DiGregorio feels he can make a difference on school board

Michael DiGregorio, candidate for Conway School Board

Occupation: splice service technician for Verizon Telephone Company.Family: wife and two sons.Previous school/town offices: currently on the budget committee, former alternate to the planning board.Time of residence: since 1971. Why are you running?"I think the reasons I'm running for the school board are all basically centered around my commitment to my community. I guess I've always had a strong sense of community. My grandfather, who was a former state legislator (in Nashua), instilled in me at an early age if I want to have an impact in this world that I need to stand up and get involved. He had a tremendous amount of influence on me, instilling that I need to get involved; treat people fairly; and be honest. I think I would bring those values with me to the school board. I'm running because I feel I can make a difference and do what's best for my community."I bring no hidden or open agenda with me; I'm running because I want to help. I'm not in this race to bad mouth anyone. I'm glad to see there are other people willing to donate their time and I appreciate that... Because of my work I've had the opportunity to live and work in most of the New England states and Conway is the town I love and the place I want to be. I think we need to give back to our community when we can. Take the ball field (he helped rebuild the baseball field at Conway Elementary School), I think that's a good example. I don't play on that field. It's for the minor leagues and I manage a major team. I saw children were getting hurt on the field so I grabbed the ball and said let's do something for the kids. I hope to bring that same common sense approach to the board." What do you see as the role of a school board member?"I believe the role of a school board member is certainly to support the administration and at the same time try to support what's in the best interests of the taxpayers... On the budget committee we don't try to tell the town or school how and what to do. We're there to assist; be another set of eyes; and maybe to offer a recommendation. I think on the school board the role is to set policy, and to also act as a liaison for parents whose children may be having some difficulty at school... I think we need to make sure that all of our students get more than just an adequate education. I think we need to strive to do better and our goal should be that everyone receives a good education. We also need to do all we can to reach out to the community and make sure every student has an opportunity to graduate."Are you happy with the way the school building project is progressing?"I'm certainly disappointed with the way the project seems to heading, although I think we need to wait to see how the bids come back. I hope for everyone's sake that the numbers come back reasonable. I don't like the fact that there are those who are trying to point a finger at who is to blame, but the numbers haven't come back yet. I will say that I want that school built the way I voted for it. I don't need the physical structure to be identical to what was presented in the gym at Conway Elementary, but I want that school's education programs the way they were presented that night to be that way. I think people know I was a big supporter of the new school and the need for the bond because of the overcrowding at the current facility. I think we can come up with a school we can all be proud of if we dig our heels in and sharpen our pencils." Do you have any concerns about the project?"I do have major concerns about the band and auditorium areas and I don't like what I'm hearing about the athletic fields. Everything we're hearing, and again I have to attach a statement that we need to wait until the bids come in, but there are concerns... To me, I think there are many reasons why kids go to school. For some it may be the music program and they tolerate the rest of the curriculum for that. For others it may be the sports and they tolerate the curriculum for that. For me, it was the vocational department, that was the hook that got me to school each day. Some people are shortsighted when they think a school can only offer academics and still produce well-rounded students. I think we need to offer opportunities, a wide range of them, and that's what helps keep the students focussed." What's your vision for the new high school?"I'd like to have an opening ceremony. The best case scenario for me is to see the school finished and on budget. Can it be done? I don't know, but I intend to find out." Any final thoughts or things you'd like to say to the voters?"I've been in this state my entire life and in Conway since 1971 and I'd like to think I do make decisions and will continue to make decisions that best serve the valley. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't get intimidated by people; that I'm a good listener; and I try not to go to any meeting with any preconceived notions of how I will vote. I promise to weigh all of the facts and then do what's in this community's best interests."