LP_032119

4 | March 21, 2019 | the lockport legend Election 2019
lockportlegend.com
Will County School D92 Board of Education (7 for 3 four-year terms)
Name: Jacob
Middleton
Age: 42
Town of Residence:
Lockport
Occupation:
Chief information
security officer –
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Prior elected political experience:
None
Why are you running for a
seat on the D92 Board of Education?
I am motivated to play an active
role in the school district by
a desire to ensure my children
and all children in District 92
receive the best possible education.
In addition, I want our
community to be served by a forward-thinking,
student-focused
board that provides unparalleled
support for our teachers. I’m interested
in developing a deeper
understanding of the end-to-end
process of educating students
and influencing change that creates
an integrated approach that
ensures students, as well as their
parents, move seamlessly from
school to school while being
prepared for a bright future.
What makes you the best candidate
for this position?
I don’t know that there is a
“best” model for a board member,
however, I feel each should
bring a unique perspective to
the table and be willing to voice
their opinion truthfully, respectfully
and without bias. My background
is in technology, so I believe
I can offer a perspective on
the best use of our limited funding
to serve our students and
educators most effectively. I feel
that each board member should
make themselves available in a
public way and to be as involved
as they can in school functions.
Each board member should seek
to understand the issues affecting
students, staff and parents
in order to make informed decisions.
As a board member, I
will work to support increased
transparency to ensure that parents,
students, and staff have insight
into the board discussions
and decisions and to encourage
greater levels of parent participation
at board meetings.
What are the Top 3 issues you
see facing the district, and
what would you do to solve
them?
As many parents witnessed
over the course of 2018, there
is a lack of trust between the
board, staff, administration
and parents. Parents (myself
included) felt as if their voices
were not being heard at board
meetings, and staff did not feel
empowered to speak up on numerous
issues — most of which
affected students. If elected, a
top priority will be to determine
why this is occurring and to
quickly resolve it. I’m simply no
longer comfortable knowing issues
like this have been allowed
to persist.
District 92 is somewhat
unique in that we move students
through four schools over
the course of an eight- to nineyear
period. I attended two different
schools growing up, but
only because I transferred from
a Catholic school to a Chicago
public school. While I’m a proponent
of preparing students to
handle change, I feel that we can
do more to smooth the transition
from school to school. Specifically,
ensuring that the curriculum
has continuity across the
grade levels and that the technology
is as integrated as possible.
Instruction is the single most
important component of the
education process. I’m aware of
issues where teachers are not being
allowed to provide instruction
in the manner they deem
most appropriate and are instead
being asked to work from scripted
text. I feel that it is imperative
that we empower these professionals
to have the academic
freedom to deliver their lessons
in their own manner. Additionally,
there is a need to evaluate
how best to serve those students
that needs additional support as
well as those that can benefit
from accelerated studies. Of
course, standards must be met
and policies must be followed,
however there is a balance that
be can struck that allows teachers
to do what they do best to
benefit the students.
Name: Matthew Dusterhoft
Age: 47
Town of Residence:
Lockport
Occupation: Director of
technology
Prior elected political
experience: None
Why are you running for a seat on the
D92 Board of Education?
As a resident of the district since 2005
and the parent of two children, first- and
third-grade, currently attending the district
I believe it is vital to give back to
the community. The opportunity to be a
school board member is a way I can use
my skills to benefit District 92.
What makes you the best candidate
for this position?
I have a degree in elementary education,
an MBA, and I have been an educational
technology professional for over
18 years. As a school board member, I
will have the knowledge to oversee both
the curriculum and the financial aspects
of the district. My educational technology
experience will allow me to help
guide the district through complicated
technology issues.
What are the Top 3 issues you see facing
District 92, and what would you do
to solve them?
The district’s priority and most significant
responsibility is to prepare students
for life ahead of them. District 92
students are entering high school ready
for the challenges. The District can still
seek to improve students performance
continuously. Through the use of local
data and state test scores, the District
needs to tailor instruction to each student’s
needs.
The second priority is fiscal stewardship
of taxpayer resources. District 92
is in solid financial shape, and it is the
school board’s responsibility to maintain
sound fiscal practices. The District
needs to align its budgets to the strategic
plan to ensure all expenditures are
in the best interest of students and of
taxpayers.
The final priority for the District
needs to be school safety. The balance
of student safety and learning is a
growing challenge for all schools and
District 92 is no different. There needs
to be a renewed focus on building entrances
at all of the buildings as well
as how the use of technology can improve
the balance of student learning
and security.
Name: Grant Ferkaluk
Age: 41
Town of Residence:
Lockport
Occupation: Lockport
Township High School
guidance department
chair and head girls swim
coach
Prior elected political experience:
None
Why are you running for a seat on the
D92 Board of Education?
To provide leadership, guidance and
support for the already great things happening
in our district. I am currently filling
an appointed position on the board
and am hoping to continue for a full
term. I think that my educational background
and connection to the community
is a great combination for the continued
growth of our district.
What makes you the best candidate
for this position?
My background in education in our
community is primarily the reason for
my good fit. I have a strong background
in special education, student support services,
and educational leadership. My
background along with my connection
to the Lockport community allows me to
have a firm understanding of the role of
a board member and the essential skills
to guide decision making for our district.
I have been heavily involved in the
Lockport community as a coach for several
youth programs including Lockport
Boys Baseball and the Lockport Homer
Swim Club. I believe that Will County
District 92 is and will continue to be one
of the strongest districts in our area.
What are the Top 3 issues you see facing
District 92, and what would you do
to solve them?
Issue 1: Securing the best leadership at
the district office level. We are currently
going through the process of hiring a
new educational leader for the district.
It is essential that we hire a leader that
can take our district to the next level of
success. As a board, we need to provide
the necessary support for our leader to
allow them to make decisions that are in
the best interests of our students while
maintaining our financial responsibilities
to our tax payers.
Issue 2: Continuing to provide outstanding
educational opportunities to
our students. This can be done by hiring
and retaining quality educators and
Please see ferkaluk, 7