Rick Williams Answers Questions

Candidate for
Board Member; Cincinnati City School District

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

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What can Cincinnati Public Schools do to restore the public's confidence in their ability to educate the district students so parents will send and keep their children there?

"Improve student achievement for all students. Make changes in schools where achievement is not improving. Involve parents and community more in school based management. Respond to what the community wants: better neighborhood schools and more sites for successful magnet programs. Create more opportunities for communities to use school. facilities such as social service agencies and adult education."

2. What effect(s) will the community (charter) schools have in the Cincinnati Public Schools?

They will provide a mechanism for testing ides outside the current barriers of bureaucrcy. They will give CPS an opportunity to create a better charter alternative than the State charters. They can offer families an education alternative that is "outside the box" of standard education programs.

3. Evaluate the adequacy of support services for special needs students in Cincinnati Public Schools?

The district acknowledges that additional funding is required to offer the services to special needs students. This is evident in their site-based budgeting formulas. While there are mechanisms in place to evaluate the physical and educational services required, there is not always the funding available to meet the needs. The district must evaluate the best way to maximize dollars available for student services.