Adam Bauske: 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: Hoffman EstatesWebsite: www.facebook.com/BauskeforD15/Twitter: @BauskeforD15Facebook: www.facebook.com/BauskeforD15/Office sought: Palatine District 15 School Board Age: 34Family: Married 11 years to Elizabeth Bauske. We have two children, Ethan is 6 and Kaitlyn is 3.Occupation: Client Services Manager at PaylocityEducation: Masters in Business Administration Degree from Wilmington UniversityBachelors in Economics Degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.Adlai E. Stevenson High School graduateCivic involvement: Operation Care Package Feed My Starving ChildrenToys For TotsInverness Tball and Soccer CoachElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions 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 running for the Board of Education, to make a difference in our community. I look forward to sharing my business and life experiences to benefit our community and our children. I want to listen to our community, so that many different voices are represented when making educational decisions. The most important issue I believe in is providing our district the option of full day kindergarten. This would benefit our children greatly, and I hope this can become a reality over the next few years. Per the Illinois State Board of Education, as of 2015, 79% of kindergarten classes in Illinois were full day programs. Additionally, research has shown a trend that students attending full day kindergarten achieve higher achievement in classroom grades and standardized tests. The research has also shown that students attending full day programs, compared to those attending half day programs, gained literacy faster, and achieved higher reading achievement through third grade, and even into the later elementary grades. Providing the option of full day kindergarten will assist each school's overall performance, and help our district remain competitive within our region, state, and country. My children will be attending school in district 15 over the next 10 years. I want to make sure all of the children in our community have access to the highest level of education now, and in the future.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?I did not agree with all aspects of the recent referendum. However, I do think having the proposal on the ballot created dialogue in our community around the needs of our children and schools. Our ability to offer full day kindergarten is hindered by our lack of space in our facilities. We need to have community involvement to put together a plan that will be best for our entire district. The district has already taken steps to address community involvement by creating a community planning commission. Overall I think we need to look at all of our options, including modifying existing and adding new facilities, without closing any of our current schools.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.I think when it comes to contract talks, all three options should be reviewed. As a board member, I would not make a decision without having all available information. I think the district's goal should be to obtain and retain the best employees with the least amount of impact to the taxpayers. I believe the 10 year contract had the intention to benefit the taxpayer and community, but based on length we won't see the full impact till we near the end. If I was on the board, I would lean toward contracts that are shorter in years. However, I also understand that a longer contract can create stability over a greater period of time. Additionally, it is important that we have as much transparency as possible, to keep the community informed about any future contracts.Having reviewing the current salaries within our district, I see that our district average is comparable to our surrounding communities. This means we should be able to attract and keep great teachers and staff in our district, while also watching our costs for the taxpayers.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?I believe the current board has done a good job at maintaining a steady budget. The budget is reviewed on a regular basis to make sure the district is staying fiscally responsible. Two main budget issues the board will be confronted with are contracts and facilities. I think budget cuts can be accomplished by getting competitive bids for projects and looking for ways to obtain state and federal funding. The recent Life Safety projects showcase the ability of the board to keep projects on schedule and within budget. On the income side, adding any new schools and/or remodeling existing ones would require support from our community. We need to find ways to address many issues including overcrowding and children attending school in a "modular classroom" (a trailer), while minimizing the financial impact to our taxpayers. As for current and regular budget expenses, if the district is fiscally responsible, tax increases shouldn't 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?My goal on the board is to attain and maintain a high level of education in all of our schools. Families that live in, and move to, district 15, should expect the highest level of education, regardless of where they live within the district. I know the families in our area take pride in their schools and we want to strengthen the bond between our schools and the community they serve. Based on the recent referendum, you can see the passion our community has for our current schools. If Congress or the state approves a voucher system, the board must follow through accordingly. Since the voucher system, or school choice, is currently not in place in Illinois, my priority is making every school the best it can be.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Another issue that is important to me is our district boundaries. District 15 boundaries have not significantly changed for many years. With community growth, and the addition of new neighborhoods, many students are assigned to schools that are not closest to their residence. Many students are going past a school to get to one that is further away. Since boundaries are, in part, determined by the number of students a school can hold, this overlaps with the space issues currently limiting our ability to offer full day kindergarten. In order to address these issues, we will need to get community feedback. Working together is key to accomplishing these tasks.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Jamie DimonWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?location, location, locationIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Study abroad in collegeWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Economics, which made me think analytically in all aspects of life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Get 8 hours of sleep every night