Joseph Kozminski: Candidate profile

CANDIDATE BIO

Name: Joseph Kozminski

City: Naperville

Office sought: Naperville Unit District 203 School Board

Age: 41

Family: Married to Kate Rowland since 2003. Our three children attend elementary school in 203.

Occupation: College physics professor

Education: B.S. in Physics and Mathematics, University of Notre Dame. M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in Physics, Michigan State University

Civic involvement: Coach youth basketball, involved in activities at children's school (garden club and science fair volunteer), organize/volunteer at science outreach events (such as STEM career day events and STEM fairs)

Previous elected offices held: None

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

Website: www.koz203.com

Facebook: facebook.com/votekozminski203

Twitter: @kozminski203

ISSUE QUESTIONS

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

• Safety in schools is a big issue across the United States. Ensuring student safety has multiple facets, including violence prevention and anti-bullying programs and social-emotional learning. The district has taken some excellent steps like hiring a Director of Safety and Security and implementing a new social and emotional learning curriculum (SEL). The district must continue to keep up with best practices in these areas and ensure teachers, staff, and students have the information, training, and support they need to hopefully prevent things like violence and bullying in the first place, but also respond to issues when they arise. Students learn best in an environment where they feel safe, welcome, and included.

• The district needs to work on closing the achievement gap in the system, ensuring that all students, regardless of socio-economic status, ability status, or cultural background, have the support needed to achieve success. The district should continue its efforts to ensure access to early childhood education. There is currently more interest in preschool programs than spots available. All students also need access to individual support in finding the right career or college path for them and achieving success. Engaging families is important in this effort as well.

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?

Overall, the district does an excellent job of preparing students for the next stages in their lives, both academically and socially. The district has very high graduation rates (97% 4-year rate, compared to an 85% for state average) with 88% enrolling in a 2- or 4-year college (compared to a 75% state average). As indicated previously, there is an achievement gap that the district should work to close. The district also needs to ensure it has a sufficient scope of programming and support systems in place to meet all students where they are and help them identify and achieve success along the path that is right for them.

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.

District 203 is in a strong position financially. I do not believe program cuts are necessary at this time, nor do I see an immediate need for tax or fee increases. There are some initiatives in the district like expanding early childhood education and making changes to the school day, which may have budget implications. However, I would look to support these through a well-designed implementation plan and looking for efficiencies in other areas that would not negatively impact students.

The district must also closely monitor educational funding bills proposed at the state level and remain in contact with representatives in Springfield. Significant changes to educational funding in the State could impact the district budget. If cuts are needed due to such a bill, I would look for places to cut across the board than target specific programs. I would also not be opposed to some fee or tax increases as long as we communicate why they are needed and show that we have done our due diligence in looking for places that could absorb cuts. It is in the best interest of our children, community, and local economy to continue providing a world-class education in District 203.

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 to both questions

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?

Ensuring all students are provided a world class education is my top priority. The teachers, support staff, maintenance staff, and transportation staff are the ones directly providing that high quality education by engaging with and supporting the students everyday and ensuring the school facilities are maintained. They deserve fair, competitive compensation for their work. Providing competitive compensation also helps the district recruit and retain excellent teachers and staff. The Board, therefore, should maintain an open line of communication and listen to the issues and requests brought to the table and negotiate in good faith with the unions.

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 am not aware of any such retirements, but I would not support this. It does not benefit the education of the students.