Who cares how old she is! This is not something that should be determined on age.

Thank you for the comment and I apologize for any confusion. There was a communication error between the Patch and me. My age and family info are now provided on the bio.

Well, it makes a difference to some people as to Catalano's age. Plus, what's the big deal. It's a question... answer it.

Just as well. She got into this for career networking and she provided little input or ideas that resulted in the district spending smarter or more effectively. She was an "astronaut" board member....meaing she did little more than "take up space"LOL

Catalano did not list his family, either.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I wonder if he is from that Catalano Family with lots of kids. Might be, but he should have listed his parents and siblings, if so. Why can't people just answer the questions asked of them?

Heard she dropped out due to the fact her 8th grade son was going to a private high school and not the public high school where she serves on the board.

Catalano is a 2007 graduate of CSHS.

I assure you all directions were followed and there was a small communication error with my bio. The missing information is now provided for public review.

I'm not saying anything has anything to hide. I was however, making a joke.

It's also a matter of was age on the form? If it's not, then it's not their fault for not providing it.

Ooooopppppssss.... (insert blush for not getting joke) Sorry, Karen.

Dalton seems OK, and I've met Gracias and I'd put her ahead of Murphy-Petersen. I wouldn't vote for Serratore if the choice was between him and Jesse Jackson Jr! The guy is a typical Madigan Dem who never met a tax or fee increase he didn't like, and he'll support the eduocracy ahead of the students and taxpayers every time!

Catalano just seems to be an ambitious kid who wants to get into politics and considers this a career move as did Lee Roupas and Dennis Cook. If you have political ambition, you can't do what's right and tick off the unions and the patronage army that runs 230 and the rest of our local schools.

Baker and Twietmeyer both draw paychecks from District 218, which is a fiscal and academic quality DISASTER! If they can't bring those students up to even mediocrity (218 has average ACTs of about 18 while the poor state average in Illinois is only 20.6!), why should we believe they'll do better on the 230 school board where they're not drawing six figure salaries like they are from 218?

We've got some pretty poor choices this time around. How sad for the kids...and the taxpayers!

Catalano doesn't get vote. Mommy & daddy are paying for his election. Heard his dad was a political judge.

In response to Thunderstorm's comment (6:08PM 3/12/13), my campaign is very grassroots and my parents, who are very supportive, have not funded my campaign a single cent nor has any union, lobbyist group, or special interest.

Furthermore, my dad is recently retired from the Chicago Sun-Times Newspaper and has never been involved in politics or worked as a political judge.

I stand corrected

Catalano... you have my vote...

I am voting for SUSAN DALTON, after that long dissertation by her friend below, she obviously has good resources to surround herself with.
Also KATE MURPHY-PETERSON and MELISSA GRACIAS. I do not know or have too much info on the others. I have to research, or I might just vote for these three.

I think march 13th at Jerling at 6:30 for D135, any for D230 I am unsure

I am not sure it is disrespect to the voters, as much as it is a waste of time because of voting apathy. I will bet tat you and I and the same 50 people would show up. I think they feel that 52 is what % of the total voters in the high school district.

Hey Orland Guy, I would say reconsider one of the United and replace one with Sue Dalton. I am serious, I do know her (albeit not well) and she would be great on the board.

I'm thinking
Murphy-Peterson - Stagg needs representation
Gracias - same reason as Murphy-Peterson
Baker - teacher so knows what needs to be done
Twietmeyer - same reason as Baker

Dalton
Serratore
Catalano
Murphy

OK Orland guy, it's been fun playing with you. I guess if you think givng "inconvenient truths" about our schools is "crazy", then you'd fit right in with folks in office scamming the taxpayers. By the way, how brown exactly is your nose from kissing up to the political bosses in Orland?

The simple fact is that it doesn't really matter about being on a committee, other than occasionally you can embarass the politicians to prevent them doing something REALLY stupid or provide a better, less expensive way to get things done fro the kids. As you well know, that isn't what our local HS and K-8 schools have been about for quite a while.

I think you misunderstood (no surprise there) about my comment about appearing on the committee. The concern wasn't that I would somehow be tough competition at the amount I would spend on the campaign. The Board just didn't want me to use a seat on the committee as a platform for running for office like Serratorre is.

