Election 2013: Katie Thomason

Position Sought

Palos School District 118 school board member

Campaign Contact Information

Website: www.facebook.com/vote.thomason

Email: vote.thomason@gmail.com

Hometown

Palos Park

Family Members

Husband: Terry, 49
Son: Danny, 15
Son: Sammy, 13
Daughter: Megan, 11
Ron: Ryan, 9
Daugther: Kelly, 5

Education

BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois, 1990
MBA Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, 1998

Current Occupation and Employer

Supplier Business Unit Manager with Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

Political Party Affiliation

None.

Why are you seeking the position?

I am seeking this office because I care about this wonderful community and this school district. I am very pleased with the quality of education that my children are receiving in our district, yet I'm concerned about our ability to maintain and enhance that quality of education in the future.

I chose to run because I think I have the right skills and experience to bring a balanced perspective to decisions about our school district's future.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

I want to connect with parents and re-energize the volunteer base in the district. Given our school funding difficulties, it will become even more important for energized volunteers to get involved, whether it is for fundraising or supplementing desired activities that will not have the budget to be fully staffed. I am concerned about what our kids are experiencing in the world today. I want to ensure that they feel safe at school but also that the joy and passion about school and the learning environment remain. Mobilizing our volunteers is an excellent way to enhance the joyful experience while remaining cost conscious.

What past experience in your life, whether work or otherwise, would you say qualifies you well to serve on this board, and how?

As a parent, community volunteer, and business leader, I offer the wide-ranging experience and perspective necessary to meet our district's needs. I have four children currently in D118 and one who is a recent graduate. As the parent of a special needs child, as well as one in the Accelerated Learning Program, I understand the diversity of student needs. As a committed community volunteer, I have been involved in various school, scout, church and sports activities and currently serve on an advisory board committee for High School District 230. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University. In my 22 year career in the manufacturing industry, I have held various management positions in engineering, operations and finance. I know how to create a budget and be accountable to it. Through my experience as a parent and business leader, as well as my strong connection to the Palos community, I can bring the well-rounded perspective that is needed on our school board to face the challenges ahead.

Revenues from the state are drying up. Rank the following in order of importance for fixing the situation: 1) Staff cuts 2) Contract renegotiations 3) Operating expense cuts 4) Tax increases or other funding sources. Explain your reasoning.

3, 1, 4, 2

Obviously none of these will be popular decisions, but I would start with operating expense cuts. Before we can begin to sacrifice staffing or turn to our taxpayers, we need to be sure all waste has been eliminated.

Additional staff cuts may be necessary to maintain a balanced budget. More resources will likely need to be shared between the 3 schools in our district. I have strong ties to the community, and I hope to be able to energize parents and others in our community to get involved and help compensate for staff reductions.

All property owners in our community have a stake in ensuring that our schools maintain their excellent status, whether as parents or homeowners protecting their investment. Taxes are not the only potential source of funding, and we need to be creative in pursuing grants and consulting with other school districts to identify alternative funding sources.

Staff compensation needs to be fair and competitive, but not excessive, and be benchmarked against other schools in the area to prepare for future contract negotiations. However, I do not believe it will bring significant savings, and it is not reasonable to expect teachers to foot the bill for reduced funding from the state.

What can schools and school districts do to increase safety?

Our schools must continue to utilize the security measures that have recently been put in place, such as requiring identification and screening of visitors, and installing security cameras throughout the property. In addition, our schools need to work from within to continue to educate students about bullying, safety, and self defense, and strictly enforce school safety policies. Our schools and school district should engage local law enforcement in this process to educate and share best practices in school security and safety.

What do you think are the most challenging issues facing the district?

Year after year, Palos School District 118 faces increasing financial responsibilities with diminishing resources. Looking ahead, Governor Quinn proposes to cut the budget for K-12 education by $300 million. The challenge of our school board and administration is to find creative ways to maintain a balanced budget without sacrificing the quality of education in our district schools.

Have you ever been arrested or sued? If yes, please say what the charge was, and the case's and/or lawsuit's outcome.

No.

Any other information pertinent to your campaign.