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% PAGE15 - PI-AINDEALER - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4.1983 Elect school board candidates November 8 QUESTIONS 1. Why did you decide to run for a seat on tne school board? 2. What is the biggest problem facing your school system? 3. Wnat are your ideas on solving the problem? 4. What are your ideas on how schools should be financed? DIST. 156 TONYAN quality of some aspects of our program and the apathy of many of our students and families." 3. "I feel that our "Challenge for Excellence" program, in the planning stage for two years and just now comiftg on line, is the most effective vehicle to deal with these problems. It has as an essential element recognition of the fact that no one has a greater responsibility for the education of our students than the students themselves and their families. The Challenge for Excellence program will set a higher level of expectiation from our students and families and will demand more from them. Our competency-based education program is part o|,it and is in place for the first time this year for freshmen." 4. "I have no great problem with the present funding of education, combination of local, state and federal funds. I continue to feel that the most intelligently spent dollars are the locally generated and locally spent dollars. Financially responsible management has caused our district to be highly solvent and there is no reason why it cannot remain so. ANDERSON JAMES S. TONYAN W. James S. Tonyan, 2926 Lincoln Road, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 156, two-year term. Education: B.S. from Marquette University and a graduate of McHenry High School. Occupation: self employed. Mr. Tonyan has served as a member of the District 156 school board for the past 9% years. He is a member of the McHenry V.F.W. He and his wife, Laura, have one daughter. Answers to Questions 1. "To continue to be involved with the excellent school system that we have and make sure that it stays at least at its current level. 2. "Keeping a balanced budget, while maintaining an excellent school system." 3. "Search all avenues available for additional revenue." 4. "For the present, continue ROBERT G. ANDERSON Robert G. Anderson, 5509 Summerville Drive, Wonder Lake. * Office Sought: Board member, District 156, two-year term. Education: High School and no means perfect, NEUWANN- ^<4 Mr. Anderson has been a member of the District 156 school board for 3% years. He was a former Cub Scout master and little league coach. He and his wife, Judyann, have four sons a and one daughter. Answers to Questions 1. "To give Wonder Lake continued representation on the school board and to use the experience from being on the school board the last 3 years." 2. "I do not see any one problem being the biggest at this time." 3. "I would like being part of the process that deals with all problems coming before the board of education." 4. "I do not have any ideas at this time, but I would like some of the school tax burden lifted from the property owners." EDWARD J. NEUMANN, JR. Edward J. Neumann, Jr., 308 N. Country Club Drive, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 156, four-year term. Education: Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Toledo, Toledo, OH. Post-graduate work at the University of Toledo school of law. Occupation: Flight officer for United Airlines. Mr. Neumann has served the last 13years on the District 156 school board. He served the last 4% years as president of the board, eight years as secretary, chairman of the negotiations committee, building committee, transportation committee, budget committee and executive planning committee. He is a member of the McHenry Country Club subdivision association and a past member of the McHenry Area Jaycees. He is single and has never been married. Answers to Questions 1. "I am running because I feel, as I have in the past, that it is the single most important civic position to whicn one might aspire. I have been instrumental in the past 13 years in selecting competent and dedicated administrators, a fine professional staff, restoring and maintaining our physical plant and equipment in a good state of repair and bringing solvency and strength to the financial state of our district. I would like to preserve all of these advances. Additionally, with our financial and physical house in order, we have been able for the past two years to begin concentrating on the quality and substance of our program. I would like to maintain that initiative." 2. "Our biggest problems are the MARCH V- * - mu and taking a stronger hold on our school's curriculum, which would stiffen graduation requirements and would be two very important steps." 4. 