
Mike Casey, District 157-C Board Of Training Candidate
FRANKFORT, IL — Mike Casey is a candidate for Frankfort District 157-C Board of Training. There are 9 candidates working for 4 open positions on this race.
The consolidated election is April 4.
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Casey’s solutions to the Patch candidate questionnaire could be discovered under:
Your title:
Mike Casey
Age (as of election day):
36
City/metropolis of residence:
Mokena
College district:
157-C
Household:
My spouse Christine and I’ve been married for over 11 years. We met whereas we have been each college students on the College of Illinois. After faculty, Christine was a highschool Chemistry trainer for 3 years, then a keep at residence mother as soon as we began having children and transferring across the nation for my navy profession (we lived in 5 states in our first 5 years of marriage!). She went again to highschool in 2016 and is now a Dental Hygienist within the Frankfort space. After leaving energetic responsibility we made our method again residence and moved to this space largely for the nice colleges. We’ve got 3 children, ages 9, 6, and a pair of. Brennan is at Chelsea, Allison is at Grand Prairie, and Kellan is a future 157C pupil.
Does anybody in your loved ones work in politics or authorities?
No
Training:
MBA – College of Illinois, Bachelor of Arts in Historical past and Political Science – College of Illinois
Occupation:
Industrial Engineering Supervisor for a world meals producer. I’ve labored there since I left Lively Obligation in 2017 and have had a couple of totally different roles in Operations Administration previous to this. I additionally serve part-time within the Nationwide Guard, and have over 15 years of service.
Marketing campaign web site or Fb:
https://www.fb.com/profi…
Earlier or present elected or appointed workplace:
None
Essentially the most urgent points going through our (board, district, and so on.) are _______, and that is what I intend to do about them.
The three prime points I see going through our District at present are: Pupil Security, Trainer Retention, and the Economic system. Issues round Pupil Security is an unlucky actuality of at present’s surroundings. All the pieces we do should be checked out with a Security lens and we should always consistently assess our gaps to remain forward of any issues. This goes to not solely bodily safety, however psychological well being as effectively. I’d push to make sure our colleges have the appropriate variety of Social Employees and Counselors to handle psychological well being earlier than it turns into a Pupil Security danger. Quite a lot of this burden is at the moment placed on our lecturers and they need to have the assets wanted to keep up deal with educating our children. We’ve got nice colleges which can be performing effectively above the state and nationwide common – we wish to hold it that method. At present, 157C is #1 of the 93 massive elementary faculty districts within the State in Math and ELA, however our trainer salaries rank 57th. There’s room for enchancment right here to make sure we are able to proceed to recruit and retain our nice lecturers, and I’d push for aggressive salaries and advantages for our lecturers. There’s extra than simply wage that retains a district enticing, although, and we should always try to have the kind of tradition and surroundings that lecturers wish to be a part of. These intangibles develop into extra necessary in our present Financial surroundings. I’d lean on my expertise managing budgets to attain our objectives, with the fixed understanding that the district’s tax levy is the highest merchandise on most individuals’s property tax invoice. Fiscal accountability is a key activity for the board, and this isn’t one to be taken frivolously.
What are the important variations between you and the opposite candidates looking for this publish?
I am a center of the highway candidate that does not determine as Republican or Democrat. Not each concern is so reduce and dry as to fall inside these two camps, and I’d give consideration to each concern. I’d be open for true dialogue and debate earlier than making a call.
If you’re a challenger, in what method has the present board or officeholder failed the neighborhood or district?
I believe the board has achieved an amazing job getting our colleges to the place they’re at present. They drove a number of College Security enchancment efforts that improved bodily safety. They introduced our children again to highschool as quickly as attainable, which I consider helped put our college students forward academically. We must always not relaxation on our laurels, although, and recent concepts and views might help fight complacency.
