Election 2013: Mark Mirabile

Campaign Info

• Position sought: School Board Member for Pleasantdale School District 107
• Residence: Burr Ridge

Personal Info

• Family: Judy Mirabile, wife; Nicole Mirabile, daughter, 17; Hayley Mirabile, daughter, 11
• Education: Associates Degree in Applied Science – Accounting; Richard Daley Community College
• Occupation: Business Manager – WidePoint Corporation – specializing in Cyber Security, Mobile Device Management and Information Technology Services.  Eclipse Information Systems, an original unit of WidePoint, was a company I started in 1992 and merged with this publicly traded company in 1998.

Candidate Questions

Previous elected offices:

Pleasantdale School District 107 Board of Education – Since December of 2004

Board of Directors – WidePoint Corporation (past)

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:

Through my involvement with District 107 beginning in 2003, I am not only very knowledgeable with the original strategic plan of the district, which set the course for the current curriculum and the many recognitions the school has been awarded, but I am also part of the decision making body for the subsequent addendums to ensure our high academic standards well into the future.

My community and school involvement has included:

• Resident since 1998
• Local Neighborhood Activities
• Coach – Children’s Athletic Activities
• 2003 – Co-Lead Partnership Committee – Strategic Plan
• 2004 to current – Board Of Education
• Various School Board Committees –
  • Communication (past)
  • Finance (active)
  • Core Team (active)
  • Active School Volunteer for various events -
    • Readers Night
    • Chaperone
    • Musical and Play Setup

Why are you running for this office?

I want to ensure continued progress in attaining our high academic standards and social/emotional learning programs, while advancing accountability to the community by demonstrating clear measures of success.

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

I want to ensure our community’s success by continuing our district accomplishments.   These accomplishments include creating an environment where children feel safe and welcome; providing an excellent education, based not only on the current and future state requirements, but also our high local standards of excellence; and teaching social skills students need to excel in life.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My 10 years of service to the Pleasantdale School District, 8 years serving on the Board of Education, have provided me with in-depth knowledge of district operations which set me apart from other candidates.  Additionally, as a business executive managing customer and employee relationships, I understand and utilize traits of effective leadership that include communication, inclusion, and effective decision-making.  Although a school district is very different in its operations from that of a business, the process for making correct and effective decisions that affect the lives of many are similar for both.

How long have you lived in District 107? 

My community and school involvement has included:

• Resident since 1998
• Local Neighborhood Activities
• Coach – Children’s Athletic Activities
• 2003 – Co-Lead Partnership Committee – Strategic Plan
• 2004 to current – Board Of Education
• Various School Board Committees –
  • Communication (past)
  • Finance (active)
  • Core Team (active)
  • Active School Volunteer for various events -
    • Readers Night
    • Chaperone
    • Musical and Play Setup

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest strength? 

Our district community which is composed of a strong administration and administrative support team, excellent and talented teachers, passionate children with an eagerness to learn, and very active and involved parents.  We also have a community that recognizes the value of a great school district and have ensured the provisions for continued success.

What do you believe is District 107’s biggest weakness? 

With the progress the district has made and continues to make, there are times when we have many things moving forward and as a result it may appear that communication trails these events – whether internally to the immediate school team or externally with parents.

In terms of a school district, how would you describe a board that is fiscally responsible? Does District 107 currently have a fiscally responsible board? 

A fiscally responsible board must recognize that it represents the entire district.  This includes businesses and homeowners who pay taxes, yet do not have children attending District 107 schools.  A board needs to provide the educational needs of all students, while operating within its annual tax revenue budget.

The current board is a perfect example of a fiscally responsible board.  We:

• offer competitive salaries
• attract great talent
• offer many programs – most 100% funded with school finances and within the existing annual operating budget
• maintain positive fund balances
• have given refunds to all district property tax payers through bond abatements
• have eliminated most fees to parents while being fiscally responsible
• will be debt free in 2018 which will further reduce the tax rate