Barry Altshuler: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Barry Altshuler

City: North Barrington

Office sought: Barrington 220 School Board

Age: 61

Family: Married to Claudia. Father to Joseph/Mari, Hannah, Benjamin, Sarah and Joshua, Grandfather to Rafi

Occupation: Pediatrician

Education: BA Chemistry University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 1979; MD Northwestern University School of Medicine 1984

Civic involvement: Member Health Advisory Committee, McHenry County Head Start (1988 to present); Board Member Barrington Youth and Family Services (2011-2017); Member RTI (Response to Intervention - Parent Representative) Committee, Barrington 220 (2009-2011); Member Enrollment Monitoring Committee, Barrington 220 (2007-2009); Member District 220 H.E.R.E. (Suicide Prevention) Committee (2009-2010)

Previous elected offices held: none

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

Website: drbarryfor220.com

Facebook: Barry Altshuler -220 School Board

Twitter: -

Issue questions

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

Currently, the most important issue facing Barrington 220 is working to pass the school referendum to allow the district to improve safety/security, update classroom and building needs, and invest in community spaces, especially in arts and athletics. As a board, we have to keep up with state and federal mandates, especially those that are unfunded, as well as any changes in school financing and pension reform on the state level. My commitment is to maintain our district's financial stability as evidenced by balanced budgets and a AAA bond rating. I would also like to improve our district's communication with its residents. More people live in our district without children in 220 (young families, empty nesters, retired) than have family members who attend one of our schools. Our district does not do an adequate job communicating with community residents who do not have children enrolled in our schools. Whether through electronic media, mailed information, or community outreach, we must commit to involving all residents in District 220 affairs, including economic issues, notable accomplishments, and arts, athletic and continuing education offerings.

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?

I am satisfied that our district is adequately preparing students for their futures by offering a variety of educational opportunities from multilingual classrooms and Chinese immersion classrooms, to gifted and advanced placement classes as well as fine arts, vocational education, and athletic opportunities. I would like to see more social-emotional support for our students with additional staff dedicated to counselling, psychological support/intervention, and mentoring, which can help equip our graduates with the coping skills that they will need to become healthy adults.

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.

I support our referendum and the modest tax increase that its passing would produce. Other budgetary issues would likely come from the state level through altered school funding formulas and/or changes in pension funding. The board, in consultation with the administration, would have to be proactive in preparing for these changes.

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

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?

District 220 currently has contracts in place with both teachers and support staff for the next 4 years. These contracts both reward our staff for their dedicated work, and maintain fiscal responsibility. They ensure fair pay raises but also limit the district's liability for increases in insurance benefits. I would hope to use this budget as a model for future contract negotiations.

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?

I would not support a substantial increase in pay for our administrative staff nearing retirement. I feel that the contract provisions for retirement in our current teacher's contract should apply to our administration. Under this system, our staff is entitled to a small increase in their salary schedule for up to 4 years prior to retirement. These increases are capped by the TRS and/or the Illinois General Assembly to insure that taxpayers are not unfairly burdened with significant increases in pension liability.