Brian Battle: 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: BarringtonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Barrington Unit District 220 School Board Age: 54Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: ConsultantEducation: Master's of Business Administration, Harvard Business School BSIE, Bradley UniversityCivic involvement: Barrington 220 Board of Education (2003-present) Barrington 220 Board President (2007-present) Barrington Sesquicentennial Committee Barrington Youth Baseball Softball Board Member Youth baseball coach Protect our Investment in Education Co-Chair (referendum steering committee)Elected offices held: Barrington 220 Board Member (2003-present)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 am very satisfied that we are adequately preparing our students for their educational journey. Barrington 220 has made tremendous strides in connecting our curriculum from Elementary schools to Middle schools to Barrington High School. In addition, we have expanded our orientation for students entering Middle School and High School with programs that have received very positive feedback from students and parents alike. Recent graduates have indicated that they felt very well prepared for College academic and social life. Programs like Project Lead the Way (STEM-based) have created avenues for students to explore potential areas of college study in high school. Recently we have begun an initiative that pushes STEM programming into our elementary schools. Additional programming, like our ground-breaking Business Incubator program, and our course in Computer Coding illustrate the District's continuing effort to maintain a curriculum that is relevant for our students. Our partnership with Harper College will allow students entering Barrington High School in 2015 to earn two years of tuition-free education at Harper under the Harper Promise program. In addition, we are collaborating with Harper to offer a significant number of dual credit courses allowing students to earn college credits at Barrington High School. Finally, I would advocate for creating more opportunities for students to explore learning "tracks". For example, a Bio-Medical track might include a combination of specific courses in Biology, Chemistry and Engineering. These tracks would allow students to pursue individual interests in High School while evaluating potential collegiate areas of study.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.I do not support any additional tax increases above the CPI limitation incorporated in Illinois' existing law. I do believe that our budget will require some expenditure cuts to maintain a balanced budget. In the last few years we have lost significant funding for our mandated Transportation expenses. Going forward, I expect our General State Aid to be reduced, as well as the normal cost of the State's Teacher Retirement Services Fund (TRS) to be shifted to schools. These impacts from the State, will require us to look at annual reductions to our expenditures. I would advocate for an approach that looked first for efficiency improvements in areas outside of the classroom, such as energy, supplies and administrative overhead. In addition, with reduced State support for Transportation reimbursement, I believe the District will need to take a new look at our Transportation policies to improve efficiency prior to our next bid for Transportation services. If savings in these areas are not sufficient to balance the District's budget, I believe we would need to look at staffing requirements for both administrative functions as well as teaching staff. In the 12 years that I have been on the Board of Barrington 220, we have balanced our recurring revenues and expenditures. Many years have required cuts to expenditures to achieve that balance, earning and maintaining a strong AAA bond rating, one of just 27 districts nationwide with this designation. I am confident that our budget process will be successful in the future.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?NoAs 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 believe the posture of the Board in contract negotiations should be one of creating long-term stability for the District's financial position as well as the District's educational programs. With our current budget near break-even, the next round of contract negotiations will need to reflect that reality. I expect there will be concessions in some areas, and possible increases in other areas. Taken as whole, each contract will need to provide the District with the confidence that employment costs will not create deficit spending, program cuts or the need for a referendum to increase costs.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 do not favor a substantial increase within the last four years prior to retirement to boost pension benefits above the limits established by the State legislature. An increase above the limit creates financial penalties for the District and long-term liabilities for the State of Illinois that I do not support.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Optimal Time for Learning has been an important part of our Strategic Plan. We are in the process of forming a Community group to begin discussions to critically examine the school day. I believe this effort will help us significantly improve the effectiveness of our schools. Our One to World technology initiative is an important component in our effort to improve our educational delivery model. Of particular interest to me is development of "blended learning" models incorporating the best of traditional teaching models with on-line instructional tools. With one third of US college students enrolled in at least one on-line class, teaching Barrington 220's students how to learn via on-line classrooms will be important in preparing them for the educational and vocational challenges they will encounter after graduation. Another important issue for Barrington 220 is the design of the classrooms and learning spaces conducive for 21st century learning. While we are experimenting with several concepts today, it is important for us to expand these efforts to explore how to support teachers and students in the classroom and beyond. Another priority for me is the development of a Master Plan for Barrington High School's campus. Recent real estate acquisitions adjacent to the campus will allow us to rethink how to utilize the campus to allow for future growth of the building as well as improved layout of our athletic fields to accommodate use by both the High School students and our community's youth athletic organizations.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I have recently been inspired by the philanthropic work of Jimmy Carter including his effort to eradicate diseases in AfricaWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My Mother taught me to continuously challenge the status quo to drive positive change.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Take the year after college graduation to travel extensively around the world.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I always enjoyed Math, which has helped me to understand the financials and analytics of organizations.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be yourself and strive to be happy.