Jeffrey Kellenberger: Candidate Profile

Back to Central Unit District 301 School Board

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: ElginWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Central Unit District 301 School Board Age: 52Family: Spouse and 3 childrenOccupation: Real Estate BrokerEducation: Many real estate related classes and continuing education credits in real estate.Civic involvement: Past commissioner on Elgin Human relations Committee, past President of non-profit Nursing Home, past President of Realtor association of the Fox Valley.Elected offices held: Vice-President and PresidentQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?I first ran 4 years ago out of concern for high tax rate. I wanted a better understanding of how the district was spending its fund. I found the board to be very involved and that money being spent was being done in a sound fiscal manner. The largest reason for the tax increase were related to an bond that was due to be paid off in 2018. The re were many tax payers that were looking for relief and the school board elected to use some funds to abate the taxes over a 2 year period to provide some relief to tax payers. We also began several initiatives in the district like computers for each student and are currently working on a High School expansion project. I am running again to help see this and other projects to completion along with my fellow baord members.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?This is a hard question. The teachers and administration try to work on a fair system but it takes time to work out details. I don not think it can based just on test scores. I think its best if the groups involved discuss the best option.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?I do believe it's important for the board to have oversight with input from our administration and teaching staff. Parents and students should also have input and since we are elected, the board should have our "ears" to the community and staff.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?The most important item right now is a State Budget. We are left to guessing on school funding and pension reform year after year. We need legislators to agree on a budget so we can do some long term planning.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?We are already growing at a pretty good rate. We are expanding the high school and the grade schools and middle schools will also need some expansion just with new housing. The vouchers could have an impact depending on how its rolled out.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I think our current board works well together and I would like to continue to part of the team.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I would just say the celebrities who give back to community's they were raised in. Many folks try and help their "old neighbors"What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?We did not need money to have good family times.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I am happy with the way my life turned out.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History, I still enjoy reading history and think its very important to learn from successes and failures of our fore fathers.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?set up savings accounts at a young age and keep it up through out their entire lives.