Election 2013: Gregory M. Sengpiel

Campaign Info

• Position sought: School Board Member for Pleasantdale School District 107
• Residence: Burr Ridge
• Website: www.d107focusforthefuture.com

Personal Info

• Family: Tammi M. Sengpiel, wife; Ava W. Sengpiel, daughter, 12; Dylan G. Sengpiel, son, 9
• Education: BSBA – Finance and MIS – University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ
• Occupation: General Manager, Americas – Original Software, Inc. Westmont, IL “Commercial Software Sales; B2B Enterprise Software”

Candidate Questions

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:

Business man, Leader, Parent, Tax Payer

Why are you running for this office?

As a parent of two children in the district, I am compelled to give back to my community of my time and experience. I am passionate about education and child welfare. I believe that our children are the future of our society and democracy. I want to give all of my life experience back to them without any expectations of remuneration. 

I have over 25 years of expertise in information technology. I believe the future of education will advance rapidly through the effective use of technology. We can extend education beyond the classroom and make learning a part of every child’s daily life activities. We can use technology to make learning fun, challenging and rewarding. I plan to bring my knowledge and expertise to the board for leadership in IT decisions.

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

My single most priority as an elected board member is to honor the responsibility empowered to a board member. I shall be diligent in attendance and participation and I will bring a fair and balanced approach to board decisions.

My commitment to the board is to bring a competent and informed position on policy; and to represent the district tax payers while supporting the administration in executing their duties.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My belief is that I am a good listener and a compassionate leader. I am someone who values the input of others, but who is unafraid to make the tough decisions. Board participation is about compromise and encouragement. There will inevitable times when decisions are split and I must vote with my conscience for what I believe is the right thing to do. 

How long have you lived in District 107? 

My wife Tammi and I moved into Burr Ridge, D107 in 1995. We have been involved with the school district since 2006.

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

I believe the people in the community are the biggest strength of the district. There are many passionate families who care very much about their children’s education and hence; they are willing to volunteer their time to support the administration. The district has great resources and when they are sufficiently allocated the return on the resources should produce “passionate learners” and future leaders.

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

I believe that all elected officials should have term limits and allow other members of the community to offer their contributions. The current board has largely been in place for several terms. I believe that a new board will leverage the good things from the previous board(s) and bring new ideas and energy for those issues which require new attention.

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? 

I believe that transparency is essential for fiscal responsibility. The taxing and spending of public money is a great responsibility for government. I believe we need to fund education sufficiently to teach all learners in the district. The board must review federal and state guidelines for education and maximize the income opportunities and eliminate waste from the expenses. 

I believe that we need to extract the greatest percentage of budget revenue and apply the expense toward direct educational investments.  These investments include great teachers, safe facilities, positive learning environments and educational tools for teachers. 

My opinion of the school district fiscal responsibility is continuing to develop; however, in my research, I have exposed questions on certain expenditures that do not seem reasonable and may not fit with my vision on fiscal transparency.