Plan and Prepare

By Julie B. (Bernsen) Brook

500 word essay

As a sixteen year resident of the District, I have two children who have graduated from Sycamore and one that is a freshman in the high school. I possess a unique background of extensive education and diverse interests. Born in Chicago, I have a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois, Urbana. After three years in the private sector, I returned to the University of Illinois on a full academic scholarship. While there I earned a Master in Business, concentrating in Finance and Human Resource Management/Personnel.

My work experience centered on reviewing communities for investment purposes; the primary determinant of community viability is the strength of its public school system. The correlation between schools and communities is too great to ignore, one doesn't bloom if the other is stagnant. I have also been a substitute teacher, wrote a war game for the U.S. Department of Defense and have an invitation business.

If elected this won't be my first board experience. I sat on a 425 student private school board and on the 125 family Sycamore Flying Fish board. Other commitments include Girl Scout Leader, Room-mother, PTO/PTA, and sister-city involvement. Currently, my only commitment is Board Member and Vice Chairman for the City of Blue Ash Board of Sites Arrangements and Board of Zoning Appeals.

If elected to the Board of Education my main objective will be to prepare the district for its future while keeping true to three priorities:

1) Ensuring an "Excellent" education for every Sycamore Student 2) Respecting Taxpayer Dollars 3) Supporting the Sycamore Administration, Teachers, and Staff

Presently, Sycamore is sitting comfortably. It has a working board which has brought the district to its current place; financially and educationally effective and efficient. Unfortunately, Sycamore can not rest upon the achievements of its past. Rather, Sycamore needs to prepare for its future by:

• reviewing finances/using best practice method
• more accountability/onus on those vested
• fiscally tight, proper investment
• increase fundraising
• increase grant writing and gratis assistance
• pro bono assistance from regional industry
• ensuring students are prepared for future using best practice method
• encourage differentiation in instruction
• increase dual credit options
• cognition of district financial diversity
• actively augment cultural/diversity competence
• up-to-date technology adaptable for upgrades rather than disposal
• watching competition!

On November 6th, I kindly ask that you select me as the candidate that will best meet the needs of the Sycamore Community Schools.