Susan Lancaster: 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: BloomingdaleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Bloomingdale Elementary D13Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married, three children (1 Lake Park student, 1 Westfield student and 1 DuJardin student).Occupation: Bookkeeper for 2 Bloomingdale companies.Education: Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Northern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: Cub Scout Den Leader,Bloomingdale Baseball Softball Volunteer, Bloomingdale Bear Volunteer, PTO Volunteer, SaveSeptemberfest Organizer Elected offices held: Park District Commissioner 2003-2009Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I'm a graduate of District 13 and the mother of students in District 13. I want to help improve our schools through a more technology-based curriculum. We need to prepare our students for their futures outside of the classroom.Key Issue 2 I am interested in the long term goals of our District. Many of the current Administrators are retiring therefore we need to fill thse positions with people that are committed to this community and the longterm goals of our District.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.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?Candidate did not respond.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?I believe most people are aware of our declining enrollment of our District which equates to reduced funds available. We need to keep checks and balances on the spending and continue to be fiscally responsible.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.Candidate did not respond.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 that the current economy demands that employee costs stay the same.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?No,the burden on the State of Illinois' pension is already debilitating our debt-laden state.