O'Fallon Elementary District 90 board member

Chris Pulcher

O'Fallon

Age: 41

Job: Intelligence Officer

Phone: None provided

Web:

Facebook:

Twitter:

Email: cpulch22@gmail.com

Education: 14 years

Previous offices: None

Qualifications: I am married to a lifelong O'Fallon resident, my lovely and talented wife, Kristi. I am the proud father of three childern, my oldest graduated from District 90 and OTHS, our middle child attends Fulton Jr. High and our youngest is in special education. Additionally, I'm the grandfather of two young grandsons. The oldest is attending Laverna Evans in kindergarten, while the youngest most likely will not be attending the district for a few years, seeing as he he is only a few weeks old. That being stated, you can see why I have such an intense interest in our schools and a district board position. I moved to O'Fallon in September of 2009, since doing so I have been active in my subdivision as Secretary of the inaugural Home Association Board. I am also a very active father in my children's athletic clubs as a Head / Assistant coach. My background in nonprofit organizations goes back to 2005. I understand the issue of lack of funding. I also understand that all avenues of revenue need to be checked before trying to slash our children's electives and specials or raising the property taxes by 35 percent.

Top issues: Saving our children's electives and specials: The district that I moved into provides electives. I will work with other newly elected and those still seated on the school board, to find a way to provide electives. In this effort every option is on the table, nothing can be cast aside and said not to be a valid option. Our children deserve that effort. Electives and specials are not something to be targeted when budgets are being discussed. Electives and specials provide our children with other means to express themeslves, allow them to become great individuals in other fields and provides improved scholastic performances. I will find a way to keep them available to our children. District 90 needs to produce balanced budgets, while providing outstanding education to our children: Deficit spending is not only bad practce, but bad buisness, as witnessed by this effort to force a 35 percent tax increase in the education fund through on the backs of our children and teachers. The only way for that to happen is through change on the board. Change is needed in District 90. Vote - Chris Pulcher.

***

O'Fallon Elementary District 90 board member

John Coers

O'Fallon

Age: 53

Job: Claim manager for State Farm Insurance

Phone: 618-624-5145

Web:

Facebook: Citizens for John Coers

Twitter:

Email: johncoers1@gmail.com

Education: BSBA

Previous offices:

Qualifications: I have been privileged to serve on District 90 Board of Education for 18 years, the last 14 years as board president. I also represent our area on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Association of School Boards. I am past recipient of Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel 2003-2004 award. Designated by the Illinois Association of School Boards as Master School Board Member. Member of the Belleville area Special Services Cooperative Governing Board 1994-2002. Chairman of the Southwestern Division of Illinois Association of School Boards 2004-2011. Other community involvement includes current President of the O'Fallon Shiloh Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the O'Fallon Rotary Club and active member of St. Nicholas Church including the Finance committee. Recipient of Rotary Service Above Self Award 2002-2003. I also have a strong business and leadership background with 30 years as a Claim Manager for State Farm Insurance responsible for property claims in Illinois.

Top issues: With the state of Illinois' financial problems, school funding continues to be reduced causing our schools to make very difficult cuts to personnel and programs. Excellent schools are important for two reasons; first and foremost to provide the best education possible for our children and second, to preserve our home values and the vitality of our community. The corner stone of our community has been great schools. This doesn't mean expensive schools. O'Fallon Dist 90 continues to rank in the bottom 20 percentof costs per student in St. Clair County and the State while also ranking in the highest 20 percent for student achievement. This is not the time to look only for ways to reduce expenses, but to also look at innovative ways to make the most efficient use of our resources by working collaborately with parents, staff, and the community. For the continued success of District 90 we need School Board Members with proven experience, leadership, and vision. I ask for your support on April 9.

***

O'Fallon Elementry District 90 board member

John Wagnon

O'Fallon

Age: 36

Job: Cyber Security Analyst

Phone: 618-560-4914

Web:

Facebook: john.t.wagnon

Twitter:

Email: ltwagnon@hotmail.com

Education: Master's Degree (Computer Networks)

Previous offices: N/A

Qualifications: My educational background and leadership experience have given me a very unique skill set to provide a fresh perspective on the school board. I know what it takes to succeed in very demanding educational environments as well as life after graduation.

