Candidates learn about how public schools run

By Sharon Woods Harris
Times staff writer

The way candidate Keith McArdle sees it, the more information he has about Pekin public schools the better off he'll be.

McArdle and fellow District 108 School Board candidates Eleanor Gibbons and Mike Underwood learned more about district operations Tuesday night. They attended an informational meeting at Washington Intermediate School -- all the candidates were invited to come hear administrators discuss topics of concern.

Those topics included budgeting and finances, school improvement plans and the new Illinois Learning Standards and Benchmarks. The learning standards are state academic mandates that go into effect this year.

District 108 incumbents Mike Tibbs, Chris Zimmerman and Rich Root, who are up for re-election, did not attend. The three already are familiar with district business.

Board member Valerie Moehle Umholtz -- who is not up for re-election this year -- attended as well. She told the three candidates that not so long ago meetings like this one helped her as she got ready to join the board.

"This is something we've done for years," Superintendent Perry Soldwedel said. "Our board felt it wanted to provide the opportunity for candidates, especially new candidates, to get information about the processes."

Gibbons, McArdle and Underwood listened intently as administrators discussed various topics. They heard about the tasks of top administrators, what they care for and who they answer to.

The three said they were pleased to get a taste of district business.

"It was nice to get an overview of how the district runs and I think I have a better understanding of what each individual is responsible for here," McArdle said. "It was helpful. ... the more information the better."

"I think that this is the first step in the right direction," Gibbons said. "... I think there's a whole lot of information out there, and I think we need to take it a piece at a time, and I would like to take every opportunity to build on this as we go.

"If I am elected I feel I will be more useful to the board early on instead of coming in cold and spending six months getting up to speed. ... those of us not elected will have terrific information," she said.

Soldwedel told the candidates the budget isn't something dealt with only in the fall, but is a year-long process with periodic reviews to see if the district is meeting goals.

Director of Finance and Operations Guy Cahill talked about different sources of grant revenues and how they could be used, the infrastructure enhancement plan, construction projects, life safety projects and the 20-year facility plan. That plan is used by the district to keep up with the physical needs of its buildings.

The Infrastructure Enhancement Plan addresses window replacement and other projects not covered by the facility plan.

Candidates will be assisted by the district as the election nears so they continue to be familiar with issues and projects, Soldwedel said.

The three challengers in the race have been attending board meetings. They also are invited to the Illinois Association of School Boards Regional Dinner to learn more about educational issues.