Jane Siegal: 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: MundeleinWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Mundelein High School District 120 School Board Age: 68Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Retired Social WorkerEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.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, 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 believe that Mundelein High School does a more than adequate job of preparing our students. As a long term employee of the high school, I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments that my colleagues have brought to our school and community. In a time of constant change and shifting priorities, balancing compliance and achievement can often be at odds. As mandates come from the State, we must be focused on our students and what they need in order to have a successful life, not merely on the statistics of an ever-changing political platform.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.Budgetary concerns will always be an important issue facing school boards. I feel we need to strive for a better use of community resources as we make important choices in education. As an example of wasteful spending, in the past several years, a great deal of district money has been used on attorney fees. This is problematic for many reasons. Numerous grievances have been filed by faculty which have progressed through many levels before settlement. In most cases, the school board attorney was involved in every step of discussion. Many teachers have felt intimidated by this process. Tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on these grievances as well as Unfair Labor Practices and the Labor Relations Board. If the purpose of a school is the education of students, shouldn't the allotment of resources focus less on the conflicts among faculty and staff and more on the future success of our students?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?As a recently retired, 25 year veteran professional educator from Mundelein High School, I feel compelled to serve and give back to the school district. In addition, as a long time community member and a Member of the Mundelein Human Relations Committee, I am passionate about the future of our schools and feel immense compassion for the success of our faculty, staff and students.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?I don't believe that teachers salaries should be the primary issue. It is crucial that we consider the treatment and appreciation of our staff and the belief that we need to support the very people who have a strong investment in the future of our students. At present, we have a strong, enthusiastic but young faculty for whom nurturing could only add to their strengths and the longevity of their commitment to our schools. As a school board and community, it is imperative that we respect the expertise of our teachers who are the backbone of our school.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?At present, substantial increases in superintendent salary in order to boost pensions, is illegal. It is crucial that we maintain competitive salaries in order to appeal to new quality staff members while retaining our current staff. We should not be a stepping stone to another job. However, salary increases should be equitable across the board for Administration, Faculty and Staff. Mundelein High School's overwhelmingly high Administrative turnover rate makes it difficult to foster long term commitment which affects the quality of education providedWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My goal, as always, is to promote kindness, mutual respect and high educational expectations for all of our students and staff. If elected, I believe that I work for the community. It is in all families best interest for the administration, faculty, staff and especially school board to collaborate as a team. Transparency is very important to me. I believe that serious changes and modifications should be thoroughly examined by all stakeholders involved, with the expectation that our students best interests are primary.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.President Obama for his ability to stay focused, calm and classy amid unfounded criticism.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The importance of self-reliance and the ability to follow through, even when the task seems insurmountable.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I am fortunate to have already spent my do-over. I did not take college seriously the first time, but graduated 15 years later.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?American History was my favorite subject. It helped me form my political opinions and become a strong advocate for the things in which I believe.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Never stop learning!