District 30 School Board Candidate: Chuck Gitles

Glenview Patch submitted a list of questions to each Northbrook/Glenview District 30 Board of Education candidate to let each contender have their say on the issues. Some answers may have been edited for clarity and length.

Chuck Gitles is running against James Bream, Yasmeen Bilimoria, Scott Margolin and John Smith for a seat on the school board. Read Gitles' responses below. 

1) How would you assess the state of District 30's budget?
District 30 is in strong financial shape. The fund reserve balances are up to 50% of annual operating needs. This allows the district to operate even if tax funds are delayed due to issues at the state and/or county level. The budgets remain in balance and have shown balanced or in surplus since my involvement began 6 years ago.

2) If expenses need to be reduced, exactly what would you cut? Be specific.
While there are not many educational expenses that I think need trimming, the district has undertaken a facility review which is due in the next few months. It’s very likely that this review will reveal operational inefficiencies (energy costs, ongoing maintenance, etc.) that could lead to ways to create savings.

3) If more revenue needs to be raised, exactly what would you propose? Be specific.
To the best of my knowledge, revenue sources project to be sufficient, especially once the Glen TIF ends.

4) Do you feel any changes need to be made in the curriculum?
Curriculum undergoes regular reviews on a set schedule by topic. The administration does a terrific job of incorporating both new ideas and new technologies into the classrooms on a regular basis. In my own household, we’ve witnessed a dramatic change (and improvement) in the writing curriculum. Ongoing reviews certainly appear to be the best way to keep the educational program current.

5) How would you assess the district’s expense-per-pupil ratio? Are taxpayers getting adequate value for their dollar?
I think the way you measure this is by results. Using the Chicago Magazine rankings, the District Schools are ranked #1, #3, and #13th in all of Cook County suburban schools. Within those rankings, we see that all three schools saw in excess of 96% of students meeting or exceeding ISAT tests relative to state standards. High performing schools help all people who live in the district. Parents of students are getting top quality educations for their children. Residents without enrolled children see property values boosted as their houses are desirable targets for relocating families. Using this metric, the return to taxpayers seems quite good.

6) Are the district’s test scores adequate? If not, what specific measures should be taken to improve them?
See the last answer. Willowbrook saw 98.3% of students meeting or exceeding standards. Wescott saw 97.2% and Maple say 96.4%. With performance that strong, it will be very difficult to raise performance much higher.

7) What’s on your wish list for facilities and technology and how would you pay for them?
I will defer the answer to this until after the facility study is complete. I would be happy to comment further once the results of that study are published.

8) How would you describe morale among teachers and staff? How can it be improved?
The morale appears to be strong. The number of applications the district receives for open positions is very high. District 30 has also been able to also provide a work environment that fosters creativity and has allowed the staff to continue their own educations. The way to keep the staff morale high is not just by offering good compensation, it’s by allowing the staff to use their imaginations in their classrooms and advance themselves professionally.

9) Many districts have started programs for students in civil behavior and alcohol and drug prevention. Does this district need to adopt these or similar programs?
District 30 is a strong supporter of Affective Education and is a heavy participant in CHARACTER COUTNS! as well as Operation Snowflake, an annual program designed to bring together students, professionals and adults to develop a trusting relationship and provide a framework of understanding of one's self and others. This program gives students the opportunity to learn skills that can help build healthy peer relationships, promote responsible decision making, and resist negative peer pressure.

10) What else would you like voters to know about your positions on issues, point of view or qualifications?
I am a married father of three children enrolled in District 30 and am an alumnus of the District (Maple class of 1981). During my previous tenure on the District 30 board from 2005 to 2009, I was directly involved in curriculum reviews, budget and finance issues, union negotiations, space utilization studies, and the hiring of the current superintendant. Professionally, I am a First Vice President with American Chartered Bank in Northbrook. This gives me an excellent background in finance and enables me to provide a high level of informed oversight of District 30's financial performance. I am excited about the opportunity to represent the community and will work to maintain the high standard of education provided by District 30.