One funny thing about those misspelled signs I got from the printer. About half my campaign budget was spent on those signs, so I thought about what would draw more attention, a new "correct" sign or one with a flaw that people would notice. We figured it would be more noticed the way it was, and it seems that was correct.

Either way, I picked up 5,000 more votes in a "Democratic" year than the previous candidate did in 2010 which was a "Republican" year.

Pretty good progress for only spending about 2 grand.

I am pretty new to following the Patch, but I quickly formed an opinion on Bob. He is very sensible and always supports his opinions with facts. I'm a sceptic by nature and always try to verify things. Thanks Bob for bringing some intelligence to the conversations. It is greatly appreciated!

Thank all that is holy that you are not in that 95% group Bob. You can teach all how to vote.
Orland Guy seems to have it spot on. he's confirmed everything I've assumed.

COB, we can always count on you to add hate to a conversation without information or intellect. You certainly are consistent if not informative or intelligent!

Yes Bob.. Just as your questions that you would ask that you posted the other day. Full of hate and insults. Every fake question followed by opinionated insults.

COB, the difference between what I post and what you post is the difference between informed questioning of public officials and holding them accountable for what they say and do, and your ill-informed hateful sniping not based on legitimate policy and position concerns, but on your personal prejudices against anyone who wants to hold government accountable and stands up for the interests of the people instead of the dysfunctional politcal machines.

BIG difference there, Buddy!

BTW COB, do you have anything to say regarding improving the schools' academic performance or operating them more efficiently for the benefit of the students or taxpayers? Do you have germaine questions that voters should see answered by the candidates, or is you mind as constipated as you politcal views?LOL

Do the mailings even work anymore. I toss'em
I do think that the winners will be Dalton, Serratore, Murphy and Catalano for the race

I'm hoping for Gracias, Baker, Murphy-Petersen and Dalton. One note FWIW. the 230 teachers union has endorsed Serratore, Dalton, and Gracias because their interviews with them showed they'd support the unions interests when they conflict with those of the students, community, and families.

Serratore lost a lot of support at the Palos GOP meeting this week because he admitted he supported raising taxes through bond sales, even thought the distirct has annual surplusses, because the union and administration "might need the money in the future"! he also refused to speak to the issue of right sizing the bloated administration and faculty.

Gracias just spoke to the issue of addressing the growing heroine problem in our schools.

Dalton, a poltical independent who leans Democratic, didn't even bother to show up.

I just asked someone and they said Dalton did not show up because she was in Europe visiting her daughter who is abroad, they think studying, maybe working, they were not sure. Please clarify that, Bob. Just did not sound like Sue to not show up to something, and you seemed more than happy to assume she "just did not bother", from the post you wrote.

Gracias and Serratorre just said that she was at some meeting that was over at 7pm, and that she planned to come right after the meeting. Either they were lying (I can't understand why they would), she didn't tell them she was in Europe, or she just blew off the meeting.

There were about 50 voters there waiting to hear what she had to say, wihc is important since her Sandburg PFSA refused to support a candidate's forum. My guess is that the last scenario is the most likely.

Confirmed, she was in Europe, so stop saying bad things. Whatever Serratore or Gracias allegedly said I don't really care. She was in Europe. Would you like to see her passport??

If you say she was in Europe, fine. It's no big deal. I just wonder why Serratorre lied about it? Maybe he just hasn't been in contact with her enough to know. Case closed as far as I'm concerned.

Gee, Orland, for some reason you're really obsessed with me instead of caring about what happens to our schools and the community! I find that..disturbing.

Do you have ANYTHING useful to offer about helping voters deciding whom to support, or are you so witless and ignorant that you don't have a clue what's going on?
Tell me, oh vitriolic one, when Mike Madigan shifts the outrageous pension costs over to districts like 230, how should that be funded so that the children are impacted the least?

