League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
	Hamilton, Clermont County, OH November 3, 2009 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Board Member; Forest Hills Local School District

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 Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit) Answer from Pat A. Hendry Sullivan: I taught in Forest Hills for 27 years and served as English Department Chair for 16 years. I know first hand the inner workings of a functioning school and how a seemingly innocent financial decision by the Board impacts students, teachers,and support personnel. My 16 years as Department Chair gave.... Answer from Forest T. Heis: I am a product of Forest Hills. I am well-educated and have four young children coming up through the District. I have experience serving on boards and as chief negotiator for major contracts. I currently am the Chairman of Surgery of St. Elizabeth/St. Luke Hospitals. Answer from Julie F. Bissinger: With two sons in the Forest Hills schools, twelve years of PTA leadership roles, five years of Board experience (one as Vice President and two as President), I know our schools from bottom to top and appreciate the challenges that the students, parents, faculty and administrators face. Answer from Mike Davis: I feel my professional background and experience would fill a void and offer a new perspective and my track record of accomplishments is certainly transferable to the needs facing the district today. I have 3 children throughout the district. This drives my passion and commitment, their Future is NOW! Answer from Tracy Zimmerman Huebner: I am a school board member invested in the entire educational experience. I understand that a school district's focus is the students and academics, but I also know there is a business side to education. I can help Forest Hills find this balance because I have been a teacher, a community member, a school board member and a parent. 2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit) Answer from Forest T. Heis: I plan to be an active participant in the search for a new superintendent who embodies the values and needs of our community. I plan to provide a reasoned, even-headed approach to challenges as they arise, faciliating the exchange of ideas at the board level. Most importantly, once the ideas have been exchanged, I anticipate forming plans of action and then getting them done. Answer from Mike Davis: To first work towards a collaborative effort on the part of all board members to come to consensus on top priorities for the district. It will be vital for the board to recognize and utilize the diversified backgrounds of its members. Second, will be to evaluate the current lines of communication to the community and across the district and third to evaluate the current short and long-term forecast and plans and make the necessary modifications to create realistic goals, time-lines and actions steps. Answer from Pat A. Hendry Sullivan: I will visit the individual school buildings. I will have a website through which community members will be able to contact me. I will ask that the Board survey the community when important decisions need to be made. I will ask for continued communication from Central Office concerning student achievement date. I will recommend that teachers receive professional development that enhances their ability to improve student learning, especially in areas identified through testing data as needing improvement. Answer from Tracy Zimmerman Huebner: In order to achieve all of my priorities, we need to truly engage the community when making important decisions. This involves residents attending special informational meetings throughout the district and learning about the issues facing the school district, thus allowing the community to offer suggestions on how to best solve the challenges (i.e. searching for a superintendent, creating a facilities plan, and working on an operating levy). After committees comprised of a variety of residents and educators take these suggestions and create possible models to solve the challenges, the district will come back to the residents for additional feedback and continue this process until we have reached a solution that meets the expectations of the majority of the community. Answer from Julie F. Bissinger: Please see my position paper included herein. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.