Amy Christine Weltin: 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: LombardWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lombard Elementary D44Age: 37Family: Married, 4 children, 2 girls at Pleasant Lane and twin boys that will enter Pleasant Lane next fall.Occupation: Stay at Home Mom, Substitute Teacher for Lombard Park District Kiddie Campus Preschool, Pee-Wee gym Teacher for Lombard Park DistrictEducation: Bachelor of Science in Education, Illinois State University, 1995Masters of Education in Educational Administration, Northern Illinois University, 2001Civic involvement: Girl Scout Leader for Junior Troop and Brownie Troop, Pleasant Lane PTA member, 2nd Vice President and Past President, Double Blessings Mother of Twins Club member.Elected offices held: Non-Governmental:Treasurer of Double BlessingsPresident of PTAHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 One of the goals of District 44 is to be the top performing district in DuPage County. I think that we need to hold this as a goal for our special education population as well. While you probably will not find someone to disagree with that prior statement, I believe we need to improve the quality of our special education program in all the differing levels of disabilities. We need to continue to work on the implementation of the Response to Intervention program and continue to train and educate parents on how it works with the students. In addition, for our even lower functioning students, we need to focus on how to best meet their needs in the least restrictive environment. I am optimistic that we will move forward down a positive path. However, our turn-over in administrators in this area has been high. It is my hope that we have consistency in the administration and we look towards how we are best meeting the needs of our most challenged students. Questions we must ask ourselves: Are we listening to the parents concerns and what they believe is best for the children? Are we providing our teachers the proper training to properly educate students at different learning levels?Are we truly educating our children in the least restrictive environment?Are we individualizing learning needs?While I am not stating that we are not at this time, it is something that I believe is very important to monitor and make sure that we are doing what is absolutely the best for our students. I am not entering this election with personal agendas. It would be untrue to say that I do not have my opinions on certain topics. However, as a board member, I need to look at the big picture, not just what I think is necessary. Everyone has a journey they has brought them to this point and a journey that lies ahead in their life. It is their personal journey and with it brings experiences and background knowledge that help them make decisions and guide them on the future paths they take in life. Despite others opinions, beliefs, or agendas, they cannot change your journey and how it has affected you as the person today. My journey has taken me through many years of special education. I been a teacher, administrator and advocate in this arena. I have spent countless hours learning and studying what is best for students with different learning abilities. This journey is why I want to help the students with special needs in District 44 get the best possible education.Key Issue 2 Maintaining fiscal responsibility in a volatile economy is an issue many districts will face in the near future if they are not already. In regards to District 44, I know they have obtained high marks and managed to stay in the black. This will continue to remain of utmost importance in the future while we watch how, when, and if we will receive monies from the state of Illinois. It is my belief that the money paid in by Lombard residents from taxes for the Lombard schools stay in this town and support the education of its' citizens. I will work as a productive member of a the school board team to analyze, reflect, and make decisions based on the information we have. I will listen to the superintendent's cabinet, teachers, and tax payers and use all of the information I obtain to make the best case decisions necessary in all areas, including the financial one.Key Issue 3 As a board member, I also would like to see the district continue to forge ahead in the areas of instructional methodology, technology, and social emotional learning. If our main goal is to become the highest performing district in DuPage County, lets make a stretch goal to compete and benchmark ourselves against other districts even outside of DuPage County. Geneva, Schaumburg, St. Charles to name a few are also top districts in our part of the state. How are we doing compared to them? Are we leading the way in one arena? Could we learn from another district, make some changes to fit our communities needs, and reach our goal in this county? We need to make sure that we are using the resources we have to the best of our abilities to educate the whole child. Using research, data, and learning from other communities can continue to move us forward. In addition, I would like to see us be the leader in best educational practices. While I acknowledge it is getting more difficult to get everything the teachers need to instruct on in a school day and there appear to be more demands and less time, we need to figure out a way to maximize learning and be at the forefront of education.Questions Answers 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?At this time I have not personally experienced the transition from elementary school into high school. That being said, I have spent some time discussing this process with community members that have had this experience. What I have found to date is that the families (parents and students) are pleased with the transition process as well as the