Anne Miller: 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: AlgonquinWebsite: to omeTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Community Unit District 300 School Board Age: 58Family: Husband Warren (D300 Grad), 3 children (all D300 grads),1 grandchild and another on the way.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: BA - DePaul UniversityJD - DePaul UniversityMediation Certificate - DePaul UniversityCivic involvement: President the D300 School Board, member since 1997 (past Secretary and Chairman Discipline and Education Committees); Coordinator McHenry County Peer Jury Program; Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors JourneyCare Hospice (since 2003 past Secretary, Vice Chairman, Chairman)Previous: 30 year volunteer for District300 including PTO Co-president Eastview, site based management/school improvement member Eastview AMS, Odyssey of the Mind Coach; co-chairman Angle Town children's committee, AAYO ALITHSA coach, Committee Chairman Cub Scout Pack 151 Boy Scout Troop 151, Established Kishwaukee Cub Scout Just We Two, Kishwaukee Boy Scout Council, Girl Scout Leader; Religious Education teacher, Recipient of Bishop O'Neil award.Elected offices held: President - D300 Board of EdSecretary - D300 Board of EdMember - D300 Board of Ed (since 1997)Questions Answers With ongoing state funding challenges, suggest ways the district can remain in the black without spending down its surplus, raising taxes or taking on additional debt. If cuts were needed, where would you look to tighten?The Board needs to be strong stewards for financial accountability. Section 4 of our Board Policy addresses finances (http://boardpolicyonline.com/?b=carpentersville_300 .) Specifically policy 4:20 requires us to maintain a cumulative fund balance equal to three months or 25% of working/operating expenses in the cash fund balance to meet all financial obligations of the District on a timely basis. We need to continue to have our programs guide our budget. We are constantly looking for ways, traditional and innovative, to ensure financial strength including monitoring and reviewing programs. To surmise about potential cuts is premature. We should be proactive in ways to prevent the need for cuts, such as implementing programs that are financially sustainable, continue monitoring our budget and spending, and eliminating programs that are no longer beneficial. Additionally, two of the BEST ways for the Board, administration and community to help ensure financial stability and strength is by lobbying legislators to repeal the 45% Teacher Retirement System penalty to which we are subjected when we use certain federal funds to pay for special education teachers. Over the course of the past years, this penalty has cost the district approximately $3,000,000.00. Being able to use these dollars for teachers and not be subjected to the additional penalty would help our financial stability. Unfortunately, to do so subjects us to a 45% penalty. The other way is to continue to be diligent in ensuring the state implements a fair and equitable school funding formula. Find information for state funding formula here: https://www.isbe.net/Lists/News/NewsDisplay.aspx?ID=1137Should the district consider cutting ties with its charter school considering the problems with its management and leadership over the last two years?No, the District should not consider cutting its ties to Cambridge Lakes Charter School (CLCS). CLCS is a District 300 school. The school is funded from funds the district receives; and, it provides services to students from our district. If students from outside the district are accepted into CLCS, the student pays tuition and D300 does not provide funding for the student. Additionally our interest in CLCS is one of accountability; requiring the school to follow all applicable laws. Had the District and CLCS not reached agreement on the charter renewal, CLCS would have the option to appeal to the Charter School Commission. (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Illinois-State-Charter-School-Commission.aspx) The Charter School Commission has the ability to issue charters directly with the local school district still being responsible for the funding. I believe that CLCS is an asset to our district especially by way of offering a choice to our families.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?The Board's primary role is to set policy. Through policies the Board establishes curriculum requirements and expectations that reflect the community and its values. In conjunction with Board policies is our strategic plan developed with input from the community. It establishes areas of focus in which our community has, along with the Board and Superintendent, determined to be priorities. Many curriculum requirements are set by the state.The Board delegates to the Superintendent, our instructional leader, the role of ensuring proper curriculum and materials are chosen and established for our system based on these factors (policy, strategic plan and state requirements.) The Board approves curriculum based on this process. The Board holds the Superintendent accountable for any impact curriculum has on student learning/achievement and outcomes. Toward this end, we work jointly with the Superintendent to ensure students have current curriculum tools and materials and teachers are equipped with professional development for implementation of curriculum. An