Kathleen T. Hewell: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Kathleen T. Hewell

City: St. Charles

Office sought: St. Charles CUSD 303 school board seat

Age: 60

Family: Husband, Dr. Charlie Hewell and 3 grown children who attended D303 throughout, Allison & Stephen (32) and Kerrilyn (29)

Occupation: Volunteer and homemaker, retired geologist

Education: Northwestern University, BA '80 Geological Sciences; Graduate work: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in geochemistry

Civic involvement: Founding member Tri-Cities Mother of Twins & Triplets; St. John Neumann Holiday Food Basket Committee Coordinator (20 years); 100 Women Who Care

Previous elected offices held: Four terms D303 Board of Education

Incumbent: If yes, when were first elected?

I am an incumbent, first elected 2003

Facebook: Hewell4d303

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your district and how do you intend to address them?

Important issues for future board are declining enrollment, student wellness, and the challenge of looking into the future to determine what is needed to be College and Career Ready.

D303 enrollment decline has been tracked and will continue. Wrenching decisions were made to close 2 schools, Haines and Fox Ridge, but important overall positives of lowering elementary class size maximum to 27(!), an Early Childhood Center and improved MS facilities resulted. Future boards will need to monitor the effect on HS programming to insure that the expansive, robust curriculum we enjoy is maintained with fewer students.

Most students come to school ready to learn. Stress, anxiety, and deeper mental health issues compromise their learning. Everyone is interested in finding out what works. In D303, many programs are available, SEL education, anti-bullying programs (SCN's student-led program has survey-shown success), stress/anxiety management programs, and Parent Universities are a few, and each year new initiatives begin. During the Mental Health Summit, students, parents, staff, and experts came together with proposals and solutions for a Suicide Prevention program, which has given hopeful results over the last several years.

Parents are justifiably concerned about their student's future, and the district's emphasis on CCR is discussed next.

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?

As a K-12 school district, D303 can be confident that students are prepared for the next level as they matriculate through our system as their individual information and learner characteristics are well-known to their teachers. Much conversation, planning, and preparation takes place as they transition from elementary to middle to high school. Since D303 can follow it's own students, rely on skilled teachers' assessments, and count on extensive data aggregation and disaggregation throughout the system, we can identify and address gaps quickly.

After D303 it is much harder to evaluate. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to get former students to report back. Previously, the state of Illinois attempted to provide longitudinal data for our college graduates. Those reports were sporadic, incomplete, and centered only on college and not other careers. Our nearby college partners (such as ECC) give us some information on trends. I would support any plan that would give us better information on our graduated students. Anecdotally, I speak with our alums and hear that most feel very prepared, often finding classes repeat their HS experience. Internships are a rapidly expanding area. Career readiness can also provide certification in autos, entry health jobs and technical careers.

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? Be specific.

D303 is fiscally sound and well managed. Specific indicators include possessing the lowest tax rate and lowest debt load in Kane County. We have been awarded Financial Recognition status by the state over the last 4 years. Our community is very supportive of its schools and the board is respectful, careful, and prudent with those resources.

Budget cuts are not necessary at this time or in the foreseeable future. The only wild card is if the state fails to live up to its responsibilities. Should that happen there has been a golden rule in D303 - Keep the cuts out of the classroom for as long as possible. Solutions we have used successfully in the past include postponing new curricular initiatives, delaying bus purchases (easily managed with our cracker jack bus maintenance crew), and lengthening the time computers are used before renewal.

The only tax revenue increase is the annual CPI-related increase schools request each year, but overall, CUSD 303 real estate tax bills for 2019 should remain level (or possibly go down a little) because of building in the area and the continued reduction in bond costs due to timely restructuring and prepayment, saving millions over the years.

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?

I have never worked for St. Charles Community Unit District 303 or any other school district. I have no relatives employed by D303.

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?

The board sits in trust for the community and negotiates wages, benefits, and working conditions with our three unions: the SCEA, the St. Charles Education Association; the SCESP, the STC Educational Support Professionals; and SCTM, STC Transportation and Maintenance. Because we are currently in the midst of negotiations with our teachers, and because I am a sitting board member, I must be brief with my comments as this is a confidential matter.

D303 is in solid financial condition and the 5-Year forecast is favorable. The board strives to treat its employees fairly, always recognizing the support of our community and prudently using the resources it provides. Contract negotiations can also bring improvements for students as well as employees. The state provides parameters for compensation as far as pensionable earnings.

To answer the specific question, as with any business, I do expect employee costs to go up in three general areas: cost of living increases, always expanding insurance costs, and the potential for the state to shift their pension responsibilities onto districts. Although concerning, due to declining debt, D303 taxpayers should see a slight decline again (although less than 2018's drop of approximately $550 on a $300,000 home!)

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?

The D303 Board as currently constituted would not be offering additional pension benefits, and I do not believe that our administrators would seek such increases. As proof, less than 2 years ago our longtime, highly regarded superintendent retired, and no such increase was suggested or granted.