WHY I'M RUNNING FOR CINCINNATI SCHOOL BOARD

By John Banner

By John Banner

At a recent shopping trip to Findlay Market, I met an out of town family contemplating a move to Cincinnati. I was honored to spend a few minutes with them to encourage their decision. After their departure, I felt somewhat relieved that they did not question me about Cincinnati Public Schools. Now I wish they had.

I would have told them that a new day has dawned for public education in our Queen City. Through the generosity of its taxpayers, virtually every neighborhood in the district has been blessed with state-of-the-art educational centers, complete with community meeting rooms. Along with a well-paid faculty, the district's new infrastructure has set the stage for academic excellence.

With the opening downtown of the new School for Creative and Performing Arts, a national focus on this unique educational venue will occur--yet another jewel in the crown of the Queen City of the West! Yes, things are great, and getting even better.

Walnut Hills ranks in the elite corps of national high school rankings, and my daughter is a recipient of all the superior education afforded by that institution.

So what's the downside?

Along with the many improvements being made in our school district, our taxpayers cannot sustain the ever increasing demands being made upon them for levies, be it school district, library, mental health, museums and parks, you name it. If this trend continues, Hamilton County homeowners will continue their flight to Kentucky, Indiana, and surrounding counties which have lower property taxes AND good schools.

Our school board must take into account that present dollars are scarce, and future dollars may even be scarcer. Don't count on your next school levy passing. You've already spent the equivalent of one teacher's yearly salary for your dilatory superintendent searches. Salary negotiations later this year with the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers must reflect the current downturn of our national economy. The Board's recent vote on prevailing wages to be paid workers in the massive school reconstruction program represents an irresponsible and unnecessary expenditure of tax dollars to the estimated tune of $20 million.

I am afraid that our current board members are not up to the task of meeting the realities facing them. That's why I am running for Cincinnati School Board. I welcome your support.