Mary Kay Prusnick: 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: Hanover ParkWebsite: http://votemarykay.orgOffice sought: Schaumburg Twp. Elementary D54Age: 39Family: Married: Husband, Tim; Four children: Son, Timothy, 19; Daughters, Maeve, 13, Matilda, 8 and Molly, 6.Occupation: Stay at Home MomEducation: Bachelor of Arts in History, Hiram College (Ohio), 1993Civic involvement: District 54 Goals CommitteeDistrict 54 Fees Committee, 2010-11District 54 Board Recognitions Committee, 2010-11Schaumburg Township Council of PTAs board member since 2001Albert Einstein School PTA board member since 1999Albert Einstein School Reading Fluency Volunteer, 2011Albert Einstein School Family Literacy Task Force, 2011Jane Addams Jr. High PTA board member 2003-2005, 2009-11Albert Einstein School Leadership Team, 2003-2010Jane Addams Jr. High School Leadership Team, 2009-2011Hoffman Estates Loyal Parents board member 2007-2009Hiram College Alumni Volunteer Day Chicago-area Coordinator since 2005Elected offices held: Schaumburg Township Council of PTAs, President, 2008-2010Schaumburg Township Council of PTAs, Corresponding Secretary, 2010-2011Albert Einstein School PTA, President, 2001-2002Albert Einstein School PTA, 1st Vice President, 2010-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To ensure that students continue receiving an excellent, balanced education that includes 21st century skills, while being fiscally responsible.Key Issue 2 To broaden the perspective of the School Board with a current District Parent's point of view. Having represented parents on a number of District wide committees, I have seen how critical it is to have an advocate for parents at the highest level to guide decisions of the School Board.Key Issue 3 To use my community leadership skills and experience with School District 54 to fill the vacancy on the school board and facilitate a smooth and effective transition.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?Excellence in education is a hallmark for School District 54. In 2010 alone, 16 of the District#146;s 27 schools had at least 90% of the students achieving a #147;meets or exceeds#148; score on the ISAT state assessment in BOTH Reading and Mathematics. Likewise, other routine assessments throughout the year allow teachers to frequently gauge how students are doing and provide targeted interventions to those students that need extra help.While the District ensures proficiency in the core subjects, they must also be sure that they are giving students skills as 21st century learners. Thinking critically and creatively, working together and being able to effectively communicate will be so important as they move onto high school and college and, ultimately, out into an ever changing global economy. Our students are being very well prepared, but we can always do better to give them the best start to be the learners and leaders of tomorrow. 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?Funding across Illinois#146; education system continues to be a challenge. School District 54 has demonstrated good financial stewardship, presenting a balanced budget for 15 years. The District#146;s administration has a fine tradition of keenly managing expenditures like insurance and supplies that I will expect to persist. I will not cite specific programs to cut without being more thoroughly involved with District management. I can say that as a PTA leader and an involved community member, I could only support measures that do not reduce services to students. Because the District has done a good job managing within their current means, I would not support a tax increase in the foreseeable future.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.In order to make decisions that are in the best interest of students, the District has to gather information from many viewpoints. Clearly, one of the most valuable assets this District has is a legion of highly qualified, caring educators. As the proud daughter and sister of National Board certified teachers, I understand the value in the experience of those educators that spend the most time each day with our students. As I have witnessed over and over, at School Board meetings and throughout the District, the employee groups have a uniquely collaborative relationship with the School Board. If the unions support school board actions, I will feel confident that it is because District stakeholders have been involved in the process.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?The School Board should be fair-minded and collaborative when it comes to collective bargaining. I will be willing to listen and make decisions based on what is best for students. I believe that the employee groups in District 54 want the same. Given the current economic climate, however, I wouldn#146;t expect increases.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?I certainly would not support such a raise. The Teacher Retirement System, as well as state pension funds for other public employees, is already in crisis and needs to be looked at seriously. Overburdening the fund by artificially inflating or padding an administrator#146;s salary would be both irresponsible and unethical.