Meet the District 202 Candidates: Anne Blaeske

About this feature: Contributor Stephanie Trussell contacted all six of this year's candidates for the District 202 school board election. We will be running one profile each day (in alphabetical order for fairness's sake) at 11 a.m. Feel free to post follow-up questions and talk about what you think the issues will be for 202 in the coming years.

Is there a candidate you're interested in? Here's when to find their profile:

Monday:
Wednesday: Tim Corrigan
Thursday: David Lange
Friday: Eunice B. McConville
Saturday: Stuart Young

Name: Anne Blaeske
 
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom (aka the consummate volunteer)
 
How long have you lived in Lisle District 202? Nine years
 
Number of children? Two
 
Why are you running for school board?

Our parents, the current board, principals and teachers have made our schools among the best in our county. We have to continue that momentum and produce not only well-educated future leaders, but well-rounded young people ready to take on the world and make a difference and I am ready to help make that happen.

What are the best qualities of Lisle schools?

The parents, teachers and administrators of our schools. Having been part of the schools as a parent volunteer through the HSO as well as in the classrooms, I see the open communication and strong relationship that forms between parent and teacher in our schools. This relationship is what makes our school so great. Mr. Pociask, the Lisle Junior High principal, said (and I admit, I am paraphrasing), that our district is “where teachers come and stay.”
 
What are the challenges facing School District 202?

We need to continue providing the best, well-rounded education for our children while weathering one of the worst economic downturns in history. Also, because our district is so small, there are many opportunities (such as better access to foreign languages and more diverse classes) that are not available to our kids that are available in a larger district. We need to find a way to expand electives and offer our children more educational options.

The state of Illinois' finances are strained. Do you feel the district is financially secure?

 I feel that for the short term, yes, we are a financially secure district, but that we need to maintain a stringent watch on our bottom line to continue our fiscal security.
 
What do you want voters to know about you?

I have been an active parent as a classroom and HSO volunteer since my son started kindergarten at Schiesher Elementary. Outside of school, I have been an active Boy Scout leader (both locally and at a district-level) and a newly minted Girl Scout leader. What I promise is that I will never forget that my priority is to you, the stakeholders, both as parents and taxpayers. That I will critically look at every item on the agenda, research the heck out of every issue and continue to make our district the best!