Name: Mary McNicholas

Age: 20

Town: West Dundee

Office Sought: Community Unit School District 300 School Board

1. What skills, qualities or experience do you possess that separate you from your opponents?

I am seeking a seat on the CUSD 300 Board of Education because I want to bring my strong passion, experience, and unique perspective to the board. As a recent D300 graduate, my voice is the closest to a student perspective of anyone running. I have experienced first-hand exactly what makes D300 schools so remarkable, and I have also seen the problems that need to be addressed. During my time as a Dundee-Crown High School student, I served on the D300 School Board Legislative Committee, where I learned many of the ins and outs of state funding challenges, including unfunded mandates and the difficulty of receiving large portions of funding categorically. I also acted on district concerns regarding policy issues such as virtual charter schools and the Sears EDA. Since graduation, my passion for D300 and education policy has only increased, and I would use my position as a Board of Education member to act as a voice and advocate for the people most affected by district decisions – the students.

2. What can School District 300 do and what should it do to ease the property tax burden on homeowners?

District 300 has consistently maintained a per student spending level far below the state average for both operational and instructional expenditures. The reason that the district currently has a budget surplus is because of the excellent financial work accomplished by the district in recent years. Despite adding important programming like full-day kindergarten and STEM labs to elementary schools, D300 was actually able to lower the property tax levy and still maintain a budget surplus. Of course, district finances should be constantly reviewed to ensure that the district remains fiscally responsible, but given the lower than average tax rate levied by D300 and the recent vote to lower the tax levy further, I believe that the district is already doing what it can and should to place the smallest possible burden on homeowners. The priority of a public school district and school board should be to provide the best education programming at the most efficient property tax rate.

3. Do you support school building consolidations in the near future? If so, when? If not, why not?

With current attendance levels, there are very few D300 schools for which consolidation is even physically possible. For many schools, the upswing of the housing market has helped quell worries of underpopulation, and student numbers are likely to continue along a slow upward trend. While I am not absolutely opposed to consolidation, I do not believe that school consolidation would bring significant long-term financial benefits to the district because over time student numbers will grow and eventually need their own space once again. In addition, consolidation would be a logistical issue. One of the few currently underpopulated schools is Neubert Elementary, which hosts many special education programs. Moving the population of Neubert Elementary would require extensive special accommodations in a new location, including significantly more classrooms per student. The other way to consolidate – building a new school – would be a waste of district resources and pose transportation issues, and the cost of constructing a new building would undermine any potential savings from having one less physical school in the district.

4. What will be the biggest challenge that School District 300 will face over the next four years and how will you meet it?

If elected, my greatest challenge will be serving on a public school board at a time when public education in the United States is threatened – particularly in Illinois where the state budget crisis poses a critical risk to education funding. I truly believe that every member of the D300 community should have access to a well-funded, well-staffed school, and that D300 schools should be the best option. As a board member, I would continue my legislative advocacy work to ensure that D300 can keep serving the community in a tumultuous political climate. This involves not only maintaining but expanding education services, all while keeping a balanced budget that places the smallest burden possible on taxpayers.

5. Do you believe the school funding formula in Illinois should be changed. If yes, how? If no, why not?

I strongly believe that the school funding formula in Illinois needs to be changed. Currently, Illinois has the least equitable funding formula of any state. Illinois also provides one of the smallest percentages of funding from the state level, placing undue burden on local property taxes. The funding disparity between Illinois school districts with high levels of poverty and low levels of poverty  is one of the worst in the country, and hurts the achievement of low-income students. Illinois has one of the largest achievement gaps between low and high-income students out of any state. The level of general state aid in Illinois should be raised, categorical funding should be lowered to provide more flexibility, and the funding coming from the local level (property taxes) should be lowered to rectify this inequality in funding and to begin to address the achievement gap.

6. Do you believe most students are prepared to enter the workforce or attend college by the time the graduate from high school? Why or why not?

D300 had a graduation rate, college readiness rate, and a post-secondary enrollment rate slightly higher than state average for the 2015-16 school year. While this indicates a success of the school district, there is always room for improvement. Especially in a district where many students opt to enter directly into the workforce, programming can be expanded to help transition those students successfully upon graduation. The rate of D300 students taking remedial courses in college is also far too high. The district must constantly strive to improve their standard and level of instruction for students in every track, starting at the elementary level. The district should continue to foster its relationship with ECC and ensure that district leaders  understand college readiness standards.