Tony DelAlcazar: 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: LombardWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lombard District 44 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 44Family: Married to Heather Palm. 3 sons, ages 10,8, 6Occupation: High School Science TeacherEducation: M.S. Ed. Curriculum Instruction, National Louis University, 1997 B.S. Biology, Eastern Illinois University, 1991Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Preparing all District 44 students for a successful future.Key Issue 2 Fiscal accountability and responsibility.Key Issue 3 Rewarding Excellence in the classroom.Questions Answers What do you think about the shift to the common core standards? How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?I am cautiously optimistic about the shift to the common core standards. It is a big step in standardizing curriculum for students across the United States. The Board's role should be to ensure students are being prepared for their future. If the common core standards lack key aspects for students to succeed, then it is the board's responsibility to identify and make the necessary changes to best prepare our students.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 have three students in the school system. Each is different in learning style and personality. I see firsthand, the learning and genuine caring that occurs because of the staff and administrators. I feel confident my children are being prepared for their next step in education. As a board member, I would make any necessary changes to make sure that students of Lombard District 44 continue to grow and become successful at each step of their academic career.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax increases?If and when the need to cut a program arises it must be studied thoroughly, and decisions made in an order that protects educational excellence. Programs or expenses that are unnecessary, redundant, or antiquated must be eliminated. Whereas programs or expenses related to student health and safety, and excelling educationally, socially or emotionally must be preserved and protected. I do support unwarranted tax increases or referendums.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups, do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?Balancing district needs and finances is challenging. The need to attract and keep highly qualified employees must be balanced within the constraints of a budget. Concessions, benefits, and salaries will ebb and flow with district finances. A balance has to be struck between maintaining excellent schools and fiscal responsibility.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?I do not and would not support increases in pay to boost pension benefits for any superintendent, administrator or District personnel. Doing so would be irresponsible.