Name: Donna Schuring Redmer
Position for which you are a candidate: ECC District 509 Trustee
Why are you seeking this position?
I’m passionate about ECC and the opportunities it offers the District 509 community. I’m an ECC alumnus having started at ECC while raising my 5 children. I transferred to NIU and became a career educator. ECC has resources to help all people reach their goals. Being a trustee requires a solid understanding of finance, evaluation and student success. Board decisions can help or hinder program advancement, budget development, contract agreements, and legal, insurance and personnel issues. I have the skill set, education, training and experience to perform at a high level as trustee. I’ve served 12 years on this board, 12 as a principal, 3 as curriculum director and 12 as a consultant with the Kane County Regional Office of Education where I helped underperforming schools on the state watch list create improvement plans. At ECC I helped launch the Master Plan, and there is much unfinished business that I understand and want to complete- the new manufacturing center, STEM corridor, emergency training center Phase 2, and development of a larger IT facility to serve virtual learning and internal business needs. During my board leadership much has been accomplished in terms of equity and finance. Access to learning was enhanced through additional hot spots and computers. And despite state budget problems, ECC has remained resilient and achieved a remarkable financial record with Moody’s AAA rating, a clean audit each year, and 50% reduction in student loan default.
What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?
I have a 35-year education career, 22 of which were at the K-12 level with one of ECC’s feeder districts. My positions included teaching, principalship and director of curriculum/instruction. As principal, our school received national recognition for educational excellence. A ceremony at the White House honored student performance. As curriculum director, I was responsible for K-12 learning. Using grant monies, I acquired resources to expand programming in all curricular areas and teacher training. Following retirement, I was employed by the Kane County Regional Office of Education for 12 years as a consultant, trainer and restructuring coach. During this time, I conducted training sessions at 15 schools on the IL watch list, using state mandated change models followed by implementation and continuous evaluation. When my first husband passed I acquired new skills as a small business owner, working nights to oversee financial, legal and management issues while still functioning as an elementary school principal during the day. In 2009 while still working at the ROE, I was elected as ECC trustee. In 2015, I was re-elected as the top vote getter. In the community I was a Charter member of the Algonquin – LITH Rotary, a District 300 Foundation for Excellence charter board member, 5 years on the Dundee Township Cemetery Board, and 6 years I served as steward for the Dundee Township Open Space property to allow public access for walking, hiking, biking.
What will be your highest priorities if elected?
My highest priority is making education affordable for all students, especially low-income and first-generation college students. Accelerate College, offers a free two-year program for high school juniors and seniors. Students receive both a high school diploma and an Associate Degree from ECC, saving time and money. For traditional students, academic advisors assist students with the navigation of pathway systems, state aid and scholarship programs, making college more affordable. New improved learning pathways are being studied with implementation close at hand to help students map their goals and develop a more efficient journey towards their future careers. Students will be able to stay on track, save time and money, and they’ll be aware of more choices and opportunities. Board oversight of the new Master Plan is another high priority to see completion of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing building to meet new programming demands, a STEM corridor to consolidate science, technology, engineering and math in one area. The Emergency Training Center-Burlington has waited a long time for implementation of Phase 2. The time has come to address the needs of students who train to serve and protect the community. Finally, a strong financial agenda is the support mechanism for future advancements. During my 12 years as trustee, ECC has achieved AAA bond rating, clean audits, 0-based budgeting and received budget excellence awards annually from the Govt Finance Officers Assoc.
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