Do you think it's fair that we continue to have 50% more administrators than local comparisons show we need at a about a cost of $135K each? Should hard pressed taxpayers be forced to take food off of their families tables in order to keep this featherbedding going? Do you have a problem with 230 averaging 17 administrators per school (including about 5 "deans" with a bloated support staff) instead of the 11 most districts have? That's wasting about $2.5 million per year.
Are you satisfied that we have among the highest paid teachers around, but they can't seem to improve our kids ACT outcomes AT ALL? Are you OK that we pay $120K to teachers for 177 workdays supposedly to "attract the best and brighest", yet prohibit hiring the experienced "best and brightest" for anything above new graduate salaries?
What does your buddy Serratorre think about these issues?
C'mon, Orland. Why don't you show us you know something other than spelling on yard signs?LOL

Once again, COB, you can't bring anything even remotely interesting or relevant tio the conversation. Do you "hear yourself talk" on the blogs as you infer? If so, you should really check out some help for "hearing voices" that aren't there.

That's the way "Son of Sam" got started, you know!

Here's and honest question for you...do you EVER bring any insights or information to your blogging, or do you make your life about "trolling"?

Here's a newsflash for you. I'm not running for anything. Seven people are. Go on trolling and sniping if you wish, but how about bringing something of value to your posts?

Great Kathie.why don't you get your buddy Sue to tell us why we can't improve on our pretty mediocre ACTscores. Have her tell us why dropping class sizes to 15.9 (most high schools average 21-26) didn't result in ANY improvement in academic success of our students? Since she is so "much more of a well-informed and credible candidate than you ever would/could be", why not have her give her detailed plan to improve our quality of education? Ooops, she DOESN'T HAVE ONE, DOES SHE? How about having her explain why our spending more on instruction, despite the loss of 800 students, didn't result in ANY improvement in our childrens education?

I'll concede she's a great fundraiser, which is a very dangerous mindset for a school board member.You see, when people are only pre-occupied by how to raise money without being concerned about how effectively or well the money is spent, they tend to just raise taxes and fees and NOT hold those spending the money accountable for mispending what others have sacrificed to provide.

Simple question, Kathie. When has she ever made a recommendation for spending money more effectively in the best interest of the students and community? When has she ever identified wasteful and ineffective spending in 230 that could be cut so that fees and taxes could be minimized on suffering families? When has she EVER held the administration and Board accountable for expensive failures like the S4 program?

That's pretty comical. Is he running for the park district or the school district? I don't live in 140 but I would hope a candidate would know the name of the board he's running for. Maybe he didn't read the top part of his petition?

See, Bob??? Just as I said. Stop attacking people. Kathie, you have written some very good (lengthy,lol) entries. But the last one is the best. I, too, know Susan, and feel she is without a doubt the best person for the position. NO ONE is qualified for a job, but they have qualifications that may make them suitable. Big difference. And having ideas, and acting on something are huge differences.

Susan brings intelligence, sharpness and a passion to the table. I am praying she and some of the others get in and both incumbents are knocked out. Same goes for the D135 race... knockout incumbents. Heck, same goes for fire and library, too.
I am so sick of watching my home value sink because of problems in Orland Park. We need to make people want to live here. It must turn around.
Go SUSAN!

Fine. then have her answer my questions on her candidate page!

Ummmm...iceman I didn't make ANY comment about her education! What on earth are you writing about!

I read and reread the posts. I think, maaay-beee, there was a misunderstanding [which is possible because of the length of the posts] at 11:28 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013, Bob wrote "Why not have her give her detailed plan to improve our quality of education? Ooops, she DOESN'T HAVE ONE, DOES SHE?" Just thinking that reading this quickly, it was mistaken that Bob's caps lock "she doesn't have one, does she" was referring to (Susan's) education." That is the only thing I can think of...

Bob, I have kids. from 1st grade thru high school they have always performed highly. But these kids have a parent at home that took them to task. I held them accountable for everything they did, no exception. My kids are polite and kind. They are athletic, but in a balanced form, where sports comes 2nd.
People want to always blame the teacher for the failed learning. I find that insulting to the teacher and a failure on the part of the parent. Parents should be taking the responsibility of their children.
One of my kids has a friend from 1st grade that had performed equally to my child. As the years progressed this child started to drop off. Mommy went to work and she would tell me that her child can handle it on their own. I questioned her once about her lack of involvment playing a part in the child's downward spiral in academics. Her answer? No problem, by the time the student hit 4th grade the student would be back in the self-contained. She claimed to know people to get her child back into it. Guess what? Never happened. This child, who was very bright was no longer being parented, as I saw it. As the student got into HS, the child was into drinking and grades fell off more. Guess what college the child goes to... good guess... NONE. The child, who had a brilliant academic career in elementary, dropped off so bad by HS because the parents did not do their job.
So, to blame a teacher is one thing, but to not take responsibility as a parent is another

PYT, as a former teacher I agree that parents area perhaps the most important factor in students academic success, but I also know that a great teacher can motivate a kid form a tough background to be successful.

