Brian Cerniglia: Candidate Profile

Back to Arlington Heights District 25 School Board 4-year terms

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: Arlington HeightsWebsite: www.LinkedIn.com/in/briancernigliaOffice sought: Arlington Heights District 25 School Board 4-year terms Age: 43Family: My wife Kristie and I have been married for 17 years, and are proud parents of four beautiful daughtersOccupation: Senior Manager, Business Development at UPSEducation: Bachelors of Science in Marketing - University of Illinois at Chicago Masters of Business Administration - National Louis UniversityCivic involvement: Girls Soccer Coach - AHPD Habitat for Humanity Community Service - 1st Presbyterian Church of AH Junior Achievement United Way contributor and donator UPS Neighbor-to-Neighbor voulenteerElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?I am proud of our district and all it is and has done to provide an incredible education for its students. That is the reason I choose to live and stay in this community where all four of my children attend District 25 schools. We have some of the best schools in the nation. Our board's primary role is to help achieve the district's Strategic Vision 2020 to provide a superior education for a lifetime of learning. I am running for this board in order to help support and be a part of continuing and improving upon that great legacy.What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases for local schools? Again, be specific.One of the greatest budgetary issues facing every school district is the uncertainty and lag in state funding. Our board needs additional support from those experienced in budget management. Several areas of focus facing our district's finances are technology, accommodating our growing school population, and facility expansion improvements. The fiduciary responsibilities for the entire district community are to continue to provide the best education for our children and to look for areas of opportunity for improvement. Responsible budget management should strive to avoid cuts or tax increases. With effective financial planning we should be able to meet the needs of our schools, students, faculty, and programs without the need to make cuts or increase the tax burden.Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?I currently work as a Senior Manager in Business Development at UPS, where I have progressed in various sales, marketing, and management roles for over 22 years. My wife Kristie works in District 25 at Westgate Elementary School as the Library Media Center Director.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups -- teachers, support staff, etc. -- what posture should the school board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?I believe any employment negotiations are to be handled with the intended focus for which collective bargaining was created. All concerned parties should seek a fair and equitable agreement that best meets the needs of the school, the employees, the community, and the students. District 25 has shown great fiscal responsibility in this area tying salaries directly to the Consumer Price Index. As with any expenses we must consider the financial status of district when managing costs but there should be no need to ask for concessions from existing staff.If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?Absolutely not. I believe any and all positions should be paid a fair and steady compensation package throughout their entire career. Compensation should always be commensurate with the responsibilities and performance of each and every contributor and position.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Classroom and student technology are some of the areas that are most important to me. It is our responsibility as parents, educators, and school board members to ensure that the future generation has the tools and skills to become tomorrow's innovators, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Warren Buffet inspires me as a leader, philanthropist, and the most successful investor of the 20th centuryWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The value of hard work and educationIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have asked more questions ad a child and adolescentWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Marketing became my favorite subject first introduced in High School then my major in college and eventually became my career.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - your right" Henry Ford