Carol Botwinski: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Arlington HeightsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Prospect Heights Elementary D23Age: 53Family: Married for 20 years, 1 sonOccupation: Homemaker, community volunteerEducation: Bachelor of Arts, Loyola UniversityCivic involvement: Boy Scout troop 36 parent volunteer, PHIL volunteer, PIFFA Director, NSSEO volunteer, Kiwanis Peanut Day volunteer, NSSEO Governing Board alternate, LICA Board of Control member, District 23 Leadership Council member, District Ed-Red representativeElected offices held: School District 23 Board member, SecretaryHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Finances are the overriding issue. Until that can be stabilized it makes it difficult to plan for the future or effectively implement changes. The combination of the poor economy and the delinquency of payments from the State of Illinois have made planning challenging at best. The board has been closely reviewing the finances for months to determine ways to address the issue. We've taken a first step by reconfiguring the schools into grade centers (projected annual saving of $300,000+). The process is continuing and will result in a number of decisions including further cuts, implementation of fees, and other cost control measures. The goal is to continue to provide education and programming to students such that they maintain the high achievement for which the district is known.Key Issue 2 As previously mentioned, the Board recently voted to reconfigure the schools in the district into grade centers. In the new configuration students are grouped by grade for each school #8211; grades K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4-5th. The measure was taken in order to realize curricular benefits, as well as a significant annual cost savings. The staff and administration is hard at work planning for the transition to the new configuration. Parents have also volunteered to assist in the transition and implementation. Our goal is the successful implementation of the plan and continued success for our students as we go forward.Key Issue 3 The financial crisis and reconfiguration decision have highlighted the importance of accurate and effective communication with the stakeholders of the district. We need to identify ways to disseminate important district information in a systematic and timely manner. Though we have made improvements in communication #8211; through additional and more detailed newsletters, website updates, and email distribution #8211; more is necessary. A review of the district communication plan may help to focus on those media or methods that can best provide access to effective communication.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your district is preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?Our district feeds into both Wheeling and Hersey high schools. Both schools report that our students are generally prepared for high school. Many of our students excel in various academic and extracurricular programs in their high school.What budget issues will the district have to confront? What measures do you support to address them? If cuts are needed, be specific about programs and expenses that should be reduced or eliminated. Do you support any tax increases for local schools?Like most school district in Illinois, District 23 is already confronting significant budgetary issues. The combination of a flat CPI, an unfavorable EAV, the reduction in the tax collection rate, and chronically late payments from the state has combined to put the district in financial crisis. Last year, with the help of the teachers, administration, business office and community members, the board approved budget cuts of just over $1M dollars (#8220;Cut A Million#8221;) which were effective for the current school year. This was done primarily through staff reductions, trimming down various budgetary accounts and increasing the registration fee. By policy, the district carries a 25% reserve to cover emergency expenses and revenue flow. The state of Illinois is delinquent to the point of the district having to use the reserves for regular expenses. This past December the district was in the position of having to issue Tax Anticipation Warrants in order to make payroll. This loan would have added an additional $30,000 to the overall debt. Fortunately, funds arrived in time and the TAWs were not necessary #8211; this time. Though the policy of maintaining a reserve is wasteful in the eyes of some, it is intended for exactly this scenario. During the current financial review, the board has considered the elimination of programs such as physical education and art, implementing or increasing fees for extracurricular programming, increasing class size, reducing staff positions, identifying energy savings, and other measures. I do not favor the elimination of entire programs. We are a small district and can realize savings through a more surgical approach in a combination of these suggestions and more. We recently voted to reconfigure the schools #8211; a projected annual savings of at least $300K. This measure was identified for potential savings by several groups last year, including the community, during the #8220;Cut A Million#8221; project. In January, the board voted to put a tax referendum on the April 2011 ballot. I supported both measures.Is experience as a teacher or support from a union valuable because it suggests educational insights or detrimental because it creates pro-teacher bias? Please clarify whether you have such experience or would accept union support.We have had attorneys, accountants, homemakers, and teachers as board members over the years. Each member brings to the board their own professional and personal experiences, and the benefit to the board depends on the individual and how well he or she can apply that knowledge. I do not have experience as a teacher or a union member. I do have experience in working closely with a variety of teachers for the education of my child over the years. While it does not necessarily give me educational insights, it has given me an appreciation for the level of dedication, the necessity for collaboration, the value of an open mind -- all of which most effective teachers demonstrate. As long as all stakeholders look to the students as the ultimate focus, the district benefits. I would welcome the support of our teachers. As contract talks come up with various employee groups, what posture should the board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?The board and employee groups have adopted the Interest Based Bargaining model to approach contract talks. All parties will present their list of issues and supporting data. The financial status of the district has been well-publicized. The district is anticipating cuts of up to $1.5M over the next year to be realized over a broad area. Employees are well aware of this. The district has little choice but to ask for some concessions. During a recent board financial workshop, health care and other benefits were suggested as areas to explore.If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?In the last year and a half, the board has worked to make significant cuts to the budget. Hundreds of hours have been spent reviewing finances to determine areas to eliminate, programs or staff to be trimmed, or areas to generate additional revenue. That process is still ongoing. The board has voted to reconfigure our schools as the first of many of these measures -- a very challenging decision for the community. We will be asking our teachers for some concessions. We are asking the community to pass a tax referendum. It has been a difficult process for our community. In light of these measures, a substantial increase to boost pension benefits is unlikely for the superintendent or anyone else. I would not support it.