Jude Makulec Supports These Steps Toward Improving Academic Achievement:
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Neighborhood Schools
- Truancy Initiatives
- Seventh Hour in Middle and High School
- Safe School Environment
- Charter School Concept
- Alternative Middle School
Professional Qualifications
• Independent Business Owner in Rockford for 24 years
• Past Instructor at Rock Valley College
• Bachelor of Science Degree, University of Illinois, Champaign
• Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy, Emory University, Atlanta
District 205 Volunteer Positions
• Kid’s Win Referendum Campaign Operation’s Chair
• Past President Rockford Parent Council
• Past Chair High School (Seventh Hour) Advocacy Committee
• Past President King PTO
• Past President Parents for Gifted Education
• Past Officer and Board Member Auburn Booster Club
• District 205 School Assignment (Choice) Task Force
• District 205 2002 Referendum Committee
• District 205 Elementary Neighborhood Committee
• District 205 Electronic Notification Committee
• District 205 Site Based Management Committee
My Motivation for Being a School Board Member
My running is a natural progression in my volunteerism with the district. I began with PTO president, moved on to Parent Council president and then onto various district committees. On the committees, I began as a member (Choice Task Force and Zoned Secondary Schools) and moved on to chair a subcommittee (Operations) for the Kid’s Win Referendum. I continued with a couple other district committees even after my children graduated from the system (Elementary Zone Planning and Electronic Notification). For years, I attended a majority of the school board meetings as an advocate for different programs and initiatives (Parent Council, High School Advocacy Committee for the 7th hour, PGE), and to keep current on what was happening in the district. I could have watched from home, but the dynamics in the room always added another level of information. My advocacy for gifted education was accompanied by requests for the same opportunities for other schools (like HS credit for MS classes and the 7th hour initiative).
Beyond past experiences, running for a seat on the school board is all about getting ”the rest of the story.” Periodically, I have had difficulty understanding decisions made by the board. I wonder if the additional information they have may give them insight the community doesn’t have, or how much they are influenced by administration, other board members or constituents. It’s easy to question- but I would like to be a part of the process (instead of simply critiquing the outcomes) and play a role as a part of the ongoing exchange of information between the district and the community.
I am not naive about the commitment service on the board entails. I am fortunate to be at a point in my life where I have that time to devote to the position, and the past experience to make my service both insightful and forward-thinking. With my children out of the system, I have no attachment to any special group in the district, and am eager to advocate for education opportunities for all. I realize that serving on the board means decision making as a group - a lone voice and single vote cannot rule. So many of those dynamics will depend on who is chosen by the public in the upcoming election, but also who the current board hires as superintendent, which will be a done deal when the new board is seated. When all are in place, I would like to see a more public relationship between the board, administration, city and teachers. Further development of our community depends on the reputation of the school system, and I believe all parties to be stakeholders.
I have a passion for equal education for all children, especially within our public school system. As the economy is stressed, I expect some families will be faced with a return to public schools. If they have a good experience, perhaps they will draw other students into the system as well. I hope embracing some of the alternative learning strategies promised with the charter schools will also attract new families. In my professional field of physical therapy I work primarily with special needs pediatric patients, and have gained added insight into the special needs population that I will bring with me.
Fiscal responsibility is an ongoing issue for District 205. I am concerned over increases in the minimum class sizes for classes in the high schools in the coming year and how it will limit the course offerings for our secondary school students. Class choices should be a given, not a gamble. Additional questions of priorities are also raised in our choices of where to allocated funds. If we have the funds for the charter schools, what about the seventh hour - especially for the middle schools?
If selected in the upcoming election, I hope to demonstrate evidence based decision making consistently throughout my term. While I am not an educator or financial consultant professionally, I have the capacity to do research in order to make informed decisions. I have served on the finance committee of my church for the past 5 years. After my children left King, I spearheaded the fundraising ($80K), design development and installation of the King playgrounds. I have been the sole proprietor of my business as a private physical therapist for the last 23 years.
I cannot stress enough my passion for educating ALL children. My record as a committee member along with the relationships I have developed with parents and educators across the district attest to that. This passion will be one of my greatest assets as a board member, as it will keep me dedicated to improving the quality of the education for all students in District 205 for the entirety of my tenure as a board member, instead of focusing on any special interest group or personal want.
The Makulec Family
Running for School Board is a family affair, impacting family life and activities. This is Jude with her husband Jeff and their three children Amanda, Ross, and Troy celebrating Jude’s decision to run for Rockford School Board.
