District 128 School Board Race: Sonal Kulkarni

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — There are 10 candidates running for four open seats this spring on the Community High School District 128 school board.

Patch.com requested information from all candidates through a survey. Here are the responses submitted by District 128 school board candidate Sonal Kulkarni:

Age (as of election day)

49

Town/city of residence

libertyville

School district

District 128

Family - Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share.

Husband, Ash (49), Daughter - Anika (19), Daughter - Aarya (14), Dog - Aster (6)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Education

Bachelors in Computer Engineering and Masters in Computer Science

Occupation - Please include years of experience.

Director, IT for a Med Device Company. Total years of experience: 26 across multiple industries. of experience =

Campaign website

sonald128.com

Previous or current elected or appointed office

None

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

A divided community, and covid fatigue. The only thing I can about this, is keep an open mind, remind everyone that we all want the same thing, we are in this together and keep an open line of communication.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My professional experience as an engineer and a leader in IT where I run global programs is unique. My personal experience of someone who is a minority, and an immigrant means I perceive things differently. Our district is quite culturally diverse I share my personal experiences with many families in our district.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

I am not a challenger. I don't believe that any current board member has failed the district. They have had to make very difficult decisions in a very difficult time period. It is always easy for someone looking from the outside, with hindsight to pass judgment. That will not be me.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Issues has a negative connotation. My platform is Prepare for tomorrow. This means, we help our students develop 21st century skills to thrive in a dynamic world and become global citizens. We celebrate all forms of diversity in our community. We spend responsibly and strategically and don't lose sight of the overall vision in an effort to save a few tax dollars. Finally, in this divisive time, to remind everyone to engage in healthy discussions vs. personal below the belt tactics. We adults need to model right behavior for our children.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Professionally, I manage large and global programs. I work with people from all over the world with different sensibilities. I manage large budgets. I set goals and measure them. I need to collaborate with many different people. I need to resolve conflicts. I need to negotiate contracts. I manage people. I need to understand and follow external regulations and internal policies. I need to communicate clearly. These skills are needed on the Board and second nature to me.

Why should voters trust you?

I don't have a public record - so I cannot offer any absolute reasons to trust me. The people who know me will vouch for my integrity. I seek this position with an intent to serve. I have a fast paced full time job, and frankly this board position adds a significant work on my plate. I still choose to do this because I care about our students. I am a prime example of how education can change lives and I want to share that with our community. At the end of each day, what matters to me most is that I have a clean conscience when my head hits my pillow.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

I have many ideas, but the most urgent ones are:
1) Help our new superintendent get going and give her everything she needs to succeed
2) Navigate out of the COVID storm

The area I am passionate about, is to work with the schools to establish career exploration opportunities for our students. This is really driven by the administration, but I would see this as a great win if we can all work together to get this started.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

It's one thing to be careful with your own money - we have to be extra cautious when we are stewards of other people's hard earned tax dollars. They are entrusting us to spend this to serve the needs of our students. Accordingly:
1) Maximize spending towards direct student enrichment
2) Do not cut programs - the value add extra and co curricular activities is what makes the district top notch
3) Do not make people pay for individual offerings - that is a slippery slope. The actual savings are not significant.
4) Remain at mid point
5) Keep a healthy cash reserve
6) Find ways to reduce spend without impacting services
7) Be prepared to spend more due to COVID

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

Yes, I support the Black Lives Matter movement. The US constitution grants the right to protest peacefully. I don't understand how this relates to a Board position.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

The board has started work on this with the schools. This is a good start, but I expect it still needs to mature and grow. This type of work is never done - I see this as a journey of continuous improvement.

What are your thoughts on the district’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic? Are you in favor of remote learning, in-person learning or a hybrid of the two? Do you support a mask mandate for students and school staff, or mandatory coronavirus testing for both students and staff?

1) The district has done the best that it could under the circumstances, particularly when the 2 schools in its scope voted diametrically opposite. They are using testing and health metrics to guide decisions.
2) Masks should be mandated by everyone on school premises
3) I am in support of providing families with an equitable choice that best suits their needs
4) If legally supported, testing should be mandated for un-vaccinated individuals because of their potential to be asymptomatic carriers. I get that this may not be legally mandated in a public school scenario.

When the vaccine is available to them, do you support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students and staff?

This is not up to the board.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was ____________

By my then 3 year old "don't ever have a staring contest with a stuffed animal - it will always win"