Gary Weigand: 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: St. CharlesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Central Community Unit D301Age: 56Family: Married 2 childrenOccupation: Business OwnerEducation: High schoolCivic involvement: 25 year volunteeer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of IllinoisElected offices held: D301 schoool board 2003-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Simply to provide the best education and life skills that wecan within the budget we have to work with.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 am very satisfied that we preparing students for the challenges ahead. We have processes in place to monitor test scores, committees to continually review curriculum, district leadership team to explore ways to improve the district and regular community focus groups to provide feedback on both the strengths and weaknesses of the district.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?Our district has always been committed to a balanced budget and I have always supported that. It is my hope that there won't have to be any cuts but should that be necessary to balance the budget I would explore all options presented by the administration and vote on the option that I believed would have the least impact on student achievement.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.I believe all backgrounds whether from the education field or the business world or the stay at home parent are valuable as long as that person's goals are to work in a collaborative manner for the good of all the students.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 believe the board should do whatever necessary to balance the budget.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