www.dailyherald.com/news/politics/elections/2009/race/candidates/?id=707&candidate=999Unit D204 board member
Susan Rasmus Incumbent: No
Occupation: Full time mom, volunteer and substitute teacher for District 204
Age: 39
Address: Aurora, IL
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Family
My husband, Brian, and I have 2 children, a 4th and 5th grader at Nancy Young Elementary.
Education/degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communications from Eastern Illinois University
Civic Involvement
I have been an active member of the Nancy Young Elementary PTA for the past six years. I have served on the PTA Executive Board for four years and am currently in my 2nd year as the PTA President. I am a member of the Indian Prairie Parents Council and the Indian Prairie Project Arrow PTA. I am a representative on the Oakhurst North Neighborhood Association Board and the secretary of the Oakhurst North Swim Team Board. My family attends Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Naperville.
Candidate's Key Issues
Key Issue 1 Ensure we continue to provide the best education possible for ALL students in District 204.
Key Issue 2 Bring unity back to our entire district.
Key Issue 3 Strive to achieve goals that have already been set while also looking ahead and planning for the future.
Questions & Answers
Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted.
1. What is the most important issue facing Indian Prairie Unit District 204 and how specifically would you address it as a member of the school board?
I feel we must continue implementation of changes that will be felt across the entire district in the 2009-2010 school year. A new high school and middle school, students moving to implement boundary changes, staff shifting, a different middle school schedule - we have lots of new and exciting changes that will require our school board, administration and community work together to ensure a smooth transition and continued excellence in the education of all our students. Communication and monitoring of progress in a must at all levels.
2. The district is negotiating a new teachers contract this year. Do you believe teachers should continue to get raises in this economy? If so, what percentage do you think is fair (counting step increases)?
Our staff is the most valuable resource we have as a district. Great teachers can make an impact that lasts for years to come. Currently we've got the 2nd highest number of National Board certified teachers in the state. It's imperative that we maintain an environment that is attractive to those that are the best at what they do. Raises are one way to do that, but in a difficult economy the district could look at other incentives that might be fiscally responsible alternatives. In addition to teachers, we also need to remember our other staff. From teacher assistants to social workers, clerical workers to custodians, each plays a valuable part in the 'team' that makes 204 a great district.
3. The economic downturn will put a strain on District 204's budget. What specific ideas do you have for increasing revenue or cutting spending?
We need to be fiscally responsible and continue looking at all aspects of the budget. Where can we make changes? This year the district reported $350,000 in savings with the custodial contract and $3 million in healthcare provider savings. We need to continue to take a closer look at all our options. In terms of increasing revenues, I think we've got to explore various possiblities and get creative. Maybe we look at more grant writing and giving our staff the support they need to pursue funding from different sources. As a PTA President, I've found our business community to be incredibly supportive of our school. I think that as a district we need to reach out and form more partnerships within our community.
4. How can the district improve its curriculum to ensure students are prepared for college and/or the workforce?
I see the district continually taking steps to give our students a brighter future. The change in the middle school schedule next fall will allow for more minutes in core academic classes. 6th-8th graders will have the opportunity to study a foreign language. Those are improvments our current board has worked to put in place. As we move forward, I think we need to provide our staff with more professional development opportunities, we need to ensure we are giving our students a beneficial technology curriculum and I think we can reevaluate how schools are communicating and sharing information between each other.
5. If you are an incumbent, outline your three major contributions to the school board. If you are a challenger, outline the three contributions you hope to make during your first term.
I hope to strengthen respect and communication between the board and our community.
I would like to get more parents and the business community involved in making a positive difference in our schools. Whether it's one hour in a classroom or stepping up as a leader, it takes more than just administration and staff to take an already great district to the next level.
I welcome the opportunity to be involved in the implementation of changes across the district in 2009-2010, making sure we keep our goals in focus and keep the best interest of all students at the forefront of our decisions.
