Gary Saake: 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: WinfieldWebsite: saake.orgTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: facebook.com/SaakeForD94Office sought: West Chicago High School District 94 School Board Age: 59Family: Married for 26 years to my wife Anna, no children.Occupation: Vice President and Co-owner, DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.Education: Naperville Central High School-1975College of DuPageCivic involvement: Current:Vice-Chair - DuPage Credit Union Board of DirectorsPrior:Board Member - Illinois VICA/Skills USA, Member - For the People of Illinois, Part-time Firefighter/EMT - Lisle-Woodridge Fire District, Precinct Committeeman - Winfield Township, Member - Naperville Emergency Communications TeamElected offices held: Appointed Treasurer - Community High School District 94, 2007-2009 Member - Board of Education, Community High School District 94, 2009-PresentQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?I'm running for re-election because the District is headed in a very positive direction, and I've been a strong voice setting that path. I want to ensure that progress not only continues, but accelerates. Over the last eight years that I have had the honor of serving on the board, I've been a champion of fiscal responsibility, transparency, improved community engagement, academic rigor, accountability, ensuring we have a highly qualified and engaged faculty, and resources for each student to succeed. Some of the things I'm most proud of are the implementation of a 1 to 1 technology program with each student receiving a Chromebook, recent infrastructure improvements that include an award-winning science and math wing, College and Career Center, and Student Activities Center, as well as academic and curricular improvements such as increased Advanced Placement (AP) offerings and enrollment, and the District's AVID program.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?The definition of success is being debated nationally, statewide, and locally, and it's long overdue. I've been a staunch advocate for expanding how we measure both growth and achievement for students and the school beyond a simplistic score on a single high-stakes standardized test. Factors need to take into account the different paths students take to become productive members of society, and reach their personal full potential. With the 2016 passage of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).The state is required to establish new criteria for measuring college and career readiness using a variety of indicators. The School Superintendents Association is currently collaborating on a research-based "Redefining Ready" initiative that much more accurately portrays a comprehensive view of a student's readiness for college, career, and life.Regardless of what statewide standards are established, I believe it's also important for the District to identify those attributes, indicators, and metrics that reflect what's important to the local community, and would like to see us commit more effort in this area.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?By statute, the Board of Education is responsible for approving curriculum. I believe it the Board's responsibility to ensure that the district is offering a balanced curriculum of core and elective courses, offers students the greatest variety of educational opportunities that are relevant and rigorous, and which prepares them for college and careers.The district is currently engaged in a comprehensive curriculum audit to ensure it is aligned with career pathways. I strongly support an expansion of vocational/technical education as a high priority.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?On the revenue side, the fiscal condition of the State is of great concern. Illinois is 6+ months behind in payments to the district, and that is likely to worsen. Two legislative proposals being discussed in Springfield that would directly impact revenue are a property tax freeze, and school funding formula reform. The instability of state revenue, combined with the legislative proposals could have a dramatically negative impact on revenue. On the expense side, salaries and benefits costs, a possible pension cost shift to local districts, and a rising inflation environment are my greatest concerns. The district currently is seeking voter approval for a general obligations bond issue that would fund infrastructure needs, without raising the tax rate. We have been constantly reviewing expenses with an eye towards reducing costs without diminishing educational opportunities for students, and have been very successful in accomplishing that, but there is a limit to what is possible. The District currently operates with significantly less expenditures per student than every other high school district in DuPage County, as well as the state average for high school districts.All combined, the next few years are potentially turbulent financially and present challenges that will require significant attention. I do not support tax or fee increases at this time.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?Conceptually, School Choice is a great thing. However, I believe public funding is a highly problematic issue on several levels. With so much discussion about government consolidation in Illinois, a voucher-based system would tend to lead to greater duplication and inefficiency. I would prefer to see public school districts be given greater flexibility to be able to incorporate the best of what works in non-public schools as opposed to creating a parallel system with different rules and accountability standards. It's my belief that a properly funded comprehensive public school can more efficiently and effectively serve the widest range of student academic and social-emotional learning needs.The Board's response should be to represent and reflect the interests of the community and be strong advocates for the educational needs of all students. We should continue to strive to be the institution of choice, regardless of the other options available to families. I would also look for ways to work collaboratively with those alternative educational institutions to provide the best possible services to the community in the most cost-efficient and cost-effective manner, just as we do currently with our partner/feeder districts as well as neighboring districts.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My priorities include:- Improved academic growth and achievement- Meeting the District's facilities and infrastructure needs- Recruiting and retaining a highly qualified and well trained staff- Enhancing community communication and engagement- Continued transparency and fiscal responsibility/sustainabilityPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Cubs Manager Joe Maddon. He always strives to place his players in the best possible situation to succeed, and instills a "never give up" attitude.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The Golden Rule.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Operating a beach chair concession on Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman in the winter and being a Wrigley Field groundskeeper in the summer.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Cooperative Education. The internship in my junior and senior years opened doors that shaped my career and life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Give back to your community and leave it a better place than you found it. It's a message delivered each year in my commencement address.