Carla Little: 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: @CNL_dist50boeFacebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Woodland District 50 School Board Age: 53Family: Kristen, Kelsey, Keralynn, and Kamille LittleOccupation: Public Health AdministratorEducation: BS, Ph.D.Civic involvement: Board of Education, Woodland District 50Board Member, Chocolate Chips AssociationForums Committee, Lakeland Evangelical Free ChurchElected offices held: Woodland District 50 BOE, MemberQuestions 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?Our main source of financial loss which causes the financial difficulty in Woodland Dist #50 is the General State Aid (GSA) sent to the State- sponsored Prairie Crossing Charter School. Over 3 million dollars is diverted from Woodland students to Prairie Crossing Charter School annually. This loss of funding has caused many problems in ensuring that Woodland students have a quality education. A solution to this problem is elusive. The Woodland Board continues to petition the State for equitable funding for Woodland students and those at Prairie Crossing. The Woodland Board continues to monthly review the budget and make annual adjustments to expenditure, as needed. If elected, I would continue to advocate for equitable funding for Woodland and Prairie Crossing. I would continue with the Woodland BOE practices of financial review and adjusting expenditures, as necessary. I would continue the Woodland BOE practices of notifying and involving the community in the major cuts that may result in a loss of services to our students.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.No. The problem is not that parents have a choice to send their child to the State- sponsored Prairie Crossing Charter School vs Woodland District 50. The problem is how the State has elected to fund the cost of the Prairie Crossing Charter. Due to how the State of Illinois funds their State- sponsored Charter schools, Woodland District 50 is loosing over 3 million dollars per year. Our Woodland District has done a great job of "making do" in the face of this great loss of resources. But, as the funding mechanismWith 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.Each year the Woodland District 50 Administration and BOE reviews our enrollment and staff levels to make adjustments, if needed. The goal is to ensure that class room maximums do not exceed an average of 25 students grades 1-8 and not more that an average of 20 students in Kindergarten.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?At this time, I do not support tax and fee increases. Our main budget issue at Woodland District #50 is the General State Aid (GSA) sent to the State- sponsored Prairie Crossing Charter School. Over 3 million dollars is diverted from Woodland students to Prairie Crossing Charter School annually. Unfortunately, this accumulated loss of funding over the 13 years has severely impacted Woodland students quality of education. The Woodland Board maintains a monthly review the budget and make annual adjustments to expenditure, as needed. If elected, I would continue with the Woodland BOE practices of financial review and adjusting expenditures, as necessary. I would continue the Woodland BOE practices of notifying and involving the community in the major cuts that may result in a loss of services to our students that would result in a loss of learning and student achievement.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?I believe in strong public schools that work to ensure that each student is learning and achieving to his highest potential. Woodland District 50 already offer a few choice options including foreign language immersion in grades K-4, and Explore class options in the Middle School. Our teachers also work to tailor the curriculum to the learning needs of the students. We also offer "Challenged" and "Advanced" options in certain subjects to meet the needs of the higher skilled learners. If Congress or the state approves a voucher system, I would strongly advocate for those private schools and charter schools to be held to the same legislation and rules of accountability and transparency as that of the public school choice. Boards of Education and public school advocates must work together to ensure that the voucher system and charter schools are properly funded by Congress and the state.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Other issues of importance to me are: ensuring that parents and all community stakeholders are kept informed on our school initiatives and are given the opportunity to stay involved in ensuring that Woodland District 50 remains a high functioning, high achieving public school where all students can succeed; working with others in advocating for full public school funding from our state and federal legislators; continuing to provide high quality professional development programs for our staff to ensure that students are getting the best prepared teachers in the field; and overall creating an atmosphere in the Woodland community that inspires a love of learning and the pursuit of academic excellence.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Elizabeth Warren, US Senator from MassachusettsWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Education is the key to living your best life.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Listening more to the wisdom of my elders; taking time to love more and enjoy the company of those that are no longer with us.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science and Math are subjects I gravitated to the most. I think the study of Science has enhanced my problem- solving skills and patience.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Work hard to enjoy life.