Terry A. Lindsay: 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: Des PlainesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Des Plaines Elementary D62Age: 45Family: Married to Mosilda Asanji-Lindsay Son - Terry A. Lindsay, Jr.Occupation: Dean and Associate Professor of Diversity and Intercultural Programs at North Park UniversityEducation: Argosy University, Doctor of Education, Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration University at Buffalo (SUNY at Buffalo), Masters of Education, Department of Counseling and Educational Psyc and Bachelor of Arts, Department of African AmerCivic involvement: Regularly conduct presentations to numerous community and faith-based youth organizations across the Chicagoland area.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Never been arrested or convictedCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Improve student assessment and basic skills scores across all grade levelsKey Issue 2 Work with school district leaders to conduct research and indentify private sector investors and federal funding opportunities to enhance academic and student services programs, and support multidisciplinary innovations and improvements Key Issue 3 Increase interventions, and improve the quality of services available to support at-risk students who are struggling, academically and/or behaviorallyQuestions 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?I believe the district is moving in the right direction regarding preparing student for success. At the January 18, 2011 board meeting, district leaders presented to the board a plan aimed at monitoring students#146; progress on state and local assessments. The goal of the plan (Measures of Academic Progress) is to determine students#146; weaknesses and strengths, and to develop specific strategies to help all students achieve success and growth within the classroom.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?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#146; 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 budget 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.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.As a board candidate with experience working with K-12 students, knowledge and understanding of students#146; learning and developmental needs, and experience as a classroom teacher, I possess some insight into what teachers face in and out of the classroom. This is helpful in understanding the issues and challenges of the district. My professional background includes serving as the Coordinator of the Upward Bound Saturday Program at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. In this position, I was responsible for managing the tutorial staff and developing academic and enrichment activities for the junior high and high school students. These activities included individualized tutoring, career and college planning seminars, college campus visits, and financial assistance and scholarship information workshops. Also, I have fifteen years of college teaching experience, and several years of experience teaching career development and academic enrichment courses to youths enrolled in the Upward Bound Program. Also, I would wholeheartedly accept an endorsement from each of the unions.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 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.