Linda Wojcicki: 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 with 3 children that all attended Bloomingdale School District 13.Occupation: Homemaker/ Insurance ProducerEducation: Schaumburg H.S.Harper CollegeCivic involvement: Bloomingdale Character Counts CooalitionBloomingdale School District 13 Education FoundationDuJardin Elementary School past Parent Teacher Org. PresidentWestfield Middle School past Student Teacher Parent PresidentSt. Walter Church Youth MinistrySt. Walter Church GreeterElected offices held: Bloomingdale School District 13 School Board Member1999-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Committing to make wise use of tax dollars while giving the best educational opportunities possible to all children.Key Issue 2 Committing to attract high quality teachers, administrators,and staff to our district.Key Issue 3 Committing to continuing improvement to the system through the use of data driven decision making.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?Our data from state tests and local tests, parent surveys and student surveys, along with working closely with the high school district our students enter into leads us to believe we are doing a good job.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?We have wisely managed our financial situation and therefore face fewer issues than other districts. If our revenue sources maintain their current status, we should be able to meet our programming needs for students.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.Our district very much values the insights from teachers through teacher surveys and committees that present to the Board in our decision making.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?Our last teacher contract and other employee wage offers were very fiscally responsible. We need to continue to live within our means to be able to wisely manage our financial situation and continue to make good use of tax dollars. I believe the district may need to pass on as little as possible increase to employee costs if and when necessary during this economic crisis that we are experiencing.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 a substantial increase to pay to help boost pension benefits. Our district follows the guidelines set forth by the pension board for districts avoiding any penalties for retiring administrators and teachers alike.