Zubair Khan: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Zubair Khan

City: Hoffman Estates

Office sought: Board Member, Community Consolidated School District 15

Age: 42

Family: Wife (Aisha), Son (Arman), Daughter (Aliya), and Daughter (Amina). All children go to District 15 schools.

Occupation: Attorney

Education: B.A. in Economics at Northwestern University (1998). J.D. from University of Michigan (2001).

Civic involvement: Diversity Committee Chair and Association Attorney for Northwest Suburban Bar Association. Board of Trustees, Northwest Suburban College. Board Member, National Association of Muslim Lawyers.

Previous elected offices held: Board of Education, Community Consolidated School District 15

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? 2005

Website:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdamBauskeandZubairKhan/ and https://www.facebook.com/khanfordistrict15/

Twitter:

Issue questions

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

There are many important issues to tackle. The most important issues in my eyes are fulfilling the promise of full-day kindergarten and working to increase equity in the district. The full-day kindergarten issue requires more space. My view is that we need more space in the Northeast quadrant of the district where the largest concentration of students reside. Aggressive efforts have been made to convert existing commercial uses to add more space. I believe these initiatives should be further explored, and that we need to leverage our relationships with the Village of Palatine to make it happen. The ongoing effort to address boundary deficiencies can also create a solution to the full day kindergarten issues. These efforts must be coordinated so, hopefully, both can be accomplished. As to the equity issue, it is certainly a complex, multi-faceted problem. I have initiated the first ever Equity Committee at the D15 Board. This Committee has looked into potential causes for the achievement gap in our district. From this study, it became clear that we need a) an emphasis on oral language skills in both English and native languages and b) to address factors associated with poverty that certainly contribute to the gap. We need to change our approach towards teaching so that it is more culturally responsive while emphasizing oral language skills. These changes are being piloted, but they need to be expanded throughout the district. Efforts need to be enhanced so there are social services provided through the school or its partnerships that would enhance learning including job training, medical (physical and mental), legal, and more outreach. The Equity Committee needs to build on its initial success to make sure the administration is continuing to push these initiatives.

How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives, elementary school into high school? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?

District 15 is still a fantastic district that provides top-notch education. The children from our schools have great success in high school and beyond. The conception, however, of an ideal education has changed over the last decade or so. District 15 has undergone significant curriculum changes over my time on the Board. These changes, along with the state evaluations that came with them, have resulted in some tough adjustments at District 15. I believe, however, that the changes in curriculum promote greater understanding of material and an early exposure to real problem solving that will greatly benefit out children. We are past the days of rote memorization. There needs to be more training of teachers and a continuous evaluation of curriculum and teaching methods so District 15 continues to succeed in this new environment.

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 do not support any new taxes. Our district has significant reserves which meet or exceed the IASB's recommended levels. Our buildings are generally very old. This has led to significant repair projects. Many of these projects were funded through Life Safety bonds. In the future, we need to be realistic about our yearly upkeep budget in order to avoid larger projects down the road. This will mean that we increase the $3 million budget typically used for yearly maintenance. The new state formula for funding provides a certain level of security that our state funds will not dissipate in the near future. With this security, we need to put funds towards bold ideas that will advance the education and well - being of our students. We should spend more money on safety measures. Some of that is currently underway with respect to the entrances of various schools. We should spend money on social services where they can increase the academic performance of our children. There is no reason for a district like ours to not provide the highest level of opportunities for our children. These resources should be spent for all levels of achievement. The point is more opportunities for everyone - at their level.

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 not employed or retired from a school district. My wife is currently a substitute social worker filling in on a temporary basis.

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?

Every situation is different, however, my general view is that we need to be more than competitive in our pay and benefits. We need to recruit and hire the most talented staff that we can. Every employee group - teachers, administrative personnel, bus drivers, etc. - are part of the D15 family. Our negotiations, however, must be limited to a discussion about employment issues, and not devolve into a personal fight. As long as that happens, I am extremely confident that we can enter into contracts that lead to a stable/satisfied workforce, and consequently a better experience for the children.

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. The contracts for administrators should not include artificial increases to boost pension benefits. Any such increase would defeat the purpose behind the pension payout formula. This is a loophole that our district should not participate in for the benefit of the taxpayer.