Kathleen Rohan
March 29, 2011 12:30PM
Kathy Rohan
Updated: March 29, 2011 12:30PM
Name: Kathleen Rohan
Address: 9653 S. Lawndale Ave, Evergreen Park, Ill., 60805
Date of Birth: August 29, 1962
Contact information
E-mail address: K2Rohan@sbcglobal.net
Cell Phone: 708-309-7474
Education: M.A., Community and Organizational Development, Loyola University; B.A. Communication, Arizona State University
Occupation: Medical Secretary, Little Company of Mary Hospital
Sources of Income: Little Company of Mary Hospital
Spouse, Spouse’s employer: Cy Rohan, Beachwood Health
Children: Leo, 16 and Eileen, 13
Relatives employed by government agency: Michael Rohan, brother-in-law, Director Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department
Previous elected offices: District 124 School Board Member April 2007-January 2011; District 124 School Board President January 2011 – present.
Crime history: I have never been arrested or charged with a crime.
Criminal Convictions: I have never been convicted of a crime.
Experience: A master’s degree in Community and Organizational Development and four years serving on the school board make me uniquely qualified for this position. I have also achieved Master Board Member status from the Illinois Association of School Boards for the training I have completed. I have over 10 years of office management experience and 20 years of nonprofit work experience. I have worked in an internal audit position; written policy, procedures and position descriptions; I have been responsible for hiring, firing and evaluating employees; and have started a nonprofit parent-education group. I have also held leadership positions in PTA, SERVE (an organization that helps educate parents of children with special needs), Girl Scouts of America, and Project Choices (an Illinois State Board of Education initiative to improve the educational outcomes of children with special needs); and have been active in the Music Boosters at EPCHS. I have co-chaired numerous Board committees including: Policy, Superintendent Evaluation, Facilities and Communication. I also serve as a board member at AERO, which is the district’s Special Education Cooperative.
In my view, what are the two most important issues facing my constituents? How would I address those issues?
Communicating issues to our stakeholders clearly so that there is a common understanding so we can move forward as a whole. I am addressing this issue by co-chairing a committee to create new initiatives in this area. The second most important issue facing District 124 is funding from the state. We rely heavily on local taxes and this is a burden on the businesses and residents. There are many unfunded mandates placed upon the district. I would address this issue by making the best use of our resources.
Please explain something significant I would like to accomplish within the next two years if I am elected.
We currently have a great core of volunteers, but I would like to see more community members engaged in our schools. With limited funding, volunteerism will help us continue to provide great programs that benefit our students.
Please explain how I believe the office I am seeking can help create local jobs? I do not foresee local jobs being created from my election.
Student enrollment and financial resources are what create new positions.
Do I believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working? If so why? If not, why not? What would you change?
I do not believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working. I would change the system so that it does not rely so heavily on local property taxes.
Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office? If so, what? I believe in zero-based budgeting. Every year an organization should start from zero and sort out needs from wants; evaluate income levels; and then prioritize what it can afford to keep.
Are there any other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention? If so, what?
An issue District 124 is facing is meeting the needs of individual students — from gifted to challenged. We are working hard to provide training and support to our staff and parents in order to accomplish this.
