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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
Qualifications,
Equity,
Student test results,
Building Consensus,
Budget
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What are your qualifications for office?
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Answer from Jeanie Zoller:
I gained experience and insight over 32 years as a teacher/librarian in Wyoming. My candidacy balances the board membership with my knowledge of education and public funding. I managed library budgets, participated in planning building budgets, and I served on committees determining district procedures, policies, as well as contract negotiations. In 1999, I served on the middle school facilities committee during the update of the building, making decisions especially in the library and auditorium. I co-wrote then managed grants over $375,000 for the middle school. I was a Wyoming Citizen of the Year in 2001 and named Media Specialist (librarian) of the year in Southern Ohio in 2005. I co-chaired a Wyoming schools tax levy election. I have also served as co-chair and treasurer of the Wyoming Art Show. I served on the board of Junior Woman's Club of Wyoming.
Answer from Dana M. Irvine:
Member of the Citizen Action Committee, (CAC,) 2005-2006-Lead the Legislative Committee.
-Assisted in the Town Hall Meeting regarding school Finance
-Member of the Community Schools commission-Finance committee
-Member of the Book Study Project (Three Cups of Tea)
-Member of the 21st Century Teaching and Learning team- 2009
-Participated in the Facilities Commission- 2010-2011
Answer from Todd S. Levy:
I value and earnestly support public education benefiting Wyoming. Proven leadership: Wyoming Board of Education almost 8 years, 4 as president, Led numerous Wyoming school/city committees. Founded/manage software company helping hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout North America fundraise hundreds of millions of dollars. Raised two Wyoming graduates, currently in college providing me with insight into educational success beyond Wyoming.
Answer from Martin Murray:
I have significant experience successfully managing multi-million dollar operating budgets and successfully leading multi-million dollar construction projects, both important skills to have on our school board in today's environment. I also have a long track record of working in large, diverse organizations where it has been critical to draw conflicting points of view to the table, identify common ground, and create solutions that serve all members of the community.
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2. What would you do to advance the concept of "equity in education" in your district?
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Answer from Todd S. Levy:
Everyone of our almost 2,000 students in Wyoming Schools deserves and shall receive a Wyoming Education. I will encourage the use technology to develop an Independent Academic Plan (IAP) for each child to ensure they are mastering the required curriculum and identify those who need additional challenges or support. Our community needs to ensure all students benefit from enrichment whether school-based or outside the classroom.
Answer from Martin Murray:
Equity in Education is about creating an environment where every child can succeed as an individual against their personal goals based on their unique skills and talents without stereotypical judgements about those goals, skills, or talents.
This will require Wyoming to: 1) have differentiated programs that address the broad range of skills and talents that exist among our students; 2) be adaptable, recognizing that students who "group together" today will each grow uniquely and, as a result, will likely not "group together" next year or the year after; and 3) recognize the pace of change our students face in today's world and its impact on the speed with which our programs must shift to create that environment of equity in education.
Answer from Dana M. Irvine:
Creating a gauge to measure "equity in education" is critical to helping each of our students reach their full potential. I would work with my fellow board members to create that gauge as well as develop specific measures to address any shortfalls in the districts current approach.
Answer from Jeanie Zoller:
I believe that technology is the great equalizer in education and the true 21st century skill, so we must make sure that every child is techno-literate. I propose, with city partnership, a WiFi Wyoming to envelop our community, opening our schools at night to offer technology classes for the community, and providing strong support to our professional staff to keep them on the cutting edge. Educators can apply new technology to customize and personalize the curriculum and so challenge each child. The social media such as Twitter and Facebook, new hardware such as iPads, even blogs, wikis, and those ideas not yet created can be used to engage and motivate each student.
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3. How would you use your students' state test results to improve education in your district?
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Answer from Todd S. Levy:
As more data is provided by the state for each child, we need to make the data actionable for our teaching staff to identify those in need of additional challenges or support and deliver it. Specifically, the value-added data is now available at the individual level and should be monitored and acted upon. While the state standard tests are important, Wyoming continually goes above and beyond and must continue to lead in this area. This further enrichment adds to the state standards resulting in well rounded students after graduation.
Answer from Jeanie Zoller:
Wyoming has ranked consistently within the top five school districts, in 2011 tied for second, only one tenth of a percent behind number one. State testing provides one aspect to analyze a student's educational growth. Educators analyze a student's performance for proficiencies and weaknesses. Testing data shows value added and AYP growth, allowing a district to compare annual growth and spot trends. Of course, we get a snapshot of how Wyoming students perform compared to other districts as well. When combined with local assessments and evaluations, community response, and anecdotal evidence, the school system can prioritize the district's needs in order to allocate resources and personnel to achieve the district expectations.
Answer from Martin Murray:
Wyoming students' test results require much more attention than is being implied by the current Board's celebration of the district's numerical rating.
Historically, Wyoming schools have delivered accelerated educational growth as measured by the "AYP" state metric - Annual Yearly Progress. We have, as a district, always exceeded state expectations however this year, as measured by state scores, the degree to which our students are growing has slowed to average. As a result, when prospective members of our community explore various districts, the first thing they see when they look at Wyoming is that we are NOT in the top tier of SW Ohio school districts. We need to do better.
The first step in using our students' state test results to improve education in Wyoming is to admit we have an issue to address. The inertia of the past may be still carrying us but there are early warning signs in these data that demand attention.
