Tony Valente: 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: Sugar GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kaneland Community Unit D302Age: 41Family: Married, three children.Occupation: High School PrincipalEducation: Educational Specialist, Northern Illinois University, 2010Master of Arts, Northeastern Illinois University, 1998Bachelor of Science, Northern Illinois University, 1993Civic involvement: Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization, Sugar Grove Park District basketball coachElected 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 Student academic achievementKey Issue 2 Fiscal responsibilityKey Issue 3 Community involvementQuestions 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 not very satisfied with our students#146; achievement on the PSAE and ACT exams. I would suggest that the district align its curriculum to the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards. I would also suggest that the district employ the core quality exam sequence for local assessments as well as create local formative assessments that are aligned with the ACT format.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?Within the next few years, the local school district will be faced with two main budgetary concerns. First, the district will need to create a balanced budget based on the current local tax levy, limited growth in EAV and state contributions. Secondly, the district will need to begin to reduce the enormous debt that the school district has incurred in the last ten years. To deal with these issues, there needs to be an audit of the current budget to determine expenditures and begin the process of creating a board based value system that will direct spending. I believe we can pay the debt and work within the parameters of our current budget without cutting staff or student programs. I would not support a tax increase for local schools or a back door referendum.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.Experience as a teacher and as an administrator is vital to the current needs of our school board. With my experience in education for 17 years, I have had the opportunity to see what works, what doesn#146;t work, how schools spend money and operate as well as working within the parameters of the collective bargaining agreement. Having such experience will allow me to question best practices, expenditures and create validity with the union while, foremost, balancing the needs of the students with the interests of the community.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?Teacher negotiations should be ongoing and transparent. The district, the board and the union negotiation team should be in a continual cycle of reviewing the school budget with the understanding that teacher salary compensation is directly related to the needs of our district and the current budget restraints. I support a transparent approach to negotiations so that trust is established thus fostering smooth negotiations with all collective bargaining units.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 a boost in the superintendent's or other administrator's salary. This has been a common practice across the state of Illinois causing great harm and strain on the current educational pension fund. Typically, superintendents already receive significant compensation and even without the increase, will have a substantial retirement.