example is elementary art. Art was not part of our elementary school curriculum. Based on community input, e.g. strategic plan, Superintendent recommendation and input and approval from the Board, Art is part of elementary school curriculum. Other examples include elementary STEM, increased AP offerings, expanded elementary dual language, full day Kindergarten and Pathways.Areas I encourage the Board and Superintendent to review include PE waivers/alternatives, foreign language program, expanding internship programs and expanding blended learning, middle school and high school articulation and dual credit.Our strategic plan: http://d300strategicplan.weebly.com/ Our Curriculum policy (Section 6): http://boardpolicyonline.com/?b=carpentersville_300.What are some innovative programs the district could undertake, such as its career pathway programs, to set itself apart?District 300 has been proactive in establishing several innovative programs in addition to the career pathways program. Our Early College program with ECC is one example. This program allows students to attend college classes on the ECC campus and earn college credits concurrently with high school credits. It is the goal of the program that students have the potential to earn enough college credit during their junior and senior years of high school to graduate high school with an AA or AS degree from ECC. Other programs include: establishing full day Kindergarten, Art and STEM in elementary schools, our credit recovery programs for high school students, academic review committee and programs to identify and assist students who are behind academically to help them achieve their high school diplomas, blended learning (a combination on online and in-classroom instruction and learning) our increased alternative learning opportunities such as summer school and night school. We are constantly looking at ways to improve all of our students' education that will prepare them for careers or college. We need to move past the current paradigms in education in order to have discussions and bring forth changes such as revamping "â#128;œ or re-identifying the school day or year in ways to reach our hardest in need and our greatest achievers, and all in between, to prepare our students for their lives post-graduation. Here is a link to our pathways programs http://d300pathways.weebly.com/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?School choice and vouchers are topics that are subject to great debate. Though somewhat related, "Ëœchoice' and "Ëœvouchers' are not interchangeable terms. Instead of focusing on choice as it relates to academic or programmatic options for students/families, the discussion seems to get mired down in a debate over "Ëœvouchers' (finances and taxes) and "Ëœvouchers' get attacked in the discussion of "Ëœchoice' over separation of church and state. Choice could mean choosing a non-public school; or it could mean the choice to attend another public school either within a particular school district, or within the entire state. Vouchers, are a way of offsetting tuition costs for non-public schools, such as religious school (Catholic, Lutheran, Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist and other such faith based schools,) military school, boarding school, private day-school and other non-public schools. Voucher programs can be administered in different ways. If the program is structured as an income tax credit for families, the impact on D300 would be less than if the voucher program was structured in such a way that diverted funding or reduced funding to D300. When it comes to academic and program opportunities, D300 is, and should continue to be, competitive so that the "choice" a family makes (other than for religious reasons) is D300.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?It is important, that regardless of what happens in other areas of our government, District 300 maintains its focus on strengthening public education and continuously improving the learning experience for each and every student. We are a diverse community; however we do not need to be divisive. The value of our community is directly related to the quality of the education provided within our community. We are in the business of education. Not just to some, but to all. Education is a necessity. Whether education is provided through home, private, parochial or public schools it needs, indeed it must, be exceptional and of the highest quality. Everything else falls in to place* if we maintain that vision. We cannot ever lose that focus.*Increased graduation ratesIncreased minority enrollment in AP coursesExpansion of Pathways ProgramsIncrease in SAT scores in future years (This is our benchmark year)Increase in reading level for underperforming studentsPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope FrancisWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Be kind to each other. You are family.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?As much as I would love certain do-overs, redoing the event(s) would change who I am and the direction my life took.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Literature. Literature has broadened my thinking, horizons, empathy and knowledge. I've learned many things including there is much I don't know, yet want to learn.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Ask yourself everyday: What have I learned today and who have I helped?