D210 Candidates Answer: What Educational Challenges Face the District?

Every day this week, Patch will give you the Lincoln-Way District 210 candidates' answers to a different question that deals with the financial and educational issues facing the school district.

We'll compile all the responses here, ordered in the way names will be on the ballot, and you can also get more election information on the . Today's question is:

Besides the financial issues, what is the biggest educational challenge facing D-210 students?

With respect to the schools, you'd like to keep the average class size down. With our becoming leaner with respect to teachers, administrators etc., the class size has crept up on us. We don't want that situation to affect our students doing well on the state tests. We should keep the class size manageable.

The challenge is continuing the academic intensity of the district. Academic success is only one part of success, social growth is important as well. We need to make sure our students are prepared for college or trade school or the work force. 

We have spent so much time on the financial issues ... I don’t know if there’s any other thing we do besides make financial responsibilty decisions. We spend a lot of time on curriculum because that increases student achievement. We need to keep working on communicating, and could educate our taxpayers more. But you can’t take them to water and make them drink. We need to tell them this is the trough, and tell them they can drink it when they want. But we need to get people informed one way or the other.

I don't think there are a lot of issues, as long as the programs continue and the schools look good and the kids have an opportunity to participate. The schools are heading in the right direction and will continue in the right direction. Academic achievement will continue to rise. The district does more with less money per pupil and will continue to look to expand programs.

I don’t think there (are challenges that aren't financial). I think that it’s all financially oriented.

If you take a look at school systems around the world and where we are today, I think we need to really step up in math, science, chemistry, writing skills, these kids need to compete in the business world when they get out, they need to be prepared better. I think we have lost the spirit of invention, looking at new challenges with an attitude that says we can solve this, the United States was founded on a we can do thinking, we need to get back to that. 

We laugh at old things like going to the moon, it does not have the aura it once had, today it does not seem we have the same passion to find or invent new things, we need to challenge our kids to expand the way they think, look for new ideas, invent or create new things for the future.

I don’t think they have a whole bunch of issues. Look at what (the schools) do have. You talk to realtors, and they'll tell you people want their kids in the L-W school district. The question isn't what to do or what to add, but how to maintain the level of education because parents do seek (these schools) out. 

Right now, it appears the district is doing a really good job. I’d like to see more students do better on Illinois asssesment tests.  

Mark Zilinskas did not respond to multiple phone calls requesting interviews.

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