Those are both elements that that need to be continually explored for improvement. Going forward key administrators will be looking at retirement and it is incumbent on the Board of Education to maintain the stability in leadership that the district has enjoyed for several years. This election is not about party affiliation. This is a non-partisan election looking to elect good stewards for this district. There is no place on the Board of Education for politics.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.The Pope. His tolerance of all is inspiring to me.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That giving is much more important than receiving. Someone, sometime needs a helping hand and we should be there. Pay it forward.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I have no regrets. I had wonderful parents and a wonderful family of my own. Life is good.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I loved English; writing in particular. I've certainly used it in every position I have held, including answering this questionnaire.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The same my parents gave me. When possible, pay good fortune forward.