Frank Napolitano: 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: BartlettWebsite: http://www.franknapolitano.comOffice sought: Elgin-Area Unit 46 School Board (4-year Terms)Age: 39Family: I am married to Carmel Napolitano and we have 3 1/2 year old twins, Salvatore and Maridia.Occupation: I am in technology salesEducation: One year at College of DuPageCivic involvement: I am involved in the Chamber of Commerce and my church. I have been a Village Trustee in Bartlett where I chair the Public Works Committee. I used to coach softball in the park district and travel softball.Elected offices held: Bartlet Village Trustee 2009-2013 Chairman Public Works CommitteeHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I will work to reduce the budget and balance the budget without borrowing, issuing bonds or continuing to raise property taxes.Key Issue 2 I will work to ensure that the school boundaries address the changing communities the district serves and do so with common sense geographic boundaries.Key Issue 3 I will make sure we give parents more control of their childeren's education including what they are learning and where they are learning it.Questions Answers With the racial discrimination lawsuit set to wrap up as early as February, do you think the district needs to do anything differently when it comes to addressing diversity in and among the schools?I do not believe race should play a role in the school boundary discussion. The school boundaries need to be based on overall neighborhood population, school size/capacity, and of course proximity.What do you think about the district's response to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School? How is the district on safety, more generally?I spoke at length to John Heiderscheidt, the district Coordinator of Safety and Security and I believe the School District responded appropriately. I do believe the School District needs to continue to work together with the local police departments. I believe safety of the children and the teachers needs to be a top priority for the School District, as well as the Villages and Cities the district serves. We need open forms of communication between the elected officials, Coordinator of Safety and Security, and the Police Chiefs for all the communities.What do you think about the district's progress in getting more students to take AP classes and succeed on AP exams? Do you think it's a good strategy to urge more students into those types of classes?I believe the district has done well getting students to take AP classes and I think they should urge more students into those types of classes.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 believe adopting federal and state standards take away the local control of education that the parents, tax payers and teachers should have. I do believe the board should play a role in setting the curriculum for the students with input from teachers and parents.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 think the school district needs to consider allowing more of the successful students to take additional classes and perhaps more advanced classes instead of many of them being forced to take a study hall. I also believe students should be allowed to take more electives including classes that will teach trade skills, life skills and leadership skills.