VOTER
LWV_VotersGuide15 (1)
LWV_VotersGuide15 (1)
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
14<br />
<strong>VOTER</strong> INFORMATION BULLETIN | Special Advertising Section | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2015 ■<br />
and Health Education Majors;<br />
Doctorate in Philosophy in<br />
Science - University of Toledo-<br />
Physiology and Statistics Majors<br />
Qualifications for Office:<br />
Previous experience as:-<br />
High school science teacher;<br />
Higher Education Medical<br />
Science Faculty; VP Education<br />
Programs/Operations Director<br />
COSI Toledo; ODE Associate<br />
Director of Curriculum/<br />
Instruction and State Ed<br />
Tech Director; President of<br />
international education software<br />
association<br />
Question 1: School boards<br />
should serve as advocates of the<br />
school community and effective<br />
stewards of the community's<br />
resources supporting an agreed<br />
upon set of expectations between<br />
the two groups. Being in essence<br />
the superintendent's "boss",<br />
school boards should play that<br />
advocate role but also should be<br />
empowered to collect other data<br />
points on the progress/status of<br />
the school community - not just<br />
depend on the superintendent's<br />
reporting. As any good leader,<br />
school boards should get the<br />
right people in place, get an<br />
agreed upon set of expectations<br />
and then provide resources for<br />
them to be successful<br />
Question 2: There are other<br />
options possible before going<br />
to the "cut only" mentality<br />
that currently exists in the<br />
District. There are different<br />
ways of thinking "outside<br />
the box" to resource current<br />
activities differently. This could<br />
be applied to everything from<br />
the major expenses such as<br />
staff/benefits all the way to<br />
partnerships with other schools<br />
and regional agencies to provide<br />
joint services. There are also<br />
numerous efforts undertaken<br />
by other districts to address the<br />
revenue side of the equation<br />
as well. Business partnerships,<br />
national foundations, and other<br />
revenue streams do exist.<br />
Derrow, Phil<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Maletz, Andrew<br />
4075 Chelsea Green West, New<br />
Albany, OH 43054<br />
Email: Andrew.maletz@gmail.<br />
com<br />
Website: facebook.com/<br />
maletzforschoolboard<br />
Education: Bachelor of<br />
Environmental Design, Miami<br />
University, Oxford Ohio (1994)<br />
Master of Architecture, Miami<br />
University, Oxford Ohio (1999)<br />
Occupation: Architect,<br />
Executive Vice President at WD<br />
Qualifications for Office: As<br />
an Architect with 20+ years of<br />
experience, I have spent most of<br />
my career working with dozens<br />
of school districts throughout<br />
Ohio and have attended<br />
hundreds of school board<br />
meetings. During that time I<br />
provided consulting services<br />
pertaining to district operations,<br />
finances and facilities.<br />
Question 1: The school board<br />
is an advisory body that works<br />
with the district leadership to<br />
ensure accountability, facilitate<br />
strong community partnerships<br />
and help deliver academic<br />
excellence. Board members<br />
do not manage the day-to-day<br />
operations, but focus instead<br />
on establishing educational<br />
and financial goals that reflect<br />
the voice of the community.<br />
The superintendent is tasked<br />
with executing on these goals.<br />
A successful school board<br />
member will work closely with<br />
community members, parents<br />
and district leadership to create<br />
a strong link between the<br />
community and school district.<br />
Question 2: New Albany’s<br />
financial challenges are not<br />
unique, or simple to resolve. The<br />
good news is that the long-term<br />
financial outlook can be strong<br />
if we take the necessary steps<br />
today to ensure that future,<br />
particularly as we expect a<br />
leveling off of district growth<br />
in the coming years. However,<br />
this burden cannot rest solely<br />
on the teachers, community, or<br />
taxpayers to solve the current<br />
challenges. Ideally, increases<br />
in revenue (taxes) should be<br />
matched by containing the<br />
growth of expenses. We should<br />
not take punitive measures<br />
that polarize the community<br />
or unfairly burden one over<br />
another.<br />
Naumoff, Paul<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Ryan, Mark C.<br />
3700 Prestwould Close, New<br />
Albany, OH 43054<br />
Email: markryan@insight.<br />
rr.com<br />
Website:<br />
Education: 1984 Columbus<br />
Academy; 1988 University of<br />
Notre Dame BA Economics<br />
Occupation: self employed<br />
Qualifications for Office:<br />
Served since 2007 on Board<br />
of Education and served on<br />
Facilities, Finance, Benchmark<br />
Committees. Chaired the Search<br />