'The dictates of national and state directives, or formulas, leave little room for innovation, but spending the money that is left prudently with the students in mind can provide avenues which could result in a better product upon graduation." SLATER BARBARA SLATER Barbara Slater, 1709 Mar Road, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 156, four-year term. Education: no answer Occupation: Homemaker and data processing. Mrs. Slater was was a school teacher and has served on the District 156 school board for four years. She has been a member of the Citizens Task Force, the SEDOM executive board and the county Substance Abuse Subcommittee. She is also on the District's Drug and Alcohol Prevention program. She and her husband have three children. Answers to Questions 1-4. "I am running for a seat on the school board because I feel we need to continuously improve the quality of education in our schools. One of my present concerns is tailoring our curriculum to meet the needs of students aixLfit it within the pftlfcmeteMntxir budget. Our 7 4 Challenge x 4m, Excellence' f program, which we have been working on for over a year, will bring us closer to reaching our goal." CUDA • "t. *' v. .1 v DON F. MARCH Don F. March, 1205 Bonnie Brae, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 156, four-year term. Education: B.A. degree from Illinois College and currently working on a Masters degree from DePaul University. Occupation: Teacher since 1973. Mr. March is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church. He and his wife, Joanne, have three children. Answers to Questions 1. "I believe I can help the school system due to my background as a teacher and because I have an interest in our community." • 2. "Credibility, The people I've talked to simply don't believe our graduating seniors can adequately compete for jobs or college placements. The newly released "Nation At Risk" findings add fuel to the fire." 3. "Public relation information administration and teachers must work together with other community leaders to help make the townspeople aware of the goals and accomplishments of McHenry High School. This should establish a pride in our schools and, at the same time, open a dialog which will allow tne education of the educators as to what the local citizens feel the goals of the school system should be." 4. "I agree that the major funding for education should come from local taxation through the real estate property tax. However, taxes cannot be raised a as they have been in the past. If our local tax base is expanded, each individual's tax burden will be decreased. Hierefore, our school board must make every reasonable effort to foster planned and safe community growth. If visitors to our town perceive the McHenry schools to De the best in the area, it will be one factor in deciding whether they make their home here in McHenry or some other community. More people who support our schools will result in less taxes for all of us." LOW Office Sought: Board member, District 15, two-year term. Education: B.A. degree in English from North. Park College, Chicago and graduate studies at Northeastern Illinois University. . Occupation: Public relations manager for Kemper Group, LongGrove. Mr. Barber has been a school teacher at Lincoln Jr. High School, Mt. Prospect, and a teacher's aide at Elk Grove High Scbool, Elk Grove. He served as a board member of the Southwest Property Owners' Association, McHenry. He and his wife, Lyn, have two children. Answerslol^uttffioiif < 1. "I am running for school board for two reasons. First, as a parent with a child in school, I have a self-ipterest in what happens in the district. Second, I think there are few community activities more important than education of the young-." 2. "The biggest problem, or perhaps more accurately, critical issue, concerns how tne district will continue to use very limited funds to shape a balanced and relevant learning experience." 3. "This • situation demands regular and on-going evaluation of the curriculum. Such evaluation requires school b o a r d s , t e a c h e r s , administrators, parents and others with a concern to share their knowledge and insights and to work closely in deciding when to stay on course and when to make adjustments." 4. "The current system of school finance, which primarily involves local property taxes and the state aid formula, is basically sound. However, the attendance component of the formula applying to elementary schools may need change to bring funding more in line with these schools' needs". GROH STEVE CUBA Steve Cuda, 3711 W. Waukegan Road, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 156, four-year term. Education: Juris Doctor from Notre Dame University, B.A. degree from St. John's University, graduate of McHenry High School. Occupation: Attorney working in McHenry and Woodstock for the law firm of Hamer, Schuh and Baker. Mr. Cuda is a member of the McHenry Kiwanis Club and the Knights of Columbus. He is single. Answers to Questions 1. "As a student at McHenry High School over 10 years ago, I received an education wnich enabled me to attend college and law school. Now, • I feel responsible to help ensure that the opportunities offered to me as a student in McHenry are offered to our present and future high school students. As a member o^ the board of education, I could take an active role in formulating the education available to students." 