Karen Osmanski: 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: Des PlainesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Elk Grove Township District 59 School Board Age: 64Family: husband - Bill Osmanskisons: - Wil Osmanski and Kevin OsmanskiOccupation: Retired teacher and school administrator, educational consultantEducation: Bachelor of Arts degree - Early Childhood Education majorMasters of Arts degree - Curriculum InstructionType 75 Certificate of AdministrationCivic involvement: Current School Board memberDirector on the District 59 Education FoundationMember of the Community Character Coalition of Elk GroveElected offices held: School Board secretaryCommunity Character Coalition secretaryQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?I am running for the office of School Board member again because I am an advocate for public education. I completed a 37 year career as an educator in District 59 and serving in this role provides me continued opportunities to positively address and impact the needs of students, their families and a dedicated staff of professionals. In recent years the look and feel of educating our youth has changed. The role of the teacher is evolving. Teachers are becoming researchers of best practice, facilitators of learning while helping students develop academic, social and emotional skills that will make them successful, not only in school, but successful for life. Students are evolving into engaged active learners and problem solvers. They are investigating the state of real world issues, problems, and concerns. Teachers and students are asking questions and working collaboratively to find viable solutions. Collaboration often takes place outside of the traditional school day through the use of technology. Technology also provides a vehicle to research, plan and learn through collaboration with students in other countries, scientists and experts in a variety of fields, or traditionally, with students in their own classroom.As a former educator, current educational consultant and school board member, I recognize the challenges that this evolution of education is creating. It is an unsettling time, yet an exciting time in education. When our collaborative efforts, behaviors and decisions keep our students first, our students will be successful for life.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?Teaching and learning looks different today than it did a few years ago when student and school success was measured under No Child Left Behind. As District 59 works towards the implementation of new learning outcomes, assessments for learning are being created and implemented. Learning outcomes are different, therefore, how we measure success needs to look different. Currently, this is a work in progress.The learning outcomes are helping us update and redefine student success.Our challenge is how to measure collaboration, problem solving, communication and critical/creative thinking? What evidence do we collect that tells us how our students are improving? This is a work in progress.Teachers continue to focus on assessing student learning from day to day, and skill to skill to align teaching and learning activities. These assessments provide critical information that inform teachers of student strengths and needs. When teachers align teaching and learning, there is a positive impact on growth and achievement. Throughout this process of redefining student success, I expect our measures to change and look, sound and feel different. Our assessment structure needs to include National and Local benchmarking- answering the questions, How well are our students performing when compared to students in another school? another district? another state? another country? Another level of importance is to ensure that our students are growing and skills are improving. Our Strategic Plan has these measures in place. An area of growth is to redefine what evidence will be used to demonstrate growth in non-academic areas.Do you support moving forward with relocation of the district's administration center in Elk Grove Village, despite the project's rising costs?I continue to be supportive of moving forward with the relocation of the district's administration center. I understand that the project's rising costs may look to some as if the Board is spending frivolously. Yet I feel that we have been conscientious, purposeful and mindful of how we spend taxpayers money while moving our District forward. After identifying the need to update the administration center's internal spaces to improve work, collaboration and professional learning spaces, it became apparent that much work had to be done and much money had to be spent to bring the administration center up to current building codes. By selling the two properties in Arlington Heights, we will be able to off-set some of the cost of the new building. In addition, by adding these properties to the tax roll, District 59 will receive tax dollars once the property is developed. In my opinion, these facts support the decision to stay true to our original plan to build.None of us could have predicted the rising costs related to materials and construction. However, being responsible and working towards a shared goal, the Board of Education, with input from members on the Facilities Committee, has already modified plans in an effort to keep the building costs within the approved budget. It is important that we continue to evaluate and re-evaluate plans as needed while keeping focus on maintaining the integrity of the purposes of the internal spaces and working within the approved budget.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?The greatest impact on the district's budget is the volatile, unstable state of the State's budget. This includes funding for state mandates, programs, services and pension contributions.District 59 has proactively planned for these shortcomings as best we can predict their impact in the future. One of the beliefs that I hold true throughout my years as a teacher, administrator and now Board member is that our students come first, that the right decisions are made when we keep kids first! It is our responsibility to ensure that students are learning and growing by having their needs addressed. I would not look first to cut programs that address student needs, nor reduce the number of staff who work with our students and positively impact the learning environment and student growth.If we needed to decrease our expenses, I would look first to cut spending on non life-safety capital improvements. However, that being said, we also need to continue to consider not only the initial output of money spent on capital improvements, but also consider possible long term savings. At this time, I do not support any tax or fee increases. The District's fund balance is still healthy and remains above the level where Board Policy requires us to make changes in spending practices. Also, because of our healthy, strategically planned for fund balance, I supported the elimination of the Student Fee and maintained fee levels for extra-curricular activities for the upcoming school year.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?When addressing school choice, many factors come into play. Overarching factors that need to be considered are how will this choice positively impact programming for students and at what cost. Transportation is one service that is impacted by school choice. Currently, District 59 offers a school of choice, Ridge Family Center, and choice programming.(ex. dual language) If a voucher system is approved giving students broader choice, I feel the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system would be to bring forth questions that may guide parents and students when comparing options. As a school board member, I need to remain focused and committed to ensuring that students in our communities have access to quality educational opportunities and facilities. I would pose questions that address what learning standards would form the basis of the curriculum, what services is the public or private school able to offer to address and support student needs across the continuum-from gifted and talented to special education services. Other areas to consider are assessment and teacher quality. What is the assessment plan? How is growth defined and demonstrated? And are highly qualified staff teaching all students.As a public official, I believe this response demonstrates both commitment and responsibility to students and families in our communities.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?There are several areas of interest that are important to me as we collectively strive to identify and address the needs of the communities in which we serve.I am excited that the School Board is continuing to discuss and plan how to improve and increase community engagement in order to hear the voice of residents on issues that District 59 is facing. We have been working with the Illinois Association of School Boards to learn effective ways to reach out to our communities as well as learning how to identify the purpose of the communication.Another area of interest is broadening the District's impact on our youngest residents by addressing children birth to age three. Along with this we need to address ways to help educate parents and provide them with resources to be used that may help their children develop language and social skills while still in the home environment.By focusing on birth to age three development, we can positively impact later educational experiences. Children who come to kindergarten having had rich language and social experiences are better prepared to learn. And this is our greatest responsibility-to ensure that all children learn and grow.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Michelle Obama is an inspirational leader. I value her high energy, passion and commitment to improving the lives of youth throughout our country.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The biggest lesson I learned at home was what it looked like, sounded like and felt like to both give and receive love and acceptance.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?My do-over would be to go away to college and live abroad for while. I would have enjoyed experiencing college life away from home.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My favorite subject in elementary school was math and in high school it was the sciences. These interests helped me develop logical, strategic thinking skills.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The advice I continue to give to my two sons is: treat others as you want them to treat you. This message is timeless!