Stephanie Ennis: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Stephanie Ennis

City: Rolling Meadows

Office sought: Rolling Meadows Park District Board Commissioner

Age: 43-years-old

Family: My husband and I have known each other since we were young children, from St. Colette School. Mark-John (MJ) and I have been together for ten years. We have 6 year-old twin daughters, who attend Kimball Hill School.

Occupation: Career and Technical Education High School Teacher

Education: Bachelor of Science Degree - Southern Illinois University, Teaching Certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences - Northern Illinois University, Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction - Concordia University, Master's Degree in Family & Consumer Sciences - Eastern Illinois University

Civic involvement: Rolling Meadows Fourth of July parade Volunteer, Family, Career, Community Leaders of America Advisor, Parent Teacher Association Volunteer for various activities, AYSO Coach, Ronald McDonald House Volunteer

Previous elected offices held: none

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected?

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Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your park district and how do you intend to address them?

In my opinion, the most important issue is to continue updating and renovating the park district facilities. The park district has improved the parks and facilities over the last several years. I would like to see this trend continue, while maintaining a balanced budget. I am interested in the findings of the recent surveys conducted by the outside agency in the Fall 2018.

If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.

I was born and raised in Rolling Meadows. My daughters are the fourth generation to live here. I observed the energy and volunteer work that my grandparents, Carmen and Bernice Vinezeano, contributed to our church, schools and town. It is only appropriate that I give back to the town that gave so much to our family. My family has utilized the park district facilities and programs frequently over the years. I am eager to assist the board in anyway that I can.

Which programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?

If a program is not paying for itself, before we would eliminate the program, I would like to learn more about the program. The program's history, budgets and the trends, in the surrounding areas, are all vital components to making a decision such as this. It is my experience that once a program is eliminated it is difficult for it to return in the future. I'd like to discuss some strategies to improve the programs before eliminating them.

Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.

I believe the priority of the park district is to continue to improve the buildings and space that they currently own. Updating would include continuing to ensure these properties are ADA compliant.

Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them?

After attending a focus group meeting, the members of the community, in attendance, voiced their concern with the lack of programming for children beyond preschool age. Again, I would be interested in the results of the focus group meetings and surveys as well as the trends locally and nationally.