James Gaffney: 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: St. CharlesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: St. Charles Unit District 303 School Board Age: 69Family: Spouse - Maria4 Children - all graduates of STC HS12 grandchildren3 great granddaughters.Occupation: Retired Electrician, Electrical Utility Contractor.Education: Graduate of St. Charles -- class 1965IBEW Journeyman Electrician, 1970-2017NECA- Schooling on Foreman-ship, Supervision, Construction, Estimating, Management, Negotiating.Business courses thru trade association/s.Civic involvement: Associated/member of electrical industry since 1967Current CUSD 303 Board Member, past presidentCUSD 303 Business Service Committee member, past president Fox River Countryside, Fire /Rescue District, past president, trustee, and one of the founding members of the full time fire dept.NECA, No. Eastern Division , past memberPrivate Bank Trust, past member Advisory Bd.Past Paid on Call Fire Fighter, St. Chas. JayceesShriner, Lions ClubElected offices held: CUSD 303, present board memberQuestions Answers Do you support the closure of Haines Middle School? If so, what should be done with the Haines campus once it is closed?YesCouple options; Special needs students Day Care for D 303 employees Community Use Community input on use Not in favor of selling property at this time.District officials expect the student population in the district will continue to decline in coming years. Do you believe that projection is accurate? If not, why? If so, would you support the closure of any other district schools, as was contemplated last year?Yes I agree there is a decline in enrollment, as far as future closures are concerned, that is something the board, staff, a public will have to address in the future.Which schools areas will be effected, will partly be determined by the demographics of an area.There are a lot of variables involved in closing a school/s along w/demographics, room size, age, maintenance, so on.Jason Pearson was selected as the next superintendent to replace Don Schlomann. What are your top goals for Mr. Pearson?Continue the forward progress this District has made under the present administration.Make sure every student is educated to the best of their abilities, they become a useful participants in our society.To continue to hire the most competent educators, support personnel, and to always maintain a safe/secure environment for our studentsMaintain a balance between the cost of quality education cost to the taxpayer. Understanding that there are cuts/adjustments that can be accomplished-but-there are other cost that fall outside the control of the board. These adjustments have to be made, if we are to maintain the quality of education this community expects.In recent years, school board members have crafted the budget with guideline of limiting annual property tax levy increases to 2 percent or less. Can/should that guideline remain in place?The 2% or less can be maintain at today's levels.Just one foot note, we are all aware of the state's financial whoa's , if the state makes a changes to school funding it may be necessary for the board of education, including myself, to review the circumstances pertaining to the 2% adjustment.Do you support the current plan to borrow money to replace the athletic field at St. Charles North High School with synthetic turf? Do you support a related plan to borrow money to remodel the Norris Recreation Center?Yes, this is an excellent approach, along w/resolving a financial burden safety factor to our students/athlete's.Yes, I also support the related plan to UPGRADE the present conditions at the Norris Rec. Cntr., this upgrade will include a new roof, tuck pointing, a new elevator, to meet disability standards, and the removal construction of the north-west area, damaged by water.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Continue to hire qualified competent educators personnel.Always maintaing safety security for our students personnel.I will continue to support the the staff in their thinking "outside the box" I do believe that the board along with the staff is a team, and I will continue to support this concept, I do not believe in single agenda item, there is no "I" in team.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope FrancisWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents taught us; Honesty, Integrity, loyalty, to share, along w/being a good workerIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Nothing at present, I've had a good life.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math,I've always been good w/my hands, so my math/algebra teaching have been of great benefit in the electrical/self-employed industries.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be Respectable