Matt Stanton: 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: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: College Of Lake County School Board Age: 56Family: I am the father of five grown children. I raised my children as a single parent for many years during which time I returned to school, beginning classes at College of Lake County where I obtained an Associates degree. I obtained my Bachelors degree in the 1990s and then went on pursue my law degree as a part-time evening student.Occupation: Attorney and Adjunct law professorEducation: AA, College of Lake County; BA, Columbia College; JD, Kent College of LawCivic involvement: Civic Involvement - Executive Board Chicago Media Watch;Past Executive Board Member, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association;Volunteer member, ParentWISE, Lurie Children's HospitalElected 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?Inequality is probably the major social issue of our time. Education is the surest road to self-improvement for those who are willing to make the effort. It is more important than ever that we work to develop and educated and informed citizenry. Without access to quality education public discourse will suffer and the American Dream will become increasingly unattainable for our children and grandchildren. The best solutions begin within the local community where citizens take an active role in maintaining and shaping their public institutions.In tough economic times, many students (and working professionals) turn to a community college for its educational value. How do you ensure that a person's financial sacrifice results in an educational benefit?An education has value in and of itself. It is the one thing that no one can ever take away for you. Yet in these uncertain economic times, it is more important than ever to balance the costs with the economic opportunities that may, or may not, become available once you complete your education. This is where professional counseling comes in. Having once worked as a collegiate academic advisor, I know many students focus almost exclusively on their academic interests, and pay little attention to the long term financial implications of student debt. Many students believe that by simply obtaining a degree their standard of living will improve. Debt counseling is an essential service that should be provided by every institution of higher learning. Student debt is out of control and could well become the next bubble that bursts, not unlike the housing crisis of 2008. Community colleges remain the best value in higher education, but even here, the costs and the likely rewards of an education must be carefully considered. I consider counseling services as essential to student success.From the college's point of view, 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?College of Lake County is facing the same financial stressors that affect public institutions across the country. There is a trend toward developing public - private partnerships with corporations who benefit from an educated workforce and that can be further developed here in Lake County. These corporate citizens should maintain an investment in the continued strength of the community college system from which they greatly benefit. Any increase in fees or taxes are a last resort, but with the reality of the State budget shortfalls they cannot be absolutely excluded.Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?Less than half of the population of Lake County has a college degree. The College of Lake County has done a good job in providing avenues for the completion of a Bachelor's degree through the University Center at the Grayslake campus. We must also maintain a robust technical curriculum for those entering the service sector and building trades. What goes along with technical training is a solid grounding in business practices since many graduates face the prospect of having to become self-employed entrepreneurs. The College of Lake County is well positioned to provide basic business training along with technical know-how. The college could do a better job marketing itself to all segments of the population of Lake County. I favor strengething course offerings at the Lakeshore and Vernon Hills locations.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the community college board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.My concerns are those of a public citizen who is also an educator, father, and grandfather. Given the current political climate where the quest for profit too often trumps basic human needs and privatization of public resources result in diminishing resources, both fiscal and environmental. we must stand firm in our resolve to provide opportunity for our students, both recent graduates and returning adult students, and for the future well-being of our community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am concerned that many students are unprepared for college work and in neeed of developmental courses. This, of course, is part of the mission of the community college. We might need to take a second look at what services are now provided by the college and how effective they are at remediation. Low completion rates are a growing problem.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.No current leaders. But Winston Churchill once said Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees all the others.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I grew up in a large family where I learned to appreciate hard work, to accept responsibility, and treat others with toleration and empathy.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have gone to college after high school. Returning as an adult was challenging.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. It is a vast repository of life lessons.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Every success in my life has been the result of rising early, working hard, and perseverance; every failure I owe to fear.