Many times I've seen kids with a lousy parentage get out there and be successful because of an inspirational teacher who served as a mentor.

Ever see "Stand and Deliver" about Roberto Escalante who got kids from the Barrio to be extremely successful on the calculus AP exam? Teachers like that are out there, but unfortunately there are also far too many who take the approach "I get paid whether you learn this OR NOT!"

Some kids you just can't reach, and that's a tragedy. What's perhaps a worse tragedy is union protected staff who will make their six figures per year who don't even TRY to reach them.

OK. I'll get off of my soapbox on this subject....

One final note on Mr Escalante. He was driven out of public education by his peers in the LA teachers union. Apparently they didn't like teachers like him "raising the bar" for what faculty could accomplish with even the most underprivileged kids.

Kathie, that's pretty much the case with the chairpersons of each of the committee. Each committee deals with the issue of allowing community resprersentative challenging faculty and administration differently. Building and Finance has a "litmus test" that no one opposing tax and fee increases is selected to be on the committee.

One would think that having licensed engineers and architects on the committee would make sense to provide oversight on what is generally believed to be the worst run capital program in the region. This is the first year a licensed engineer was allowed to be a commuity representative, despite qualified people applying every year. We'll see if he actually is going to critique some of the bad ideas the administration is promoting.

Kathie, Bob, so we meet again, this time on the outside looking in, it seems. I too, tried twice to get on the Finance Committee in 230. I guess 4 years on the 135 Finance Committee, 3 as Chair, 4 years on the 135 board, 2 as president, an MBA , a type 75 School Business Official Certificate, 12 years on Orland's Parking and Traffic Advisory Board, 3 years on Orland's Plan Commission and a career in financial services disqualifies someone from being on The Finance Committee. I'm not sure who I'm voting for in 230, but I can assure you it won't be for the incumbent.

Laura Murphy dropped out of the race, for personal reasons. Carol Baker might be too busy, to fill out a bio-which happens often when it comes to board work. She is a very busy person and her other schedules come first. How many Board members need to have meetings rescheduled, cancelled or set up with a "conferencing" option. If you can't show up, you are too busy! DO NOT VOTE FOR Baker or her Co-heart, Twietmeyer.

I think you are kidding about her being too busy, right? I mean, fill in the questionnaire... I would guess it is all emailed, right?

Karen, the Board's plan is one of the worst seen in this area since the idiotic plan by Oak Lawn HS 229 to tear down a school built to accommodate aboout 4,000 students and build a brand new one at ridiculous costs.

First, I agree that based upon enrollment projections some additional space at Conrady makes sense, and the school certainly could use some "sprucing up", but the district is using a dishonest argument that knocking down a structurally and architecturally sound Jr High built in 1965, with substantial additions in 1974 and 2,000, somehow "costs less" than an addition to Conrady to meet future enrollment "needs". I was a senior project manager for Captial improvement in the largest distirct in Illinois for about 5 years, and I've asked around to see if there is any precedent for tearing down such a new school to build a new one of about the same size. Apparently NO one in Illinois has done anything this foolish in our history. It seems that if 117 voters approve this, 117 will them become the standard for idiotic and mismanaged building programs. taking the mantle away from District 230.

I FOIAd all the study information on this boondoggle, and here's what I found:
1) the cost for needed additions is only about $9 million, less than a third of what the Board plan would cost.
2) In order to make the tear down and build option in any way viable, the district had to include twenty years of maintenenance on the existing building compared with just the intial cost of the new school. Many of the "maintenance" issues, which the board claims totals over $21 million, were HIGHLY questionable.
3) The "economic analysis" performed by the Board shows the cost for the district building a new school wouldn't be advantageous for at least 10 years, but they were at least one serious flaw in their analysis. They didn't take into account the time value of money which means a spending a dollar today will cost more than spending that dollar five years from now. When this is taken into account, building a new school wouldn't even be comparable to the addtion for at least 15 years, and cost really can't be accurately projected out that far.
4) The construction estimates appear to have been "tricked" by the district. Neither project has gotten past conceptual design, and estimates at this stage typically have 20-25% added for "design contigency". Once complete bid drawings are prepared, the contingency drops to 5%. The districts "analysis" use only 5% contigency at this stage, but uses 10% for the addition costs. If the honest numbers were used, the new bldg loses!

