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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? (50 word limit)
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Answer from A. Chris Nelms, Jr:
Masters in Education, Completing Four year term, Public Educator, Adjunct Instructor over 35 years. Worked in public and community sectors over 40 years.
Served as Board VP, Policy Committee Chair,,Hired Superintendent, Treasurer and have personally visited 50 out of 56 schools.
Answer from Eve Bolton:
I am ending my first School Board term during which I have been president twice and served on the Finance,Student Achievement and Policy Committees.In prior years I have been a Wyoming teacher and teachers union president as well as a Mt Healthy City Council Member and Hamilton County Recorder.
Answer from Mary Welsh Schlueter:
With my service as CEO of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Partnership for Innovation in Education (http://www.piemedia.org), and my role as a CPS parent of young kids, I have shown a commitment to helping children realize a greater future for themselves and their communities.
Answer from Alexander Poccia Kuhns:
I am an instructor at Cincinnati State College, I am working on my third degree in education, I have over ten years of experience working with children and I am a proud product of Cincinnati Public Schools.
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2. What would you do to advance the concept of "equity in education" for Cincinnati Public Schools? (100 word limit)
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Answer from Mary Welsh Schlueter:
Every child deserves an equitable education within our public schools. I have authored several national newspaper and magazine articles (reprints, http://www.piemedia.org) encouraging teacher evaluation systems rewarding student achievement, introducing student career skill proficiency in the 4C's (creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication), and supporting greater "district of choice" magnet school opportunities for our 33,000 students. CPS already has already met Race to the Top requirements, and I suggest we take bolder steps to push our lowest performing schools to reach Excellent and Effective Ohio Standards. Until ALL our 57 schools meet these standards, we cannot rest.
Answer from A. Chris Nelms, Jr:
Work to eliminate the gulf between magnet and neighborhood schools. Promote the superintendent and administration in their work for creating equality and schools of choice throughout the district. Continue to introduce innovative initiatives such as the M.O.R.E. Program to assist our male students in achieving in the classroom.
Answer from Alexander Poccia Kuhns:
I believe education has become a civil rights issue because of how valuable yet unequitable learning is in our society. As a board member I will continue to advocate for neighborhood schools to ensure that every student is given equal opportunity for an excellent education. I will work hard to engage schools with families and communities, including businesses to make this a reality.
Answer from Eve Bolton:
In order to achieve equal opportunity for all children, equity in education requires an unequal allocation of resources.That distribution is determined by the needs of each student, group, site, and program. Systemically in CPS we must: lessen the difference in performance levels between our high poverty neighborhood and magnet schools,find a more economical way to increase inclusion of our students with disabilities,and increase our expectation and mentorship of our African American males in order to close the achievement gap.Finally we must end the digital divide in order to level the playing field.
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3. How would you use your students' state test results to improve education in your district? (100 word limit)
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Answer from Eve Bolton:
State tests aid in providing accountability. They do not necessarily represent best practice.However the tests do allow significant insight as to value added measurements regarding achieving a year's growth.Using value added measures, teacher performance over time can be evaluated and building adequacy or inadequacy can be addressed.The state tests allow us to be data informed and more transparent with each other, the community and our families.They also provide a comparative analysis among buildings and districts. This information can and does direct and improve student performance both in short cycle and long term decision making.
Answer from Mary Welsh Schlueter:
I fully support the District-wide implementation of the State-approved Core Curriculum Standards. In the next year, CPS teachers will be evaluated on their success of teaching such standards. Here at CPS, 50% of a teacher's evaluation is based upon student academic growth, and a recent program (PRE) was initiated offering monetary incentives to teachers showing student achievement (2% of salary). Teachers, teams and entire schools require the flexibility to teach to their particular student population. Thoughtful use of these improvement indexes will provide direction to teachers, principals and curriculum managers of how to improve the education product and process.
Answer from Alexander Poccia Kuhns:
The state test results can be used to leverage funding, community support and government support as well. I will use these resources and positive press to improve education by recruiting quality teachers and strengthening the curricula in our neighborhood schools.
Answer from A. Chris Nelms, Jr:
Use test scores and results as a measure to raise expectations of all students, creating a culture of share responsibility with parents, students, teachers, administration and the community..
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4. What will you do to build consensus in the community in support of Cincinnati Public Schools?
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Answer from Mary Welsh Schlueter:
I have met with numerous political, education, business, faith and nonprofit leaders throughout Cincinnati and our regional partners. If elected, I will establish a non-quorum Roundtable of elected/appointed officials to discuss synergies, efficiencies and opportunities in budget, programs and day-to-day operations. Moreover, I would serve as a liaison to national business and education partners who might further collaborate with CPS as we try to realize our achievement goals.
Answer from A. Chris Nelms, Jr:
Work with all groups and partners who have a vested interest in our school systems and students. I regularly attend multiple community functions and meetings throughout the city, community. Organizations and individuals.
Answer from Eve Bolton:
I will attempt to continue to have CPS be an Ohio leader in education reform,push to accelerate student achievement and act in a transparent manner as it relates to fiscal and financial matters.At the core of CPS success are the existing and long held community partnerships. I will work to further expand and deepen those partnerships among civic and corporate entities through the expansion of our community learning centers.
Answer from Alexander Poccia Kuhns:
I will encourage the quality functioning of the Local School Decision Making Committees (LSDMC) within each school. These are the most effective avenues to recruit community support in the school. Through these LSDMCs we can unite the community voice.
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5. What are your budget priorities?
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Answer from Eve Bolton:
My budget priorities include funding the national common core curriculum, embracing innovative methods,developing funds for recruiting, retaining and rewarding highly qualified teachers and a comprehensive expansion of both technology and advanced placement in order to widen college access. Additionally it is extremely important to develop a faith based alliance to expand early childhood learning and a local business partnership to keep locally generated revenue locally expended.
Answer from A. Chris Nelms, Jr:
Fiscal accountability and transparency while maintaining a balanced budget and responsibility in the spending of taxpayers dollars. Working closely with the Treasurer and Superintendent on all financial matters while reporting to the community.
Answer from Mary Welsh Schlueter:
I believe CPS must maintain its flat budget and enforce financial limits in these harder economic times. Moreover, with the upcoming significant loss of teachers due to retirement, I urge all Board Members to heighten fiscal transparency and adopt "best practice" efficiencies. Yet for CPS to become "best in class", we must continue to invest in our teaching staff, recruiting the best candidates from around the nation. In order to maintain the momentum our schools have shown in academic achievement, we must be more innovative in how we allocate funds. See http://www.MaryMeansBusiness.com for more details.
Answer from Alexander Poccia Kuhns:
Careful analysis of the budget is something I believe to be of the utmost importance. Finding alternative funding sources for important support services like counseling and nurses will be vital. Oversight of our district's food costs and procedures should bring possible savings to light. Funding education should be a much higher priority for our society because of it's preventative potential (keeping people out of prisons). Recruiting more students to the district (with a quality product) would bring more in more funding.
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
