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Name: Roger Amm
Age: 61
Family: Wife, Carol; Children, Christine (John) Armstrong, Tyler, Andrew; three grandsons
Years of residency in district: 38 years
Occupation: Retired educator of 33 years (One year at Wheaton North High School, and 32 years at Ottawa High School). Currently work part-time at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home
Previously elected positions: None
Contact information for voters: email roger_amm@hotmail.com; cell, 815-488-1242
Q. Why have you decided to run for the high school board and what major goals do you plan to work toward?
A. My candidacy for school board is fueled by my love for OHS and the Ottawa community. I want to serve and give back to the school and community that has done so much for me and for my family.
Major goals:
1. Building trust and improve communication and morale between staff members, as well as between staff and administration, school and community.
2. Focus on and promote the positive accomplishments of our students and staff.
3. Continue the pattern of fiscal responsibility and decrease the budget deficit.
4. Support our superintendent and help set policy to improve OHS.
5. Improve communication and cooperation between members of the board of education.
Q. What sets you apart from your opponents?
A. My three decades of experience at OHS will help me hit the ground running and make a contribution immediately to the school board. I taught for 32 years at OHS, so I know the facility, its history and many of the staff members who still teach and work there. I worked with eight different superintendents and about as many principals during my tenure. I am highly motivated to help make OHS the very best school possible, one that will make us all proud.
Q. What do you see as the biggest issue facing your school district and what would you do to address that issue?
A. Although morale, trust and communication are gradually improving, more work needs to be done to make OHS the best it can be. The last decade has been difficult for the school, and it will take time to heal and move forward. The only way to work on these issues is for all parties to engage in good communication, listen and actively cooperate. I want to be a positive voice at OHS to help make this happen,
Q. What do you see as a school board member’s role in running the school district?
A. A school board member collaborates with the other members to hire the superintendent and help set school policy and oversee the budget. It is also important to be a good listener, responding to the needs and concerns of the community, administration, staff and especially our students.
Q. Do you feel the current board is transparent and easily accessible to the public? If not, what could be done better?
A. The current board is easily accessible to the public. All board meetings are open to the public and there is an audience of visitors at every meeting. If citizens go to the school website (ottawahigh.com), under OHS Information, they can click Board of Education and will find answers to many questions they might have. You can also find contact info for all board members, board meeting agendas, meeting minutes, board dates, budget information, financial reports, contracts, salaries and much more. Many of the board members are very open to speaking with anyone about concerns with the district.
One area that I would like to change in order to improve transparency is a possible reduction in the number of closed sessions that are held. The board is required to operate in closed session when dealing with student and personnel issues. Almost every meeting ends in a closed session. If elected, I would like to understand the need for so many closed sessions.
Q. How many board meetings have you recently attended?
A. I have attended every regularly scheduled board meeting for the last two years, except for June 2018. I started attending meetings in February 2017.