Linda Linder: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: Mt. ProspectWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: River Trails District 26 School Board Age: 69Family: I have been married for 50 years, with two adult children and four grandchildrenOccupation: RetiredEducation: High SchoolCivic involvement: Board of Education from 7/1/1987 till 6/30/1996. I then resigned the Board and worked in the District as a Middles School Secretary for seven years and then in HR for another seven years. I was then re-elected to the Board of Education in 2011. While my children attended school in our district I served on the PTA at Euclid, Indian Grove and River Trail Middle School.Elected offices held: Board of Education 7/1/1987 through 6/30/1986.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately 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 feel that we prepare our students well to go onto high school and compete with other students academically.What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases for local schools? Again, be specific.Candidate did not respond.Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?I am retired from River Trails School District 26.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups -- teachers, support staff, etc. -- what posture should the school board take? 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?We have just completed negotiations with the RTEA and I was one of the Board members who served on the team. I believe that concessions on both sides help the process. We have an outstanding staff of teachers and support staff and they should be rewarded for their job, but not at the expense of the people of the district.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 substantial increases for administrators who are about to retire. There is a 6% cap that the certified staff are allowed and that is in our contract and that would be all that I would agree to for our administrators.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I would like to see the Administration paying a share of their family health insurance. Right now the district pays 100% of there family medical insurance and I would like to see that changed.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Honesty and a strong work ethic.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I'm not sure that I would change anything except have more education.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?American Literature, it widen my knowledge of people and places.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be honest.