Elizabeth Speros: 2021 candidate for McHenry County College District 528 board

Bio

Town: Crystal Lake

Age: 60

Occupation: Early career technical editor for two Aerospace/Defense Contractors

Civic involvements: McHenry County College trustee since 2019; election judge; food pantry volunteer; Kids Hope USA mentor

Q&A

Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?

A: Community colleges are a smart choice for a quality affordable education whether for associate degrees or training and certificates in career and technical programs. I ran in 2019. I stand by 100 percent what I wrote back then, published in this paper, as why I am motivated to rerun: "The primary role of a community college is to be an affordable and accessible gateway to better jobs with higher earnings; a transition hub because of work fluidity and life changes; an open door for second chances; and as a quality educational institution with learning, dialogue and diversity at its core. Alarming student debt amounts with the high cost of living mean some young adults are postponing major milestones like getting married, starting families or buying their first homes. As a trustee candidate for McHenry County College, my hope is residents additionally consider the critical role an open-door philosophy has in altering lives."

Finally, I don't want students to be mired in debt, and I want them to be proud of their choice to attend community college because it is a smart way to learn the skills and knowledge to proceed in the right direction for their future success.

Q: How would you grade the current school board on its response to the pandemic? Why?

A: A

Q: Did your district continue to adequately serve students during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to continue providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A: College officials navigated an exceptionally complex and challenging time with health and safety as the upmost concern and priority for the college community. The college diligently adapted a comprehensive plan and protocols for the following: heightened protective measures, social distancing practices, enhanced cleaning and sanitization, and close monitoring and tracing by working closely with the county health department. After the shutdown last year, officials made adjustments and took actions based on changing metrics that still allowed for students to choose hybrid, flexible learning options giving them autonomy in deciding what works best for them. Options were: in-person, flexible lecture, blended classes, scheduled online classes, and flexible online classes.

Q: Do you have a plan on how to safely and effectively conduct classes in the spring? What have you learned from the fall semester that you would change in the spring?

A: MCC is using the same model it used in the fall for spring semester, which is offering the hybrid model cited above. As reported in various news outlets, MCC experienced increased fall 2020 enrollment, only one of two Chicago-area community colleges to do so.

Q: In tough economic times, many students (and working professionals) turn to a community college for its educational value. How do you ensure that a person's financial sacrifice results in an educational benefit?

A: First, are students seeking a two-year degree with transfer plans? Statistically, associate and bachelor degrees are linked to higher lifetime earnings than those with a high school diploma. Career paths students choose are a judgment of their own interests and aptitude assessments. As importantly, are jobs in demand in that particular field? Monetary challenges can be reduced through financial aid or through scholarships. At MCC now, two Dual Degree partnerships were formed where high school students can earn an Associate of Arts degree along with their high school diploma. The tuition is just over $1,800. Another consideration is the career or technical programs at community colleges that offer shorter-term targeted training and expertise for students to learn the right skills to gain employment in a particular occupation. At MCC, top choices are the Basic Nursing Assistant and Firefighter certificates. The overarching evaluation process at both the administration and student level is: How does the cost of the program align with future earnings and how readily available are these jobs?

Q: From the college's point of view, what budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?

A: The independent auditor said MCC for the last fiscal year was: "Still recording a good positive unrestricted net position as of June 30, 2020, unlike many of our downstate counterparts who are recording deficit unrestricted net positions."

For this fiscal year, revenue and expenses are tracking well to the budget. Other positives at MCC include: increased enrollment, CARES funding distribution, a vote this past February to keep in-district tuition flat, institutional success of maintaining a flat tax levy for seven of the last eight years, the state awarding $15.8 million for a Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation through Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois capital plan, and a major donation toward additional costs for the building through the Foglia Family Foundation.

Yet, even with so many positives, the longer-term outlook continues to be cautious and conservative because of local variables and the Illinois unfunded pension liability and its potential future impact.