George Fievet: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: George Fievet

City: Vernon Hills, IL

Office sought: Member of the Hawthorn 73 Board of Education

Age: 42

Family: My wife, Julie, and I have lived in Vernon Hills for over 12 years. We have two sons; the oldest is in fourth grade and the youngest is in Kindergarten.

Occupation: Sr. Manager, Platform Development for AIM Specialty Health

Education: BS in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University (1998); MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (2013)

Civic involvement: Cubmaster, Cub Scout Pack 273 in Vernon Hills, youth soccer coach, Vernon Hills Soccer Club

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? I was appointed to the Hawthorn 73 school board in January 2019.

Website:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgeforhawthorn

Twitter: @chipfiev

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your district and how do you intend to address them?

A growing enrollment and aging facilities have created a situation which requires action. I believe we need to act now. It's far more fiscally responsible to take care of these issues now - as well as better for our students, staff and administrators. We also need to make sure that our newly appointed superintendent has the support and environment needed to do the things we know he's capable of doing. For my part, I intend to take a look at the issues facing the district and provide objective, data-driven decision making so that the correct things get done. To me, this job is about being a responsible steward of the district so that the district can do what's right for the children and the community.

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?

Personally, I'm quite satisfied with the education my children receive from Hawthorn schools. I've seen tremendous growth in my boys, both in what they know and what they are able to achieve. The early education program was a blessing for my youngest as he worked through delays in speech and fine motor skills. My oldest has not only shown academic progress year after year but has found a new confidence as he's explored talents in the arts he didn't know he had. That being said, I do believe that there's work for us to do so that our schools can continue to deliver this level of education to all the children in our growing district. Facilities and staff development must be properly and responsibly supported - for our children's sake.

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? Be specific.

While our community did recently back a bond issue for improvements to our facilities, a companion referendum to supply the operating funds needed to properly leverage the improvements did not pass. This operating "gap" must be addressed as we work to improve our schools for our kids. I do not support any specific cuts in any programs but do feel we must do our duty to find savings wherever it can be responsibly done. With careful attention to the details, I believe it is the board's responsibility to work towards the right balance in spending and savings while maintaining our commitment to our students and staff.

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?

I am not currently employed or retired from any school district. My spouse is a teacher in a neighboring school district but has no relationship with Hawthorn 73 outside of being a parent and volunteer.

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?

During any sort of contract negotiation, the board has a responsibility to be fair to all parties involved. I don't believe that an agreement which takes advantage of any single side is fair or beneficial in the long run. I would hate to see a situation arise where a short-term concession leads to a long run of poor performance or extra costs down the road. The decisions that must be made regarding contracts are not to be taken lightly and these decision should be made on facts, not opinions, to achieve the best result in the end for our community.

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?

Absolutely not. As a school board member, my job is to prevent the abuse of tax payer dollars. The troubling pension situation in this state is well known and this sort of behavior is part of the problem. As a tax payer myself, I want to work towards improving the situation and would not support an action which could make the situation worse for everyone - including myself.