Troy School Board Candidate: Jim Relyea

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:

Member of the Troy school board for the last 10 years, served as board president for six years, two years as secretary. On the Village of Shorewood Planning and Zoning 12 years. I work with school district for over 30 years in my personal carrier advising them on issues for their employee benefits as it relates to budgets and union contracts.

• What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

To continue the work I have been involved in for the students of Troy making sure that they have the best educational experience the teachers and district can provide. Helping them get prepared for a long life of learning by giving them the tools and skills that give them a zest for learning. To do this as a board we need to make sure the students have the right teachers, tools, facilities, technologies, that will give them the skills to learn and excel.

• What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

The students to see them excel.

• What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My experience the 10 years on the board I have been involved in all aspects of running a school district, budget cuts, referenda's winning and losing them, planning and design of new schools, union contacts, layoffs, hiring new employee, working with our state and federal legislators to raise funds for the kids of Troy, and putting in the time to learn how to better serve the Troy School District I was recently awarded a Master Board Member designation form the Illinois School Board Association recognizing the time and effort that is put in to get this award.

• What is the biggest problem in Troy?

The state budget crises, because of our great finical status thanks to the tax payers of the district. The way state funding works we have seen our state aid reduced which means we have to use more local funds to provide service to the students so we have to be diligent on behalf of the student and taxpayers of Troy to make sure we can provide the best possible education.