Gordon Tebo: 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: WoodstockWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County CollegeAge: 62Family: Married, 3 children, two grandchildrenOccupation: Teacher and Coach (retired)Education: Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Oakland (MI) University, 1970Teaching certification in Mathematics, Eastern Michigan University, 1973Civic involvement: District 200 Building Expansion CommitteeDistrict 200 Referendum CommitteeProducer Woodstock Children's Summer TheatreCo-Chair Friends of McHenry Community College Foundation Golf FundraiserElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 FinancesKey Issue 2 Facility ExpansionKey Issue 3 Curriculum Expansion and TechnologyQuestions 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?Maximum use of existing facilities minimizes the need for new facilities. Using classrooms and facilities at non-traditional times (weekends, late-night hours,etc) must be explored. On-line courses can be expanded. If expansion is necessary, MCC owns two parcels of land, some of which can be developed at any time should the resources be available.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?For those students who go to MCC as a beginning to a four-year degree, statistics show that the cumulative GPA of former MCC grads exceeds the average of both other community college transfers and native four year students.Tuition/fees at MCC are below those at nearby community colleges. Also,MCC must keep working together with businesses in the community to ensure it is providing the necessary courses in training and certification.Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?Fiscal year 2011 brought a 2% decrease in state funding for community colleges compared to FY 2010. Revenue from property taxes in McHenry County decreased almost $1,000,000. Cuts can be made, but only if the mission and the educational benefits are not compromised. At some point either a tuition hike, a tax rate increase,or a combination may be needed. Hopefully, these options can wait until the economy turns around.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?MCC must continue to reach out to the community through it's Adult Literacy Program, Dual Credit Program, Retired Adults Program, and others in response to community needs and desires. It must also continually reevaluate the trends in undergraduate education and enhance partnerships programs with four year schools. At this time, I am not aware of any service not rendered or segment of the population that has an apparent need.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.I grew up in the factories in Detroit, got an engineering degree, and spent two years in business. I followed that with 35 years in education as a high school teacher, department head, and varsity coach. I have worked on building programs and referendums. I have been involved with many of the issues MCC is facing now and in the future. I have the time and want to give back to the community.