Jazmin Santillan: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: NapervilleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Indian Prairie Unit District 204 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 56Family: Married for 30 years, two teen aged childrenOccupation: Homemaker, Spanish language tutor, (previously Information Technology Project Manager)Education: Master of Business Administration in Management of Information Systems, DePaul University, 1989 Bachelor of Science in Accounting, University of Illinois, 1978 Certified Public AccountantCivic involvement: Indian Prairie School District 204, University of Illinois Foundation, National Society of Hispanic MBA's, Waubonsie Valley PTSAElected offices held: noneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Academic Excellence: To close the achievement gap by providing equal opportunities to students of all races regardless of their economic standing; encourage and support students; and offer rigorous curriculums and challenging academic programs at all levels.Key Issue 2 Financial Health: To maintain balanced budgets, make financially sound budget decisions based on fair market values for goods and services, and to implement changes that have minimal impact on students in the classroom environment.Key Issue 3 Enhance Communication: To enhance communication within the district especially to the family community and other vested parties. To relate information accurately, on a timely basis, and to listen respectfully to the opinions of others.Questions Answers What do you think about the shift to the common core standards? 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 support the shift to common core standards because it prepares our students to be critical thinkers and to succeed in a global economy. Board members should facilitate and support the subject matter experts primarily responsible for setting the curriculum for students. A critical board role is to communicate the changes in curriculum and testing within the district as part of the change management process and to eliminate barriers impacting key mile stones in the project plan.How satisfied are you that your district is 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?IPSD 204 is doing an outstanding job preparing students for the next stage in their lives. I have been extremely involved in the elementary and high school experiences of both my children and I am very satisfied with the opportunities and preparation they have received. The district continues to evolve by improving communication, introducing innovative technology, and bridging the academic gap forat risk? students.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 increases?The national economic crisis and Illinois? financial troubles have profoundly impacted our district's revenue stream. For example, in 2000, Illinois funded 25.6% of the district's budget compared to 9% in 2010. Illinois? large debt and continued uncertainties will likely result in additional budget cuts going forward. I support staffing and program reductions, implementation of operational efficiencies, and fee increases made by the board because they maintain a balanced budget and have a minimal impact on the classroom activities. Additional cuts will most likely be necessary and the board can look to improve processes, eliminate redundancies, and continue to automate labor intensive operations. Tax increases should be a measure of last resort. I support increasing revenue through increased fees for special programs (sports, clubs, fine arts), and student enrollment.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups, 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?Contract talks and agreements must be a collaborative effort that takes into consideration the financial challenges of our economy. I support small salary increases to keep pace with cost of living increases in line with inflation. The district should ask for concessions from all employee groups and continue to implement innovative ways to reward and recognize employees.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 any increase in salary to boost pension benefits because current salaries should represent the fair market value of services rendered based on policy and practice. I am against singling out individuals or special interest groups for preferential treatment. If a deficiency exists based on fair market values, then the entire employee base should be considered.