Q&A: Getting to Know New District 210 Board Member Mary Tally

Of the five uncontested races in Lemont in the April 5 consolidated election, only one individual was elected to a first term in office.

Lemont resident and business owner will be sworn in Wednesday as the newest member of the Board of Education.

She will join re-elected board members , and , as well as board members Mike Kardas, George Rimbo and Mike Shackel—all of whom were elected to four-year terms in 2009.

Patch caught up with Tally to talk about the important issues facing District 210 and what she plans to bring as a newly elected board member.

Q: Why did you decide to run for a school board seat?

A: I was raised with the belief that it is our duty as a member of any community to be involved in it, to share our time and gifts, to help it operate, to make it a better place. Kevin (my husband) and I moved our family to Lemont in 2003 because we wanted to be a part of a smaller, more intimate community where we could get involved and make a difference.

When I found out that Rita O'Brien was not running for reelection, I figured that I could help fill the void that would be left there while getting more involved with the district. I believe the district is doing a fantastic job and am excited to be a part of moving it to even greater levels.

Q: What do you plan to tackle as a school board member in District 210?

A: I don't think that I have enough knowledge of the inner workings of the board at this time to set out to "tackle" anything. Initially, I plan to be a good listener and to ask a lot of questions. Then I will be able to decide which areas I am best suited to assist with. I am hoping to be able to use my experience as a business owner as well as my journalism and public relations skills to benefit the district.

Q: What do you think are the biggest issues facing District 210?

A: The greatest challenge facing District 210 is that of maintaining fiscal responsibility while continuing to provide top-notch curriculum and programs for its students. The district has been proactively planning for potential financial crisis for several years by building reserves. However, if state and federal disbursements to school systems continue to be delinquent, District 210 will need to be more and more creative in finding ways to cut costs while creating new sources of revenue.

With the , the search for and selection of a new superintendent will be a critical decision facing the board in the near future. Dr. Doebert has done a wonderful job as superintendent for the district for nearly a decade. It's a daunting task to find someone who will be able to fill her shoes.

Q: How can the school board effectively promote partnerships between parents, teachers and the board?

A: At this point, I can only answer this question from my perspective as a parent. With that being said, my experiences with the faculty and board members have been positive ones. I look forward to getting more involved with these partnerships at the board level and I will then have the knowledge to make feasible suggestions.

Q: What do you think is District 210's best kept secret?

A: I am a firm believer that there is much more to education than learning in the classroom. LHS has a fantastic administration and passionate teachers, but it's what these individuals do outside of class time that makes it a special place. I continue to be amazed at the number of extracurricular activities LHS offers for a school of its size and by the quality of its facilities. These activities represent all students and give them opportunities to pursue individual dreams and goals.

Q: What do you and your family do for fun in Lemont?

A: Kevin and I have three children: Aubree (16, a sophomore at Lemont High School), Easton (11, a fifth-grader at River Valley) and Sophia (8, a third-grader at River Valley).

We are most likely a typical Lemont family. Most of our free time is spent watching or being involved with our children's activities. One of our main interests is theatre. Our oldest daughter has been involved with musical theater since the age of 8. When time allows we have been involved in musical productions as a family with a variety of community theatre groups. We also enjoy going to see musicals performed in Chicago or in nearby suburbs.

Kevin and I also lead the teen drama ministry at the , where we are also involved on various committees. Kevin is a board member for the Lemont Baseball and Softball Club (formerly Lemont Little League) and coaches our younger two children's teams. We spend a lot of time on the fields in the spring and summer. We have also been involved as volunteers with the speech team, group interpretation and contest play, and musical productions at LHS.

The District 210 organizational meeting to install new members and elect officers will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lemont High School, 800 Porter St.