MELINDA PLOTT
March 29, 2011 1:06PM
Office Sought: District 167School Board Member
Name: Melinda Plott
Address: 423 W. Arquilla Glenwood, IL 60425
Date of Birth 5/15/1959
Contact information:
Email: melindaplott@comcast.net
Facebook: votetwofoureight
Twitter handle: N/A
Education: Bachelors of Science in Business Administration at University of Illinois at Chicago
Occupation, Employer: Manager of A/R, Billing, and Collections at Lions Clubs International
Sources of Income: Lions Clubs International
Spouse, spouse’s employer: Anthony Plott, Advocate Health, Village of Glenwood
Children, age of children: Anthony M. Plott, 15
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? None
What other elected offices have you sought? What year? None
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: Sitting Board Member since May 2010
In your view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents? How would you address those issues?
Elementary Education cannot be understated. This level of education aids in establishing study habits, core educational exposure, decision making, and preparedness for the next level. A safe, modern and technologically advanced learning environment along with a good educational foundation addresses the requirements need to prepare the whole child. A miss in any of these areas can cause a child to falter at the next level. It is important in that the community embrace and support the Board in this regard. We will continue to address the importance of hiring state of the art teachers and ensure our teachers are prepared to take on the challenges to prepare our children for the next level. Also we will continue to address facilities concerns and trust the community will support improvement plans that will not only benefit the children of today and tomorrow, but also the residents, as it could affect property values and attract young families with children.
Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if you are elected to to the office to which you aspire.
I will pursue providing a state of the art learning environment that supports a rigorous curriculum for the children, especially in grades 5 and 6. I would also like to provide tools that will encourage continued improvements in ISAT results. The Superintendant along with the School Board has been diligent in hiring qualified teachers and support staff and educational aids to foster continued improvements.
Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating jobs.
The district is in an enviable position in that we have not had to lay off any teachers. In fact, we hired several new support staff to assist in the learning process. I see that trend continuing in the next term.
Do you believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working? If so, why? If not, why not? What would you change?
The State of Illinois currently provides 51% of the expenses needed to function during the school year. Unfortunately, we cannot predict exactly when the funds will be received. As a result, many districts are caught in a financial crisis if they do not carry healthy fund balances. District 167 is fortunate to have a healthy reserve, and I will work to encourage fiscal responsibility for the years to come. My hope for the future is to have our legislators place education at a higher priority and ensure all schools receive regular funds that will empower school officials to produce the expected results.
Are there are any other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention? If so, what?
The public should be aware of the reasons candidates are running for the position of School Board Member. Picking a person for the wrong reason puts our children at risk. If the candidate you are considering does not have the children’s’ best interest at heart, please consider another candidate. I have accepted a supportive role with Brookwood Schools for the past 7 years. I hope to continue to volunteer my services as a School Board Member, and will work along with the board to ensure the children are offered standards that will prepare them for the demands at the next level.
