Sonali Patil: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Sonali Patil

City: Vernon Hills

Office sought: Board of Education member Hawthorn D73

Age: 47

Family: Husband (Consultant), Two sons (VHHS and Hawthorn D73)

Occupation: Stay at home

Education: Ph.D. (Pharmacology), Bachelor's (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Civic involvement: Volunteer at Hawthorn D73

Previous elected offices held: Board of education member Hawthorn D73

Incumbent? Yes. If yes, when were you first elected? 2015

Website: N/A

Facebook: N/A

Twitter: N/A

Issue questions

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

The most important issue facing Hawthorn D73 is growing enrollment, with space constraints on our facilities to accommodate the growth. Also, another issue is the limited financial resources to accommodate the growth. The district recently (Nov. 2018) was successful in passing a facilities referendum, so the district should be able to build the new KG building and add/modify our existing buildings to accommodate our growth. However, the district was unable to pass the limiting tax-rate referendum, which would have given the district the financial resources to operate the expansions. The district will have to look at innovative sources of income as well as efficiencies in their current operations to find the savings to operate the additions.

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?

Since I am a candidate for the elementary school board, I will focus on those students heading to high school. I am satisfied in the way our school district is currently preparing our students for high school. However, there is always room for improvement. I think the best way to address this, is continued articulation with the high school teachers and administrators. Their feedback regarding our student's readiness and areas we could improve, so the students are better prepared to handle the high school expectations is extremely important. The district in recent years has focused on personalized learning, and we should be seeing the benefit in our current student population. Our district is not only preparing our students academically, we are also preparing them socially and emotionally to be successful in the environment of their choice.

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.

Public schools in IL are primarily funded through property taxes and we (community) pay significant amount in high property taxes. According to latest ISBE report, D73 is only adequately funded at 84%, so we do have budgetary gap to deal with. The district was successful in passing in the facilities referendum (to accommodate growth) but because the limiting tax rate referendum, which would have helped in the operations of the additional facilities failed, we will face budgetary issues in the coming years. Also, increased operational costs, such as transportation and inadequate state and federal funding, add to the constraints. The district will have to look at efficiencies in their current operations to meet the budgetary gap. Applying for grants and innovative sources of income would also need to be explored.

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 employed by any other school district, nor is any member of my family an employee of Hawthorn D73.

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?

I believe that one of the main responsibilities as a board member is to be fiscally responsible while meeting the needs of our students. With the financial constraints on school districts today, we need to look at all facets of our operations in relation to the revenues. Transparency, communication and mutual respect are key to a successful contract. There may be times we can give more to our staff and other years that we may need concessions. The administrators, board and the teachers all want what is best for the students, and I feel that with open dialogue that is achievable.

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. The role of a board member is to be fiscally responsible and increasing administrator pay to boost pension would be ethically and morally wrong. Additionally, there is law (June 2018) that prevents from raising pay of an employee beyond 3% in the last 4 years of their career.