Dave Sbertoli: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Wood DaleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Fenton H.S. D100Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married 30 years to Denice. Four children, 2 sons and 2 daughters.Occupation: Tool die maker.Education: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Fenton Community High School Board of Education 2005-2009.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Maintain fiscal responsibility.Key Issue 2 Ensure our students are receiving the best education possible.Key Issue 3 Ensure our students have a wide variety of course options to plan their future.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your district is preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?I am very satisfied. While serving on the curriculum committee, I have seen the dedication our department leaders have in improving current courses and adding new curriculum that addresses the needs of our students well beyond high school. As a board member, I am regularly updated on student achievement and any recommended changes that would provide greater success of our students will always be a top priority.What budget issues will the district have to confront? What measures do you support to address them? If cuts are needed, be specific about programs and expenses that should be reduced or eliminated. Do you support any tax increases for local schools?The budget issues we are facing today are the same as every other school in the state. Lower consumer price index(CPI) and a decline in state funding directly effect school revenue. Soon we will be reviewing our budget and considering cuts in upcoming months for the 2011-2012 school year. To save money, I am interested in researching ways to reduce our energy costs. I do not support a tax increase.Is experience as a teacher or support from a union valuable because it suggests educational insights or detrimental because it creates pro-teacher bias? Please clarify whether you have such experience or would accept union support.While I don't have teaching experience, I think the experience of raising four children in the Fenton community has provided valuable insight in our town and its high school. As a board member, I would encourage mutual respect between the board and the teachers union.As contract talks come up with various employee groups, what posture should the board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?As we move into negotiations in the upcoming years, we need to consider each alternative closely, so we can maintain a balanced budget while providing a quality education for all of our students.If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?Our administrators retirement incentives are based on the incentives of the teachers contract. I do not support pay adjustments for the benefit of increasing any ones pension.