Judy Briggs: 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: RoselleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lake Park High School District 108 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 72Family: 3 children, 4 grandchildrenOccupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: BA Luthern College, Decorah, Iowa 1962. MA Northern Illinois University, DeKalb Illinois Special Ed. 1976. Type 75 Northern Illinois University, 1983Civic involvement: Trinity Lutheran Church, Delta Kappa Gamma, Kenneth Young Mental Health Center, Elk Grove; Phils Friend's, Roselle.Elected offices held: Bloomingdale Library Board, Lake Park Board of Education 2003-presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To continue to have a balanced budget.Key Issue 2 To continue to support and encourage high academic expectations for all students at Lake Park High Schools.Key Issue 3 To continue to recognize and celebrate the diversity at Lake Park by involving more parents and community members in the activities and opportunities for involvementQuestions Answers What do you think about the shift to the common core standards? How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?I think this shift has been well prepared for by the staff of Lake Park. They have kept themselves at the forefront of what is coming and have spent years putting themselves in a good position to move to common core standards. I think that, through my involvement in curriculum council and other committees for ten years, that our teachers have considered and prepared for the changes that will be coming. We have long history of adding new courses, changing courses to meet new standards, and looking ahead to what may be coming next. As a Board member it is my job to approve the continuing research, ideas and professional planning of the staff. I do want to see emphasis on providing classes and programs that meet the needs of those students who will not be pursing a college degree, but who will go on to other specialty schools or train within businesses.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 pleased with the direction Lake Park has taken in preparing all our students for the future. Not only are we focusing more on the AP classes and the students who qualify for these classes, from their freshman through their senior years, but we also are adding more classes that will attract and engage all students who have an interest in specific subjects, talents in specific areas, and post high school goals and objectives. I also think that the involvement of Lake Park students in co-curricular activities and community outreach is amazing! Our students are being taught and mentored to be outstanding members of and resources to their community.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax increases?We have maintained a balanced budget for the past 6 years. We intend to keep to this promise in the future. So far, our forward thinking has enabled us to deal with diminishing incomes, in a positive proactive manner. We have worked cooperatively with the Lake Park Education Association to develop plans to meet the interests of the teachers, administration, and Board in a way that keeps the focus on students first!As contract talks come up with various school employee groups, do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?I feel with the state of pension issues in Illinois we need to be very clear and transparent with regard to contract discussions. As a retired teacher I do not believe that teachers should be held responsible for the budget deficit in the state, but at the same time, as a Board member, I feel that we need to protect the district from whatever Springfield decides. We need to be fiscally conservative, while recognizing the hard work and dedication of our staff. I feel that we have to look at the various plans that could be passed in Springfield in the next year and budget, as we have in the past, not just for the present but with an eye to the future.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?Given the pension issue in the State of Illinois I would not support an increase in the pay of any administrator to help boost pension benefits. A pension benefit should reflect the true income of the retiree.