3/31/2009 8:44:00 PM
Galena school board
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GALENA-Longtime board chair Fred Baltz has chosen not to run again for Galena school board, opening the seat. Two current board members, Gordy Montgomery, Lara Rosenthal, are running to keep their seats. Nancy Lewis, Galena, is running for the third seat.
Nancy Lewis was born and raised in Galena and attended St Mary's Catholic Grade School and Galena High School. She went to college at Western Illinois University and received a bachelor's degree, and the University of Iowa where she received a master's degree in public administration. Upon finishing college, she moved away from the area for 20 years and then returned to Galena with her family, where they have now lived for 16 years. Currently she is the executive director for Project Concern in Dubuque. She and her husband Roy, a retired United Methodist minister, have two children: Natalie who attends NICC and Simina who is a sophomore at GHS.
Lewis was asked what are her main concerns about the Galena School District; what will be her priorities on the school board; and what is her position on the proposed School Facilities Tax?
Nancy Lewis
My main concerns are: to maintain/improve student achievement through a quality educational program; school facilities needs; and finances. I believe it is the board's job to provide for an environment that facilitates students to learn and achieve at their highest level possible. Two of these concerns, adequate funding and school quality are connected.
Class sizes, teacher training, curriculum/textbooks, and equipment are key factors in student achievement and inadequate funding has a direct impact on all these areas. The school buildings are also an area of concern and have some infrastructure needs that will need to be addressed at some point in time.
My priorities as a school board member are: to be a voice for the community; to fulfill the proper role of a board member as set forth through Illinois School Code; and overall school funding. As an elected official, I feel it is my role to be an advocate for the community in making decisions. I will listen to the public and take their concerns to the board.
Another role is to set policy and to allow the district personnel to administer that policy on a daily basis. A school board's role is not to micro-manage and become involved in daily operations but to put in place guidelines and policies that will empower the administration, teachers and staff to do their jobs. A third priority is school funding. As a state, Illinois ranks 49th in funding schools and has received a "D+" in school funding equity. With no relief from the state, schools today are struggling financially and are looking toward other non-traditional means of raising hard cash. Grants, private donors for specific projects, corporate funding, and alumni associations are some avenues that other Illinois schools are tapping into and I believe that Galena needs to research some of these entities.
The Schools Facilities Tax is one means of non-traditional funding. Property taxes in Galena are too high and there certainly is an argument for utilizing this as a way to relieve the infrastructure needs, however, to define that relief is not a simple matter. Considerations such as renovation vs. new structure, consolidation, declining enrollment, etc. all factor into such a decision. What is obvious is the need to address some major maintenance and structural problems in the schools in the future.
The philosophy behind the tax is to shift the burden away from property taxes to sales by tapping into more "outside" dollars coming into the area from tourism. Tourism statistics show that visitors may question the sales tax when here eating and shopping, and may not like it; but they choose a destination based on attractions not on sales tax. The extra tax will, however, be felt by locals as they shop. I don't like paying more for anything, yet when there are major needs of the buildings that can't be put off forever, I would rather see anything other than property taxes increased.
I have extensive experience in grant writing and fundraising and in working with local funders and foundations. I have been active in the community in a number of organizations including my church and the Galena High School band boosters where I assist with fundraising.
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