Another way the Board corrupted the analysis was in the cost per square foot of new construction. New construction costs for the new building are only about $160 /sf (WAY too low!) yet building the same space new in the addition option was priced at over $200/sf. If these "tricked" numbers aren't used, the new building loses!

For years the district has been overtaxing the heavily burden taxpayers of Palos and Hickory Hills. This is evidenced by them building up fund surplusses of $10-$15 million while the taxpayers (over 300 homes per year) are going into foreclosure because families can't afford mortgage payments.

I think gouging struggling families this way is DESPICABLE!

I'd recommend voters REJECT this dishonest plan and do a "reset" for just giving the kids the facilities they need by the addition. I'll be happy to get together a team of architects and engineers to participate on the building committee (all design professionals were excluded from the process previously) to give the proper scrutiny and oversight the Palos 117 community deserves!

This is "bitterness", COB, it's about greedy government types cheating really put-upon folks for their own power over money and lives. there used to be a press that would be out there digging, challenging politican lies,a nd getting the truth out to the people. Those days are pretty much over. I brought this to the attention of the Patch months ago and then again in person a few weeks ago.

This is a $40 million ripoff, and the "jounalists" won't even look at hand fed info from the district to make their own minds up.

There's a concept known as "Nobles Oblige" (noble obligation) that means if you have knowledge or resources, there's an obligation to use them on behalf of those who don't. That's why I go through all this trouble even though it won't put a penny in my pocket. It's not about getting elected to a Board or office for a job I'd really rather not do.

It's not bitterness, COB, its personal obligation. When you understand and practive this, perhaps you'll understand me a bit better.

Not gonna happen, COB. Within 4 months I'll be a legal resident of another state. Maybe I'll run there. I fit in much better with their political culture.

COB, that quote is actually from Edmund Burke, an 18th century member of Parliament who was critic of much of the evil he saw emanating from King George's dysfunctional government.

Obama was never that thoughtful, although encouraging "good men to do nothing" has been the cornerstone of his agenda!LOL

No, im pretty sure it was president obama...
Another state... ? You will be missed. So are you going to run for office there too? Hit those streets Bob. Not only are you being a service to your country, its also a fantastic cardiovascular work out.

Bob has some solid ideas and its clear that he knows what he's talking about. I'm not sure what's so bad about someone holding public officials accountable for what they do with our tax money. Bob's problem (and I know he won't be upset with me) is that he's not a good politician. You have to be a good politician to win an election. That's not a bad thing, by the way. I too am a politician which is why I did get elected.

Dont know what you're talking about there Paul. I have no problem holding elected officials accountable.

John Paul, you are absolutely right in your assessment of me. I've never really had any desire for the "clout' of being on Boards or other office. Most of the time I ran for office it was because the people wouldn't have a choice if I didn't (like for state rep and some Board races), or the field of candidates was really poor.

As you know, politics is the art of giving those with the political power in a community what they want so they'll support you, and not giving reason for ANYONE to vote against you.

Many times over the last 15 years I've been told by these power brokers that they'd get me elected in a minute if I just "played ball" and was willing to look the other way when dirty stuff, waste and patronage were going on.

If my running was about ego, I would've taken their offer, but I was going through the gauntlet to make things better for the kids and fairer to the taxpayers, and got swatted down like a fly.

Morally, I really had no choice. There are VERY few people who can get elected, then take on the powers that be for the kids and community. I think John was one of those.

I see no one here who's running to take on the forces of patronage, obsolescence and waste in the district, and that's a shame for us AND the kids. I know two at MVCC who are running, Skibinski and Fernandez, so they're the ones I'm trying to help.

Well John Paul and yourself do go out of your way to tell us how many degrees you have and all of the wonderful things that you do for people and know. It must be that outward humility the both of you show that make you so great Bob, and Paul the exception to your own rules.
I guess 75% of all people that voted can't see your greatness and your unwillingness to play ball. and here I thought it was just your arrogance and constant insults of people and their ideas.