Mundelein High School candidates: It's all about the money

The economy and the school's facility needs are among the top concerns for the candidates seeking election to the Mundelein High School District 120 board.

Five candidates are seeking four seats on the panel. All seats carry 4-year terms.

Incumbents Vicky Kennedy, Gerry Munley and Edwin Specht are on the ballot, as are newcomers Robert Smith and Bryan Wilcox.

The candidates spoke about the high school's needs and other topics in questionnaires for the Daily Herald.

Kennedy, a board member since 2003, cited the economy as the district's biggest issue. Dropping tax revenues are forcing school officials at Mundelein and elsewhere to re-examine and adjust budgets, she said.

"We are retooling our budgets and looking for alternative approaches to maintain the educational quality we demand, while examining budget reductions where appropriate," Kennedy said.

Munley, a board member since 2005, is particularly concerned about finding solutions for the aging school building. Although officials long have said building improvements are needed, the board recently postponed asking voters for more money for such work until 2010.

"The board has to set a path to find the financial resources," Munley said.

The board should develop plans for the facility improvements now so the panel is ready when more federal, state or local funding is available, he said.

Facility needs also were a big concern for Smith, a retired teacher. He complained about insufficient locker space for students and a need to reduce the student-to-teacher ratio and called for the technology program to expand.

But he also acknowledged such improvements would need money at a time when the board and staff need to "take a serious look at how to cut expenses."

Smith noted that the largest expense for the school is personnel and said staff and program cuts should be seriously considered.

Specht, the board's president and a member since 2005, cited the need to improve academic achievement as the district's biggest issue. The development of long-range goals and new programs such as a test-preparation course for some juniors will help bring up scores, he said.

Wilcox, a teacher and coach at Libertyville High School, said the building's needs are a paramount concern. A voter-approved tax-rate increase will be needed to address those needs, he said.