2. "The community's perception that the local high school does not provide an adequate education for its students and that the system is not as good as the schools in Neighboring towns and villages. An additional problem for all schools, and not just McHenry High School, is structuring a curriculum that will properly educate our students for the responsibilities they will meet during their school years and after their edtication is completed." 3. "The school board, ; i MICHAEL F. LOW Michael F. Low, 4912 W. Bromley, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 156, four-year term. Education: B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the Administration from?Xhe University of Wisconsin. Occupation: Insurance broker. Mr. Low has served on the District 156 school board for more than three years and is a member of the McHenro Rotary Club. He and his wife, Pam, have two children. Answers to Questions 1. "Having spent the past three years as a member of the high school board, I would like the opportunity to continue to use that experience in formulating policy for our community's educational system and our youth." 2 2. "In a school district operated on a fiscally sound basis such as ours, I believe the biggest problem to be the challenge to provide an improving basic education program and to adapt that more basic education to the beeds of the technological future." 3. "An increased emphasis on the traditional basic education skills in our curriculum and graduation requirements are of major importance. District 156's "Challenge for Excellence" program was developed to concentrate on strengthening the basic education skills needea most by our youth. The board's continuation of this program idea is most important." 4. "The current mixture of federal, state and local funding reasonabley provides for our high school system. Our system should continue to be operated on the current sound fiscal basis in these upcoming years." NICHOLAS R. GROH Nicholas R. Groh, 606 Devonshire Court, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 15, four-year term. Education: Two years of college. Occupation: Mold maker Mr. Groh and his wife, Jan, have two children. Answers to Questions . 1. "Young children dictated taking an interest in the school system." . 2. "Financial." 3. "Work with other board members in an attempt to influence legislative action to increase state assistance and relax controls binding the school system." 4. "Increased taxes and state assistance." SAMEN DIST. 15 BARBER KEVIN E. BARBER Kevin E. Barber, Lane. McHenry. 1309 Hillside EDWARD F. SAMEN Edward F. Samen, 3905 Grand, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 15, four-year term. Education: B.A. degree from Western State College of Colorado in political science and sociology. Graduate of McHenry school system. Occupation: Owner-operator of McHenry Drapery and Carpet Co. Mr. Samen is a member and past president of the McHenry RotaiyClub and has served as memoer and past board member of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce. Answers to Questions 1. "A continuing interest in both the type and quality of education being received by the children in thisdistrict." 2. "The constant pressure to adequately fund the system a* a whole without cutting back necessary educat ional objectives or the quality of education offered." 3-4. "Continue to keep open all lines of communication with all factions that contribute to the cost of operation of the school system and pressure for more adequate funding from the state." MILLER JOAN K. MILLER Joan K. Miller, 1617 N. Draper Road, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 15, two-year term. Education: High School graduate. Occupation: Homemaker. MrsTMiller has served the past 4% years on the District 15 board of education and she served two years on the Citizens' Advisory Council. She and her husband, Chuck, have three children. Answers to Questions 1. "I'm a concerned parent and citizen. I would like to continue felWfrrk with others and try to fcrfve the problems fMng our schools." 2. "Finances continue to be our biggest problem. We are in our fourth year of cutbacks and the trailing deficit is increasing despite the fact we have not added any programs." 3-4. "Spending must be closely monitored, we should actively lobby the state legislature for additional state aid for elementary schools. We would need the help of citizens to be effective." NEWBROUGH ART NEWBROUGH Art Newbrough, 4910 Pyndale, McHenry. Office Sought: Board member, District 15, four-year term. Education: B.S. degree in education, M.S. degree in counseling and C.A.S. in education administration. . Occupation: Educational administrator. Mr. Newbrough has served as a member of the District 15 board of education, 15 years in the field of education as a teacher, counselor, consultant and administrator. He is a member of the First Methodist Church. Answers to Questions 1. "To make a contribution to«T the running of District 15." 2. "Limited and declining resources." •-* 3. "To work with local legislators directly and through interested citizens. To help prioritize educational services on the cut-back-add-back edge.. To help establish an - atmosphere, regardless of resources, of excellence and; pride in education." 4. "Local* 45 percent; state, 45 percent; and federal, 10. percent."