School Board Candidates Answer Tough Questions

Four of the five candidates vying for three open seats on the Barrington 220 School Board attended a forum on Thursday night at Barrington High School.  

Many of the questions related to how the district can keep its high rank throughout the state as it grapples with falling revenues and the rising cost of doing business.

Thomas Antoine, Brian Battle, Joseph Ruffolo and write-in candidate Jim Mayer fielded both prepared questions and those from the audience.  The fifth candidate, Richard Burkhart did not attend due to medical reasons.

Below are some of the questions asked of candidates and their responses.

How can you provide new and better programs during these hard economic times?

Thomas Antoine

It’s a quandary to increase programs with budget constraints, everyone has to contribute.  Revenues will fall and we will need to make adjustments, to continue the legacy of this district. It takes collaboration with teachers and administrator contracts. We’re all in this together, and we have to get out of this together.

Brain Battle

We have to keep curriculum relevant and moving forward, not all new things cost money, we just have to be smart about programs like technology integration at Station, that didn’t cost any more money we just took the money in the budget and changed the use. In the long term this community will need to fund a referendum in four to five years, the next one needs to be about programming.  

Jim Mayer

I would ask why we are adding new programs like the Chinese Immersion Program, which is in part funded by a grant but the district will have to pick up the tab later; that would affect core programs.

Joseph Ruffolo

We need to stay committed to the children in this district, for all the people who have come here and stayed here for that.  The board did take its time to analyze the cuts.  The students have to be our top priority; we need to direct it at what the final results are for these kids.

Do you feel the district has an effective evaluation of teacher performance?

Thomas Antoine

The current teacher contract does dictate evaluation, there is a level of criteria that could help us evaluate what the production of each teacher is, and that is student achievement.  

Brian Battle

It’s a process we’ve tried to improve, it is probably better now than four to five years ago, but could it be improved (more), I think so. It should be an evolving process that takes into account state laws and mandates.

Jim Mayer

Nowhere in the private sector are people paid just because they are there; we need to consider paying teachers based on performance in the classroom.

Joseph Ruffalo

The way I would evaluate is took look at how kids are performing, how much we are spending on each child, and to look at test scores compared against school districts in the rest of the state. If we add in more professional development, we can help teachers learn how to become even better at what they do.

What do you think of the money saving option of having administrators pay their family’s health insurance costs and pension contributions instead of the district paying for them?

Thomas Antoine

I don’t believe in all or nothing, that doesn’t work in life. I negotiate a lot in my profession and I am tough, but fair.  We need to take a hard look at making some changes.

Brian Battle 

We have to look at all elements of compensation, on administrative side, the majority of other districts offer full benefits. When it was discussed, the decision was made to freeze salaries and not change benefits.  Everything is on the table, and we need to see the right balance. That is the trend.

Jim Mayer 

Singling out administrators seems like a misguided question.  Teachers’ pensions are underfunded by $60 to $80 million dollars right now; that is the bigger problem we have to look at.

Joseph Ruffolo  

We need to make administrators pay and benefits as competitive as we can, but with finances, everybody has to do their fair share to reel things in, we have to stay competitive but stay mindful of what our obligations are.

What changes would you like to see in the school district?

Thomas Antoine

I’ve seen an incredible effort to maintain the budget and an impact on the student teacher ratio. I would rather look at what we can maintain in our district. The (financial) world has changed and we do need to make note of that.

Brian Battle

I would change the dialogue between the community and the schools. I see dedicated teachers and administrators, parents and kids involved in the process.  We have to work together to deal with the upcoming challenges.

Jim Mayer

We built a building, put in new programs, and teacher salaries were increased. Unions do not face reality of today in regards to the current financial climate.

Joseph Ruffolo

I would love to see more professional development, and evaluate extra-curricular programs; when kids buy into a school system they perform better.

Biographical Information and Personal Statements

Tom Antoine

Married with four children, three currently attending Barrington 220 schools, fourth child is a toddler.  He is an attorney and works in construction management handling budgets and negotiations. ‘My vested interest is in my four children attending Barrington Schools.”

Brian Battle

Married with two children attending Barrington 220 schools. Member of school board since 2003, school board finance committee co-chair since 2007. “I see the next four years as an interesting time and I would like to be a part of it.”  

Jim Mayer

Married with one child who attends Lines School.  Formerly a teacher who is now a commodities trader. “I want what is best for the children.”

Joseph Ruffolo

Married with three children attending Barrington 220 schools.  Ruffolo.  He is a career educator and has taught for 21 years and works at a high school outside of the district.  Ruffolo is also involved in a number of extra-curricular activities in a supervisory capacity.

Closing Statements

Thomas Antoine

I hope you are able to take away the person I am from this forum.   I have a very vested interest in my children’s education and a deep interest in education on the whole. 

Brian Battle

We all agree that the district is strong, but we can get even better.  We have hit a difficult patch with budget issues. I hope you feel my approach and experience will help the vision to become better. 

Jim Mayer

The reason I am running; I work for a special interest group, my son.  I really want to advocate for the kids, I feel we could have a much better school district.  We have the raw material to have the best school district in the state.  We just need to put the students first, when we are laying off the teachers, we can’t be helping the kids.

Joseph Ruffolo

My goals, top priority is to maintain our reputation of having an excellent educational program.  I will use my expertise as an educator to provide a unique perspective for the board.

There are three open seats on the school board; current President Brian Battle’s term is up, and board members Cara Richardson and Jeff Church are not running for re-election. 

The upcoming election is Tuesday April 5.