Mireya Vera: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Mireya Vera

City: Lombard

Office sought: Glenbard Township High School District 87 school board member

Age: 62

Family: Raymond Mendoza Jr., husband, and three sons Joaquin, Hector, and Esteban

Occupation: Healthcare - Director of Community Relations and System Interpreter Services, Sinai Health System (Chicago)

Education: Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; Masters of Healthcare Administration, National Louis University

Civic involvement: former board member of DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, volunteer member of Glenbard's Student Performance and Achievement Committee, Catholic Charities Advisory Board, Illinois Alliance for Welcoming Healthcare

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? I was appointed December 2018 to the Glenbard Township School District 87 school board.

Website: None

Facebook: None

Twitter: None

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

I think it is important to ensure that we have academic opportunity for all students in the school district. We need to make sure that we are working for equity and inclusion throughout our academic programs and curriculum, to give every student in the district the best chance to succeed. That's the primary job of the school board, to provide every student a pathway toward a quality education and the opportunity for post-high school achievement, whether that be in college or in a direct entry to the workplace. That is our most important responsibility. The Board of Education Goals and Strategic Priorities guide these efforts. Progress has been made in recent years but academic achievement gaps continue to exist. It is important to continue on this trajectory focusing on reducing achievement gaps while exploring and assessing what the lead cause of these gaps are.

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?

Glenbard Township high schools are some of the top performing schools in the state. They truly prepare our students for higher education and job readiness with a well rounded curriculum and highly qualified teachers as well as support staff. Having two sons that graduated from Glenbard West their level of preparation for college was impressive. But we can't rest on past success. Maintaining this level of excellence is important and requires hard work and attention to make sure Glenbard stays on the leading edge of education in terms of curriculum, technology and investment. Again, we should always be working to provide the opportunity for academic excellence for all Glenbard students.

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.

To the best of my knowledge, the school district is managing their finances well. However, like we may face future upgrade and repair situations in terms of buildings and equipment needs that will require careful budget considerations. We will need to be thoughtful about our needs and options and look for cost-effective solutions that will not compromise our academic standards. I am not aware of any significant budgetary increases in the near future that would require raising taxes.

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?

No, I am not currently employed, nor have I been previously employed by the Glenbard school district. None of my family members are employed by the Glenbard school district.

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?

Our teachers and support staff are the backbone of our district, and work extremely hard in service our children and their education. They do a tremendous job. At the same time, we have to be practical and responsible fiscal stewards for the taxpayers in the district, and make sure that we are living within our financial means. I would hope that future contract discussions with school employee groups would recognize these factors, and that we can work together in the best interests of the district and its students. We need to take a posture of collaboration and creativity to find solutions that allow us to properly compensate our faculty and staff while maintaining a responsible budget.

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?

Retirement should not be a determining factor for increase in pay. Salary increases should be provided on an annual basis based on a performance evaluation, determined by measureable goals that were met and other achievements focused on student success and the overall success of the school district. I believe we need to reward career performance and dedication, while maintaining our fiscal responsibility.