David E Lange: 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: LisleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lisle Unit D202Age: 49Family: Wife-Sharon Sons Zachary, a junior at Lisle Senior High School Alexander, a 7th Grader at Lisle Junior High SchoolOccupation: Registered NurseEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Sociology-Elmhurst CollegeBachelor of Science in Nursing-Graceland UniversityNursing Administrative Leadership Certificate-UICCivic involvement: Current President of the Lisle Band Parent Organization.Volunteer Speaker at the Technology Center of DuPage, for the Non-Traditional Careers Mentoring Group.Fundraising for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, via the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle. Former President of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, LisleElected offices held: N/AHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To improve the academic experience in Lisle School District 202 by expanding emphasis on, Critical Thinking Skills, Study Skills and Test Taking Skills.Key Issue 2 Candidate did not respond.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.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?I feel our school district does a good job in academic preparation. Three areas, however, that I feel would enhance the current academic experience are; 1. Critical Thinking Skills 2. Study skills. 3. Test Taking Skills. The complexity of each of these skill sets expands progressing toward graduation. I propose that each of these skill sets be taught independently or strategically incorporated into the curriculum throughout the grade levels. Each of these skills are used in everyday life and work.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?The first goal of the Lisle Community Unit School District 202 is, #147;Improve academic achievement of all students in the District as measured by State and local assessments."" Budget conversation must support this goal taking into consideration the economic climate at that time. Unfortunately, many of the first opportunities that are considered for elimination are non-academic; Band, Choir and others. Current day fundraising is an example of how some of these non-academic programs are able to flourish.The first priority of school is to provide an academic education.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.The responsibility of administration, the school board and front line educators, at the K - 12 level, is to be an advocate for our children and put their educational needs first. One would hope that educators, union or otherwise, would maintain this mindset in all decision making. Resolution of discord in such matters must be conducted civilly, respectfully and with the sole intention of creating the best educational experience possible for our children. I have not had any personal experience with matters in the above question.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?I feel that the various employee groups that help create the education experience in the Lisle School District deserving of fair market compensation. I believe that the School Board must examine the economic climate at the given time of contract talks, and make a decision that best supports current and future goals of the school district.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?No, I would not support a substantial increase in pay to help boost pension benefits for a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement. Respectfully, we are all responsible for building our retirement and have access to numerous avenues to do so. I feel that real-time funds should be used to support the goals school district.