Election 2013: Laura Berry

Campaign Info

• Position Sought: Orland School District 135 Board of Education
• Website:
• Email: lberry135@gmail.com
• Phone:
• Hometown: Orland Park

Personal Info

• Family: Mike, husband; Mike and Justin, sons
• Education: Governors State University, BS Elementary Education and Masters in Educational Administration; University of Illinois, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction; Aurora University, Doctorate in Educational Leadership
• Occupation: Retired from Orland 135 administration, work at Mill Creek Animal Clinic and teach education classes at two local universities.
• Political Party Affiliation: none

Candidate Questions

Why are you seeking office?

I feel that the voters need a choice for the Orland 135 school board. The current board is not cohesive, has personal agendas and is not fiscally responsible as demonstrated by frivolous lawsuits, administrative waste and by recently raising our taxes when there is a healthy fund balance. I am passionate about education and am very aware of the issues and concerns of the district, as I have recently retired as the director of curriculum in 135. I will be the voice of reason and pledge to work together with fellow board members, administrators and taxpayers to assure we have excellent schools for our children, while being fiscally responsible.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

The first priority is having the board work together, know what their responsibilities are and assess the financial stability of the district. Our schools are behind in technology as compared with surrounding districts and what is needed per the state plans for assessment changes. We need to assure the students have what they need. Additionally we need to work together to assure that we do not need to raise taxes.

What sets you apart from other candidates? 

I have an extensive background (both working and educational degrees) in education, am a kind and caring person and have shown the ability to communicate to all in a sensitive manner.

Over the last two years there have been a few sudden staffing changes, including the demotion of Melanie Walsh and putting in an interim superintendent while paying the former superintendent’s salary. Given legal and salary costs involved, should the board consider other means of addressing employee issues, and if so what would you do if elected or re-elected to do so?

While there are certainly times when there needs to be immediate changed to personnel such as when children or staff are in danger or there is fiscal irresponsibility, these current situations did not warrant the responses that this board mandated. Ms. Walsh was qualified for the position. Period. If the board wanted to assure nepotism was not an issue a policy needed to be in place. You don’t remove a qualified person and then put a policy in place. Additionally, the superintendent could have completed his contract. There were no reasonable causes for the change. This includes the retiring Assistant Superintendent being banished from the district office so that she could not reasonably complete her job. If elected I would act in a responsible and professional manner.

How do you propose the school district better communicate the importance of, and better prepare students and parents for, pilots of new educational programs, especially ones geared toward the Common Core standards?

Communication is the key, starting with the board being responsible for being informed on current educational issues. All the administrative shifting and change disrupts the flow of communication to the parents about new initiatives. Keep in mind however; there were public meetings on the Common Core that all parents were invited to during the 2012-2013 school year.

Concerns have been brought up about communication between board members outside of quorum and in violation of board policy. If elected or re-elected, what will you do to rectify these concerns, and do you recommend any new policies to be adopted?

A school board has rules that need to be followed. I would want board training for new and old members that focus on how to work as a group and what exactly are the roles of the board. Current members have forgotten what their roles are.

From the district website, the role of the board is clear:

What is the Board of Education's role? (http://www.orland135.org)

• Adopt goals and policies that meet state requirements and reflect community needs

• Provide the resources necessary to pursue its goals according to its policies; and

• Monitor district performance to see that results are consistent with goals and policies

New policies are not needed; the old ones need to be adhered to. The board should be able to monitor itself and treat each member with the dignity and respect that they are due.

Do you think the school district should consider a fund balance policy, and why? If so at what amount should it be set?

I believe a policy would help set clear guidelines and let the public know what is expected. These are trying economic times for all. What are reasonable expectations for the district? What funds need to be utilized to better the education of the students? I believe an understanding needs to be had, so that there is agreement on what the fiscal goals are.

Revenue from the state continues to dry up, while residents are also dealing with rising costs. Please rank the following in the order you feel the district should be focused on for meeting the district’s costs in light of these issues. 1) Staff Cuts 2) Contract Renegotiations 3) Operating Expense Cuts 4) Tax Increases 5) Other Funding Sources. Please also explain your reasoning.

I would start with operating expenses specifically athletic fields. We had a great cost sharing agreement with the village that is no longer the case under the current school board. How can the district say it doesn’t cost anything extra to maintain them? Does this make any sense? When we can share these expenses as well as share the resources, this is the priority. The wasteful use of money that has occurred with lawsuits is an easy way to save funds as well as duplication of services. Contracts are important to consider, as is staffing. The district has for the most part been careful with the teaching and support staff levels. The excessive movement and changes to administration are costly (as mentioned before). Taxing should be the last option. As for other sources the district is too well funded to qualify for many significant grants at this time. Last year my office looked at about 100 different grant opportunities, and we did not qualify for most of them.

Do you think board members, or potential board members, should have to submit for background checks? Why or why not?

It seems a reasonable request. Teachers need to have background checks, why not board members?

What can schools do to increase safety?

Safety is always an issue. The district should work with the village police department and review current guideline to set in place an effective plan. No district should sit on their laurels; safety should be an ongoing concern.

The possibility of buying Tax Anticipated Warrants to then loan money out to other school districts and accumulate interest on the return has been discussed in the past. If the district has enough money to be able to loan out to other schools, should the district still be requesting the maximum tax levy possible? Why or why not? 

We are a school district, not a bank. Why did we ask and pass a referendum and then not use the funds for the education of students? We need to be fiscally responsible to our taxpayers, the majority of who do not currently have students in our schools. The monies that we currently have should be invested appropriately so that we get the best return on investment but ultimately it should be decided what fund balance is necessary and what should the funds be used for that is in the best interest of the schools and taxpayers.

Have you ever been charged with a crime? Were you convicted? If yes, please say what the charge was, and what was the case's outcome as it stands.

No.

Are there any candidates in other races you would like to endorse here? 

Sandy Kulak, Mike Maratea, Mike Carroll and the First Orland group.

Read about the other D135 candidates in the April 2013 election.