David Vogel: 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: Wood DaleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Fenton High School District 100 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 43Family: Married, two childrenOccupation: Village of Bensenville Public WorksEducation: College of DuPage (DNF) Elgin Community College (DNF)Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Fenton School Board Dist. 100 2009-2013Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Budget reductionKey Issue 2 Work towards closing the disparities in test scores between gender and ethnic demographicsKey Issue 3 Maximizing student engagement and achievement by increasing our technology footprint and 21 century classroom design.Questions 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?The shift to common core is a step in the right direction. The fundamental idea is spot on. However, with two consortia drafting assessments for states to choose from, the concept of "common" is already compromised. Now with some states on line and beginning to see the first round of assessments come in, the initiative is being met with opposition from teachers, administrators, politicians at both the state and federal level and several education associations. School boards will need to have well informed, experienced members handling this daunting task. Having newly elected members will only muddy the waters further. IMO, the board of educations role in curriculum is to make sure the administration and the teachers, who are at the forefront of education daily, are on top of all tools and resources as well as material being introduced into the system. Thus, if the board maintains this discipline, the curriculum will always be cutting edge, fresh and diverse, with broad depth.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'm not satisfied. The statistics of college dropouts is dismal. IMO, the data is being misunderstood and misinterpreted. To me, the message is clear. These dropouts where never college material to begin with. NOT because they can't handle it, or aren't smart enough, but because its just "not for them". They're going against their grain. I'm very much in favor of a system that stops preaching and pressuring the college rhetoric and instead enables students to discover their "future path" sooner and allows them to hone those skills, interests and passions to chart their appropriate corse. Not everyone wants to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher, accountant. IMO, Students need to be exposed to a much broader palate of careers sooner and again, a better system/tool needs to be developed that will truly help our students discover earlier who and what they are.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?All districts will be faced with the inevitable pension reform which will have profound effects on our budgets, not to mention healthcare under the new ACA. Cuts will most likely be necessary. I do not support cuts to a program or resource/tool that effects our students. Examples: educational services, technology (hardware/software) or the like. I DO NOT support any tax increase.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?Concessions.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?Absolutely not. This is one of many reasons the pension system is virtually bankrupt!