CANDIDATES' VOICES: Daniel Steinmeyer – ​‘Apply proven principles, models to solve problems'

Sauk Valley Media presents a series of guest columns by candidates in key contested races in the April 4 election. Candidates were invited to write up to 400 words about why voters should support them. Today's race: Dixon School Board.

Ensuring that all students have equal access to a high-quality education is a key factor in determining equal opportunities for students after high school. Schools must provide students with the skills necessary to advance after high school, allowing students options for their future.

Students who leave high school without the basic foundational skills are left with fewer options, and are more likely to need support and services after high school. Therefore, it is imperative that students who are struggling receive interventions and support necessary to their future success.

I supported the idea of the new school and was one of the volunteers who went door to door to raise awareness. It was clear that there were many citizens against the idea for a new school for both sentimental reasons, like four generations attending DHS, and also for the financial implications of a referendum inevitably increasing property or sales taxes.

As discouraging as it is for me to see these perspectives, I can respect them.

The health and structural issues of the high school must be brought up to the minimum health and safety standards and to bring the facility up to ADA standards. In the future, all plans need to be pragmatic and meet legal requirements rather than “state of the art.”

Aside from taxation, there are no new sources of revenue on the horizon, so the focus needs to be on maintaining the current budget and then working on cost reductions. A major part of my career is based on the need to drive operational cost reductions to help the organizations I have worked for remain competitive against low-cost countries.

Innovative replacements of the state programs are needed in education as local taxes are going to be paying even more in the future and considerably less will be from the state.

As a school board candidate, I bring a different skill set to the position. As a student, I attended very progressive public schools (Downers Grove) and have seen firsthand how public schools can function and achieve relative to state and national standards.

I hate talking “theory” about education and prefer to base my decisions on experiences from the public schools that are achieving above the standards and then use their model as the way forward. Why reinvent the wheel?

In my profession, I apply proven principles and models to solve problems. That same approach is how I would serve on the School Board.

DETAILS

Daniel Steinmeyer

Age: 45

Occupation: Engineering leader, Spectrum Brands-Rayovac

Education: Northern Illinois University, master’s degree in industrial management; also earned bachelor’s degree at NIU

Experience: Served as engineering leader, plant manager, product line manager, product leader, manufacturing engineer, quality manager, supplier quality engineer, quality engineer, project engineer; board member, DJD and Dixon Rebels; volunteer coach, NIYTF, DJD, Al Morrison, YMCA, Dixon Wrestling Club