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All five candidates for the four available seats on the Lake Forest District 67 Board of Education in the April 9 election suggested creating a good culture for education was a primary role for Board members during a forum Sunday at the Lake Forest Public Library.
Beth Clemmensen, Jeff Folker, Robert Lemke, Patrick Patt and Mike Borkowski laid out their positions on the issues in between their opening and closing statements in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.
Earlier: District 115 Candidates Debate Issues
Weaving educational culture and a wish for greater transparency through their statements and answers, the five candidates answered questions about the relationship between the administration and the Board, the use of technology, the relationship between the Board and the public, communication and cooperative efforts with Lake Forest High School District 115.
When it comes to shared services between the high school and elementary schools, Clemmensen was critical of what she feel has become a “super board” of some members of each group. “Control should go back to the full boards,” she said.
Lemke favors the concept. “It’s a good idea,” he said. “It allows us to push the administration for more but there must be transparency.” While Folker is in philosophical support of the concept, he accepts there will always be a tension over who is paying for what.
Patt likes the model and the potential savings which he feels can put the budget in line with what administration should cost. Borkowski calls it a “very good thing. “It’s an opportunity for even more transparency,” he said.
Readers can view the candidates’ closing statements on the Patch videos accompanying this article. The entire 30-minute debate can be seen on the League’s website.
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kate
9:05 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Patt's flyer he passed out at Starbucks highlights only his education and status with MENSA. When asked for his strategy, he told me to attend the debate.
Sorry, Mr Patt, but many of us, as I relayed are busy. You had my attention, but lost my vote with your superiority attitude and snobbery.
Robert Peterson
10:26 pm on Monday, April 1, 2013
@kate: I also received one of Mr. Patt's flyers. His education is only one part of the flyer. Most of the flyer talks about his decades of work in schools serving students, his personal connection to the community, and that many organizations have recognized his work. I think you are nitpicking. I know Mr. Patt, and I think his independent voice will be a voice of fresh air after decades of one particular point of view holding sway. I think you should reconsider your vote. You won't regret it.
Gary
9:34 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I would be interested to know where each of the candidates stands on the issues:
1. What is your plan for dealing with a teachers' strike? Do you know what all of our legal options are, and do you have a plan for replacing all striking teachers if necessary?
2. Will you continue to vote to raise property taxes by the maximum amount allowed by law, as has been the habit of previous Boards?
3. Will you continue to sign union contracts which spike salaries by 6% per year for years before retirement to inflate pensions beyond what they have actually earned? This is a scam that has bankrupted Illinois. Will you help us stop it?
4. Will you vote for a "Fair Share" clause in the union contract, which forces non-union teachers to pay union dues? If so, please explain how this helps our kids, our school, or our town.
5. Will you implement unproven teaching methods in our schools or will you stand up to administrators who are trying to enhance their own resumes by experimenting with our children?
6. What process will be in place to monitor administration spending?
7. We are teaching our children that 2/3rds of the world's water will be gone by the year 2025. Not just fresh water... all the water. Do you agree with this? If not, what will you do to stop the spread of Apocalyptic Environmentalism in our schools and return the curriculum to subjects of value?
8. What would you say to parents who don't get involved because they are afraid of reprisals against their children?
Me
1:24 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
@Gary - "We are teaching our children that 2/3rds of the world's water will be gone by the year 2025. Not just fresh water... all the water. Do you agree with this? If not, what will you do to stop the spread of Apocalyptic Environmentalism in our schools and return the curriculum to subjects of value?" Huh???? I have kids that are in th system and I tested this concept on them. They have never been taught/told anything of the sort. I was agreeing with you until you went off the reservation with this one.
Gary
1:51 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
If I could upload pictures, I could prove it. It was on one of the posters that coated the walls last year proclaiming that we were running out of water. There were all kinds of alarmist statements like "Imagine a world without water", etc. At least a dozen large posters. The "2/3rd" comment was the most outrageous of all the claims made on the posters, so I am not surprised your child doesn't remember hearing that specific quote. I have a picture of it. I am not lying. It's really that bad.
I don't blame you though. If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe it either. This is one of those things that is "too crazy to believe". I need to remember that if I can't present the proof on issues that are too crazy to believe, then I should refrain from bringing up the issue at all. I broke one of my own rules. That was bad politics. Good ideology, bad politics. Consider it dropped from the list, until I can post pictures here.
But... isn't it a good thing that I put that in there? Now you don't have to worry about any of those other issues because you can simply write me off as a moonbat. You have political cover. That was a close one.
Gary
9:51 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I went to the debate and I really didn't get answers to those questions.
The only candidate that was concerned by the recent scandals, over-spending, and the apparent contract grant corruption was Ted Moorman, who is running for the high-school board district 115. Oh, they all talked about making good use of the taxpayer's money, but I didn't see the kind of commitment it's going to take to really reform the system.
Everyone seems to want to believe that we live in this perfect idyllic community with no problems or conflicts, despite all the recent evidence, and anyone who suggests otherwise is immediately cast out as a trouble maker.
That's the feeling I got.
Paul
7:53 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Gary:
1) Glad you saw that Mr. Moorman is making an attempt to bring some real transparency to Lake Forest civic life, instead of "maintaining appearances." He is a life long LF person who really loves this community.
2) I do hope that you agree that our kids should be taught that among the endangered resources they will need to face is fresh water. Didn't see the poster, and agree that facts, not propaganda, should be what is taught. Fact is that our kids will need to figure out how to deal with dwindling fresh water as populations approaches 8BB.
Lynette Paulsen
9:12 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
To all of my friends, neighbors, acquaintances the person posting under the name of Lynette PaulsOn is NOT me. I've contacted Steve Sabin about these posts several times over the past months, but Patch has not disabled this person's account. This terribly embarrassing to me and my family. To whoever is posting using this name, you are a coward and it has been beneath me to dignify your comments with a response. Since Patch hasn't been able to stop you, it's time for the police to get involved. Stop using that alias! If you are ashamed to post under your own name, then I suggest you stop sharing your crude and inane thoughts publicly.
Lynette Paulsen
Me
10:49 pm on Monday, April 1, 2013
I will welcome whatever BOE members who will dig to the bottom of the week that my son is wasting at DPM in this absurd "Holocaust Immersion Week". There is no math, no science, no language arts. These 8th grade children are doing nothing but all Holocaust, all the time, for an entire week of the school year. This is absolute insanity. What mental midget of an administrator came up with this genius idea?