Francesco D’Avola
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My name is Francesco D’Avola and I am thrilled for your consideration for a seat on the Frankfort 157c School Board. This has been a goal of mine since I was a high school special education teacher at William Fremd High school in District 211. I made the difficult decision to leave a school that I loved to take a chance at combining two of my passions of auto racing and teaching. My family and I moved down to the Frankfort area in 2017 to be closer to our racing school business Team Stradale. Now that my wife and I have established our roots here in the 157c district with our three beautiful children, it is the perfect time for me to step back into the educational world. I look forward to strengthening our already amazing district and to continue enhancing programs for student Achievement, a balanced Budget, strong Collaboration between family and schools and Support for our teachers. Let’s Focus on the Future!
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Questions | Answers
According to the Illinois Association of School Boards, one crucial characteristic of a school board member is the ability to represent the entire community and not special interest or partisan groups. What will you do to support the needs of the diverse population within our community?
Representing the entire community and supporting the needs of a diverse population within a community are important responsibilities for school board members. Here are some steps that I will take to support the needs of a diverse population within the community:
1. Build relationships: School board members must make an effort to build relationships with people from all segments of the community. This can include attending community events and engaging with residents through social media, email, and other channels.
2. Listen to feedback: As a school board member I will actively seek out feedback from the community and listen to concerns and suggestions from all members of the community. We can hold public forums, town hall meetings, or other events to hear directly from residents.
3. Prioritize equity: School board members should prioritize equity in all decision-making. This means ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors.
4. Foster inclusivity: Working to create a culture of inclusivity within the school district. This can include implementing policies that support diversity and equity, providing resources for multicultural education, and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
5. Collaborate with community partners: I will work collaboratively with community partners, such as local businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders, to support the needs of the entire community.
Overall, as a school board member I will strive to represent the interests of the entire community and work to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.
How would you address the increasing concerns surrounding mental health and bullying within schools? Please be specific with changes you would like to see or additions you would recommend.
Addressing mental health and bullying concerns in schools requires a multi-faceted approach involving multiple stakeholders. Here are some effective ways to address these concerns:
1. Create a supportive and inclusive school culture: Schools can create a culture of acceptance and understanding, where students feel safe to express their feelings and concerns without fear of bullying or stigma. School staff and teachers can lead by example, and promote healthy communication and respectful interactions among students.
2. Provide mental health support: Continued offering of mental health resources such as school counselors, psychologists, and social workers who can provide support to students who may be experiencing mental health concerns.
3. Implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy: It will be encouraged that our schools continue to develop a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that addresses all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, and outlines the consequences for those who engage in such behaviors.
4. Promote social and emotional learning: Incorporating social and emotional learning (SEL) programs into the curriculum to help students develop important skills such as empathy, conflict resolution, and responsible decision-making.
5. Provide training for staff and students: We will continue to offer training and resources for staff, parents, and students to recognize and address mental health concerns and bullying behaviors, as well as how to seek help when needed.
6. Partner with community organizations: We will partner with community organizations, such as mental health clinics, non-profits, and other stakeholders to provide additional support and resources for students and families.
Overall, addressing mental health and bullying concerns in schools requires a collaborative effort among multiple participants, including school staff, teachers, students, families, and community partners. By implementing comprehensive policies and programs, providing resources and training, and promoting a culture of support and inclusivity, schools can create a safe and healthy environment for all students to learn and grow.
Do you feel it is a conflict of interest to have financial investments with any companies that our district contracts with? Why or why not?
The way that I interpret this question is the following: I feel this question is asking whether or not I believe that it is a conflict of interest for a board member to have personal ties to a business that is contracting work directly to the district. If this is the intention of the question then I would agree that it is a conflict of interest and no board member should have any financial gain from his/her position with the board. However, if a board member has experience in a certain area, recommendations should be welcome and will be considered fairly based on merit, competitive pricing and quality. A conflict of interest arises when an individual's personal, financial, or other interests interfere or appear to interfere with their ability to make impartial decisions in their official capacity.
If a school board member has personal ties to a business that is contracting work with the district, they may be tempted to give preferential treatment to that business, even if it is not in the best interest of the district or its students. This can undermine the integrity of the contracting process and potentially result in negative consequences for the district.