classroom learning opportunities that have been afforded to their children prior to entering high school. The families I have spoken with have felt that the educational opportunities offered at Westlake Jr. High have allowed their children to be ready for, if not steps ahead of, other students entering the high schools. In addition, the community members spoke positively of the humanities offerings and the choices available to students that may actually help them find a path to interests that could lead to career development. I personally have heard board presentations regarding the implementation of a differentiation specialist at the middle school and am excited to see the teachers focusing on the different learning styles and the different learning paces of individual children. This in itself is just one way that District 44 is focusing on the individual child and working to prepare him/her to his/her fullest potential.What budget issues will the district have to confront? What measures do you support to address them? If cuts are needed, be specific about programs and expenses that should be reduced or eliminated. Do you support any tax increases for local schools?After hearing the state of the district, I was pleased to learn that we have received high markings regarding our fiscal responsibility and budgeting. At this time, our budget is positive on the balance sheet and the board and cabinet project that we will remain in this position. However, I do believe one of our biggest financial issues will be remaining in the black in a volatile economy and until our states budget crisis is rectified. While we are owed money from the state, we are fortunate that it is not where we receive the greatest amount of our revenue. That being said, it is still necessary to obtain that money in order to continue to have a balanced budget. I support maintaining a balanced budget and continuing to be fiscally responsible in this changing time. It is with all honesty that I cannot at this time be specific regarding what programs and expenses should be cut if necessary. While reflecting on Mr. Altenberg's cuts over the last 3 years, the board and the cabinet have decreased spending by cutting down on internal substitues, reducing credit card debt, and decreasing the amount of summer support for building improvements. It is not until I obtained background information and had the opportunity to participate in an intelligent discussion that I would openly state where cuts would be needed. While I personally supported the previous tax increase for the schools, I would prefer to work within our means before asking the community to increase the amount they are contributing to our schools. I would never assume that we could pass a referendum and I do not believe that it is something the average home-owner could do at this time.Is experience as a teacher or support from a union valuable because it suggests educational insights or detrimental because it creates pro-teacher bias? Please clarify whether you have such experience or would accept union support.I am a certified teacher. I have been a member of a teachers union. I have also been an administrator. I am a school community member, a tax-payer and a daughter to aging Lombardian parents on a fixed income. All of that defines a part of me. I do not believe that all those pieces that make up who I am create a pro or con teacher bias. While I like to support hard working teachers, the decisions that I make in my daily life and the ones that I will make in my role as a board member are done with the best interest of the children in mind. I do think being an educator is helpful as it provides me with the understanding of the workings of a classroom, a building, and a district office. Those past experiences will help me make the best decisions for children. Working with the teachers and union groups is part of the responsibility of a board member. Wouldn't it be beneficial to all to support one another? As a former union member, I recognize the value that it brings. Open dialogue is needed with the union to have a mutually beneficial working relationship.As contract talks come up with various employee groups, what posture should the board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?I believe in the teachers and support staff in District 44. I went through District 44 as a child and believed in it so much as to purchase a house down the block from my former school so that my children could receive what I believe to be an excellent education. District 44 and the employee groups should take a position of mutual respect for one another. I believe that it is in the best educational interests of the students for us to competetively compensate our staff. We need to make sure that we are recruiting and retaining highly qualified staff. Our contract scale and benefits should be similar to those other districts like ours. Again, I would not hastily make any decisions or assumptions that costs should increase or decrease for staff, or that we should cut pay or substantially increase pay. I would be irresponsible if I did not gain proper background knowledge, budget projections, and student needs before making a decision like this.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 value the roles all the administrators and the superintendents play in our educational system. They are an invaluable piece to providing the best instructional opportunities for the children. However, I believe that I would be fiscally irresponsible to the community members and the children if I would support a pension boost in a time when many families are struggling themselves. Out of control pensions have been linked to the downfall of many companies and businesses. Making informed decisions with the best interest of the childrens needs to be the over-arching guiding principle.