Election 2025: Kirby District 140 Board Candidate Thomas Martelli

TINLEY PARK, IL — The consolidated election is set for April 1, and several spots on the Kirby District 140 Board of Education are up for grabs.

Six candidates are vying for four seats on the board. Incumbents Aileen Mullee, Tom Martelli, Carol DeMichael, and Luciana Shalash are running on the All-4-KSD140 slate. Also seeking seats are challengers Katlin Davis and Melissa Bessler.

Based in Tinley Park, Kirby District 140 is a seven-school, preschool-8th grade district—two middle schools and five elementary—serving more than 3,500 students from Tinley Park, Orland Hills, and Orland Park, Illinois. District 140 employs approximately 600 full and part-time individuals.

Patch provided a questionnaire to all candidates. We'll be sharing their responses in candidate profiles.

Early voting begins March 17.

Candidate:

Thomas Martelli

Campaign website:

All-4-KSD140 Facebook

Age (as of election day):

65

Town/city of residence:

Tinley Park

School district:

Kirby District 140

Family. (Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share.)

I am happily married to my wife, Angie, of 32 years and we have lived in Tinley Park for over 30 years. We have 3 beautiful children: Natalie, Tom, and Nick. All of them were educated in Kirby 140 and District 230 respectively. They received an exceptional education and have all gone on to successful and professional careers. We also have 3 grandsons: Logan, Aedan and Matthew. One granddaughter Luna

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Education:

AA Stagg High School, DePauw University

Occupation. Please include years of experience.

Logistics Manager over 30 years of experience

Previous or current elected or appointed office*

I have been a proud member of the Kirby 140 School Board, where I have served as President, Vice President, Secretary, and member. I also served as nominating chair for South Cook County Illinois Association of School Boards, which covers many districts in the South Cook Region. I was also an officer in the St. Elizabeth Seton Men's Club.

The most pressing issues facing our district are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

There are several large issues facing school boards today finances, curriculum and safety. The top two would be curriculum and school safety. To that extent we are constantly monitoring and improving our curriculum. To make our kids feel safe we hired SRO'S in our school. In order for a student to learn to the best of their ability they must feel safe. The first obligation of any school board should be all children first. The entire child must be considered and that has always been our goal

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My many years of experience on this board, the fact that I have achieved Master Board Member status, and my experience holding an officer’s position on South Cook County IASB. Over the years we have addressed many difficult situations on our board, and each situation has been handled with the utmost professionalism. This shows my dedication and ability to adapt to diverse situations.

In my years of experience, the biggest difference that I have seen between a successful and an unsuccessful board is the ability to work together. That does not mean that you rubber stamp everything, but you have discussions and come to the best solution for our kids. You cannot become a good member if you come in with a personal agenda. You must show respect not only to each other, but to the administrators, teachers and staff of our district. Calling and belittling administrators is not professional. We have over 3500 children and we must remember we represent all of the children.

Over the years our board has worked very well together and has made this one of the top districts in our area both educationally and financially. The slate we have assembled will continue that effort. We will work for all of the kids. A good board member unites the community and does not divide it.

I do not believe that the kids need them in the classroom as it can be a distraction. They can have them in their locker as needs for students do arise.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Since I have been on this board with the help of the community we have taken this district out of debt and are financially sound. During my tenure we have abated taxes 3 times to try and ease the burden on the community. We have also remodeled every school to enhance not only the look, but the safety of all of the buildings. We work with the teachers with institute days to keep them abreast of the latest developments. We encourage them to further their education which in turn benefits our children. This district as a team looks at the entire child which includes education, social emotional and extra-curricular activities. We need to continue to work towards communication, and to also stay on top of the ever changing technology in today’s society

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The accomplishments of the past are a team effort not just one individual. We have won the Meritorious budget award for the last 20 years. Our district is ranked among the tops in this area. We have classes that our 8th grade students can take and receive high school credit. We have remodeled and made safer all of our schools. Our schools are in neighborhoods and need to be kept up. We have been at the forefront of technology. Our schools have been equipped with fiber optic lines to increase the need as technology becomes more prevalent. The most important thing that we have accomplished is the fact that we look at the entire child. We have counselors and social workers in all of our schools. We have DESSA which will help all of our kids with their social emotional needs. Our entire staff works well together and our kids get one of the top educations in this area. This can be proven by how successful district 230 has been since up until a couple of years ago we were the only feeder district to them (Andrew). We have given our children a solid foundation so that District 230 could take them to the next level.

Why should voters trust you?

Voters should trust me because since I have been on this board I have always put children first. I do not have a personal agenda and have worked well with all of the boards that I have served on. I have never shied away from a question whether at a meeting or in public. We have made cost cutting measures that did not affect children's education, but to our office staff which has save the district millions of dollars. We are on sound financial ground and continue to look for new ways to improve our kids’ education. I also show respect to all of staff members and with their help we have formed a great team. This team works well together and does not take to social media to try and divide our district, but we come together as one

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

The best accomplishment that we have is to make sure that all of our schools are succeeding for our community both educationally and emotionally, along with being accountable to all of our community members. In our district we make accomplishments every day. The kids always come first and we need to stay at the forefront of education. Our district needs to set a firm foundation for our kids to be successful as they grow.

What guidance should staff be given for dealing with potential ICE enforcement at schools?

We have informed our staff that if any ice agents come to the school to immediately notify the administration office. The office will notify legal counsel for the next appropriate step.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

I feel that parents need to decide when is the right time to have these discussions with their children. The state gave school districts the option of opting out and that is what we did

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?

Currently our test scores are on the rise. We have 1 school listed as exemplary and 6 schools are commendable. We have revamped our curriculum to meet current needs and are constantly monitoring any changes.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

If I start something I finish it. I would not be running if I had any thoughts that I could not complete my term.