Robert F. Laudadio: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Robert F. Laudadio

City: Bensenville

Office sought: School board member District 2

Age: 58

Family: Wife and one teenage daughter

Occupation: Superintendent of buildings and grounds

Education: High School

Civic involvement: Bensenville District 2 board member

Previous elected offices held:

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? Yes , 2011

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Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your district and how do you intend to address them?

The state finance reform that is coming and the uncertainty of the outcome is an important issue that may need to be addressed.

How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately 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 believe the school district is adequately preparing the students for the next stage of their lives, high school and beyond. I have high expectations of student growth in the district.

What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases? Be specific.

I absolutely do not support any tax increases and know our district is fiscally sound and will not require any eliminations or cuts in the near future.

Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?

Currently employed by District 91. No one in my direct family is employed by District 2.

As contract talks come up with various school employee groups - teachers, support staff, etc. - what posture should the school board take? 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?

We recently settled on a new teacher contract for 5 years which was considered fair for all parties involved.

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?

No, because it is our responsibility to remain fiscally responsible to our taxpayers and their dollars.