SUSAN M. GILLOOLEY
March 29, 2011 12:24PM
Updated: March 29, 2011 12:24PM
Office sought: New Lenox School District 122 School Board Member
Name: Susan M. Gillooley
Address: 621 Ridgefield Road New Lenox, Illinois
Date of birth: 09/18/1966
Contact information
Email: sgillooley@att.net
Web site: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Twitter handle: N/A
Telephone numbers:
Cell: (815) 546-5616
Education: Bachelor of Education from Illinois State University, Masters from National-Louis University
Occupation, employer: Former High School Teacher
Please list all sources of income: Currently my husband is only wage earner.
Spouse, spouse’s employer: Tim Gillooley, Pipe Fitters Local 597
Children, age of children, children’s employer (if applicable):
Tim (15), Steve (14), Ryan (12), Kevin (10), and Jillian (6)
Please list any relatives, including in-laws, who are employed by a government agency at the federal, state or local levels. What are their job
titles and with what agency are they employed? N/A
What other elected offices have you sought? What year?
Served on the School Board as a board member for School District 122 May 2007 through present time.
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? If so, for what? What was the disposition? No
Do you have any criminal convictions on your record? If so, for what? What was your sentence? No
Political experience: Current School Board Member (incumbent)
In your view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents? How would you address those issues?
The most important issue facing our community is definitely the lack of commitment from the State of Illinois to funding to the education system. Another important issue facing the school district is being able to maintain an exemplary education and raise the bar of student achievement even higher as well as keeping other opportunities for the children of this community in spite of the lack of support from the state.
The board can improve the quality of services it offers by continuously listening to the community in order to understand what it’s values are and to continue to be transparent in everything it does. The board and administration should continue the excellent job they have done with obtaining a 5 year financial forecast twice a year. This has allowed them to be financially accountable by making adjustments to expenditures and future planning. This strong financial planning is likely the strongest point of NLSD 122 and is the reason why we are still financially stable despite the lack of funding from the State of Illinois. I would try to monitor student achievement regularly and maintain a fiscal responsibility to the community while providing students with a competitive education and opportunities in academics, the arts, and athletics. As a board member, I would like to generate community involvement and support. I would continue strong partnerships with the Village, the Township, and the Park District to continuously come up with solutions to produce money for the district. I would also work closely with developers to get more money for our schools. I would also create a strong alliance with the Village Board to work on ways to get alternative revenue as oppose to going to the taxpayer.
Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if you are elected to the office to which you aspire.
I would like to see our district foundation get started and fundraising get going so we can raise money for our schools.
Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating local jobs.
The better our school district is, the greater the community is and more people will move to New Lenox, then more commercial development will build up and more jobs will become available.
Do you believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working? If so, why? If not, why not? What would you change?
The current way that Illinois pays for education is NOT working or they would not be so far behind in their state funding.
Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office? If so, what? No
Are there any other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention? If so, what?
I am on the current Board of Education and our District has a balanced budget and is in good financial shape, despite the lack of funds from the State of Illinois. Our schools are running very well on a day to day operation. Our students are receiving an outstanding education in District 122. I am proud to have served our District the past four years and I would love to continue to serve this community!
