James K. Michels: 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: ElburnWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Waubonsee Community CollegeAge: 71Family: Married to Carole, three children (Sean, Todd Denise) 8 grandchildren (Abby, Nick, Maddy, Gina, Sophie, Nico, Greycn ALexa 1 sister and 3 deceased brothersOccupation: Consulting Engineer (retired)Education: BSCE Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 1962MSCE University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 1969Civic involvement: Numerous;Elburn Lions Club;St. Gall Catholic Church; Sugar Grove CCI; District of Powers Lake, WI; Luxembourg American Cultural Society, Belgium, WI; OtherElected offices held: Blackberry Twp., Kane Co. - Trustee, 1985 - PresentWaubonsee Community College - Trustee, 1987 - PresentDistrict of Powers Lake, Kenosha Walworth Cos., WI, 1995 -PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The past issues were ""(rapid)growth and finances"". The current issues are ""(slow) growth and finances"". We have to continue our quality teaching and learning environment at 4 compuses for our students without a significant increase in revenue.Key Issue 2 Maintain the stable teaching and learning environment that WCC has become recognized for in our District and beyond, through continued informed and thoughtful leadershsip.Key Issue 3 Provide for the orderly growth of the College, both facilities and personnnel.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?By conducting strategic planning sessions among the college and community to identify the needs of the District and monitoring enrollment and employment growth/needs and budgeting for the necessary expansion. If the needs exceed the resources of the college, conduct a referendum to finance necessary facilities/personnel.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?This is a trend that we have been aware of for many years. The community college system ""has been found"" as the best affordable alternative to higher education. By providing modern facilities and current courses we are responsive to the needs of the student. Enrollment growth testifies that we are relavent and meet teh fnancial and learning needs of our students.Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?Commuity colleges are unique in that they are partially financed by local property taxes. Therefore we can be responsive to the needs of our district without relying on the state. Currently 50% of our finances come from propety taxes. We are constantly discussing the ways to live within our budget without increasing our tax rate. At this time I do not anticipate an incresase in propety taxes. We have managed our finances through enrollment growth to add revenue to the district.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?I agree wiht your statement. One area that WCC expanded into is ""Brighter Futures"" to help the unemployed find work. I believe that WCC is and can be an ""economic engine"" to our community and that more work can be done in economic development and workforce development for the District.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.As a long term trustee of WCC, I was on the orgional strategic planning committee that led to the development of 2 addtional campuses (Copley and Plano) to better serve our District; the board(s) that authorized and conducted 3 referenda, namely 1 to finance our college and 2 to finance the ""2020 Master Plan"" and personnel needed to staff the new facilities.