Candidate Profile: Glen Allgaier For Elmbrook School Board

BROOKFIELD, WI — The 2022 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Voters will also decide the outcome of state representative, senate seats and local government and school boards.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Name

Glen R. Allgaier

Age (as of Election Day)

81

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Elmbrook School Board

Party Affiliation

Family

Cindy (wife, deceased), Nine adult children. The youngest five graduated from Brookfield Central high school after we moved to Brookfield in 1987.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Princeton University), Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering (University of Arizona)

Occupation

Executive Director of Research (Retired), Eaton Corporation

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

School Board, School District of Elmbrook (15 years)

Campaign website

GlenAllgaier.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

As I have studied the data, I have come to believe that we can do even better for our students. I am a long-term, strategic thinker, and enjoy using this strength to solve problems and make things better. There are many good and important things in the educational sphere, but we cannot forget that the primary purpose of schools is to prepare students academically. I believe I can apply many of the practices from my executive experience in the private sector to bring focus to the best opportunities for improvement.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I feel the most pressing issue facing our School Board is recovering from the learning loss experienced from COVID. We need to get back to normal, minimizing mitigation practices, as early as possible. Our strong financial position means that we can and should utilize the federal funds in creative ways, providing skills and interventions to those students who have been most greatly impacted. In Elmbrook, these are the students with disabilities and students in a low socioeconomic status.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have fifteen years of experience on the Board. That experience has given me a good understanding of all aspects (Financial, Teaching & Learning, Personnel) of the District. Characterized by a senior Administration person as a "maximizer," I am never satisfied with the status quo and am looking for opportunities to improve.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am an incumbent.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During my fifteen years on the Board we have developed a long-range financial plan that includes a "Rainy Day" fund that has allowed us to complete over $40 million of major capital projects without increasing the taxpayer burden. Now retired I have been able to visit over 100 classrooms every year and have a good understanding of the classroom environment. I have played a significant role in establishing a data driven decision-making process that enables the District to identify opportunities for improvement. The state ranking of Elmbrook academic results speaks for itself: # 3 on the state report card, #2 on ACT scores, #1 by Niche.com.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

*"There is no limit to what a person can accomplish as long as they don't care who gets the credit." (Chinese proverb)

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love this country and feel the U. S. Constitution and public education are what make it great. I am concerned about the polarization that has spilled over into our community. I feel that "both" sides have legitimate concerns and solutions can be found if we start listening to and talking with each other.