WILMETTE – Early voting has already begun in Wilmette as residents decide whom to support in the District 39 school board election. Five candidates — Jon Cesaretti, Lisa Schneider Fabes, Mark Steen, Ellen Sternweiler and Gail Szulc — are running for four open school board positions. Steen, the only incumbent, currently serves as vice president on the D39 school board.
So who are the candidates for school board and why are they seeking to serve the community? DailyNorthShore asked each of the candidates to answer a few questions about who they are and where they stand on some relevant issues. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
Jon Cesaretti.
Jon Cesaretti:
DNS: Explain your background and relevant experience.
JC:
- Father of three District 39 students and both of my parents were career public school teachers;
- I am a tax principal in a top 10 public accounting firm where I lead the firm’s Chicago state and local tax practice.
DNS: Why did you decide to run for school board and what makes you a strong candidate?
JC:
- Our public schools are important and deserve our time and attention;
- I would bring experience in financial and tax matters to the board.
DNS: What do you hope to accomplish and what are your top priorities?
JC:
- Continue to ensure that our children receive the finest K-8 education available;
- Work with the board in coordinating matters that affect the overall tax burden (District 39 represents approximately 38% of our overall property tax burden) with other units of local government such as the library, the park district and the village.
DNS: What’s your approach to the current state budget stalemate and its potential impact on D39?
JC: I would suggest the board take a two pronged approach:
- Prepare the district (and parents and other taxpayers) for the likely eventualities of a continuing failure of the state’s budgeting process;
- Work with residents of Wilmette of all political leanings to make sure that our voices are being heard in Springfield and on both sides of the aisle.
Lisa Schneider Fabes.
Lisa Schneider Fabes:
DNS: Explain your background and relevant experience.
LSF: My professional and volunteer background will allow me to be an effective board member from day one.
Professionally, I am a consultant for non-profits and local governments, providing strategic planning and program design services. Many of my clients are schools, districts, or organizations that serve them.
I have also served as a District 39 volunteer in a variety of capacities. My jobs have varied from Arts Awareness Chairperson to President of the Community Review Committee.
DNS: Why did you decide to run for school board and what makes you a strong candidate?
LSF: I am running for school board because I am deeply committed to our community and to District 39, and I am passionate about advancing education. I have a unique set of skills and experience that I think would enable me to be an effective board member.
Specifically, I have been an active volunteer in D39, worked on a number of school reform initiatives as a consultant and as an employee of Chicago Public Schools, and I am a mother and taxpayer. Please see www.LisaForD39.com for more information about me.
DNS: What do you hope to accomplish and what are your top priorities?
LSF: I don’t have a defined agenda. Rather, I believe that District 39 has a history of providing a high quality education while being fiscally conservative. I want to help it continue on this path.
DNS: What’s your approach to the current state budget stalemate and its potential impact on D39?
LSF: The fact that Illinois hasn’t had a budget in 21 months is appalling. In response to proposed legislation that could negatively impact the District, I will work with the Board and administration to:
- Make sure D39 is in a reasonable position financially to be able to absorb any cost shifts without negatively impacting student learning.
- Maintain pressure through the elected officials representing this area to make sure that any pension cost shift is gradual and part of a larger restructuring of school funding that is not so heavily reliant on local property tax wealth.
Ellen Sternweiler.
Ellen Sternweiler:
DNS: Explain your background and relevant experience.
ES: I’m a mother of three District 39 students, one at Romona and two at Wilmette Junior High School. I’ve been a small business owner and entrepreneur for over 25 years; originally in marketing and communications and, more recently, as a specialty retailer and parent advocate focused on sensory needs and child development.
DNS: Why did you decide to run for school board and what makes you a strong candidate?
ES: We moved to Wilmette 3½ years ago for its excellent education system and special services. However, my experience successfully navigating and advocating within a wide range of competitive school models, prior to moving here, has equipped me with a unique perspective to their advantages and disadvantages and how we might use that knowledge to benefit our District.
As well, I’ve always strived to make a difference in my community: I’m currently the Romona School Liaison to District 39’s Parent Association for Special Services. I’ve served as a National Commissioner and Midwest Regional Board Member of the Anti-Defamation League for over 18 years and standing Chair of Chicago’s NPN Developmental Differences Group for 8 years. This civic mindedness, along with my broad base of personal and entrepreneurial skills, makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the District 39 Board.
DNS: What do you hope to accomplish and what are your top priorities?
