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 Qualification, Priorities, Parental involvement

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

Answer from Andy Barlow:

I have been active in PTA for 12 years; began regularly attending NWLSD Board Meetings a year ago. My wife and two of our children are graduates of NWLSD. Our youngest attends Monfort Heights Elementary. My education in Cincinnati was a mix of public/private schools. I am the General Manager for the local division of a publicly traded company and am responsible for over 300 employees with a $35 million budget including operations, accounting, HR and legal functions.

Answer from Steve Miller:

I understand the value of quality education and the importance of extracurricular activity. I graduated and was active in sports at Xavier High School, have a Finance degree from Indiana University, and an MBA from Xavier University. I am the Director of Operations and Portfolio Manager for a local firm.

Answer from Bruce Gehring:

I am the President & CEO of a local non-profit organization, and a former Vice-President of Children's Hospital Medical Center. And I hold an MBA degree from Xavier University, a Bachelor of Science degree from UC, and Certificates of achievement from Yale, George Washington University, and UCLA Graduate School of Management. I am also an adjunct instructor at the College of Mt. St. Joseph

Answer from Fred Hunt:

I am a former U.S. Naval Officer and have held leadership positions throughout my career. I have worked within a school district, bringing an understanding of what teachers, staff and administrators expect and need to be successful. Since being appointed last November, I have worked hard to effect positive change.

Answer from Elaine I. (Stahley) Gauck:

Life-long resident

Manage a family business located in the District

Keep involved in the District such as the Colerain Township Business Assn. and Colerain Corridor Task Force

Have attended School Board Meetings a majority of the time over last ten plus years.

Answer from Andy Barlow:

1)We must improve our scores on the State testing through challenging each student in a safe, non-disruptive environment with class sizes conducive to individualized attention. Every subject in each grade should have minimum requirements concerning content across the district and each school be responsible for ensuring this content is mastered. 2)The Board must reevaluate all spending and income streams. Inefficient past practices must be changed. New methods to "do more with less" must be implemented. 3)Community support and involvement is vital to improving education. As the schools are a public institution, transparency of both administration and board action (to the amount permitted by law) is paramount to increasing support and involvement.

Answer from Elaine I. (Stahley) Gauck:

Since 2005-2006 revenues are at a record high in excess of 80 million dollars,I will work with other Board Members to stay within our current budget.

I will not cut elementary busing to save money. The new Board must find savings in other areas where children's safety is not at risk.

All public documents can be posted on the district website. We need to move forward and use current technology to keep the public informed.

Answer from Steve Miller:

To support teachers. Quality students are directly related to quality teachers. We must create a system and environment that retains and supports good teachers.

Provide adequate resources without wasteful spending. Students cannot excel and compete in an environment where they are not given the requisite resources their peers receive in other districts.

To facilitate in creating a plan for improvement. The wheels have fallen off and the district is moving forward with little or no communicated plan. With no levy passed and resources being stretched it is impossible for the board to continue to operate in the way it has.

Answer from Bruce Gehring:

I will establish a community based committee structure for feedback on important issues affecting the district. The district needs to open its decision process to public scrutiny before decisions are made, look to the community for assistance with its fiscal decisions, and explain recent financial based decisions and define what it will change to effectively manage its fiscal matters in the future.

Answer from Fred Hunt:

Common Sense Leadership means getting all the information necessary to make the right decisions. Weighing that information and making decisions that will best serve the goals of educating the students of the district.

The District earned it's highest rating ever, this year. The Board must continue to apply the principles that have worked and modify any that need adjusting.

Administrative procedures and red tape should not make it more difficult for the members of the community to obtain information. The Board should have policies that make Customer Service a high priority for the community.

Answer from Bruce Gehring:

I will look to involve parents in the committee structure and make the Board meetings interactive and informative to encourage parental input.

Answer from Fred Hunt:

Parental involvement is critical to the success of the students and the District. I plan to continue to lead by example. I have been an active PTA member every year of my children's school years. I will continue to visit all the schools and help where I am able. I will encourage others to do the same. I will continue to ensure the Board recognizes the contributions of those who support the students regularly. Every one of us has different talents that we can offer. Many times, people just aren't asked to help.

Answer from Steve Miller:

I recognize the importance of parental involvement. Much of my success is a direct result of the active participation of my parents in my education. The importance of education and work ethic starts at home and is continued and refined in the schools. As a board member, I would actively spread the message of parental accountability and the importance of parental involvement in a student's education.

Answer from Elaine I. (Stahley) Gauck:

Since a lot of our parents both have to work to support their families, we need to webcast all of the Board Meetings as well as other school events so parents will have an easier way to see what is going on in the district.

Answer from Andy Barlow:

Community involvement (both parental and nonparental) at all levels of the school system and educational process is mandatory to the district's progress. 1)Parents participating in their children's education by helping with and promoting study is a major benefit. To increase this I will encourage seminars to "teach" parents how to help their children and then put this "teaching" into practice through structured evening "fun study sessions" for parents and students. 2)Schools need community involvement to help in all areas: tutoring, assisting teachers, cafeteria, landscaping, etc. and I will promote the groups historically responsible at this level, the PTA's and PTO's of the district, and help them reach out past parents and actively recruit nonparental community members. 3)NSLSD needs community involvement at the district administrative level. To increase this I will make the dealings of the board and administration as transparent as possible and re-institute district level committees comprised of educators and community members instilling a diversity of ideas, experiences and giving a fresh perspective to solving issues.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.