District 99 Forum: Opening Comments

Allyn Barnett
Hi I'm Allyn Barnett and I'd like to thank the leauge for sponsoring this. My wife and I have raised our children in this community for 20 years. I’m a  consulting engineer working from an office in Downers Grove for 15 years. My interest in public education began with an understanding of the benefit that my own education brought to my family. It was that understanding that helped us decide to relocate to this area. We're proud that our own daughters have graduated from this fine institution that I have served for the better part of six years and I ask for your support to continue to serve. 

Cliff Grammich
Thank you for sponsoring  this, member of the audience for you interest, my fellow candidates for what I hope will be an invigorating hour of discussion, and Allyn I hope you don’t mind if  I wish you a happy birthday again...My name's Cliff Grammich. I've lived in District 99 since 2001. My wife, Kathy, and I have lived  in this area for most of our lives. We have three children. Our oldest is at Downers South this year where he's a freshman, I  have two others being educated in District 58 schools. So I look forward to being a Downers South parent for the next decade.

I work  as a communications analyst  for a national policy research organization. That means that I help insure the work is sound, that it’s comprehensible to generalist and technical audiences alike. The topics of our work range from national  security to demographics to education to health to labor and population and other issues. I have a doctorate in local government from the University of Chicago. My previous work has included work as a journalist for  suburban  papers. I had the distinction or  privilege while doing that of attending over 100 school board meetings, both grade school and high school. I also worked for community research organizations in the Chicago area  with myriad interests including those in education.

I have been involved with Parent Teacher Associations at Fairmont, at O’Neill Middle School and at Downers South either as a member, as a committee chairman or as an officer.  I've had the privilege for the past five years  of chairing the Intellectual Disabilities Fund Drive, or what's called the Tootsie Roll Drive, for my Knights of Columbus Council  benefitting local organizations serving persons with intellectual disabilities. I serve on the Human Services Commission and the Downers Grove District 58 Education Foundation. My experiences show a longstanding  interest in public policy generally and local issues including education specifically. I appreciate your consideration and look forward to this forum, thank you.         

Nancy Kupka
I, too, would like to thank the league for inviting us here tonight. I know this takes a lot of work on your part and we really appreciate the opportunity. Since I started considering running for school board late last year, people have consistently been asking me one question, “Why would anyone want to do this?” I was asked this so many times I started to question myself, but the answer is quite easy: “I believe in public service and I believe in public education.”

We have good schools, we have a strong board and I would like to be part of it.  My children will be students in District 99 for the next eight years and, like all of the parents in the room today, I am invested in my children’s education. What is it that I bring to the board? I have an eclectic background in education. I have five degrees, including a PhD, and have been in health care for over 30 years. For the last 10 years, I have worked for the Joint Commission, which is the largest  standard-setting and quality evaluation body in the world.

I bring a lot of experience. Experience in generating ideas and strategic planning.  Experience in  program planning, implementation and evaluation. Experience in reaching out to stakeholders in a systematic way to build  consensus. Experience in improving safety and quality of care  in the health care arena, which I think is directly transferable to education. Experience for preparing for boards and sitting on boards, and experience in education both as a student and as an adjunct faculty member at several universities.

I also be a lot of desire: To positively impact the school experience for all of our children and to continue to follow tradition and take part in the bright future of excellence of the seated board. What I don’t bring to the board are personal issues or, frankly, other political motivations...I hope after listening to me this evening you will give me your vote and I thank you very much.

Keith Matune
Thank you to the league for allowing this opportunity to participate. I am running because I have a passion for education and I generally believe that my background and my experience would provide unique perspective from which to make sound judgments on behalf of the students and our families in District 99. I understand the needs of different communities because I grew up in Woodridge, I was raised there, and my wife and I are currently raising our four children in Downers Grove, so I have that perspective of both those large communities. I’m also a proud graduate of Downers Grove North and personally understand the value of a District 99 education. I certainly would not be here today if it wasn't for that education I received there. I was a national champion gymnast at Purdue University and understand the importance of having high expectations while pursuing higher standards of excellence.

Professionally speaking, I am an award-winning, nationally recognized  high school teacher. I fully understand what happens in our classrooms on a daily basis and the challenges that we as teachers, parents and our students face on a daily basis. As I mentioned, I have four children whom I dearly love and they will soon attend Downers Grove North in the future. I am seeking a position on this...board to ensure they and every child in our district have as many opportunities to acquire a comprehensive  education that will enable them to successfully meet the  challenges of our  rapidly changing world. I  appreciate all of you all being here this evening to listen to us. Thank you.

Mike Davenport
Thank you League of Women Voters. Thank you all for attending this evening. I grew up early. My parents had multiple marriages. We moved multiple times and briefly we were even homeless. After my junior year in high school, I chose to move out of my house and in with a teacher and her caring family. Through it all, school was my refuge. School is where  I received encouragement, reward and hope. My wife, Shelly, and I are 1989 graduates of (Illinois Institute of Technology.)  I’m originally from Michigan, but Shelly’s a South grad and, as everyone knows, when you marry a girl from Downers Grove you’ll likely end up living in Downers Grove. In August we will celebrate 22 years of marriage, we are the proud parents of four future South High students. Our oldest is currently a seventh grader at O’Neill. I will have a vested interest in District 99 for years to come, whether elected or not.

After losing my father in 2002, I made a commitment to take better care of myself. I’ve since run 11 marathons, including Boston in 2005 and 2010. I know all about resolve, endurance and determination. Expect me to bring these qualities to the work of the school board. I also know something about collaboration. As architects, Shelly & I work in partnership for our own firm, Davenport Architects. We often mediate contrasting goals of clients and builders. We strive to realize our client’s vision while respecting the neighborhood scale and  texture.  Expect me to put these creative problem-solving abilities to work on our school board.

I hope I've earned your trust and respect through almost 20 years of community service, including my recent membership on the Downers Grove Comprehensive Planning Commission and, currently, as chairman of the Architectural Design Review Board. Our community needs citizens whom we can trust to make difficult decisions. We need people who you can listen to and respect our concerns.  We need school board members  who believe in community building and, most of all, who will put our children first. I will be such a servant if you elect me  on April 5th.

LM:  Thank u candidates for your opening comments.  At this time we’ll ask    questions. They are just as difficult as the preceeding district 58 contemporaries.