David Zipp: Candidate Profile

Back to Gavin District 37 School Board 4-year terms

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:BioQA Bio City: InglesideWebsite: www.ZippToCourt.comOffice sought: Gavin District 37 School Board 4-year terms Age: 40Family: Dr. Marcella Marion Reca Zipp - Wife Ken Lydia Reca (in-laws)Occupation: Attorney Executive Director of the Illinois Boaters AssociationEducation: JD - Law - Southern Illinois University MA - Political Science - E. KY University BS - Police Administration - E. KY UniversityCivic involvement: * Executive Director - Illinois Boater's Association * Fox Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Member * 4th Degree Knight of Columbus * Master Mason * Gavin District #37 Board of Education * Lake Co. Bar - Lawyer in the ClassroomElected offices held: Gavin District 37 Board of Education Republican Precinct CommitteemanQuestions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately 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 ran for the Gavin District 37 School Board four years ago to serve as good steward of the local tax dollar. I am concerned that Gavin ISAT scores are the lowest of any of the three schools that feed into Grant High School while being the highest in operation spending. I am pleased to have championed the all-day kindergarten program which began this past fall. I am proud that Gavin 37 still has its talented band program.What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases for local schools? Again, be specific.It is critical that Gavin 37 address its operational spending issues. The administration must be forced to, like the hard working but largely working folks of the District live within its means. If re-elected, I will champion the re-institution of a Board led budget oversight team which will drive a tighter grip on the budget. The tale of Gavin 37 economics can be easily found using the Illinois School Report Cards this very paper presents online: http://reportcards.dailyherald.com/details/?school=Gavin+South+Jr+High+School%2C+Inglesideid-name=340490370021001 Gavin 37 is a two school, near 900 student primary and secondary school in the extreme western portion of Lake County. Gavin 37 pays about 84% of the state average in teacher average teacher's salary, pays about 90% of state average in the administrator's salary, yet only spends around 76% of the average state spending per pupil and unfortunately spends operationally about 94% of state average. This means that Gavin is spends far too much on operations over teachers and instruction. Additionally, the administration has not planned for a new roof and a desired new gym floor in its extravagant spending behavior. I believe operational cuts are certainly on the table but we must first dig into where and why our operational expenditures are so disproportional. Being a local attorney, I am keenly aware of the ongoing financial struggles faced by my neighbors and local business owners. I am not at all supportive of a tax increase referendum. Gavin 37 has an operational spending problem, not a revenue one.Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?No. However, my wife, Dr. Marcella M. Reca Zipp is the Director of Grants and Special Projects at Township High School District 214 in Arlington Heights, Illinois and has just completed her School Business Official examination. Her insight and input has proven to be a wonderful resource in recommending positive choices for Gavin 37.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups -- teachers, support staff, etc. -- what posture should the school board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?I believe we must be honest with our excellent teachers and dedicated staff. Gavin 37 is simply not a wealthy district. I believe that teachers, like the residents in the Gavin District all work hard and should make a good wage. In wealthy Lake County, and in nearby McHenry County, a teacher solely motivated by money over the opportunity to teach a Gavin child is never going to be a good fit at Gavin 37. We can never pay as much as other wealthier school districts. I believe that once the Board gets a handle on the excessive operational expenses, we can and should have an honest negotiation with our teachers and staff during contract negotiations. With the State failing it its duty to properly fund, as per existing state law the poorer school districts such as Gavin and the alarming increase in insurance costs that the District is having to endure, it will be a challenge to make all parties happy at the negotiation table. The necessary first step is to get our fiscal house in order. Then we can can an honest discussion with the various unions come contract time. Regardless of our budget, the exceptionally good taxpayers of the Gavin 37 community should not be disrespected with talk of tax increases when they as a whole are largely suffering in this stagnant Illinois economy.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?Life is a great teacher. Our current superintendent just last year asked our Board to give him what he called the "traditional" but really is substantial pay increases in exchange for a terminal contract although he will be quite young when he actually retires from Gavin 37. In hindsight, I do not believe this was a good or fair decision. Firstly, our superintendent is choosing to leave the Illinois educational system and can and likely will relocate and perform many more years of administrative duties in a similar role in another state which is not at all what the traditional substantial increase in pay to help boost benefits is intended. Secondly, it seems highly unfair and creates bad blood between administration and the teachers and staff at Gavin when we drastically increase the superintendent's pay when we cannot afford to do so with the teachers and staff. In hindsight, I do not believe this was a wise expenditure of the tax payer's dollar and I question if this practice should continue in any form or fashion at Gavin 37.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As many locals know, the Gavin 37 community has been rocked by the revelation that we have employed a child sexual predator and molester for several years. The case is currently being adjudicated in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Lake County, and there is still much we as a Board do not know as to what actually did occur and where. We, as a Board have already terminated three teachers for their failure to report creditable information to the authorities. The Board is keenly awaiting specific details as to what this predator truly did to the children under our care at Gavin. I want to assure the Gavin community that this matter is still being investigated and if further criminal actions or terminations of administrators or staff are warranted, I will not hesitate in my duty to protect the children of Gavin District 37. During the next four years, both Gavin and the Fox Lake elementary school districts will be hiring new superintendents. While merging districts is never easy, I would very much champion having the school districts explore sharing resources and perhaps even employing a joint superintendent. The economic challenges facing Gavin and other smaller and less wealthy districts will not go away, but we can be smarter and more focused on how we spend the tax payer's dollar in the noble pursuance of the education of our children. I'm honored to current serve on the Gavin District 37 Board of Education and am asking for your vote.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bob Dold, my congressman. He served, lost re-election, and won his seat back. He championed the Chain O'Lakes and truly cares about this District.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?You can learn much even from those with whom you disagree. Find common ground and build positive relationships.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I love my life, my wife, and my home in the Chain O'Lakes region. I would not risk any of that on a do-over.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. So many great minds dealing with amazing challenges can serve to help guide current decisions and choices.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Choices have consequences, so make smart decisions. Do not be afraid to take a chance on yourself.