Committee for Superintendent<br />
and Treasurer and served as<br />
Board President for four years.<br />
Our record as a board shows a<br />
focus on student achievement<br />
and consistent cost containment.<br />
Question 1: The board is a<br />
conduit to the community<br />
sharing expectations,<br />
establishing goals, and providing<br />
accountability. They are to help<br />
the Superintendent keep the<br />
focus on student achievement<br />
while being mindful of our<br />
limited resources and their<br />
allocations. The board is part<br />
of a governance team with the<br />
Superintendent and Treasurer,<br />
while also their direct supervisor<br />
and responsible for oversight,<br />
evaluation, and guidance.<br />
Question 2: Continued focus on<br />
cost containment paired with<br />
effective investment and secure<br />
a funding source that can grow<br />
with enrollment.<br />
Valley, Dana<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
McCloskey, Karen<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Unexpired Term Ending 12-31-17<br />
(vote for no more than one)<br />
Kalinosky, Debra L.<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Wentz, Elizabeth<br />
7800 Ackerly Loop, New Albany,<br />
OH 43054<br />
Email: wentz4schools@gmail.<br />
com<br />
Website:<br />
Education: Ohio Wesleyan<br />
University B.A. in Education;<br />
Marygrove College, Masters in<br />
Education<br />
Occupation: stay-at-home mom<br />
Qualifications for Office:<br />
Former New Albany-Plain<br />
Local School District Teacher,<br />
2000-2006<br />
Operating Board for The<br />
Childhood League Center 2012-<br />
2015; Leadership Columbus<br />
graduate 2004; Parent of two<br />
children in New Albany-Plain<br />
Local School District; School<br />
District Taxpayer<br />
Question 1: The school board<br />
establishes the goals and<br />
direction for the district; the<br />
superintendent executes the<br />
goals with the leadership of the<br />
school board. There should be<br />
a strong working relationship<br />
that is based on mutual respect,<br />
the ability to collaborate, and<br />
mutual understanding of the<br />
commitment to the students of<br />
the district being well educated<br />
and taxpayers being well<br />
respected.<br />
Question 2: I would<br />
work to implement the<br />
recommendations of the NA<br />
Community Task Force. The<br />
Task Force, representing all<br />
parts of the district and bringing<br />
diverse backgrounds to the table,<br />
has offered well thought-out<br />
ways to reduce the rate of budget<br />
growth without impacting the<br />
quality of education. Despite<br />
the recent $7.5 million in cuts,<br />
expenses are growing 2 times<br />
faster than revenue and almost<br />
twice the rate of inflation. We<br />
cannot continue this way. Just<br />
increasing property taxes every<br />
two years is not the answer. I<br />
believe the recommendations<br />
provide a blue print for<br />
long-term stability through a<br />
combination of reducing the rate<br />
budget growth and then working<br />
to secure additional revenues.<br />
Reynoldsburg City<br />
School District<br />
BOARD OF EDUCATION<br />
Full Term<br />
(vote for no more than two)<br />
Dunlap, Debbie<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Long, Sandy<br />
1675 Haft Dr., Reynoldsburg,<br />
OH 43068<br />
Email: LongForBOEd@gmail.<br />
com<br />
Website:<br />
Education: Graduate of<br />
Pickerington High School<br />
and Eastland Career Center,<br />
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry,<br />
Otterbein University<br />
Occupation: Business Owner<br />
Qualifications for Office:<br />
President of a 20-year-old small<br />
business with an international<br />
clientele composed of mostly<br />
State, Provincial and National<br />
government agencies. Board of<br />
Education, Reynoldsburg City<br />
and Eastland-Fairfield Career<br />
Technical School Districts,<br />
Mother of 3 Reynoldsburg<br />
Graduates, Resident since 1984<br />
Question 1: The Board<br />
is responsible for hiring<br />
a Superintendent, and<br />
evaluating their performance<br />
on an annual basis. This<br />
includes consideration of the<br />
terms of the contract and<br />
performance in general, as well<br />
as evaluating the goals set by<br />
and for the Superintendent.<br />
The Board votes for or<br />
against the Superintendent’s<br />
recommendations regarding<br />
staffing and curriculum,<br />
among other things. Board<br />
members should have regular<br />
communications with the<br />
Superintendent. This is<br />
important to each board<br />
member’s ability to respond<br />
quickly and accurately to<br />
inquiries made by District<br />
Shareholders.<br />
Question 2: The District’s<br />
finances are in good shape at this<br />
time and, barring unforeseen<br />
circumstances, should remain so<br />
for awhile longer. Retaining the<br />
employment of a highly effective<br />
