Kim Edwards: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Kim Edwards

City: Geneva

Office sought: School Board Member

Age: 40

Family: Married with 2 young children

Occupation: Teacher

Education: BA in Creative and Cultural Studies (University of Glasgow), MA in Teaching (National Louis University)

Civic involvement: Local volunteer work for the Salvation Army and Matthew 25 Ministries through my church

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? No

Website:

Facebook: Edwards for Geneva 304@EdwardsforGeneva304

Twitter:

Issue questions

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

In any school district, there are issues which can be improved. In Geneva, the biggest issue I see is a lack of collaboration, communication, and understanding between the school board and the stakeholders (unions, administrators, tax-payers, etc.) of the district. In the digital age, communication tools are now available which make this void almost unfathomable.

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?

While I believe that Geneva 304 is preparing our students for the next stages of their lives, I also believe that we are currently at a precipice from which we could easily fall. Our last two contract negotiations have required mediation and the last negotiation was only settled after a lengthy strike. This does not bode well for the future of our schools - it must be improved.

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.

In Illinois, we pay very high property taxes and Geneva is no exception. I don't believe a tax increase is necessary if specific high cost entities are addressed. Furthermore, more transparent communication always resolves budgetary issues - something we have not yet seen.

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 am currently employed by CCUSD 301 and neither I nor any of my family members are employed by Geneva 304 schools. However, as a current educator myself, I believe I am uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between the concerns of the taxpayers of the district, of which I am one, and those of the teachers, whose job I undertake every day.

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?

It is unfair to ask anyone to continue to cheerfully and productively work without a minimum of a cost of living raise.

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?

Absolutely not - pensions are a direct result of a long career of service, not a severance-type package at the end of a career to encourage someone to move on.