Daniel Naumowicz: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Daniel Naumowicz

City: Elk Grove Village

Office sought: District 59 Board of Education

Age: 43

Family: Married for 18 years with 3 children

Occupation: Senior Field Service Engineer, Property Manager, Licenced Real Estate Broker

Education: High School, some college courses during service and shortly after.

Civic involvement: Military Service US Navy 1996-2000

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent: If yes, when were first elected?

Website: n/a

Facebook: @danforccsd59

Twitter: n/a

Issue questions

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

District 59 curriculum is by far the most important issue we need to address. One way I intend to address it is to work with the board and teachers that speciallize in curriculums writing, to purchase new or adapt the old curriculum to better serve our children and teachers.

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?

In general District 59 does a great job preparing students, we have excellent teachers and support staff at our schools. Great infrastructure as well. One of the changes that need to be made is to the curriculum to fill in the knowledge gaps between Elementary and Jr High and High school.

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 don't know if cuts are neccessary or not. What I do know is we have to manage what we have and make due with the finances we have. District 59 made some unnecessary spending decisions on new buildings, when it was possible to save money by purchasing existing Township properties or remodeling or adding on to the current district budings, I would also like to review our district spending on student transportation. I know that other school districts manage their own student transport.

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?

We cannot ask our teachers and school staff for concessions. We have teachers that too often reach to their own pocketbook to buy supplies for their class. We have to look at other contracts and save there. We have a large district and that carries a lot of purchase power.

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?

Absolutely not. I think that is cheating the system and it's unacceptable.