JACQUELYNE R. SHARP

Office sought: Cook County School District #130 Board Member

Name: Jacquelyne R. Sharp

Address: 13407 S. Kedvale Avenue; Robbins, IL 60472-1008

Date of Birth: March 15, 1971

Contact Information:

Email - jacsharp@yahoo.com

Web site: N/A

Facebook: N/A

Twitter handle: N/A

Telephone numbers: N/A

Education: BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration - International Business Management) from Howard University, Washington, DC 1997; Attended Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL 1991-1993; High School Diploma from Alan B. Shepard, Palos Heights, IL 1989

Occupation: Financial Advisor

Please list all sources of income: 100% Commission Sales

Please list any relatives employed by a government agency at the federal, state or local levels: Mother - Adele F. Sharp - Bookkeeper II at Cook County School District #130

What other elected offices have you sought? What year? Commissioner, Robbins Park District - 1999

Have you ever been arrested of charged with a crime? No

Do you have any criminal convictions on your record? No

Political (elected or significant appointment) experience: Seeking 3rd term for the same office

In your view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents? How would you address those issues?

The continuous restructuring of the educational system and the unfunded mandates that result; and the entire fiscal climate (federal, state and local) surrounding public education are two of the most important issues facing my constituents. Addressing both of these issues requires an experienced representative that can evaluate the vastness of the industry of education yet exercise careful selection of those facets that will best benefit the varied needs of our particular educational population.

Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if elected:

I view the opportunity to serve a third term as a school board member in the district that has educated three generations of my family as a true privilege from my community! I have coined this term as my “impact” term. I recognize that our (the board members’) view of education must continue to expand and embrace the many changes presented. Thus, I am advocating a focus on diversity training throughout the entire district that would relieve the unaddressed tensions that continuous change brings.

Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating local jobs.

I have always been an advocate on behalf of local businesses with regards to the district making concerted efforts to use local services. Additionally, I encourage our residents to consider professions in education that include both teaching and administration. I would very much like to see an increase in the number of employees that reside in our community.

Do you believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working? Why or why not? What would you change?

Of course, the current system is not working and a complete overhaul scares constituents. However, some fundamentals must be addressed and I believe EVERYTHING should be on the table for consideration. Beginning with unfunded mandates (federal and state), followed by federal funds distributions and state budget considerations for providing public education. I firmly believe the foundation upon which IL set its educational system had cracks in it from the beginning and only now are we realizing that our legislative apathy towards educational equity and the crippling effects it has had on our entire state.

Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office?

I am a financial professional and have utilized my expertise to keep close watch over the budget of my district. In fact, during my tenure on the board the district has progressed from ‘financial watch’ status, and NEVER returned to such since I have been serving, to earning the precarious ‘financial recognition’ status as awarded by the state. We are currently in ‘financial acknowledgment’ which is good considering the economic climate of our country in general and our state in particular.

Are there any other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention? N/A

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