Manjula Sriram: 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: PalatineWebsite: manjulasriram.netOffice sought: Palatine District 15 School Board Age: 41Family: Married with husband of 19 years and two children; students at Plum Grove Junior High in D15.Occupation: Program DirectorEducation: Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering , Computer Science Business MBA (Graduating April 2015)Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Board of Education, CCSD 15 (2011 - 2015)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?It is a matter of pride that our district has teachers who are highly talented and dedicated towards the students and their educational success. As a forward-thinking district, we need to continue looking at opportunities to support our teachers and students. Partnering with fresh college graduates and high school seniors will provide a unique perspective and plant seeds in students as to possible career paths.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?It depends. Three years ago, when new contracts were being negotiated, it was through partnership and collaboration with our employee groups that we started to move towards financial stability. Unfortunately, over the last two years, the board majority, instead of continuing on the path of financial stability, has accepted a deficit budget. As a fiscally responsible community representative on the board, I have continued to challenge the district to prioritize spending and to decrease the deficit. I am aware that in these economic times, the community members have no more money to spare.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?My first and foremost priority is staff and student safety and we must prioritize accordingly. When you are provided with $156 million in capital projects in a life safety study, it raises many questions. The district should get opinions of an unbiased 3rd party to review the priority list, ensure it follows the state law about life safety priorities, and confirm the accuracy of the estimates. This due diligence will ensure that community money is being used responsibly.Are all the elementary schools in District 15 treated equally, in your opinion? Explain why or why not, or where you think discrepancies lie.We have some of the best teachers throughout the district, which is key to ensure equality in education across all parts of our district. I do believe there are some schools in our district that have large class sizes and are in need of attention.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?No, I have no family members employed by the district.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The feedback from the community members is that the current board majority approves every recommendation from the administration blindly without any discussion or input. They were elected to represent the community. As a current board member, I have always been transparent and will continue to support transparency and accuracy. Major decisions should be made with real discussion and input from all board members after thorough research and consideration of all stakeholders' points of view. A board with seven independent thinkers who discuss matters in a transparent and accurate fashion is how boards are intended to function. That way, the focus is on our true responsibility, which is education while balancing the diverse needs of all stakeholders.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.My teacher Ms Olinda, who taught me "seize the day". She influenced me to be the person I am today.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The surest test of an individual's integrity is his refusal to do or say anything that would damage his self-respect.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I am highly satisfied with my life and would not change it for anything.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I am a student for life and enjoy learning all subjects and use them all in my daily life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be honest. Respect everyone. Be Responsible and fulfill your duty. Be Fair and kind. Always care for people. Stand for what is right.