Top issues: We need to strengthen the learning environment of our students and ensure fiscal responsibility for the district. I will use my math and engineering background to challenge our students in exciting ways. We need to provide a solid foundation for the current and future education of our children. O'Fallon is a fantastic community with great schools, and we can keep it that way even in these tough economic times.

***

O'Fallon Elementary District 90 board member

Steven Springer

O'Fallon

Age: 59

Job: Retired

Phone: 618-624-7799

Web:

Facebook:

Twitter:

Email: SteveSpringer12@gmail.com

Education: Bachelors, Economics; Masters, Business Administration

Previous offices: School Board

Qualifications: I am qualified for office because as a responsible citizen and taxpayer I desire to serve my community. My first board term ends in April. It has been a rewarding and yet frustrating experience. Rewarding in that I have had closer interaction with our superintendent, administrators and teachers. Rewarding seeing first hand how our children are learning and achieving. Rewarding by being able to help maintain the quality of our programs and facilities. Frustrating because of the board's insistence on deficit spending or borrowing money. Frustrating because one of my goals was to reduce our tax burden and yet it has increased. Taxes were increasing due to the township multiplier. Now the debt service tax rate is rising annually and will again this year. Yet we want to increase the Education Fund Rate by 35 percent when we have not fully explored all the options available to us. Neither nation, state nor local community can tax their way out of financial problems created by deficit spending! It is past time to take action to balance our budgets. It's time for the old guard to move on.

Top issues: The primary issue is the responsible management of district funds and implementation of a balanced budget without borrowing money or continuing to raise property taxes. It is not an easy assignment given the current state of affairs at the federal, state and local levels. We need three new board members to join me with fresh ideas. No more deficit spending or attempted borrowing to pay the bills following the leadership of the past boards. The tax referendum will dictate what options will be available to the new board. In that light, I believe that the time has come for our personnel to pay the "employee contribution" to their pension fund. The district currently pays it for them. It can be phased in and would make a huge difference in balancing the budget. It allows for better options to reduce expenditures. Difficult decisions will still need to be made to balance the budget, plan for the future and maintain the quality of education we have come to expect and demand. In any case I will continue to be a good steward of our precious financial resources.

***

O'Fallon Elementary District 90 board member

Todd Roach

O'Fallon

Age: 29

Job: Corporate Management and Small Business Owner.

Corporate Management and Small Business Owner.

Phone: 618-622-6150

Web:

Facebook: VoteToddRoach

Twitter:

Email: Roach.Todd@gmail.com

Education: O'Fallon Township High School, Lindenwood University St. Charles, MO B.A., Business Administration Finance/ International Business

Previous offices:

Qualifications: I am a lifelong resident of O'Fallon. My wife and I are proud parents of two daughters and owners of two small businesses. I'm a graduate of the O'Fallon Schools and an excited candidate for the Board of Education. I come from a family with five generations of business owners in the O'Fallon area. I'm a candidate for the District 90 School Board because I'm dedicated to devoting my energies to assisting the community in building strong schools and successful students. I have a passion for this community and I'm greatly invested in its success. A strong public school system is at the center of a strong community. I want O'Fallon schools to continue to be a place I want to educate my children. I want professionals and businesses from outside the area to see our community as a great place to raise and educate their children. My goal is to ensure the continued success of our community's children through a strong educational system that operates in a fiscally sound manor.

Top issues: I believe a strong educational system supports our property values and way of life. I want our community to embrace it's public schools and support them as they educate our leaders of tomorrow. I also believe it's imperative that the dollars we're responsible for are allocated in such a manner that the return on investment (ROI) is high and advances the goal of providing a quality education. With Illinois in fiscal crisis, the lack of predictability and leadership from our state leaders, our district faces a significant challenge and short fall. More than at any time in the recent past our school board and community needs effective fiscal leadership. There is a need for strategic and long term plans that allow us to better face the challenges of today and gives us a blueprint for future fiscal success. As a small business owner I know what it takes to balance a budget. I also know that there isn't always a convenient path, and not all decisions are easy. I have the courage and experience to make the tough choices that our district faces.