Treasury is critical. Partnerships<br />
with post-secondary schools and<br />
businesses contribute to our ongoing<br />
financial stability. Hiring<br />
and retaining staff who are very<br />
budget conscious, with proven<br />
track records of reducing and<br />
controlling expenses, also serves<br />
to build and maintain financial<br />
stability. An example is the<br />
annual inspection of all building<br />
roofs to catch minor problems<br />
before expensive repairs are<br />
required.<br />
Whitman, Neal<br />
7916 Windrift Pl, Reynoldsburg,<br />
OH 43068<br />
Email: nealwhitmanboe@gmail.<br />
com<br />
Website: www.nealwhitman.<br />
com<br />
Education: BA classics,<br />
secondary teaching certification,<br />
University of Texas<br />
PhD linguistics, Ohio State<br />
University.<br />
Occupation: I teach English<br />
composition to international<br />
students at Ohio State<br />
University, and do independent<br />
linguistic consulting and<br />
freelance writing.<br />
Qualifications for Office: I<br />
bring my experience as a teacher,<br />
parent of two children in the<br />
district, and longtime school<br />
volunteer.<br />
Question 1: The school board’s<br />
job is to establish district<br />
policy, and hire a treasurer and<br />
superintendent to execute it.<br />
It took me a while to realize<br />
this, because in this district,<br />
things work in the opposite<br />
direction: The superintendent<br />
presents plans, and the board<br />
approves them. Questioning is<br />
deemed “micromanagement.”<br />
But there is a medium<br />
between micromanagement<br />
and complete hands-off; it’s<br />
called accountability. It is also<br />
the board’s job to listen to<br />
stakeholders community in<br />
setting school policy. Therefore,<br />
the board should welcome any<br />
opportunity to hear the views of<br />
its community.<br />
Question 2: One success that the<br />
district has touted is its financial<br />
stability. However, its frugality<br />
borders on “pound-foolish<br />
penny-wisdom.” For example,<br />
with the highest turnover rate<br />
in central Ohio, money must<br />
be spent to fill positions that<br />
experienced teachers have left.<br />
Also, with a lower pay rate for<br />
substitute teachers than in area<br />
districts, classes are at times<br />
left with no teacher for a day as<br />
substitutes take better offers.<br />
For longer-term stability as a<br />
district where families want to<br />
send their children, we need to<br />
look beyond money savings in<br />
making staffing and curriculum<br />
decisions.<br />
Unexpired Term Ending 12-31-17<br />
(vote for no more than one)<br />
Truex, Rob<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Tyus, John<br />
346 Cheyenne Way,<br />
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068<br />
Email: drjohnforschoolboard@<br />
gmail.com<br />
Website: www.tyusforboard.<br />
com<br />
Education: United Theological<br />
Seminary, Doctorate- Ministry,<br />
Dissertation Title: Designing<br />
a Mentoring Program for<br />
Fatherless Black Males in a Post-<br />
Modern Generation ; Liberty<br />
University<br />
M.A. -Pastoral Counseling;<br />
Franklin University, B.S.<br />
- Business Administration<br />
dual minor in Marketing &<br />
Management<br />
Occupation: Associate Director<br />
Career Development at Per<br />
Scholas, Assistant Pastor World<br />
Conquerors through Jesus<br />
Christ, Founder & Director The<br />
I.D. Movement<br />
Qualifications for Office: I'm<br />
an Assistant Pastor, Director<br />
of Career Development of a<br />
non profit organization that<br />
provides Free IT training to<br />
under-served and unemployed<br />
people in the community<br />
and I run a mentoring<br />
program for fatherless males<br />
in our community teaching<br />
professional and personal<br />
developmental skills.<br />
Question 1: The role of any<br />
school board member is to hold<br />
the superintendent responsible<br />
to all things education in<br />
the district. It is the board's<br />
responsibility to make sure<br />
that plans are being followed<br />
through, we are financially<br />
stable, and our kids are receiving<br />
the best educational experience.<br />
Our superintendent's goals is<br />
to provide safety and security<br />
for our children and staff, to<br />
improve student achievement<br />
and progress, while maintaining<br />
our commitment to fiscal<br />
responsibility. We must hold our<br />
superintendent to these promises<br />
while supporting her goals and<br />
leadership in attaining them.<br />
Question 2: Currently<br />
Reynoldsburg school's financials<br />
are solid and in great shape,<br />
it is important we maintain<br />
that in our district. Being<br />
fiscally disciplined is one of<br />
the main responsibilities of<br />
board members. The people of<br />
Reynoldsburg are paying their<br />
tax dollars and are entrusting<br />
us to be responsible for that. I<br />
