Leslie LaMarca: Candidate Profile

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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: Pingree GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Leslie LaMarca - Candidate for D300 School BoardOffice sought: Community Unit District 300 School Board Age: 47Family: Ray - husband14 year old daughter11 year old sonOccupation: Self-EmployedEducation: B.A. CommunicationsCivic involvement: Active community volunteer within various realms within the D300 area. Served on Pingree Grove Events Committee.NKEC Board Member (4 years)Elected offices held: No public offices previously held.Questions Answers With ongoing state funding challenges, suggest ways the district can remain in the black without spending down its surplus, raising taxes or taking on additional debt. If cuts were needed, where would you look to tighten?Understanding the core obstacles regarding issues with state funding is essential. Next, pursuing any viable options for alleviating those obstacles (at the state and/or national level) should be a focus and responsibility of Board of Education (BOE) members. Consistently and diligently advocating for our district "â#8364;#339; locally, state-wide, and nationally "â#8364;#339; should be one of the highest priorities of BOE members as well as high-level district administrators. If the lack of state funds incited the necessity to tighten the D300 budget through cuts, initial recommendations would be anticipated from our Superintendent and his administration. In review of those recommendations, I would advocate for the last option to be any cuts to items that directly impact individual schools (teachers/staff, student programs, etc"circ;brvbar;). Before that, cuts would need to be addressed for district-wide programming; the idea being that a reduced budget should impact schools and students as equitably as possible.Should the district consider cutting ties with its charter school considering the problems with its management and leadership over the last two years?As an NKEC Board member (4 years) and a former Cambridge Lakes Charter School (CLCS) parent, I have a unique perspective on this. CLCS adds value to the district offerings by educating over 800 D300 students. Test scores and acknowledgement of student achievement beyond CLCS are strong indicators that CLCS students are well-educated and prepared for continued success. That said, challenges for CLCS have existed over the last 10 years and made very public over the last 18 months as they tangoed with D300 - turbulently but successfully securing their charter renewal. In that dance, the D300 Superintendent was instrumental in bringing to light and addressing many crucial issues that not only may have impaired the education of CLCS students, but also could have negatively impacted the district. In summary, it was absolutely time for D300 to diligently and thoroughly investigate, be apprised of, and address those debatable elements of operations at CLCS. As an NKEC Board Member, I am very outspoken regarding my support of CLCS staff and families, what I see as systemic operational issues at CLCS, and what I deem as prudent changes considering our fiscal responsibility. I do not believe that D300 should disassociate from CLCS. Yet this relationship, for the well-being of our district, must rely on the strict adherence of CLCS to the standards and parameters agreed to within the charter renewal. These are not arbitrary measures, but instead founded in law and best practices that ultimately serve the most important component - students.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?I think that the BOE has a tremendous responsibility and level of accountability in the realm of curriculum. A sincere commitment is necessary to evaluate what is recommended by the Superintendent and his staff. To accomplish this, BOE members should comprehend 1) what is entailed within the curriculum and its achievement of evidence-based practice 2) how it specifically correlates to all levels of students 3) how it compares and contrasts with other options 4) how it will be effectively facilitated 5) how educators view its strengths and weaknesses 6) how its effectiveness can be measured at reasonable intervals 7) how its implementation impacts the budget. Of course, as a parent of two school-age children, I have ideas about changes I'd like to see within the curriculum. Furthermore, having a wide network of parents and educators, I would never be at a shortage of input and feedback. Outside of that, I believe that all parents and educators, who desire so, should have a voice in the realm of curriculum "â#8364;#339; making their thoughts, ideas, and insights a vital part of the dialogue leading to any change that would later be recommended by the Superintendent.Initial thoughts for change include quantifiable assessment of any/all technology integration including software and testing, more inclusion of science and social studies into elementary studies, more emphasis on communications (oral and written), and more project-based lessons, especially for older students.What are some innovative programs the district could undertake, such as its career pathway programs, to set itself apart?Just a simple Google search indicates that there are numerous "innovative" ideas and programs being utilized in school districts across the U.S. However, "innovation" for innovation sake only is often misguided and misrepresented for lack of true intention. What I mean by this is that I could choose to champion a specific program or two and even begin by mentioning those here. Instead, if elected, I would want to become more knowledgeable about programs in place now, areas of additional need, and, most importantly, the suggestions of other parents and D300 staff. Although a core responsibility of administration, I believe the first step would be to identify the specific areas where additional programming would have the most impact. Before identifying any specific programs and researching their viability for our district, we need to know whether that high-impact area is special needs, before/after school programs, ESL, community-centric, sports, accelerated/gifted learners, etc"circ;brvbar; Again, defining a specific intention will create further justification and enthusiasm about any proposed programming.Additionally, I find the terminology "set ourselves apart" very interesting. To truly do that, I believe we'd have to A) Define what/who exactly we are setting ourselves apart from and why and B) Determine if that is best achieved through "innovative" programming or other means.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?Further fueled by our new President's selection for Secretary of Education, this has been a hotly-debated topic. Like most engaged parents, I have read, listened to, and been accosted by the passionate arguments from both sides. For nine years, my children attended a "school of choice" (CLCS). As I previously stated, this experience, while favorable for my family, was not perfect or always idyllic. It was, however, what was right for my children at that time. I was appreciative to have a choice. I never believed for one minute that my choice for my children's education was taking away from other children's educations. I think as parents, we all want what is best for our own children. In the midst of advocating for our own children, maybe it's true that we fail to acknowledge the "big picture." Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon your view, the main role of public education is to relentlessly advocate for the big picture "â#8364;#339; all the kids, all of the time. This is where the implementation of a robust school choice program gets problematic. Aside from districts already administering programs, I believe this would be an intricately complicated proposal for most school districts. Take into consideration the number of students, expanse of geography, diversity, and budget constraints already being managed by our district and you have the capacity for some major complexity issues. They would not be unsurmountable; but we would truly require specific expertise to implement/expand our school choice initiatives.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?In 1992, I moved to West Dundee as a wide-eyed recent college graduate (BA Communications from North Central). Being from Decatur, IL and attending college in Naperville, I had never been west of Route 59. When friends suggested I look for an affordable apartment in Dundee, I made the trek west and knew instantly I was home. I met the love of my life at a local pub and we became first-time homeowners in Carpentersville. We continued west almost 12 years ago when we moved to Pingree Grove, two kids in tow. As a business owner, community activist, and highly-engaged parent, I am honored to be a candidate for the D300 School Board. While I have many things that are important to me from the standpoint of education and our students, I also understand and value the necessity of collaboration "â#8364;#339; with fellow parents, students, educators, community members, and any/all outside resources. While I believe our district has an abundance of positive attributes including a dedicated and talented administration, gifted and devoted educators, and the most remarkable students, there is always room for growth and improvement. Like any managing body, BOE's greatly benefit from the infusion of new and different perspective, energy, and passion. Along with my commitment to learn and listen, this is what I look forward to bringing to the D300 School Board.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I cannot choose one. However, people who effect positive change in their own community greatly inspire me because THAT is where it all begins.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents instilled in me the belief that hard work and integrity builds self-reliance and self-confidence. They were correct.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?While there may be things I could have or should have done, I have had a very good life - no regrets!What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Language Arts was always my favorite! Being a strong communicator is essential in every aspect of life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I consistently remind my kids to be true to who they are and to approach every situation with kindness, integrity, and confidence.