Dianne McGuire: 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: NapervilleWebsite: http://diannemcguire.comOffice sought: College of DuPageAge: 64Family: Married, two children, one grandchildOccupation: Retired TeacherEducation: South Dakota State University: BA in English, Secondary Education, 1969Northern Illinois University: MS of Ed, Reading Specialist, 1983.DePaul University: Certificate of Proessional Achievement in Mediation Training, 2006.Civic involvement: Naperville League of Women Voters, Board of Directors City of Naperville Fair Housing Advisory Commission, MemberAmerican Association of University Women, MemberVillas of the Fields Homeowners Association, BoardProject HAVE (Housing Alternatives for Veterans Effort), former Board memberNaperville Unit Education Assoc., President, 1987-1996Naperville Township Democratic Organization, ChairElected offices held: Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 1. Be the taxpayer's advocate when it comes to the spending of their tax dollars: make sure that waste is eliminated whenever found and that oversight with regard to capital expenditures is informed and constant. Will also advocate with others for our fair share of state and federal resources in an effort to keep property taxes low.Key Issue 2 2. Maintain the college's core mission: service to students. If this is always the guiding principle, then budgetary and curriculum priorities will, by definition, be aligned with best practice and service.Key Issue 3 3. Ensure a collaborative environment for policy making, making sure all major constituent groups will not only have a place at the table, but a respected voice, as well.Questions Answers With enrollment up at my many community colleges, it can be challenging to keep pace as far as available classroom/lab space, the number of qualified teachers and available course work options. How would you manage that?The College of DuPage has been in front of this issue for some time now. With the adoption of the Master Plan, the college is committed to a $415 million dollar expansion of the college's physical plant, allowing for expansion into the career choices of the future, including the Homeland Security Education Center, the Health and Science Center, the Culinary Hospitality Center, and the Technical Education Center. With the passage of the $168 million referendum this past fall, the District 502 community has given its support to this expansion. With the aging of the Baby Boomers, health and science careers will explode with demand and COD is ready. I would also continue to promote the online offerings as a way to address continued growth without adding additional physical facilities.In tough economic times, many students (and working professionals) turn to a community college for its educational value. How do you ensure that a person's financial sacrifice equates into an educational benefit?The best value for the dollar: who isn't searching for value these days? Community colleges have always been the best value for those looking for an associate's degree, a certificated program, or to get the general education requirements necessary for a bachelor's degree at the best value. As a Board member, I will continue to advocate for the lowest possible tuition for students. Knowing that many of our students are also working full or part time jobs, it will remain important to have flexibility in scheduling and continued expansion of online offerings. As a Board member, I would promote our efforts to secure grants of all kinds and would be an advocate at both the state and federal levels for improved funding.Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?I do not believe that a tax rate increase at this time is necessary. Prsident Bruder is close to achieving a fund balance of 50% of the operating revenue by 2011, leading one to believe that a tax increase is most likely not needed at this time.Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?Although individuals from 55 years of age and up represent about 23% of the population living within District 502 boundaries, they currently comprise only about 5% of our students. I would like to see a more aggressive outreach to this particular age group as they near retirement and seek to find new opportunities for enrichment. I would also like to see COD reach out to our younger students, those at the middle school level, to make sure they are aware that there is a reasonably priced path to higher education right in their own backyard.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.When I was approached with an offer to run for the Board of Trustees for the College of DuPage, I felt an immediate comfort in returning to an educational setting, having spent over 28 years teaching. I would be honored to serve residents of District 502 as a voice for students, faculty, administration, parents and community members as we seek to ""touch the future"" and ensure that all students receive the best we can provide for them.