Joe Grisson: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Joseph (Joe) L. Grisson III

City: Aurora

Office sought: West Aurora SD 129 Board Member

Age: 48

Family: Wife, two daughters and three grandchildren

Occupation: Real estate and entrepreneur

Education: Degrees in Human Services Management, Communications, and currently pursuing an MBA

Civic involvement: Including, but not limited to: African American Heritage Advisory Board - Vice President; Aurora Housing Authority - recently appointed chairman; Aurora and Naperville Fair and Impartial Policing - Aurora civilian participant; Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry - Advisory Board member; Citizen's Police Academy - alumnus; City of Aurora's Martin Luther King Jr. Committee - Co-Chairman (2017 and 2018); Kane County state's attorney's office Deferred Prosecution Panels; Member of the National Association of Realtors and Mainstreet Organization of Realtors; Neighborhood Redevelopment (CMAP) - community adviser; organized and managed tumbling program for School District 131 elementary school; organized taekwondo programs My Time programs for school district 131 middle schools; Scullen Middle School Leadership Program - Organizing Mentor (2015-2018); Sow A Seed Youth Organization - Vice Chairman; Still Middle School Mentoring Program (2015 - 2017); True Eagle Beauty Mentoring Program for Young Women - Public Relations; Waubonsee Community College Lunch B.R.E.A.K. mentoring program; West Aurora Weed and Seed program of Kane County - community contributor.

Previous elected offices held: N/A

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeG4D129/

Twitter: JoeG4D129

Issue questions:

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

Building a leveled foundation where "education equals options." We must prepare our students for whatever route they choose, including college, skilled trades, military, entering the workforce, entrepreneurship, etc. Our job is to provide them with the tools and resources that support their future endeavors.

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 believe as times change so must education. For instance, many are not attending college or universities due to what they perceive as a low return on investment and other reasons. As a result, we should introduce trades to those as a career option for those who will not attend college upon graduation. The district is on an upward swing compared to when I took notice around six years ago. That said, we as a district are still behind the state level in many categories including, but not limited to graduation and retention rates. To raise these rates, the district must change the conventional education methods, and consider other or hybrid methods. The "Weisner Family Center For Career Development" is a method that will focus on career development, and will help prepare students. The center was a part of the "Pathways for Prosperity" program are ideas formulated to teach students skills that will help them garner interest in careers they may not have otherwise considered. I believe ideas such as this is what is needed to help retain students, as well as raise our graduation rates.

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.

The state of Illinois has had some budgetary issues as of late, and as direct result budgets are often cut. I am in the belief that we can offset a few cuts through collaborations with community partners. Utilizing the services of partners who specialize in those areas will help fill the void at minimal if any costs to the district. Innovation is what is needed here, and as a district, we will need to be innovative if budgets are cut. Just about every person I have spoken to since being within the district has expressed concerns about our taxes being raised. As a taxpaying citizen of this community, I do not support any increases in taxes for our community. We have been down that road before and passed a referendum a few years ago, we should not return to that method again. This is another instance where innovation can help offset costs, rather than raising taxes. As a homeowner, real estate broker and investor I look at taxes when buying or selling homes. If the taxes are too high, potential buyers may look in other areas with lower taxes. We would not only become less attractive to potential buyers, and we could also potentially force some of our current residents out as a result of property tax increases. I do not believe tax increases would be beneficial to the community, and we should seek alternatives.

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. My youngest daughter is employed at Hope D. Wall, where she plans to teach once completes her graduate degree in 2020.

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?

Having been on both sides of union and management, I believe that the board should be present and objective from an observation perspective. The goal is to ensure a fair deal is reached for all parties involved in the 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?

No, I would not support this. I believe this is referred to as "salary spiking." It occurs when someone's last year of salary is artificially inflated, thus raising their pension payout.