The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Top Priority, Use of facilities

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from Ken Richter:

Once elected to the Board, I will address the issue and its importance to our success as a working team for the next four years. Then ask the four other members to join me in setting measurable goals over the next four years to build and enhance relationships. I will illustrate how I have accomplished with other teams. This will improve the quality of our relationships, communications and promises to each other.

Answer from Neal D. Jacobs:

I intend to assure the District's continued excellence by supporting Superintendent Mantia's leadership and her initiatives to develop innovative and diverse curriculum. The Board must provide disciplined budgetary oversight, however; it is up to the Superintendent, her staff and our teachers to implement the changes. The Board's mandate is to set policy reflecting the vision of the community. It is not to manage operations of the District, and I will respect these distinct roles.

Answer from Vicki E. Hirsch:

My top priority will be implemented with the same dedicated service that I have brought to the Sycamore classroom these past 30 some years. I have NO personal agenda. My commitment is to each child, every parent and all residents as we work together in maintaining the Sycamore excellence we have all come to know and to expect. Our youngest child, a graduate back in the 80's, is our own benefactor of Sycamore excellence.

Answer from Charles William "Charlie" Wilfong:

I pledge to listen to various viewpoints and to ask challenging questions. I will follow through on my commitments and stay true to my ideals while being open-minded to the opinion of others. I will admit if I am wrong and I will learn from my errors. I promise to represent all shareholders equally and to not pursue any personal agenda.

Answer from Pat Raffel:

Sycamore Schools have maintained an "Excellent" State report card rating for the last three years. The Board of Education shares this success with our taxpayers who provide for our financial needs, our staff and administrators for their professionalism, and our students who provide the effort to succeed. The Board's function is to maintain our "Excellent" rating at the lowest possible cost per student. To be successful, we must continue to monitor costs and evaluate services.

Answer from Marcallene (Wilmoth) Shockey:

During my teaching career I served on many committees for the school district. I also attend board meetings. By being a board member I would be using all my knowledge to serve in this way.

Answer from Mary Jane Kenyon:

Sycamore spends $2000 more per student than schools of similar districts in the state. Staff support is $677 compared to $157 as similar districts. We have no business advisory council. Our enrollment is declining and the census shows a decline in our population in Blue Ash, Montgomery, Symmes and Sycamore Townships. The economy is slow and our State funds are only 13.1 percent. We have to stop spending operating funds for building buildings.

Answer from Charles William "Charlie" Wilfong:

The facilities of Sycamore Schools are in constant use through school and community programs. Our district has a policy in place makng the facilities available to taxpayer based organizations whenever available. Our district does have a comprehensive, wide ranging extra curricular program that results in near non-stop activity in our buildings and on our playing fields. Our district maintains healthy relationships with local governments and acts cooperatively.

Answer from Pat Raffel:

The Sycamore Board has developed a great relationship with local governments and community groups. Knothole baseball, the Aves, Sycamore Atheletic Club, Montgomery and Blue Ash Woman's Clubs, Adult Education programs, and area civic clubs all share use of district facilities. Our new gymnasiums and renovated fields were booked by area organizations before those facilities were even completed. Community, club, adult education programs and cultural groups use our auditoriums regularly.

Answer from Marcallene (Wilmoth) Shockey:

I feel Sycamore Schools does an excellent job of this already. Our schools have an outside group that provides before and after school care, our gyms are used for evening sports and events and scout groups hold meetings in our classrooms.

Answer from Mary Jane Kenyon:

Start with have the mandated business advisory council and discuss how we can help each other - we have the facilities so what can we do to help our 4 communities. We need to have respect for all ethnic groups and cultures and have programs that involve all ethnic groups.

Answer from Neal D. Jacobs:

The District effectively shares its' facilities with the greater Sycamore community, howeever; future construction must consider integrated use of facilities during planning! This has already taken place at Blue Ash Elementary. The City of Mason successfully implemented this strategy in constructing its community center which is utilized by Mason High School The expansion of traditional views of who should use the physical plant, and for what purpose, can positively impact on the District's budget.

Answer from Vicki E. Hirsch:

Sycamore School District is already well known for using its facilities for this purpose. One look at our building's schedules will convince even the casual observer. However, the school board must be ever vigilant that this community service is continued. The best way to do this is for the board to listen to the public and have built into its meeting calendars regularly scheduled reviews and reports from appropriate staff members.

Answer from Ken Richter:

would approach in three steps:

Have the Board make a request to the Administration to conduct an inventory of what facilities and recreational areas are not being used by the schools

Then analyze with my four Board Members as to what and how we might improve our community by offering these to the community.

Invite community leaders to develop a proposal on how they could and would want to use and facilitate a policy with the Administration.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.