Joyce Mason: 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: @JoyceFor50Office sought: Woodland District 50 School Board Age: 47Family: I have two children. Julia is a junior at Warren Township High School and attended kindergarten through eighth grade in Woodland District 50. Grant is a sixth grader at Woodland Middle School, and has been in the district since kindergarten.Occupation: Human Resources Consultant and EducatorEducation: MBA with concentration in Human Resources from Keller Graduate School of Management BA in Communications from University of Illinois at ChicagoCivic involvement: A Safe Place (Domestic Violence Organization). Board of Directors 2014-Present. (Executive Board Secretary 2016).El Puente Latino (Organization that provides healthcare and food pantry services to the Waukegan community) Board of Directors 2014-Present.Woodland District 50 - Room Parent and classroom/event volunteer (2005-2016). Member of Woodland PTA since 2005.American Cancer Society - Volunteer 2004-2012. Gurnee/Wadsworth Relay for Life Committee Member 2006-2011, Event Chairperson 2011Gurnee Park District - Volunteer T-Ball, Meshball, and Basketball Coach (2009-2012)Volunteer Deputy Registrar 2016-PresentElected 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?I believe there are a number of issues causing financial stress on the district, including the Illinois budget crisis, the need for overall school funding reform in Illinois, increased district expenses due to lengthy union negotiations and litigation with Prairie Crossing, and declining student enrollment. Some of these issues can be directly addressed by the board, others can't. However, I believe the board can and should advocate for change in the areas it can't directly affect, such as our state's need for a budget and funding reform. I recommend looking at the district's general expenses for supplies and services and seek lower bids or renegotiate costs where possible. I would also suggest exploring additional green practices that will reduce costs as well as our environmental impact. In terms of staffing, I would advocate first looking at administrative positions that don't directly impact students. If there are positions that can be restructured, combined, reduced over time due to attrition, or eliminated, I would certainly suggest we do that before reducing positions that work directly with students. I would also recommend that we consider hiring a grant writer so that the district can obtain grant funds that are not currently being pursued.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.This is another reason why I believe that school funding reform in Illinois is so critical. Prairie Crossing is a good school, and a part of our community. However, Illinois' current funding formula does not result in equitable funding.It has resulted in pitting schools against each other to fight for already limited funds, which is unproductive and damaging. This must be addressed and corrected. There was a significant amount of money spent on litigation between the schools that could have been used to educate all of our students, which is disappointing. That being said, I do have concerns about Prairie Crossing's level of diversity, whether all students in the district are truly given an opportunity to attend, and their ability to provide services for at-risk students and students with disabilities. If they are going to receive public funds, they must be held accountable for doing these things. I feel strongly that all schools who use public funds should be truly available to all students and be willing and able to accommodate all students. I do not believe that charter schools should be able to pull funding from public schools to educate only a select group.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.Our enrollment has declined, and is expected to continue to decline as Woodland's demographics change. However, the changing demographics also indicate that we have an increasing percentage of students with a higher level of needs - so we need to be cautious about looking only at headcount. It's also important to note that our class sizes have increased over recent years. I believe that staffing levels and the roles and responsibilities of positions should continue to be reviewed. I would advocate first looking at administrative positions that don't have a direct impact on students. If there are positions that can be restructured, combined, reduced over time due to attrition, or eliminated, I would certainly suggest we do that before reducing positions that work directly with students so that we can accommodate the current needs of our student population and return to class sizes that allow teachers to provide the attention and time each student needs to be successful.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?The Illinois budget crisis is of significant concern. We are not currently receiving the full funding owed from the state, which is unacceptable. Additionally, the state school funding model in Illinois results in schools receiving a significantly lower percentage of funding than schools in other states. We must continue to work to advocate for resolution of these issues. Woodland also faces lower enrollment numbers, which affects our funding. I believe that the board should continue to seek cost-cutting measures for supplies and services, as well as looking for additional ways to operate more efficiently and effectively. I recommend continuing to evaluate positions based on current needs, specifically at the administrative level. I recommend that the board consider hiring a grant writer to obtain additional funding that is not currently being pursued. I do not support cuts in student services, physical education, or the arts. I fully support the use of technology and STEM courses, but I don't believe that a Chromebook can replace a current textbook or a qualified teacher, and would not expand the Chromebook program to lower grade levels at this time if the expense would result in the elimination of staff or other services or resources. I do not support property tax or fee increases at this time.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 am a strong believer in high quality public education for all students. It is every student's right. Before we even consider offering additional choices, we must make sure that every school is able to provide excellent educational opportunities to all students. The concern that I have with vouchers or choice programs is that specialized schools will take funds from the local public schools and use it to serve a limited group of select students. This would result in reduced funding for local schools, and a lower quality education for their students. I would rather see a focus on ensuring that every child is able to get a strong public education, regardless of their income level, their zip code, or which school they attend. I am opposed to voucher systems that allow public funds to be used to attend religious schools.I believe that public school boards are obligated to advocate for policies and programs that provide the strongest educational opportunities for ALL students. At this time, I believe that means advocating against the use of public funding for private schools.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?We are facing some difficult times ahead with proposed cuts in social programs in our communities. We have also seen an increase in hate related incidents at our schools which has been very concerning. I believe it's going to be very important, as we continue to face budget uncertainty, reduced social services, and an adversarial political climate, that we continue to ensure that we are doing our best to meet the needs of the whole student. External environmental issues affect a student's ability to learn and thrive. We must focus on recognizing and addressing the needs of our student population, continuing to provide opportunities for exploring a wide variety of information and ideas, teaching analytical thinking, and emphasizing good character and acceptance of diversity of all kinds. I believe that my education, my experience as an educator at Woodland and at the graduate level, my experience as a Human Resources professional, my prior years of board experience and community service, and my experience as an active parent and volunteer at Woodland District 50 will allow me to make a very positive impact on the district and students.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Gurnee's Mayor Kovarik. She is an excellent leader and communicator. She cares about the village, works hard, and does not play political games.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My Mother taught me to never stop learning. Continuous learning helps you understand the world and the people around you and grow as a person.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would appreciate the time I spent with my parents more when I was a teen, and I would welcome the family road trips!What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?English. Reading and writing opens up new worlds and new ideas, has helped me discover new interests and understanding, and is important in every job.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Life is short. Do what you love, spend time with people you love, be kind to each other, and embrace every single day.