Elizabeth Helgren: 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: GurneeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Elizabeth HelgrenOffice sought: Woodland District 50 School Board Age: 55Family: Husband-Daniel HelgrenSon- Zachary RoseSon- Noah RoseDaughter-Madeline RoseOccupation: Substitute Certified School NurseEducation: RN, BSN, PEL-CSN, NBCSNCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers School finances seem to be a problem. What do you see as the main cause of financial difficulties and what solutions would you offer if elected?In general, school finances are negatively impacted by the current funding model which places too much reliance on local property tax revenue. Last year 56% of school funding came from local funding sources. This creates great disparity and inequities for those communities with lower property values, tax rates and tax revenue. Inequities are made even greater when you have wealthier communities able to approve higher taxes through referendums increasing local dollars available for schools. A solution to this issue is a fair, equitable and adequate funding formula that does not involve raising taxes but calculates state dollars by weighing need, poverty and current property wealth. Woodland District 50 finances are negatively impacted largely in part due to shrinking state aid and the unfair and inequitable system of funding Prairie Crossing Charter School with dollars diverted from Woodland.As you know, state funding follows Woodland students whose parents elect to send them to Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake - a longtime bone of contention. Do you see that as a problem? Please explain.Yes I do see this as a problem. The current method of funding a state charter school by diverting a disproportionate amount of state aid creates an unfair financial burden on Woodland. I believe that if a state charters a school it needs to also provide a mechanism for separate, adequate funding.With enrollment declining to 5,882 from 6,549 in 2012, per the state's report card, how to you view the district's staffing levels. Are there too many employees and what should be done? Please elaborate.According to the Illinois School Report Card, Woodland has 427 full time equivalent teachers, an average class size of 23 students and an 18:1 pupil/teacher ratio. These numbers appear reasonable but one can not merely look at enrollment numbers. Other factors need to be considered such as the numbers of those considered at risk and possibly in need of additional or special resources. It is noted that staff reductions have been made in the past years in response to declining enrollment. This is a topic that will need continued monitoring as enrollment decline is projected to continue over the next five years.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?In light of a projected continued decline in enrollment and an expected 3.6 million dollar decline in General State Aid over the next several years, Woodland's administration identified the need for future cost saving measures.In December 2016 a financial plan was presented to Woodland's school board. This plan outlines cost reducing measures to be implemented over the next four years with a focus on areas that will have the least impact on student learning. I believe this is an important consideration in any budget reductions. Recommended reductions that I am in support of include staff reductions including teachers, support staff and assistant principals. I also support identified cost saving measures that look beyond staff reductions. Examples of this include the use of energy efficient meters, park district interagency agreements and the reduction of building copiers with increased utilization of the central copy center. I am more in favor of fee increases as a means for increasing revenue.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?The main criticism of vouchers or tax credits is that they decrease or re-allocate public school funds which could have a negative impact on the district as we have seen with the presence of a state charter school. I believe the community values Woodland and it's ability to provide a sound elementary education preparing students for high school and beyond. For that reason I don't think our district would be as greatly affected as others deemed less desirable. One response of the school board of education of a public school would be to focus on improvement and striving for excellence. They could also focus efforts on convincing lawmakers to pass funding reform. Improving funding and in turn our public schools seems a better solution than offering ways for parents to move their children out of public schools.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Candidate did not respond.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Candidate did not respond.