ES: I’m committed to maintaining the high standards of education that our community expects and our students deserve, while consistently questioning, re-evaluating and devising new and innovative ways to meet changing demands and expectations. Communication, collaboration and innovative thinking are essential to ensuring our District’s continued success.
DNS: What’s your approach to the current state budget stalemate and its potential impact on D39?
ES: While we have no direct control over what happens at the state level, our current D39 Board has responsibly budgeted for some of the potential impacts of new legislation. As a Board Member, I’d recognize my role as a steward of an exceptional school district, and would assess our district’s priorities by thoughtful consideration of both our budget and continued educational excellence.
Mark Steen.
Mark Steen:
DNS: Explain your background and relevant experience.
MS: I am a PhD physicist, former equities analyst, and management consultant, having worked for Citadel and McKinsey & Company. I am also the current D39 School Board Vice President and the father of three D39 students. My experiences reflect my evidence-based and pragmatic approach to problem solving and dedication to education.
DNS: Why did you decide to run for school board and what makes you a strong candidate?
MS: I am running for re-election to help continue D39’s tradition of providing excellent education in a fiscally responsible manner.
As a physicist, I believe in fact-based polices and objective metrics. As a management consultant, I look for pragmatic solutions that can be supported by all parties. As a financial analyst and four year member of the finance committee, I have deep understanding of the district’s fiscal position.
I am also closely connected with the community: I spend most of my “free time” at Wings soccer games, Flying Fish swim practices and school band concerts.
DNS: What do you hope to accomplish and what are your top priorities?
MS: I do not have a pre-determined agenda. My top priority is ensuring that D39 lives within the financial means of our community, while improving the district’s fiscal health and its students’ educations.
The board will make decisions with long-lasting financial and educational impact over the next four years. I will work to ensure that we have strong decision-making processes, including informative communications, relevant facts, and support for effective action once the decisions are made.
If we are open-minded, clear-eyed, and resolute in our decision-making, I think we will improve the already outstanding school system we have.
DNS: What’s your approach to the current state budget stalemate and its potential impact on D39?
MS: District 39 has put contingencies into its budget for many of the potential state budget outcomes. I agree with this conservative approach. I believe the budget uncertainty has begun to hurt our ability to plan appropriately – a fact that I have made clear to our local state lawmakers.
Gail Szulc.
Gail Szulc:
DNS: Explain your background and relevant experience.
GS: I have dedicated my life to improving the lives of elementary school students,
first as teacher, and then principal, in the Chicago Public Schools. As principal, l led my school, in just 8 years from the rank of 224 to #3 in the city, with no increase in funding…no additional cost to the taxpayers.
My background includes a Master’s degree in Instructional Leadership, member of the Illinois State Board of Education school review team for Chicago schools, a former Leadership Coach for new principals in Washington D.C. Additionally, I was featured in Business Week for my efforts in accelerating student achievement, they noted “our nation must embrace reformers like Szulc”.
DNS: Why did you decide to run for school board and what makes you a strong candidate?
GS: I’m retired now and have the time and desire to give back to my own community where my husband and I have lived for 33 years, and my daughter attended Romona. We need elected officials who strive to improve student achievement, which has declined in relation to other North Shore districts, as well as keep property taxes down for older residents.
My professional experience improving student performance without increasing funding is applicable to District 39. While my opponents will say they know how to improve our schools, I lived it for 35 years. District 39 schools are falling behind most of our surrounding communities on the North Shore. We can and should do better, and I want to share my expertise to ensure our students are prepared for life in the 21st Century.
DNS: What do you hope to accomplish and what are your top priorities?
GS: As an elected school board member, my job will be to address the concerns of District 39 residents and students. Since the primary concerns are student performance and property taxes, those will be my top priorities once I’m elected.
I will focus on evaluation of student performance and the appropriate changes to ensure our students achieve at the highest level and are adequately prepared for life in the 21st century. With careful examination of programs and student performance, we can perform at the very highest level without increasing property taxes.
DNS: What’s your approach to the current state budget stalemate and its potential impact on D39?
GS: While most of our funding comes from property taxes, state funding is a component of providing a world class education. In additional to these taxes, our schools rely on state funding. As a board member, I will work with state legislators and encourage them to pass a balanced budget that adequately funds education at all levels. I will also work with board members and school administrators to develop a contingency plan if the budget stalemate is not solved. Input from all parties, including parents and community members is important….we must be ready to help ourselves.