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Clare Ollayos: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Clare M. Ollayos

City: Elgin, Illinois

Office sought: Trustee, District 509, Elgin Community College

Age: 64

Family: Husband, Dr. Scott R. Fladland

Occupation: Chiropractic Physician

Education: National College of Chiropractic (now, national University of Health Sciences) Doctor of Chiropractic, 1987; Boston University, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, 1977; Smith College 1972-74; St. Edward Central Catholic High School, 1972. Advanced Certification, Spine Research Institute of San Diego, 1998. Attended ECC for single science classes 1975, 1981,1983.

Civic involvement: Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, Amita Presence St. Joseph Community Advisory Board 2018- present; Mayoral appointment, Chair, Hemmens Task Force 2015; Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, including chair 1993-1998; Elgin Community College Foundation, Co-Chair Capital Campaign 1994; YWCA Board 1983-1987, Chair of YWCA Leader Luncheon 2002; Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology Board, 1993-2018; Altrusa International Service Club 1989-present; President; Altrusa Foundation 2015-2017; Illinois Chiropractic Foundation; Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame selection committee 2004-present; Cof C Enhanced 911 referendum; 2 Library Board referenda committees; Elgin Sports Hall of Fame; Scholarship donor for multiple organizations, including ECC, Black Women's Association, Club Guadalupano, Doug Hoeft memorial scholarship.

Previous elected offices held: none

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? First elected November of 1995

Website:

Facebook: Clare Ollayos

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Issue questions

Describe your vision for the primary role of a community college.

The mission of Elgin Community College is "Improving People's Lives Through Learning". My vision for Elgin Community College is to make and keep ECC a national leader in promoting success for all students, in partnership with the community and responding to community needs.

How well is your community college fulfilling that role? What changes, if any, need to be made?

We are, in fact, a national leader in many areas:

Our Alliance for College Readiness is a national model for partnership with our district K-12 schools, aligning curriculum, instituting a fourth year math, short term math "boot camps", and has greatly reduced need for pre-collegiate remedial work by students. When our statistics demonstrated that our Hispanic students closed the academic achievement gap, we were visited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. It wasn't just one thing, It was all our community partnerships, our supports for students, and our outstanding faculty, president, administration and staff. We received a Bellwether award. In nine years, ECC has cut its student loan debt from 6 million to 2.9 million by instituting a financial literacy program which combined one on one advising in collaboration with our foundation and financial aid departments. For that, we were recognized by the White House and again received a national award.

We are continually scanning for what we can change and improve. That is an important part of the "community needs" piece. The shorthand phrase is " What Programs, for Whom, at What Cost, and with What Priority?" In 2018, ECC reorganized to put additional emphasis on internships and community business partnerships, and is growing a robust program. While community colleges have a local focus, we have to also look regionally, nationally and globally. As a case in point, a number of our district Chambers of Commerce have been attracting international companies, and more aspects of careers involve remote work. We also have more students who already have bachelor's and advanced degrees who are seeking specific stackable credentials through the community college system. We also have new areas, like supply chain management, that did not exist a decade ago. Cybersecurity is another area. So, some of the changes may be in content, and some in delivery. As a trustee who has served as president of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association and 6 years on the ACCT Board- our national trustees organization- I have the good fortune to have an expanded view and can compare what is happening across the country to ECC. That is why I am so proud that we have so many best practice models. Many schools look to ECC.

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. My husband, Dr. Scott Fladland, is a part- time adjunct. He teaches a night lecture/lab class of anatomy and physiology for health professions students. I believe he started fall semester of 2008.

Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?

We look at this every year. The amount we ask for is limited by tax caps. We don't determine the rate, we levy a flat dollar amount. We know we will get less than we ask for. Our ask is determined after an exhaustive budget process to meet student and community educational and workforce needs. We have a Aaa bond rating from Moody's, and we have certificate of achievement for financial reporting from Government Finance Officers Association for transparency. We budget conservatively.

Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?

We are looking to improve the success and completion rates of our African-American students, particularly males. We are advocating legislatively for expanding Pell Grants to cover shorter term job training and certificates in areas where there is high demand, which should help a broad range of our students and potential students. We as a college community are also engaged in citizenship, and that involves cultural competency, respectful communication, and valuing each other. Our dynamic Office of Student Life has many student groups who are engaged in community service and they bring a lot to the table in terms of feedback and new ideas.

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