Describe the opposite points that outline your marketing campaign platform:
One motive I am working is due to how politically charged every part has develop into lately. I do not really feel very effectively represented by the 2 choices I am at all times compelled to decide on between. Not sufficient persons are keen to truly take heed to different’s viewpoints. I intend to maintain politics out of our colleges and contemplate the problems, reasonably than have a pre-defined political dogma.
What accomplishments in your previous would you cite as proof you possibly can deal with this job?
In my present function, I am chargeable for creating and implementing our website’s enterprise technique and managing our website’s efficiency towards our targets. We make use of over 250 folks, chargeable for producing thousands and thousands of {dollars} in income. On this and different roles within the navy, I’ve efficiently managed multi-million greenback budgets. I’ve at all times been depended upon to make troublesome selections and haven’t been afraid to face alone.
Why ought to voters belief you?
I am not right here for private or political acquire. I consider I’m effectively certified for this job, and I am working as a result of I would wish to proceed serving my neighborhood.
When you win this place, what accomplishment would make your time period in workplace a hit?
Success on this place would lead to protecting our colleges #1, making our lecturers’ salaries extra aggressive, and sustaining a impartial tax levy.
What are your views on fiscal coverage, authorities spending and the dealing with of taxpayer {dollars} within the workplace you might be looking for?
It is a main accountability for any board, and I’d not take this accountability frivolously. We’re entrusted with our neighborhood’s cash, and it falls on the board’s shoulders to behave on the taxpayers’ behalf. We should not be afraid to regulate the levy if that’s what is required, however this isn’t a measure that needs to be taken frivolously, and each different funding choice needs to be exhausted first.
What are your ideas on how the district has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic?
I believe the varsity district general did an amazing job dealing with the pandemic. Bringing our children again to highschool as early as attainable is likely one of the issues that put our college students better off.
In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, some faculty boards noticed extraordinarily heated disagreements throughout public conferences. If elected, what modifications, if any, have to be made to make sure conferences are run effectively whereas nonetheless permitting open discussions?
Properly communicated and enforced guidelines will enable for equity and alternative for the neighborhood members to carry any issues to consideration at conferences. Board members should lead by instance whereas additionally setting expectations for respectful, peaceable dialogue.
How do you are feeling about intercourse training being taught at school? Ought to an LGBTQ part be included, and why or why not?
Primary, age-appropriate intercourse training has been an necessary a part of the curriculum for a very long time, and may stay so. So far as LGBTQ training, it’s my understanding that trainer coaching on this area may be very restricted and I do not consider there may be at the moment sufficient qualification to tackle this topic in our colleges.
What are your views on important race principle and whether or not it needs to be taught within the district?
Whereas I am unable to say that I am very well-educated in CRT or its half at school curriculums, I am open to studying extra and having discussions with fellow board members and anxious neighborhood members.
Do you assume the present board has achieved sufficient to assist racial equality, and if not, what particularly needs to be achieved to take action?
I am not at the moment conscious of any points concerning racial equality in our district, however I am keen to take heed to any issues concerning this matter which can be dropped at the board’s consideration.
With regards to pupil achievement, what are colleges inside this district doing effectively and what must be improved? How can these enhancements be made?
It is a incredible faculty district with nice college students and lecturers. We won’t develop into complacent with previous success, and we should always try to proceed to excel. Collaboration and persevering with training for our lecturers is important in ensuring we’re offering the absolute best training for all sorts and ranges of learners. This can guarantee our children are greatest ready to face the world past the classroom.
Is there any motive you wouldn’t serve your full time period of workplace, aside from these of well being or household?
No
The perfect recommendation ever shared with me was ____________
Going via totally different coaching programs within the Military, we have been at all times reminded: “Do not Self-Choose.” In different phrases: “do not stop on your self”. Whilst issues get troublesome, and also you begin to doubt your individual skills, hold doing all of your greatest. The one approach to assure failure is to stop – you by no means know what you accomplish when you do not strive within the first place.