Joshua Perry: 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: Hoffman EstatesWebsite: www.facebook.com/JoshuaPerry2015Office sought: Palatine District 15 School Board Age: 49Family: Wife Annette. Daughters Josen, 7, and Finn, 7.Occupation: TeacherEducation: Masters of Education, DePaul Unversity. Bacherlor of Arts, University of Oregon.Civic involvement: Volunteer, Marion Jordan School. Referee and Umpire, local high school and youth leagues. Substitute Teacher, CCSD 15.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?The teachers and staff do a tremendous job educating our children. Period. One area of concern is the instructional support for second-language learners. According to the Illinois Report Cards, district schools with higher percentage of ESL students have lower proficiency rates than schools with fewer number of ESL students. It is true second-language learners struggle with standardized tests, which accounts for some of the discrepancies, but I am concerned neither the curriculum nor the instructional imperatives focus enough on remediation of skill deficiencies. Do we have the right priorities to best serve these students? This is an area needing more inquiry.Rate District 15's financial position. Forecasts show the district won't see a surplus until 2016-2017. Do you agree with using reserves to pay for budget deficits?The financials are stabilizing and deficits shrinking, but the state legislature's school funding plan will determine how healthy the district will be going forward. Until then the tension continues, but I would not use reserves to balance the budget. Reserves can earn interest income, which helps, especially since earned interest income is off some ninety percent since 2008 (Adamczyk, Oct.'14 board meeting.) Finding new sources of income (minus raising taxes) is paramount. The more the district can be financially independent of the state the better. One option is exploring a capital campaign similar to what universities do when they want new facilities. Another is to install solar panels and wind turbines at all schools to generate electricity. The U.S. Dept. of Energy has loan and grant programs for such a purpose. Energy and financially independent, plus good for the environment.Architects identified nearly $156 million in capital projects needed at District 15 schools in the recent state-mandated audit. The board allocated $4.6 million this year, more than the usual $3 million a year. Do you agree with this approach or want something different?District Administrators reviewed the audit and determined the amount can be reduced to $119 million - still a tremendous total. The $4.6 million is an anomaly as projects were deferred because the recession. These are now imperatives. Current revenue projections make completing repairs and upgrades within the five-year goal of the state audit almost impossible. The District's own 10-year Life Safety Study under consideration addresses these needs. Unless property taxes are raised or bonds issued (neither are likely), I foresee more triage for several years. Any plan of action must begin with economic efficiency in mind. An inefficiently spent dollar is a wasted dollar.Are all the elementary schools in District 15 treated equally, in your opinion? Explain why or why not, or where you think discrepancies lie.The reason I entered the race is each of my daughters' first grade classes has 29 students. Research finds for early childhood education that 18 is optimal. The district target is 23. This is a chronic problem, especially in the western half of the district where I live. Lake Zurich and Arlington Heights districts spend the same per student as CCSD 15 yet average 22 students per class. A student, whose class has 32 kids, said to me, "The desks fit, but there's no room to do anything. We have to shove the desks to the walls to do a group activity." Teachers simply can't provide each child the attention they need to reach their potential. As a former teacher, I have worked in these conditions. It's frustrating when a child needs just a little extra attention, but there is simply no time. One cost-effective alternative is to recruit student teachers to lower the student-teacher ratio. District 15 is an attractive learning environment. Let us be a magnet for new teachers too. Another option is to evaluate attendance boundaries.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 a substitute teacher in District 15.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Beginning this fall, the Illinois law pertaining to who can be a substitute teacher will change. Only persons holding a Professional Educator License (instead of the current sub certificate) can be a substitute. This will create a labor shortage and possibly a wage spiral. There aren't enough subs now,and District 15 needs to be prepared. I would create a consortium with neighboring school districts to create an adequate pool of teachers as soon as possible. I would also lobby the legislature to allow an exception for those working toward a PEL to be eligible. (Substitute teaching is excellent on-the-job training.) Energy independence. The district could produce enough electricity from solar and wind to sell back to the grid as a new source of revenue. Start community-school gardens to teach children how to grow their own food, which can then be used in the lunchroom. Improve school lunches. French toast and other high-carbohydrate, low protein offerings are not appropriate for schools.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Reverend Doctor William J. Barber II, Goldsboro, North Carolina. Leader of Moral Mondays to protest recent voting rights restrictions.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Keep your word and be responsible for your actions.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?A glorious wife, beautiful children, good health. This life's just fine, I don't need a do-over.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. Understand your future by knowing your past.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be true to your self.