League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton, Butler County, OH November 8, 2011 Election
	Kevin Wiesner Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Northwest 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.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What are your qualifications for office?

I have been attending the Northwest school board meetings for the last five years. At most meetings, I am the only person in the room that is not a member of the media, an employee, or a school board member! The many years of observation and interaction with the school board and administration have been excellent preparation to becoming a school board member.

I have two children in the Northwest public schools so I am definitely interested in ensuring the school district offers the best educational opportunities possible for our students. As a taxpayer, I also want to see the district managed in a fiscally responsible manner. I provide input along both of these lines at the board meetings and through direct communication with the board members and administration.

I have been a resident and active member of the Colerain community volunteering in many activities for the last 21 years. A few examples include being the Big Brother for 8 years for a young man who graduated from Colerain, several school and church activities, coaching youth basketball at the Clippard Y, and tutoring at Weigel Elementary as part of the Whiz Kids program.

3. How would you use your students' state test results to improve education in your district?

The improving school test scores and ratings are proof of the value the many academic opportunities provide the children through traditional classes as well as parent and community partnerships. The current programs are making an obvious difference. Imagine what can be done with even greater parental and community participation!

We must strive for excellent schools across the entire district and should not settle for anything less. This is a high goal, but it simply means making education a priority in our community and getting timely and appropriate help to those children who are struggling, while keeping the children performing at grade level or above challenged so they continue to grow and doing this in a financially responsible way.

4. What will you do to build consensus in the community in support of public schools?

I will work to spread the news about the many great achievements our students and teachers are accomplishing every single day. All one has to do is attend a school board meeting to see the pride in the students' and teachers' when they highlight their achievements, play their instruments, or show their work during a presentation. I will emphasize the accomplishment of achieving the excellent ratings and the work being done to continue to achieve total school and district excellence.

I will work to understand and bridge the gap that exists between the parochial school system and the public school system. We live in the same community and have the same desires of having strong and viable neighborhoods and seeing our children become amazingly successful. Why, especially in these challenging times, would we not work together to do everything possible to make our community and schools the clear choice for those families seeking the ideal place to raise their families or for businesses to establish themselves?

5. What are your budget priorities?

Everyone is aware that the current economy is very challenging. The State of Ohio is also removing funding from the public education system. In the Northwest district it is already understood that in the coming months more budget cuts will need to be made. The issue our school system faces is to what extent the cuts will need to be made. I will commit to making academics the number one priority that should remain funded to the extent that the students are not affected by financial changes. An excellent education is the key to the future success of our children and our community and the school board needs to be mindful of this while making the difficult budget decisions.

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Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 19, 2011 17:00
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