Diana Chrissis: 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: arlington heightsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Arlington Heights Elementary D25Age: 49Family: married, 2 childrenOccupation: Marketing ManagerEducation: BA Business AdministrationMBACivic involvement: Vote YES For District 25 Referendum Campaign Marketing CoordinatorDistrict 25 School Board MemberThomas Middle School PTA Board MemberNorthwest Suburban Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae GroupABC25/PTA Council Annual Gala VolunteerIllinois Special Olympics District 11 VolunteerElected offices held: School Board Member Arlington Heights District 25 2007-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Provide leadership to the school district, in my role as 1 of 7 school board members, that supports the district's delivery of a high caliber education to all students.Key Issue 2 Deliver the high caliber educational experience, to all students, in a fiscally responsible manner that makes the most of the taxpayers' dollars.Key Issue 3 Actively participate in the district's goal-setting and long-term strategic planning to ensure that District 25 continues to deliver a high caliber educational experience and prepares students for the future.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?I am very satisfied with District 25's preparation of students from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school. Our staff works collaboratively to transition students from one educational environment to another using a mix of data, observation/recommendations, team discussions and best practices. Over the past 4 yrs increased curriculum collaboration between D214 and D25 has improved the transition for our students. 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 district is contending with decreased revenues from the state and the loss of federal and state grants. It continues to successfully seek other grant money to support educational program and improvements to our physical plant. The district implemented a ""zero-based"" budgeting approach and all new programs must be cost-neutral to continue to stretch our revenues farther. I support increased federal and state funding for schools. We periodically go to referendum to ask the community to contribute more to the school district in the form of increased property taxes.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.We are elected as representatives of the community of Arlington Heights, whose citizens have a very wide variety of backgrounds and professions. Each board member brings his/her own experiences and perspectives to this volunteer role. I have neither professional education nor union experience. I seek the support of voters in District 25 who believe that I have represented them well in making decisions regarding the district for the past 4 years and would like me to continue in that role for another term.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?The district has successfully worked with its employee groups to structure salary and benefit plans that enable us to maintain a high quality staff and be fiscally responsible to the community as a whole by matching our expenses to our revenues.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 do not support increases in pay to boost pension benefits. I support merit raises based on the previous year's job performance.