Katharine Hamilton: 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: HinsdaleWebsite: http://electkathyhamilton.comOffice sought: College Of DuPage School Board (6-year Terms)Age: 50Family: Married to John with two children 18 and 14.Occupation: CPAEducation: BA in Economics and Political Science, University of Rochester, NY 1984 MBA in Finance, The Stern School of Business, New York University, NY 1988Civic involvement: Salt Creek Ballet, Westmont - Board Member Chicago Dyslexia Society, La Grange - Board Member Greater O'Hare Regional Business Association (GOA) - Member Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce - Member Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra, ViolinistElected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Ensure affordable education without raising taxes or tuition.Key Issue 2 Guarantee that COD provides education relevant to the community.Key Issue 3 Maintain accountability to local community, students and faculty by listening and finding creative and comprehensive solutions.Questions Answers The college last year engaged in a lengthy legal battle with the village of Glen Ellyn over local building codes and jurisdictional matters. As a board member, what would you do to avoid such lengthy conflicts in the future.Legal battles should be the last option. We should treat outside interests with respect long before legal actions are pursued.What steps should COD take to improve its relationship with the faculty?I come from a long line of great teachers. My Great Grandmother, my Grandmother, and my Mother were all teachers. With this perspective, I believe we must make it completely clear that we respect and value the contributions of the faculty. More avenues for dialog should be found to enhance joint problem-solving.In tough economic times, many students (and working professionals) turn to a community college for its educational value. How do you ensure that a person's financial sacrifice results in an educational benefit?Invest in courses that are aimed directly at increasing the skills needed by local employers. This can be done by continuous communication with students, business, and community leaders.Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?Currently, I see no need to increase taxes because COD has a strong cash position as well as strong cash flow.Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?Speaking English is essential to improving both an individual's life and the local economy. COD is uniquely positioned to teach English to the non-English speaking segments of our population.