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Dan Shirley
The Cook County News-Herald is introducing candidates who are running for the I.S.D. 166 school board. This week Dan Shirley took some time from his busy schedule to answer some questions posed to him about his interest in remaining on the school board.
Q- Why are you running for the I.S.D. 166 school board?
I’ve been on the ISD 166 Board for 5 years and I’m seeking re-election for a few reasons. The first is that I care deeply about traditional public schools and want to be in a position to effectively advocate for them. I also believe in the importance of service to your community. The second reason is that during my tenure to-date, we have made a lot of progress on initiatives that are important and impactful to the district, and I want to ensure there are people at the table to continue to work on them and carry them forward. These include: the hiring of our new superintendent and re-organization of district operations and culture; district strategic planning; and district financial planning.
Q- What changes do you think the school board can make to have the school run more effectively and raise test scores?
A- Student achievement and experience are the main focus for all of us involved in education. How we participate in the achievement of those goals depends on what role we play in the organization. For School Board members, our role is to hire and oversee the superintendent, set vision and strategic direction and approve the budget. Last year we hired a new superintendent, Chris Lindholm, who is a fantastic leader that has already begun to make organizational and cultural changes in the district that are making it run more smoothly, more effectively, and be better organized and cohesive. In partnership with Superintendent Lindholm, staff, and community members, the School Board developed and adopted a new strategic roadmap that will focus the District on data driven approaches to improve each student’s educational outcome and experience at school.
Q- What are your feelings about the proposed voter referendum to extend the levy for 10 years?
A- The voter approved referendum is critical funding for the school district. Unfortunately, school district operations are underfunded by the state and federal governments, so utilizing a voter approved levy is the tool that local school boards have to fill the funding gap. Most school districts have a voter approved levy and Cook County is no different in our need. A 10-year renewal provides consistency and predictability to both the school district and the taxpayers. If the levy were to fail, it would cause massive interruption to the program offerings for our kiddos and significantly detract from our ability to provide the best educational experience we can.
Q- In the past I.S.D. 166 has gone to four-day weeks to save money. If fuel costs go way up, would you consider a four-day school week?
A- I’m always willing to listen to a proposal that may benefit our school district. A four-day school week is something that needs prior approval from the state in order to be adopted. I likely wouldn’t be interested in a four-day week as simply a cost saving measure unless it was also seen as a benefit to our students and families’ experiences. I’m always going to consider proposals through the lens of student achievement and experience. If there was a good case that a four-day week would improve student achievement or experience and be supported by the community, I would consider it.
Q- Why should voters cast their ballot for you?
A- I’m a parent of two kids in the district so I can empathize with the experience of students and families. In my five years of board service to date, and three as the board chair, I have gained significant experience in the operations of the district and how to be an effective member of the overall school district team. Additionally, I have taken advantage of many formal training opportunities over the years that have equipped me with specific knowledge on school district finances, legal issues, and effective management. I’m a leader who listens well and comes to the table with an open mind. I believe in collaboration, community service and strengthening our public schools.
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