Election 2013: Kristin Violante

Campaign Info

• Position sought: School Board Member for Pleasantdale School District 107
• Residence: Willow Springs
• Website: www.d107focus4thefuture.com

Personal Info

• Family: Vance, husband; Renna, daughter, 8 and Laine, daughter, 6
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University
• Occupation: Superintendent of Parks and Recreation at the Village of Willowbrook

Candidate Questions

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:

I serve as the Board Secretary for both the Gateway Special Recreation Association and Kiwanis Club of Willowbrook and Burr Ridge.  I have also served on the Parent Advisory Council for Standards Based Grading at Pleasantdale School.  Finally, I have also volunteered on several PTA committees for the past couple of years.

Why are you running for this office?

The primary reason I am running for this office is I am passionate about my daughters’ education and would like to be part of determining the path their educational futures take.  The potential for pension reform and the adoption of the common core curriculum are big issues that will face the Pleasantdale 107 School Board.  I feel I can make a difference in helping the district set goals, policies and procedures to address these and other issues.  We need school board members who are going to ask the tough questions when they need to be asked and vote on what is best for the kids as well as the community. 

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

My single most important priority if elected to the Board is to be transparent, accountable and responsible to the tax payers in the Pleasantdale community, as well as the students, parents, teachers and administrators.  Overall, I feel the current Board has lost focus of what their responsibilities are due to the lack of respect and distrust amongst themselves.  We need to have a Board that is respectful of each other and willing to work together to provide the best education for our children possible.   

If your race is contested, what sets you apart from the other candidates?

What sets me apart from the other candidates is that I have worked solely for government agencies since graduating from college and understand the importance of spending tax dollars efficiently and effectively.  I feel there are some current Board Members who have a Fortune 500 mentality and assume government agencies should spend and budget the way Fortune 500 companies do.  Although there are some similarities between government and non-government entities, there are differences as well.  I feel those who work in the private sector can learn from me as I can learn from them.     

How long have you lived in District 107? 

My husband and I have lived in the community for seven years.  My husband is a proud graduate of Pleasantdale Elementary and Middle Schools as well Lyons Township High School.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest strength? 

I believe Pleasantdale’s biggest strength is the teaching and resource staff they have educating or counseling our kids.  Not only are they committed to teaching or counseling our children, but they are helping instill social and emotional values that will last our children a lifetime.  The teachers, social workers, and other resource teachers are passionate, involved and take an interest in each and every one of their students.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest weakness? 

I believe District 107’s biggest weakness is there is no “Focus for the Future”.  The district’s strategic plan is over ten years old.  Currently, there is no comprehensive plan to enhance the educational future for our kids as well as no specific plan to address future financial issues.  We need to set goals that are not only specific, but also measurable.  We need a strong plan to lead us into the future.

In terms of a school district, how would you describe a board that is fiscally responsible? Does District 107 currently have a fiscally responsible board? 

I believe a school district should have at least one year’s worth of expenses in reserves.  The current and past School Boards at Pleasantdale have done a good job of establishing these reserves.  I am concerned these funds may decrease as the district faces large expenses such as current and future pension liabilities and/or emergency school repairs.  This is why a comprehensive plan is needed, so the district can be prepared for these types of expenses.   While I commend the present board for maintaining these reserves, I feel they have been irresponsible in not explaining to the tax payers the rationale behind maintaining these reserves or laying out a solid plan for utilizing this money.