Position Paper for
Julie Brook
Candidate for the Sycamore Community Schools
Board of Education
Strong and Clear Platform
1) Ensure an "Excellent" education for every Sycamore Student
2) Respect taxpayer dollars,
3) Support the district Administration, Teachers, and Staff
Well qualified to be a member of the Sycamore school board
Qualifications include:
- Bachelors of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois, Urbana
- Following three years of working in the private sector and receiving a full assistantship to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago, earned an Masters in Business Administration concentrating in Finance and Human Resource Management
- Served on a 425 student private school Board of Directors (appointed)
- Board of Directors, of the 125 family USA swim team, the Sycamore Flying Fish (appointed)
- As a graduate student and with two of professors, launched a real estate relocation analysis business.
- Analyst/Underwriter for a number of commercial real estate firms,
- Independent Management Consultant
- Wrote a "war game" for a small consulting firm contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense
- Substitute Teacher
- Launched a home-based Invitation Design Business: Creative Computer
- Room-mother
- Girl Scout leader
- Worked on sister-city projects
- Three children that are or have been in the Sycamore School System, 2 graduated, 1 is currently a freshman at Sycamore High School
- Lived in the community since June of 1991, over 16 years
Preparation and good communication is the key to the successful future of the Sycamore Community School District.
Financial Issues
- Understand the current financial situation of the school system
- Understand the future challenges of the schools, potential loss of revenue from the state, the loss of revenue due to the expiration of the limited levy of 2004, and the challenges associated with the possible changes in demographics within the school district. i.e. Student Funding Equalization and related issues/snow ball effect.
- Seek to review the best practice model from other school systems to improve the current funding models
- Understand the need to incorporate a variety of sources for funding to meet the challenges ahead, maintain fiscal responsibility, look for continued support from the state with funding of specialized programs (Gifted program, Special needs, work with Raymond Walters), and obtain outside support from the business community, families of students, alumni of the school and residents of he community.
- Uniquely qualified as a result of education and experience to deal with the financial challenges of the school system.
I will emphasize educational success of all students, without the intrinsic issues that can arise from older tracking systems. By supporting all students from the gifted to the learning disabled without forgetting about the majority in the middle, Sycamore Community Schools will be better able to prepare its students for their futures as adults.
Educational Issues
- Favor the exploration of alternatives to the tracking system, especially for the younger student, so that all students can reach their potential. This can be possible with greater emphasis on using the Differentiated Instruction methodology
- Encourage this differentiation of students in the classroom as much as possible
- Work with outside resources including Raymond Walters, the business community, UC, etc. to offer classes or activities currently not available at the schools + i.e. more emphasis on Post Secondary Enrollment Options and Dual credit classes
- Seek to review the best practice model from other school systems to improve the current teaching models
- Continue to emphasize participation in extra curricular activities including both athletic and non athletic activities for the students
- Continue the safe and healthy environment for student learning
- Continue to incorporate the community in the activities and facilities of the school, i.e., athletic facilities, adult education and community participation in supporting student activities and achievements
At present my primary commitment is being a member of the City of Blue Ash Board of Sites Arrangement and Zoning Appeals (appointed by the City Council of Blue Ash, Ohio) which meets only once per month. As a stay-at-home mom, I can devote myself full-time to board issues. My youngest son is still a student and I am very committed and concerned with educational issues. In addition, I have a tremendous ability to bring groups of people together to work on common causes, the talent to maintain diplomacy in the face of challenge and a particularly strong aptitude in communicating highly sensitive issues to a diverse population. I have no inherent conflicts and at all times I will remain objective; my allegiance will always be to the community. I am the ideal candidate for the Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education.
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