2009 District 203 School Board
Candidate Recommendations
We have questioned them, interviewed them and researched them. Here's what we think.
| WE RECOMMEND | ||||
| Susan Crotty | Jim Dennison | Lynn Hodak | Jackie Romberg | Merle Siefken |
Susan Crotty
We have observed Ms. Crotty in action on the board and feel that she has been a valuable member with a tremendous depth of knowledge of the district’s operations. She provides a historical perspective to the board going back to 2005. Susan Crotty is an excellent collaborative worker and has taken on numerous committee assignments for the board. We think her response to our question #2 (what are your top three goals for the school board and district?): academic excellence and innovation, fiscal responsibility, and accountability--exemplifies that of a committed and engaged school board member.
We applaud her commitment “to explore ways to increase our funding without asking the community for more in taxes” and her leadership in establishing a policy creating the "Site & Construction Fund. Thanks to her vision, the 2008 bond issue was able to be reduced in size ultimately saving the taxpayers $12.7 million dollars in bond interest. Ms. Crotty is a thoughtful, dedicated member of the District 203 Board of Education with a proven track record who serves the students, community and taxpayers with distinction.
Jim Dennison
Mr. Dennison has been very visible in the community through his role as Co-Chairman of Build The Future 203, the citizens committee that was formed to support last year's building referendum. His efforts demonstrated that Mr. Dennison has many of the qualities that we think a successful school board member needs: excellent communication skills, the ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others, and a keen talent for focusing on just what is needed to accomplish the objectives and tasks at hand.
It is evident from speaking with Mr. Dennison and reading his questionnaire that he understands the foremost role of a school board member is to ensure a quality learning environment: “ First, I am interested in serving the community in a position that is one of its most important, since the school board is entrusted with guiding the educational process for our most precious resource - our children” He also recognizes the obligation to manage the schools within the economic ability of our community stating his goal of “Continuing to provide a high-performance learning environment for the students of the district in a fiscally responsible manner.“
Mr. Dennison is frank with his comments about the state of the economy and the necessity for the school board to do what is necessary to cut costs in order to keep future budgets balanced. He has a long record of volunteerism in the community.
Note: Mr. Dennsion within the last 10 years has only voted in the 2007 municipal election.
Lynn Hodak
If the energy and intensity a candidate displays when running for the school board is indicative of how that person will handle the many responsibilities the position entails, Ms. Hodak will be a great school board member. Her passion and intensity are obvious. Ms. Hodak has broad experience with children and the district as well as that of an HR professional. We concur with her comments: “I am and will remain an independent thinker. I am very diligent in my efforts to research the necessary information and bright enough to ask a lot of questions so I can form my own opinions. ...However, after the debate is done and the votes have been cast, I will remain a collaborative worker and will work well with my colleagues no matter what side of the vote I am on.”
We also appreciate her candor regarding the current economic environment: “The district needs to do the hard job that the rest of corporate America is doing – researching each expenditure and seeing where cuts can be made. Some of these cuts might be painful—but we have to do what we can to keep the district from going into financial duress.”
She is also says about the building program: “Our third goal is to see that the build-outs and construction in our district is done efficiently, economically and effectively with minimal disruption to the educational system.”
Merle Siefken
Mr. Siefken has a long and distinguished career in education with strong roots in Naperville. He was a student teacher in District 203 and taught sixth grade in the district for a number of years. Merle Siefken was a middle school assistant principal in Michigan and then the school principal for five years. During that time he oversaw a 3-year multi-million dollar renovation project and had to reduce expenditures to balance the budget.
Currently, he is statewide project director of the Parent and Educator Partnership which is Funded by a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) through The School Association of Special Education in DuPage County (SASED). This is a program that helps parents of children with disabilities work with the complexities of educating their children and to collaborate effectively with the child's school.
Mr. Siefken speaks at length about how his feelings for District 203 led him to move back to Naperville: “My wife and I chose to return to Naperville because we believe the community and District 203 have the best to offer our family”. He also is intent on helping D203 continue to evolve: “Although there is room for improvement, we are privileged to be part of a school district that strives for excellence. We profess District 203 is “World Class,” and I would find no greater pleasure than to have every parent acknowledge that their child received a “World Class” education.”
And, like so many of the other candidates that we are recommending, Mr. Siefken has a long record of volunteering within the community, both in Naperville and in Michigan.
Jackie Romberg
Ms. Romberg makes no excuses for being a passionate advocate for D203. This is apparent in her responses to our questionnaire, her participation with all the school board activities and candidate forums. She is justifiably proud of the current Board’s accomplishments and remains committed to informing the public about the new economic challenges facing the district stating: “The district is poised to take aggressive action to curtail spending to match the new revenue stream.”
At the League of Women voters/Home and School forum she talked forthrightly about the commitment the district has made not go to the taxpayers for a referendum to increase revenue. Her list of involvements in District 203 is extensive. She displays high energy and commitment as a board member and her excellent communication and collaboration skills are always evident.
Note: Ms. Romberg has never been a member of QE203.org nor has she financially supported it. She agreed to be listed as a supporter of the QE203.org website during the 2007 election.
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