To avoid conflicts of interest, school board members should disclose any personal ties they have with businesses that are contracting work with the district and separate themselves from any decision-making related to those contracts. Additionally, school boards can adopt policies and procedures that address conflicts of interest, and require members to disclose any potential conflicts before they participate in any related decision-making.
Overall, it is important for school board members to prioritize the best interests of the district and its students, and to ensure that all contracting decisions are made in a fair and impartial manner.
Representing the entire community and supporting the needs of a diverse population within a community are important responsibilities for school board members. Here are some steps that I will take to support the needs of a diverse population within the community:
1. Build relationships: School board members must make an effort to build relationships with people from all segments of the community. This can include attending community events and engaging with residents through social media, email, and other channels.
2. Listen to feedback: As a school board member I will actively seek out feedback from the community and listen to concerns and suggestions from all members of the community. We can hold public forums, town hall meetings, or other events to hear directly from residents.
3. Prioritize equity: School board members should prioritize equity in all decision-making. This means ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors.
4. Foster inclusivity: Working to create a culture of inclusivity within the school district. This can include implementing policies that support diversity and equity, providing resources for multicultural education, and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
5. Collaborate with community partners: I will work collaboratively with community partners, such as local businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders, to support the needs of the entire community.
Overall, as a school board member I will strive to represent the interests of the entire community and work to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.
How would you address the increasing concerns surrounding mental health and bullying within schools? Please be specific with changes you would like to see or additions you would recommend.
Addressing mental health and bullying concerns in schools requires a multi-faceted approach involving multiple stakeholders. Here are some effective ways to address these concerns:
1. Create a supportive and inclusive school culture: Schools can create a culture of acceptance and understanding, where students feel safe to express their feelings and concerns without fear of bullying or stigma. School staff and teachers can lead by example, and promote healthy communication and respectful interactions among students.
2. Provide mental health support: Continued offering of mental health resources such as school counselors, psychologists, and social workers who can provide support to students who may be experiencing mental health concerns.
3. Implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy: It will be encouraged that our schools continue to develop a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that addresses all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, and outlines the consequences for those who engage in such behaviors.
4. Promote social and emotional learning: Incorporating social and emotional learning (SEL) programs into the curriculum to help students develop important skills such as empathy, conflict resolution, and responsible decision-making.
5. Provide training for staff and students: We will continue to offer training and resources for staff, parents, and students to recognize and address mental health concerns and bullying behaviors, as well as how to seek help when needed.
6. Partner with community organizations: We will partner with community organizations, such as mental health clinics, non-profits, and other stakeholders to provide additional support and resources for students and families.
Overall, addressing mental health and bullying concerns in schools requires a collaborative effort among multiple participants, including school staff, teachers, students, families, and community partners. By implementing comprehensive policies and programs, providing resources and training, and promoting a culture of support and inclusivity, schools can create a safe and healthy environment for all students to learn and grow.
Do you feel it is a conflict of interest to have financial investments with any companies that our district contracts with? Why or why not?
The way that I interpret this question is the following: I feel this question is asking whether or not I believe that it is a conflict of interest for a board member to have personal ties to a business that is contracting work directly to the district. If this is the intention of the question then I would agree that it is a conflict of interest and no board member should have any financial gain from his/her position with the board. However, if a board member has experience in a certain area, recommendations should be welcome and will be considered fairly based on merit, competitive pricing and quality. A conflict of interest arises when an individual's personal, financial, or other interests interfere or appear to interfere with their ability to make impartial decisions in their official capacity.
If a school board member has personal ties to a business that is contracting work with the district, they may be tempted to give preferential treatment to that business, even if it is not in the best interest of the district or its students. This can undermine the integrity of the contracting process and potentially result in negative consequences for the district.
To avoid conflicts of interest, school board members should disclose any personal ties they have with businesses that are contracting work with the district and separate themselves from any decision-making related to those contracts. Additionally, school boards can adopt policies and procedures that address conflicts of interest, and require members to disclose any potential conflicts before they participate in any related decision-making.
Overall, it is important for school board members to prioritize the best interests of the district and its students, and to ensure that all contracting decisions are made in a fair and impartial manner.
