Election 2013: Michael Maratea

Campaign Info

• Position Sought: Orland School District 135 Board of Education
• Website:
• Email: mikemaratea@comcast.net
• Phone: (708) 363-4511
• Hometown: Orland Park

Personal Info

• Family: Julie, wife; Nicholas, Lucas, Jacob and Zachary, sons
• Education: Northern Illinois University BAS 1976 BS Education, Governor State University MAS 1987 Master in Communication
• Occupation: Retired educator, Kirby School District 140, 33 years; South Suburban Tennis Academy co-owner, 27 years
• Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate Questions

Why are you seeking office?

I am seeking office to share my vast expertise and insight with the educational component of the district.  With 34 years as an educator, I have seen what works, and what doesn’t work.  I have served on numerous committees both curricular and non-curricular.  As a board member, I can use that knowledge and expertise to help the board make sound educational decisions.

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

If I get elected, my single most important priority would be to restore professionalism and respect at all levels of the district beginning with the board.  Without that trust and respect, everything else cannot be accomplished effectively.

What sets you apart from other candidates? 

I am unique in that there are not many retired educators with four young sons in elementary school, so I am heavily vested in the future of District 135.  Being retired, I have the time to dedicate myself full time to my duties as a board member for the students, administrators, and taxpayers of the community.

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?

There is a well-defined hierarchy in an educational system.  If that system is functional, a school district will run professionally.  When it becomes dysfunctional and people overstep their roles with hidden agendas, chaos reigns.  There is a reason a school district has legal representation and that is to advise the board in all legal matters and decisions.  If one does not listen to that advice, lawsuits and duplication of services creates misuse of funds.  I would make sure everyone stayed within his/her defined roles.

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?

We have someone to handle public relations in the district, and this issue would fall under her responsibilities. To disseminate information to parents is always challenging. Informational nights are always useful, but only if parents attend.  Electronic website information can also be useful, but only if accessed. In the past, the district has produced written pamphlets on various topics. I have found them to be very useful. This “hands on” information would probably be the best way to introduce pilots of new educational programs. Pilots are just that, pilots, and they need to be evaluated very carefully by the district using parental input.

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? 

All board members are to follow Board policy.  They cannot act on district matters as individuals.  We probably need a policy about consequences for board members violating Board policy.  During my research, I have found none.

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

Yes.  Our district currently has a fund balance of 65%.  This is well above the 20% recommendation to be in good financial standing.  General recommendations are 3 months expenditures.  With the state of Illinois late with payments more than 20% would probably be wise.  Before establishing a policy we need to make sure all areas are funded adequately especially technology, which I feel is greatly underfunded.  Fund balances are not to be used for reoccurring expenditures which technology would fall under.  That is why the budget needs to reflect a significant increase in that area.  A policy would take out all the gray areas of our surplus.

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.

1) Operating Expense Cuts 2) Other Funding Sources 3) Staff Cuts 4) Tax Increases 5) Contract Renegotiations.  It is difficult to rank order in a district with a $50 million dollar surplus and approved tax levy.  If we were ever in that position, you would first trim your operating expenses, which can be reflected in the budget. Next would be other funding sources, which can be difficult through grants since we have a large surplus. Private donations are rare, and we do not want to become a financial institution lending money to poor districts. Staff cuts are usually absorbed by retiring employees, but usually are the first area that districts use since staff salaries make up the largest part of the budget. In this current economical environment, no one likes to see someone lose his/her job. Tax increases can be adjusted with the tax levy, but once again should not be maximal in a district with a large surplus. Lastly, contract renegotiations should be the final resort since a contract is a legally binding document. It can only be opened with the consent of both parties.  Violation will lead to grievance and possible lawsuits, which would create legal fees and less money for the district.

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

Yes.  Good board members must be highly ethical.  Everyone else in a district must submit to a background check, so why not the policy makers and stewards of the taxpayers’ money.  Also, good members will be around students and events.  The public must feel very secure with any person coming in contact with students.

What can schools do to increase safety?

It is important to have a close relationship with our village law enforcement department.  The better the communication, the better the response to an unforeseen breach of security.   We also need to practice lock downs, and soft lock downs during the year.  When the community becomes complacent, we become more vulnerable.  The students need to feel safe, and a police presence around each school will provide this.

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? 

Never! It is like a slap in the face to taxpayers in tough times.  We are an educational institution, not a financial one.  Many people in the community do not know about the large surplus that District 135 has.  Every district needs to have a surplus, but approximately three months worth or around 25%, not 65%.  I am sure many taxpayers would like a little of that money back to put toward their own personal needs.  High on my priority list of things to do is lowering the tax levy next December if I am elected.

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?

Michael Carroll, Laura Berry, and Sandy Kulak for Orland School District 135.

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