Specifically, I would seek support from other members of the Board to elevate the Education sub-committee of the Board to the same status that the Facilities sub-committee has enjoyed.
I believe in the old adage that "you get what you inspect, not necessarily what you expect". Wyoming expects excellence in education but will fall short until the Board takes a more active role of inspecting that excellence...asking questions and proactively monitoring progress.
Answer from Dana M. Irvine:
Evaluating and understanding the state test results presents the perfect opportunity to better understand where we can make improvements to the education we provide our students. By digging into the details behind our scores and using that data to develop programs where we can drive "continuous improvement" will be an area of focus for me.
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4. What will you do to build consensus in the community in support of public schools?
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Answer from Jeanie Zoller:
Listen. Keep open links between the Board and the community and between the Board and school employees. Recent rewriting of the Board policy limiting communication between board members and faculty is a conciliatory step, returning to our open culture of shared ideas. The Board must listen to the community, and solicit their input through regular town meetings and small gatherings at homes. When someone brings an issue to the board, it must listen and reply in a timely manner.
Answer from Dana M. Irvine:
My approach is simple....I'll listen a lot and solicit the opinions of as many people as possible. Our schools are extremely important to our community and I'll work hard to create a sense that our board of education not only values the community voice, but uses it to assist and guide us in our decision making process.
Answer from Todd S. Levy:
I listen to as many points of view as I can. I share the various points of view with others leading to common theme that is best for our students. Once this theme is solidified, use the multitude of communication vehicles available and warranted to share with the various stakeholders.
Answer from Martin Murray:
Wyoming's strength has always resided in the collaborative relationship among the Board/Administration, the community, and our teachers. Each plays a critical role. Over the past nine years, this Board has (as a group) allowed that collaboration to crumble. Reasons include:
Blind support of an administration clearly out of touch with broad swatches of the community.
Allowing a contentious relationship with teachers to develop during the most recent negotiations with purposeful attention to "demonize" teachers.
Engaging in a concerted "sales campaign" in support of a limited number of Middle School options without providing full and fair disclosure of the full breadth of solutions.
As a member of Wyoming's Board of Education, I would work to make sure we reflect the entire diversity of our community in defining problems and creating solutions.
No matter how this election turns out, the 2012 through 2014 Board will be a less culturally diverse group than we have seen in Wyoming for 20+ years. It is a function of the candidate group. That puts even more obligation on the Board to seek out and engage conflicting points of view. Whether they be differences driven by neighborhood, economic background, cultural, or lifestyle...we need to connect with the entire community, not just those who are like us. I am committed to do that.
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5. What are your budget priorities?
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Answer from Jeanie Zoller:
First, we must be ever cognizant of the current economic downturn. All school employees have diligently cut costs in the classroom and the board office, reduced budgets, even outsourced or shared services and personnel. Last May the teachers' association approached the board to re-negotiate their contract, saving the district money and enabling us to delay a new operating levy. Priorities, therefore are to continue to control spending, and to economize as much as possible. Study state funding changes to be announced soon. Also, this next board must finance needed improvements in the middle school through possibilities such as a bond levy, grants, state building incentives, and general funds.
Answer from Dana M. Irvine:
My main priority is to be an excellent steward of the resources provided to the district. There are a number of pressures that we face in light of changing state funding and a soft economy. The board has done a nice job in stretching the current operating levy and I will continue that effort to get the most out of the money entrusted to the Wyoming School District.
Answer from Martin Murray:
Ensure we are looking at the whole picture when considering major capital expenditures. There is much discussion in the community today regarding the future of our Middle School with a Board proposal to put a significant levy on the ballot in March, 2012.
At the same time, Wyoming has avoided an operating levy for almost 10 years by underspending on classroom/teacher investment and facility maintenance. As a result of that underspending, Wyoming enjoys one of the largest "cash on hand" balances of any district in SW Ohio when measured as a percent of our budget. At some point in the near future, as state and federal funding is constricted, that underspending will have to be addressed and the conversation will turn to an operating levy.
There is no question that we must do something to address the Middle School's disrepair and it is gravely concerning to me that the only solutions involve new construction. There is virtually no limit to what is possible with existing construction to address the non-negotiable improvements that are necessary (security, air, roofing, etc) but for whatever reason, the current Board has chosen to ignore these possibilities.
My budget priority would be to re-sequence the spending to ensure we have the right classroom/teacher investments before taking on the high fixed costs of new construction. This will make sure the content of our education receives the appropriate community support.
Wyoming is fully committed to education and these are tough times for many in our community. We, as a Board, need to make tough choices that reflect and respect those challenges without compromising our commitment to educational excellence. If that means addressing the non-negotiables needs of the current building and waiting a little longer for that shiny new building, then so be it.
Answer from Todd S. Levy:
I have demonstrated excellent fiscal responsibility as a current board of education member including stretching the current operating levy up to 10 years when originally forecasted for 3-4 years. I will continue to protect operating dollars used in the classroom directly related to learning. If and when our community agrees and supports improving our facilities, I will ensure we are fiscally responsible on how we spend these dollars today, with a vision on educational needs of tomorrow.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits may apply. See individual questions for specific word limits. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. Please edit your work before submitting. We are unable to provide spell-check at this time.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
