District 211 School Board Candidate: Anna Klimkowicz

Name: Anna Klimkowicz

How long have you been a resident of District 211? 32 years.

Biographical Information (optional) family, profession, background, etc. 

Anna Klimkowicz was elected to the Board of Education in 1997 and re-elected in 2001, 2005, and 2009.  She twice served as Board secretary from 1999-2001 and 2007-2009.  Mrs. Klimkowicz has been recognized by the Illinois Association of School Boards as a “Master School Board Member” and is currently resolutions chair for the North-Cook Division of IASB.  She has served on the governing board of the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization as the District representative since 2011, having also served from 1998-2008 and was vice president from 2000-2006.  Mrs. Klimkowicz is employed by CEDA Northwest as a family case manager.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in business education from Northern Illinois University, and earned a master’s degree in public administration from Roosevelt University and a second master’s degree in Human Services from National-Louis University.  She is a licensed professional counselor.  She serves as the chairperson of the Village of Schaumburg Peer Jury Oversight Committee.  Mrs. Klimkowicz has been the Schaumburg Township Council of PTA’s president and treasurer.  In addition, she served as president of Jane Addams Junior High School and Blackwell Elementary PTAs.  Mrs. Klimkowicz was an advisor to the Girl Scouts, and received the organization’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2002, Beaman/Denoyer Award in 2003, and the Outstanding Leader Award in 2004.  She also served three years as vice president of Boy Scouts Learning for Life Program.  Mrs. Klimkowicz received a “Those Who Excel” award from the Illinois State Board of Education in 2002.

Family: Married, three adult children. 

Employment:  Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) NW, as a Family Case Manager of the Transitional Living Program.  Licensed Professional Counselor

Civic Involvement:

Chairperson, Schaumburg Peer Jury

Member, Hoffman Estates Citizens Police Academy

Prior civic involvement includes:

• Schaumburg Township Council President and other PTA office
• Girl Scout Leader, Boy Scouts Learning for Life Program
• Volunteer:  WINGS

Why are you running for the District 211 board? 

I believe that I bring a unique perspective to the board for I work with individuals seeking economic assistance due to loss of job, foreclosure, homelessness or just the need to put food on their table.  I ask questions at board meeting and encourage open discussion. Since the board will be entering contract negotiations I believe that I can provide history of the past and a realistic approach to the future.  

How do you propose to sustain a quality education for students who attend District 211 schools with continual cuts to education and the burden of growing pensions costs?

Union Negotiations – Teacher Contract, Operations & Maintenance and Support Staff

I believe that Interest Based Bargaining would be a good approach to the negotiations.  It is important that everyone understand the economic situations that our community faces, the effects it has on the entire household and how we can maintain quality of education.

Retirement of administrators within the next few years – Direct the superintendent to seek out administrators that provide strong leadership, are creative thinkers and are inclusive.

School funding – including monitoring the direction the legislators take towards fixing the pension issues.

Costs:

As a district, with a continuous review of revenue and expenses we can sustain the quality of education of District 211.  Legislators need to provide the school district with pension funding direction so that future plans can be made and implemented.  As a board we must also keep in mind that 86% of the school funding comes from local property taxes and we have a responsibility to our taxpayers to be fiscally responsible.

Do you believe District 211 is doing all it can to prepare its students for college? If yes, why? If no, why, and what changes would you propose? 

District 211 has been offering a Freshman and Sophomore Academy to incoming students to help prepare them for the rigors and expectations of high school academics. This opportunity gives the student the extra boost that they need to be successful. Students are also encouraged to take advanced placement classes.

The STEM classes prepare students for college and careers. Educating all students to be productive citizens is vital to our society.

Articulation with the feeder school districts allows for a continuum of curriculum to challenge our students to be the best they can be. The students need to enter high school ready for high school course work.

What, if any, improvements would you like to see in the way the board is run? 

I strongly support the board hold a strategic planning session.  An opportunity for the board to discuss our plans for the future which would include:  finances, curriculum, student educational readiness, special education needs, facilities, etc.  The role of the board member is to work with fellow board members to determine the “ends” the vision of what should be and then direct the administration to develop the means to accomplish the desired objectives.

I would like to see a rotation of officers serving on the Board. I believe each board member has the skills and ability to serve.  Communication and open discussion at board meeting is imperative.

Additional comments and/or information you deem important for District 211 voters to know about you. 

Important and informative information is presented at our board meeting and only a hand full of people attends which is unfortunate.  Although as a board, we have discussed televising the board meeting and a motion failed.  As technology improves and costs decrease I would like to see this revisited.