Wendell Mosby
March 29, 2011 7:42PM
Office sought: Trustee for Prairie State College District 515
Name: Wendell Mosby
Address: 185 W 14th Place, Apt. C-3, Chicago Heights
Date of birth: January 20, 1978
Contact information:
Email: info@friendsofwendell.com
Web site: friendsofwendell.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-for-Wendell-Mosby/156059734414814
Twitter: #friendofwendell
Telephone #:
Cell: 312-572-9824
Education: BS, Iowa State University & AA, the Illinois Institute of Art, Chgo
Occupation, employer: Community Liaison/Aunt Martha’s Health Centers
Please list all sources of income: N/A
Spouse: N/A
Children: Tyrone, 13
List any relatives employed state/fed/local: N/A
What other elected offices have you sought: District 227 board member, 2005
Been arrested/charged: No
Criminal convictions? No
Political (elected or significant appointment) experience: n/a
In your view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents? How would you address those issues?
I believe the two most important issues facing our constituents are unemployment and taxes. I would embrace programs that encourage entrepreneurship and 21st century job training. We should insure that there is correlation between the vocational training programs and the fields of employment that shows the potential for growth in 21st century as reported by the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Salaries are not keeping up with inflation and the increased income tax will only make it more difficult for families maintain.
Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if you are elected to the office in which you aspire.
I would like to see the Pipeline to College program in all of the district high schools. Currently, the program only serves Rich Township District 227. I believe the earlier a high school student can be exposed to higher education, that greater the probability that he or she will graduate from college. We also could partner with the business community to develop programs such as “principal for a day” that could foster greater relationships between the business community and high schools to stimulate more public/private interest.
Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating local jobs.
Working with local businesses to identify opportunities for expansion and development to drive job creation such as the expansion of the Metra Southeast Line and the possible creation of the third airport. We could continue to explore renewable energy sources such as wind energy, which was discussed at the Wind Summit hosted by Prairie State in late 2010.
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 in which public education is funded in the State of Illinois is not working. It is inherently flawed because public schools receive a substantial amount of their funding from local property taxes, which means that more affluent communities will be able to have greater funding to attract more experienced teachers, have more technological resources and more extra-curricular activities which I believe is necessary to provide students with a strong and stable foundation. Every child should be entitled to an equal education, in which the same resources that exist in Winnetka, Illinois will also exist in Robbins, Illinois. As a matter of fairness and equality, the only way to close the education gap that we currently see is to step away from educational funding based on local property taxes to one that is based on equal distribution of taxes to be distributed by the state. Doing this will allow us to create an educational system that is equal instead of the currently flawed and unequal educational system that we are currently operating under.
Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office? If so, why?
Currently, the FY12 budget is being developed and at this time it would be premature to speak on the matter.
Are there any other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention? If so, what?
There does not appear to be any place for the students to congregate (hang out), besides the atrium, that would not be a nuisance or disturbance to those students eating and/or visitors. The noise carries in atrium, so sound proofing additions could be explored. Nonetheless, students should have a space of their own to relax, be youthful and enjoy the college experience while they transition into adulthood.
