Tony DeMonte: 2023 Candidate for Warren Township High School District 121 board member

Bio

Town: Gages Lake

Age on Election Day: 47

Occupation: School District Administrator

Employer: N/A

Previous offices held: Board Member at Warren Township High School 121, Board Member at Woodland School District 50

Q&A

Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

A: There is no singular issue that is motivating me to run. To answer it simply, it is to support strong instructional programming at Warren, hire and retain the best staff for our children, and keep a watchful eye on finances.

Q: What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring curriculum?

A: The Superintendent and administration, department leads, and other instructional leaders are the professionals we employ to make curricular decisions. The school board is there as oversight to make sure those decisions reflect the community values and aspirations for their children. The school board is also interested in monitoring growth from key performance indicators to make sure goals are being met.

Q: Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?

A: One area that is of particular interest to me, is alignment of college and career pathways. The majority of our students move on to further their education. The Warren experience should adequately prepare, align to those institutional requirements, and if able to do so, provide either dual credit or certifications that allow our students to have a jump start in the process.

Q: How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?

A: As a board member, I am there to represent all constituents and listen to their concerns. During the public comment portion of a board meeting, we actively listen, have the necessary discussion, and follow-up to any concerns. One of our biggest responsibilities is to set policy, so making sure policy reflects the wants and needs of the community is important. Curriculum controversies can be difficult to navigate. What is controversial to one person may not be to another. Warren's boundaries are large, and as such, incorporates multiple villages, towns, and communities. All may not be in alignment. The school board can create structures to make sure constituents can provide feedback such as joining the curriculum committee for more intimate discussions.

Q: Concerns are growing regarding a new resurgence of the pandemic. If another massive outbreak of infectious disease occurs, what have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that will guide your decision making?

A: Making every effort to keep our buildings open would be the priority. Student academic progress, attendance, and social emotional well-being were all impacted by closing the doors. All the best technology does not compare to face-to-face contact and connections. Whatever mitigation measures can be put into place to keep students in the buildings, even if that means in small groups on a rotating basis, would be a priority for me.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions of your school board.

A: No one board member has decision making authority on their own. The school board acts and speaks as one. That means it is imperative that school board members can work together to find compromise where possible. My style is to never take a hard line, and always listen to other opinions. I carefully listen to find places of agreement to show we are not that far apart. From there, we get to a place where everyone can be comfortable with, making sure that we are following the law and regulations. If we agree to disagree, that is why we have seven independently elected board members who have an equal vote. Having differences in opinion and debating those opinions in an open meeting is a strength as it means all ideas are being heard and the public knows how we derive at decisions.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: My entire life has been about children. In addition to having four of my own, I'm an educator by trade, and a staunch supporter of public education. I live in an unincorporated area and can represent the voice of those families that live in the numerous smaller communities that make up the Warren community. I pride myself on not having polarizing opinions or personality and want to make sure our unit of government is a point of pride for others to model themselves after.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?

A: Warren is fortunate to have a large commercial presence, everything from mom-and-pop stores, to restaurants, to industrial. Many times, these businesses are looking for ways to connect with us, but do not know how. Whether it is a recurring breakfast updating them on our initiatives, inviting them to sporting events, plays, or concerts, or by coming into classrooms to share real-world connections to curriculum, we must be setting up structures for our business community to feel connected to us.