Daniel Ryan: 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: LombardWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lombard District 44 School Board Age: 46Family: Wife - Amy Daughter - Elizabeth (7) Son - Jack (5)Occupation: Legal AdministrationEducation: Hillsdale College B.A. - Business Administration Graduation - 1990 Illinois School of Professional Psychology M.A. - Psychotherapy Graduation - October 1996Civic involvement: No previous civic involvementElected 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 District 44 does a fine job preparing our children. I want to make sure it continues. It is important to keep a balance within our schools concerning education and not lose focus on what works best to educate and prepare our students for the future. As a former psychotherapist and father of two elementary-aged children in District 44, I want to ensure all our children receive quality education that matches their intellectual, psychological, and emotional development. Each child is unique and learns differently. They should flourish in their own time and at their own pace. Our education system should provide an environment that inspires children to comprehend and grow with the information they are receiving, and encourages them to relate to learning in a positive way. Our teachers in District 44 know how to do this. They are on the front lines of our education system and know what our students need. Our educators need the support from the district to be creative and embrace methods that strike home for the children in their care. I want to ensure this happens.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.Currently, SB16 is the main budgetary issue for District 44. If the state wins the right to reallocate money away from our district to the Chicago and downstate districts, our district will lose funding. I support the current distribution method imposed by the state, where a districts property taxes determine the amount of funding that district receives. I do not support District 44 property taxes being sent to fund other districts, which, if SB16 is successful, will become the new law of the land. I do not support any new tax increases at this time.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?Not applicableAs 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 we need to always consider our teachers, support staff, etc. and how they are being compensated. However, these issues cannot be decided within a bubble, without the context of how they are being presented, or within 250 words without knowing the full extent of the particular issue. I am a fiscal conservative. As a law firm administrator for a national firm being cost conscious is paramount to my daily operations. I understand budget planning, the implementation of it, and maintaining expenses against revenue. As a taxpayer, I do not take the spending of our taxable money lightly and, at the same time, I fully understand the importance for paying for quality educators in District 44. I will work to find a common middle ground and work with the other board members to ensure we do so.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?Simply: no. Illinois has enough problems with its pension system and the days of sending its retirees into the sunset with massive retirement packages is long past due to end. Regardless of how our state Constitution is written under Article XIII, Section 5 specifically stating, "the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired", handing out "substantial" increases to retirees only hurts those still working today in the long run and considering our state's pension issues is beyond irresponsible.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Benjamin NetanyahuWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The value of a good education.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I accept my choices, good or bad. Life is a journey to be explored imperfectly.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Current Events which exposed me to history and world politics.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Do not be afraid to try.