| What is the importance of the District 3 School Board to residents of Mahomet-Seymour? | |
|---|---|
| Colleen Schultz | |
| "We entrust the school board with our most precious commodity—our children! The School Board is vitally important as they set the vision and the priorities that guide the district in teaching and shaping our future.
The community also entrusts the board members to represent them and to make decisions on their behalf. It is exceedingly important that each board member conduct themselves with the utmost integrity. The community should be able to count on board members to tell the truth and to do the right thing. As a board member I will operate with integrity and be a member the community can trust. " | |
| Jason Tompkins | |
| "Keeping Mahomet-Seymour strong is a top priority for me as a candidate for the board of education. I believe, as a district, we accomplish this through ensuring a safe learning environment, maintaining academic excellence, preserving fiscal responsibility and continuing infrastructure improvements to accommodate growth." | |
| Lance Raver | |
| "The school district is vitally important to our community. We have a long and well deserved history of excellence in our schools. The School Board sets policies and priorities for the district that help to influence the direction of the district for years to come. Making decisions that will influence our children for years to come is an enormous responsibility. Having positive committed leaders is crucial to the good decision making needed to continue the success that Mahomet-Seymour has become known for." | |
| Meghan Hennesy | |
| "Mahomet-Seymour is a small community built around a school district. As a result, the things that happen in the schools have a large impact on the community as a whole. How we set priorities and make decisions should include input from all of the major stakeholders; kids, teachers, parents and the community at large. Voting is a way to make your voice heard." | |
| Why are you qualified to be on the School Board? | |
| Colleen Schultz | |
| "I am a mom, a professional educator and an economist.
I’m a mom who participates and pays close attention to what is happening in the schools. I have a heart for the kids of our community, I want to support our teachers in educating our kids, and I want to see the Mahomet-Seymour school district advance on a path of excellence. In addition to being a mom, I have been a professional educator for over 25 years. I have a PhD in economics and teach both economics and statistics at the University of Illinois. I understand first-hand what it is to be an educator—both the rewards and the challenges. As a teacher, academics are near and dear to my heart. I believe that my knowledge and experience in education will add to the board and serve the community well. My training as an economist will allow me to lend valuable insight as our board sets priorities to accomplish our most important goals. I look forward to using my professional skills to help our district find a way to accomplish more of the things we value." | |
| Jason Tompkins | |
| "I grew up in a school board family. If elected, I will be third generation to serve. I also help run a business. Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made to serve the greater good. I am not afraid to make those decisions. I believe that board members should discuss and even disagree from time to time. However, at the end of the day, board members must come to a consensus. I believe that I can do that for the betterment of the entire school district." | |
| Lance Raver | |
| "I have three daughters currently enrolled in the district. My wife is also a teacher in the district. These two different views allow me to see the district from a perspective that many people cannot. Additionally I have a strong educational and professional background in finance and accounting. This allows me to provide insight to the other board members and administrators on a wide range of topics related to district financial priorities." | |
| Meghan Hennesy | |
| "I am a mom who has been very involved in the schools since we moved to Mahomet 6 years ago. I have served on the PTO as treasurer and president, I have spent many hours volunteering in the classrooms and I have strong connections in the community with kids, parents and teachers. I serve on other boards and understand the importance of the role of board member. I am committed to listening and seeking out what is important to the community so that I can best represent community needs." | |
| If elected, what is something you want to accomplish on the School Board, and how long will it take? | |
| Colleen Schultz | |
| "One of my highest priorities as a school board member will be transparency. Communication is the bedrock of trust. Trust is earned, and it is through honest and truthful relationships that trust is built. I believe that in order to best serve you, the community, the board and the administration must engage in as much dialog and open, transparent communication as possible. I will make it a focal point as a member of the board to advocate for the improvement of timely and clear communication from the district.
I am also very committed to collaboration. Teachers, parents, board members, administrators and community members should all be on the same team working together to provide an excellent education for all our students. I believe that true strength comes when we work together. Mahomet and Seymour are small communities full of invested, smart and giving people. I believe we are stronger when we value and utilize all of these varied skills and as such, one of my priorities will be to ensure mechanisms for the community to bring their thoughts and ideas to the board; and then take those ideas and find a way to use them to accomplish great things for our kids. That is the goal—to accomplish great things for our kids. Our ability to meet the needs of ALL kids right where they are is vital to our success. This can only be done if the district supports and stands behind its teachers—equipping them with the resources they need to be the most successful. I welcome the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the way we interact with our kids to be most effective and make them successful across the spectrum." | |
| Jason Tompkins | |
| "I want to see our school district continue to move forward as one of the premiere districts in Illinois. I believe that our Junior High School facility needs to be addressed more sooner than later. I would like to work with my fellow board members on analyzing that time line and see if there needs to be adjustments. Physical space issues must be addressed before eventually embracing other matters for our students and staff. I believe continually engaging the community is highly valuable. The community owns this district. We need to make sure that we are working together to make this the best district for our community. In the end, if that remains the case, we all benefit." | |
| Lance Raver | |
| "I would like to focus on maintaining a safe learning environment for our students, preserving our sound financial position, continuing our excellent educational outcomes and continuing to improve our infrastructure and facilities. All of these goals are ongoing and continuous. Each of these goals can and will be addressed every year as there is always room to make improvement in each of these areas." | |
| Meghan Hennesy | |
| "I would like to focus on communication and process if elected. I believe we have opportunities to change how conversations take place and how we gather information used to inform board decisions. I believe there is opportunity for immediate change, but that communication is the key to long term success. " | |
| Is there anything else you would like to say to an undecided voter? | |
| Colleen Schultz | |
| "I am excited about this opportunity to serve the community of Mahomet-Seymour. As a school board member I will stand up for what I think is right for our students and won’t give in to pressure to compromise my values and integrity. I want to represent our community well within the district and as such I want to connect with the students, teachers, parents, and other community members and truly listen to the voice of the community. I hope that you will reach out to me if you want to know more. " | |
| Jason Tompkins | |
| "I am a positive, committed leader. I will work each day to the very best of my ability to make Mahomet-Seymour the best it can be. I will listen. I will act. Doing the right thing is not always the popular thing. Leading is not always fun. However, leading is what we are called to do. I have students in the district, and I want the very best for them and all who attend. I am committed to keeping Mahomet-Seymour strong and I hope that you will join me. Thank you for your support!" | |
| Lance Raver | |
| "As a father I understand that every parents most important goal is for their child to go to a school environment each day that is safe, welcoming and prepares them for success after high school. That is absolutely my number one goal for my daughters. While there are multiple ways to look at issues and approaches to take, I can promise that every decision I make will draw on my education, professional experience and most importantly my strong desire to see children have as many opportunities open to them as possible. In my time on the board I have always looked at issues through the prism of a father first. Doing that makes it very easy to make decisions that are best for children." | |
| Meghan Hennesy | |
| "I am excited about this opportunity to serve the Mahomet-Seymour community in a new way. I would like the opportunity to connect with as many voters as possible to understand what priorities are important to them. Being a voice for the community is a role I take seriously and would be honored to have. Please reach out to me if there are issues you'd like to discuss. " | |