Wenda Hunt: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Wenda Hunt

City: Palatine

Office sought: D15 School Board

Age: 44

Family: Husband (Wesley) Sons (Wesley Jr, Warren, Ethan)

Occupation: Pharmacist

Education: Doctor of Pharmacy, UIC College of Pharmacy

Civic involvement: Palatine Fire Department (CERT & TB testing volunteer)

Previous elected offices held: No

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

Website:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AderandHuntforD15

Twitter:

Issue questions

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

I would like to tackle 3 major issues impacting D15: the redistribution of students due to fluctuations in population growth aka boundaries issue, the implementation of a full-day kindergarten and the gaps in academic outcomes.

Boundaries Task Force: I want to partner with the boundaries committee to ensure that changes implemented will positively impact students and the community. We must have a dynamic and sustainable plan that maximizes efficiency with minimal costs. I believe that as the task force is evaluating options that best meet the needs of our district, we must ensure that all of our schools are able to meet or exceed educational standards.

Full-day Kindergarten: According to the National Education Association full-day kindergarten provides greater reading and math achievement gains. I believe our district, our schools, our community is long overdue for a full-day kindergarten program that will provide a solid foundation to meet our children's academic, social, and emotional needs.

Gaps in academic outcome: I believe all children deserve an excellent education and a pathway to college, a career and place in society. Our schools are academically strong but not equal. I believe there are lessons to be learned from our schools that are underperforming and schools that are exceptional. I want to partner with our educators to help identify issues related to academic inequality and find solutions that are goal oriented and measurable.

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?

We moved to Palatine because we knew district 15 schools would provide our 3 sons the academic and enrichment programs to prepare them for college and beyond. Although I am very satisfied with my experience in D15, I believe we shouldn't be content with where we are academically. As a district, we should continue to research, implement and reevaluate our policies and standards to ensure that our schools are innovative and sustainable.

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.

Although I do not support a property tax increase, I realize that our schools are an investment in the community. I believe the board does need to reevaluate the budget and set goals and priorities for spend. There is an overwhelming need for capital improvements in all our schools, boundary changes will impact transportation and staff, and the implementation of full-day kindergarten will affect the district's budget. With every project implemented there is a need to identify key stakeholders, perform an impact analysis and establish a budget that is fiscally responsible. Strategic changes that are implemented with transparency and with consideration for current and future costs generally tend to be successful. Furthermore, the board must also be mindful of changes to state-level policy and work with our elected representatives to take responsible steps toward sustainable funding for our school.

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 been employed at any school district. I do not have any family members that are employed by the 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?

The main function of the Board of Education is to adopt goals and policies that meet state requirements and reflect community needs, this includes authorizing the employment of staff and setting salaries. Educators that are supported and have opportunities for professional growth positively impact the academic outcomes of all our children. The board should lead contract negotiations in partnership with district staff. All contracts should be financially sustainable and reflect the commitment to attracting and retaining exceptional staff.

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?

No, I would not support this. It is not fiscally responsible or sustainable for the district to do this.