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Name: Christopher John Solfa
Age: 46
Town of residence: Batavia, Illinois
Office sought: School Board Member – District 101
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Christopher-John-Solfa-for-School-Board-544056289438623/
Civic involvement and volunteer work: Frequent volunteer at schools within Batavia School District 101 and longtime volunteer girls soccer coach.
Previous elected offices held: N/A
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
As a longstanding Batavia resident who attended public school at Alice Gustafson Grade School, Batavia Junior High School and Batavia Senior High School, I have personal experience within the school system of District 101. Additionally, all three of my daughters are current students within District 101. I feel that I have a unique, earnest and grounded perspective on the wants and needs of the community as it relates the school district. My professional experience will allow me to listen to all perspectives and input, process the information provided to the board, and make informed and responsible decisions in the best interest of the students and the community.. I want to be an advocate for the students who attend all of the schools within the district. In addition, I would also act as a guardian of the community’s tax dollars, with an eye towards fiscal responsibility, working to ensure that money is appropriately allocated to run and maintain an effective and successful school district.
What are the biggest challenges facing the office you seek?
I believe it is important to get a teacher contract in place to ensure that the compensation structure is competitive, while also sustainable. We must ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best educators for those students that our area has to offer. In addition, the board needs to ensure that any master plan as it pertains to the current facilities and infrastructure is a strong and fiscally responsible one. The board must be able to ensure that the educators of the community’s students have the day-to-day resources to succeed, thereby enhancing the classroom experience for both the students and the teachers. Achieving long-term viability and financial health will need to be done in the most fiscally responsible manner possible.
What issues would you like to address should you be elected?
I believe that District 101 has some of the best educators and facilities in the area. We must be able to continue to retain/attract those quality educators and maintain the current facilities to uphold the reputation of quality has been achieved. Major issues that face all students today include anxiety, bullying, depression and social pressures. Staff need to be cognizant of this and trained in restorative practices and resiliency for students. The goal of the district should be to have the maximum opportunities available and provided to the students that will allow them to become well-rounded individuals.