Terry Lindsay: Candidate Profile

Back to Des Plaines Elementary District 62 School Board

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: Des PlainesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Des Plaines Elementary District 62 School Board Age: 49Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Associate Professor and Dean of Diversity and Intercultural Programs, North Park UniversityEducation: Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration Argosy University, College of Education and Human Development M.Ed., College Counseling and Student Personnel, State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology B.A., African American Studies State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of African American StudiesCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Board Member, District 62 School Board - Elected Office (2010 - Present)Questions 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 believe the district is moving in the right direction regarding preparing student for success. At the most recent meeting of the school, district leaders presented to the board a plan aimed at monitoring students' progress on state and local assessments. The goal of the plan is to determine students' weaknesses and strengths, and to develop specific strategies to help all students achieve success and growth within the classroom.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.The economic challenges of the state and the uncertain future of federal grants to support education could force the district to trim services and programs needed to support students' academic achievement and development. The entire budget should be reviewed to identify cost saving measures. The board and school district administration should conduct an analysis of the instructional programs, operations and maintenance, transportation, and other budgets line items to determine which programs and services could be reduced or eliminated. I believe that in these economic times, it might be impossible to avoid property tax increases, but before the board would consider any increases, we must work hard to identify alternative funding sources.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?NoAs 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 support increases in salary and health benefits for all school district employees but the negotiations must be done in a fiscally responsible way. In tough economic times, concessions by both the union and management will be needed in order to reach an agreeable contract settlement.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 would not support an increase in pay to boost pension benefits. Salary increases, especially substantial ones, should be based on merit and/or contractual agreements. The practice of awarding substantial increases to boost pension benefits is fiscally irresponsible and therefore unjustifiable in this challenging economic climate.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Improve student assessment and basic skills scores across all grade levels Increase interventions, and improve the quality of services available to support at-risk students who are struggling, academically and/or behaviorallyPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of LiberiaWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The distance doesn't matter; it's only the first step that counts (Marie de Vicky-ChamrondIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Serving othersWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I enjoy reading great books and it has helped me toIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Treat everyone you meet with respect, love and dignity