Edwin Brown: Candidate Profile

Back to Grayslake High School District 127 School Board

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: GrayslakeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Grayslake High School District 127 School Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married, three children; two in college and one in middle schoolOccupation: Financial - risk managementEducation: BA - Business AdministrationCivic involvement: Lions Club Church Colts Football/Pom/CheerElected offices held: D127 - Board SecretaryQuestions 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?Grayslake D127 has one of the most respected school programs in the state; consistenly rated above our peer schools in Lake County and these ratings are based on the effectivness to make student ready for post high school whether there path is trade or undergraduate programs.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.our new governer presented his state of the union and so much of our financial risk is driven by the state's financial health. SB-1 (replaced SB 16) will be reflective of the impacts all school districts will face. D127 has maintained balanced budgets and adequate fund balances that are targeted in the 23-27% range. Property taxes have gone up to counter the states reductions that have been negative impacts year-year for at least the last 4 years I have been on the board.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 am not a government employee and no one in my family works at this school district. My wife subs once in a while at elementry D46, or D56 schools.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 just completed a 4-year contract at D46. We continually review our peer schools in these categories and aim to be in the middle of them. This last contract was comparable to previous with one material benefit change occuring; the district contributed a flat fee towards family health insurance.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 was asked this question going into my first election 4-years ago and I said no; because it is not logical. What I learned is the state's pension system is not logical and while that increase is higher than anyone would expect, the financial impact if the superintendent choices other options in the retirement would far exceed that increase given.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?This year will begin the process to replace our superintendent we have had for last 10 years. The incoming board will be hiring the next superindenent. In little less than 7 years the GNHS school bonds should be paid off; this contributes to a cost annual cost of $9M/year or about 25% of total annual budget. We have no major expenses expected and we may start to plan on tax abatement. D127 will have a real tax reduction realized in 8 years, assuming the state does not transplant their financial problems on the backs of the communities. Schools are well run; students receive a great education and we offer excellant programs wich 70% participation being achieved.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.My wife's grandfather who only recently passed - he lived the values of integrity, respect and family.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?learned the to help others; contribute to the community.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Receive a teaching certificate. Not sure I would use it but lot harder to go back and complete that education part.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math; working with numbers allow you to measure goals you set.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I tell them to get their teaching certificate; gives them options in life and for now; offers great pension plan.