Thomas Antoine: 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: South BarringtonWebsite: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Thomas-Tom-Antoine-220-Board-of-Education/118064754925462?v=infoOffice sought: Barrington Area Unit D220Age: 37Family: My wife Michelle and I have four children, three attend District 220 schools. My wife and I met attending the University of Wisconsin at Platteville where I studied Construction Management and she became a teacher. We have been married for 11 years.Occupation: I am a Construction Manager and Real Estate Attorney. I built my profession around managing budgets and capital improvements that exceed $100 million. My clients have benefited from my vigilant cost control and strong negotiating skills.Education: Bachelor of Science - Building Construction Management, University of Wisconsin at PlattevilleJuris Doctor - The John Marshall School of LawLLM Real Estate Law - The John Marshall School of LawCivic involvement: I coach two youth basketball teams and participate in Boy Scouts of America. I am also an active member of my Church.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I want taxpayers to keep their money. Residential property taxes have increased through a combination of past board decisions and the current economic downturn. High unemployment, record foreclosures, fleeing businesses and falling commercial property values damaged the health of our local economy and shifted property tax burden from commercial to residential homeowners. I will influence district policy to reduce school board levies, the largest item on your property tax bill. People should not be driven from their homes due to increased property taxes.Key Issue 2 I am concerned that the school budget continues to trend upward despite falling enrollment. We need to critically analyze each financial decision. My 15 years of budgetary oversight and leadership in the private sector will add tremendous value. I will ensure the board is accountable to the taxpayer for prudent use of the taxpayer's dollars.Key Issue 3 I have a vested interest in the health of our public education system because my four children are or will be in the system. I will work to bolster District 220's strong academic performance and stress the fundamentals that measure it against our neighboring districts and the nation. I believe that we should view our students' performance as a return on the financial investment of our tax dollars.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?As an employer and manager my expectations center on new graduates' ability to communicate. Generally, I am concerned that our young people are losing their ability to write and speak articulately because they are becoming too technology dependent. Students need to focus on real-time relationships and the art of writing and literature.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?I support the Executive Council's current review of the budget and much of the findings in their January 21st memorandum to Superintendent Tom Leonard. It is undeniable that we will make some very hard decisions regarding the teacher's contract. Salaries and benefits represented nearly 84% of the school budget in 2010. Current contract raises do not reflect the economic reality of the rest of the world, we need to be responsible in negotiating these terms.I do not support any tax increases for local schools. Residential property owners are already facing tax increases in a struggling economy. With foreclosures running at record levels for several years and commercial properties falling in value we cannot place more burden on homeowners.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.I bring value in having an objective third party perspective. I am not an educator or union member. I weigh educational methodology issues on their merit and empirical data that demonstrates effectiveness.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?I would embrace a genuine effort from the union to reflect on and act to restore taxpayer confidence in them by participating in reducing 220's budget while maintaining or improving the student teacher ratio.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 would not support this type of action. This is the practice that helped lead Illinois to nearly $50 billion in unfunded pension deficits.