Though new to the arena in Clinton, Al Mantilia is not new to the concept, or work of, a Board of Education (BOE). Mantilia is an interim appointment to replace Republican BOE member Brad Cunningham who stepped down earlier this year due to business conflicts.
Mantilia is a businessman, as owner of Hammonasset Ford, and served on the Madison Board of Education for six years from 1988-1994. He served as its chairman for two years. He is a graduate of Babson College in Massachusetts.
Why is he interested in the Clinton Board of Education?
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First he believes in giving back to the community. Second, he wants to be a problem-solver. He enjoyed his years of service on the Madison BOE because "it was a way of truly giving back, and I felt like I accomplished something.”
He feels that as a BOE representative it is equally important to hear the voice of, and support, non-parents as well.
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“It is a town budget for education,” he believes, “not an education budget.”
Having raised two children, now adult and running his business, Mantilia feels the key to education is exciting the student and finding the "hot spot."
He is interested in three things to start: He believes the mission statement should be reviewed, that after-school core subject tutorial support should be provided, and that teachers evaluations should more accurately reflect their successes.
He finds it amazing that the parents all know who is a good teacher and wonders why administrators don't act on that? He believes that the process should not be punitive. That a good analysis of strengths and weaknesses, with a program for improvement, would go a long way to that end.
Mantilia openly shares that he is a fiscal conservative. By such he means, "I don't believe additional dollars equal a better education. There is more to it, there are efficiencies to be found within a budget to stretch the tax dollar.”
He would also like to see greater emphasis on teaching study habits, and integrating this focus into the educational curriculum where disciplines share and reinforce what works for a student. A commitment to the students improves education, he believes.
