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NAME: Donna Smith
POSITION FOR WHICH YOU ARE A CANDIDATE:
Elgin School District U-46
1. Why are you seeking this position?
I have been and continue to be dedicated to doing all that I can to provide the best education possible for all students. I continue to have the passion to do what we need to do for the community, staff, and most importantly the students of U-46.
2. What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?
I have been on the U-46 Board of Education for over 15 years, I have and will continue to take the data, the research, the input of the community, and the recommendations of our educators into consideration in developing policies and making decisions to lead our district into the future.
I take every opportunity I can to stay current with issues and continue developing my effectiveness as a Board Member. I have earned Master Board Member status for the past 13 years and was recognized as a Leadershop Academy Fellow by the Illinois Association of School Boards. These recognitions are earned through attending workshops which cover areas such as school finance, policy development, negotiations, school law, and others.
3. What will be your greatest challenge if elected?
I believe our greatest challenge has been and will continue to be providing unique opportunities for our students while also having a balanced budget. We can not count on state & federal funding to be stable. We have offset our levy by paying down debt to keep property taxes from increasing. There are new expectations in state and federal policy, demographic changes, maintaining our buildings, updating technology and many other expenses, all while trying to provide the best educational opportunities possible for our students.
The success of all students should be our focus as we continue to face these financial challenges.
Release for publication? YES
I will attend the forum? YES
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