Jill Johnson: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Jill Johnson

City: Geneva

Office sought: District 304 school board

Age: 36

Family: I have been happily married to Todd Johnson for the past 8 years. We have been blessed with three active children: Camden (3), Kennedy (5) and Sadie (6). Sadie is a first-grader at Western Avenue School where Kennedy will join her in the fall of 2019 for kindergarten. Camden currently goes to Kensington School of Geneva. I was raised in Geneva, left for college and not long ago (7 years), my husband and I decided to move back to make Geneva our forever home.

Education: Geneva High School; social work studies at University of St. Francis

Civic Involvement: My community outreach has included Western Avenue School PTO; Vice-President/President/Committee Chair; City of Geneva Strategic Planning Advisory Committee; Board member/Secretary/Co-Chair of SPAC student government group; Geneva Community Chest; Board of Directors; High School Advisor - Vikings for our Community; Marketing Committee, Golf Committee; volunteer for Daisy scouts and Book Fair Chairperson for Friendship Station.

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? No

Website: johnsonforgeneva.com

Facebook: @johnsonforgeneva304

Issue questions

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

There are many challenges facing Geneva schools however we have to make sure we manage our debt obligations. Prior administrations made financial commitments to bondholders that must be kept, otherwise we risk our bond rating which could affect future bond costs. We also have to make sure we are financially responsible in our budgeting process to allow us to meet the needs of the students while sustaining our educators. This will be more challenging each year especially since the state of Illinois recently modified the funding formula for schools. I think a high priority must be given to improving our understanding those issues facing students and families associated with emotional stress and anxiety. Teen suicide rates between the ages of 10-17 are the 3rd leading cause of death in Illinois. This issue can affect anyone and it crosses all socioeconomic lines. The age gap also widens each year and we need to better understand the underlying issues and implement programs to mitigate them as early as possible. If elected, I would work to ensure adequate resources are dedicated to this important issue.

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?

Based upon my experience as a Geneva student, I believe the K-8 schools promote a very nurturing environment conducive to effective learning. This is confirmed by the 2017 Illinois Report Card that shows Geneva is 10 percent above the state average with regard to 9th Grade "on-track" statistics, however improvement is indicated for 8th Graders as it relates to passing Algebra I. With regard to post high school, Geneva's graduation rate is above the state average in all categories and postsecondary enrollment is also above the state average, however I think we have to recognize a new postsecondary issue. That is the rising cost of college (exponentially above the CPI) compared with the cost benefit of that education to the student and his/her parents. In the past, high schools prepared students for either college or vocational/technical trade opportunities based on their perceived academic capabilities. In recent decades, significant emphasis has been placed on students going to college because the general thought is any degree is better than none at all. That will always be the case for some students, however we have to re-evaluate the benefit of vocational/technical training that can provide valuable options for parents and students who might be better served with these types of educational options.

If elected, I would like to review our resources for technical and vocational education to determine if it needs to be enhanced to meet this growing issue.

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.

For anyone running for an elected office, the answer to the question of do I support any tax increase? That is an unequivocal NO! Unfortunately, this answer doesn't always align itself with the needs of the community. What I will say is, raising taxes should always be an absolute last resort, and even then it should never be done without referendum and mass community involvement and input. What I'm in favor of is a balanced budget and the ability to meet our debt obligations. We have to continue to take the necessary steps to protect the District's bond rating while maintaining our current quality of education. If elected, I will work tirelessly to prioritize spending with a "student-first" mentality. Fiscal prioritization is an important task for any board, however it is crucial to school boards since 68 percent of our tax dollars support schools. I believe in constant communication with the taxpayers and working creatively to develop solutions to challenges. If we follow the necessary steps to stay fiscally responsible, I know we can come up with solutions that are in everyone's best interest one way or another.

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 a school district where you are seeking a school board seat?

No to all of the above.

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?

First, as a parent and citizen of the community, I hope we never have to experience a situation like the one we went through this year, ever again. In my opinion, in cases such as these, no one wins. I believe the Board of Education and the GEA have their work cut out for them restoring the respect and trust they once had for each other and there is much work to do for both sides. Since I was not in the room during the most recent round of negotiations, it isn't fair for me to comment on what occurred, however what I will say is regardless of how you feel personally, everyone must be respectful and follow the "golden rule", a theme that was drummed into me by my teachers ever since I was a first grade student in Geneva. The Staff and the Board are all trying to do the very best they can under very difficult financial and emotional circumstances, but everyone needs to respect the others point of view and I am committed to doing just that. With regard to concessions and costs, this is a difficult topic to deal with in the abstract. I believe staff should be compensated commensurate with the value they bring to the school and classroom. I also believe the burden on the taxpayers is no small thing and absolutely deserves significant consideration. If elected I will work very hard to help find creative means to be efficient and ensure the taxpayers money is focused in the right place.

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?

"Golden parachutes" are one of the reasons the states pension programs are in such turmoil. The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (in which some school support staff are enrolled) created a limit on how much a member's salary can be increased during the final years of their employment to protect the pension program and limit its risk. I will not support these type of increases as they are not in the best interest of the school district.