believe we should continue to<br />
look for other ways in raising<br />
funds for our district such as<br />
grant money. There is money out<br />
their that has not been tapped<br />
into yet, I will make sure we<br />
seek those opportunities out and<br />
take advantage of that and try to<br />
refrain from raising taxes.<br />
Southerwestern City<br />
School District<br />
BOARD OF EDUCATION<br />
(uncontested race)<br />
Gaverick, Melinda<br />
Reisling, Randy<br />
Upper Arlington<br />
School District<br />
BOARD OF EDUCATION<br />
(vote for no more than three)<br />
Comfort, Robin H.<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Drees, Nancy<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Lambert, Mindy<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Royer, Stacey B.<br />
Candidate did not respond.<br />
Swartz, Christopher A.<br />
2896 Pickwick Dr, Upper<br />
Arlington, OH 43221<br />
Email: christopherswartz1955@<br />
gmail.com<br />
Website:<br />
Education: Marietta College<br />
1973-1976, BA, Social Studies/<br />
Education; Capital Law School<br />
1977-1978; The Ohio State<br />
University 1978-1981,MA,<br />
Educational Media<br />
Occupation: Retired Teacher<br />
Qualifications for Office:<br />
30-year professional educator<br />
(20 years at Upper Arlington<br />
HS); 22-year high school rowing<br />
coach (all at UAHS); 20-year<br />
resident of UA<br />
Question 1: The Board should<br />
act in a role similar to that<br />
of the Board of Directors<br />
of any corporation setting<br />
overall policies with the broad<br />
objectives of the district and<br />
its residents in mind, ensuring,<br />
through oversight, that the<br />
policies are enforced effectively.<br />
The superintendent and the<br />
administration personnel<br />
enforce these policies. Also,<br />
the Board should require that<br />
the administration acts in<br />
accordance with the district<br />
philosophy (the essential values<br />
that the district emphasizes<br />
regarding relationships with<br />
certified and classified staff<br />
members and the community<br />
at large).<br />
Question 2: Upper Arlington<br />
has a history of well-funded<br />
schools with tremendous<br />
academic opportunities for its<br />
students. Most of that funding<br />
comes from local property taxes.<br />
But in today’s society, taxes<br />
have become an affront to many<br />
community residents. Money<br />
is tight and critical decisions<br />
must be made. As I advocated<br />
in my years of teaching U.S.<br />
Government, the most effective<br />
taxes any citizen can pay are<br />
local taxes. We see the direct<br />
result of our money spent in<br />
our community. That money<br />
benefits present and future<br />
residents, helping our neighbors<br />
and children live better, more<br />
productive lives.<br />
Westerville City<br />
School District<br />
BOARD OF EDUCATION<br />
(vote for no more than two)<br />
Bird, Richard<br />
6961 Whitetail Lane Westerville,<br />
Ohio 43082<br />
Email: rb@birdtheword.com<br />
Website: www.birdtheword.com<br />
Education: Bachelor of Arts, The<br />
Ohio State University - Political<br />
Science<br />
Graduate Studies - George<br />
Washington University<br />
Occupation: Cybersecurity<br />
Executive<br />
Qualifications for Office:<br />
Only candidate with on-thejob<br />
training on a public school<br />
board.<br />
Have served 15 months on<br />
the board leading several<br />
key initiatives, including the<br />
rebuilding and expansion of<br />
Pointview Elementary.<br />
Question 1: The superintendent<br />
runs the day-to-day operation<br />
of the school system through<br />
staff and faculty while the board<br />
serves as the elected advocates<br />
for the students, families and the<br />
electorate of the school district.<br />
The board works with the<br />
superintendent to develop the<br />
strategic vision for the district.<br />
I believe that a board and<br />
superintendent’s most important<br />
role is to work together for the<br />
benefit of the students, faculty<br />
and broader community. A<br />
healthy board and district<br />
comes directly from a healthy,<br />
constructive and transparent<br />
relationship between the board<br />
and the superintendent.<br />
Question 2: I believe that the<br />
course of action that I and my<br />
fellow board members have<br />
already taken to establish an<br />
operating reserve as well as<br />
questioning every expense and<br />
potential revenue stream against<br />
our 5 year financial plan is our<br />
best offensive and defensive<br />
position. Prior boards put the<br />
district, our students and our<br />
teachers in a difficult “no fail”<br />
position by not running an<br />
operating reserve. I believe we<br />
are in a good place financially<br />
and we will have greater<br />
options in the future by staying<br />
100% focused on sustaining<br />
our operating reserve and<br />
controlling expenses to our 5<br />
year plan.