About the
Campaign
We Need a
Change
This campaign is about the
future of Ohio's system of public education. The current
Ohio Board of Education aided and abetted in the systematic
neglect of our public schools. For too long current Board
has been distracted by divisive, disruptive and distracting
issues instead of concentrating on the core mission of the
State Board of Education - educating Ohio's students.
The Time is
Now
Public Schools have been
steadily improving, despite mounting economic pressures. But
now schools are feeling the strain. Local school districts
have
been forced to repeatedly ask their voters for higher
levies. They have had to make deep cuts in staff and
programs as levies have been defeated. Our schools cannot
indefinitely continue to make gains with shrinking
resources.
Meanwhile the state has diverted hundreds millions of
dollars from improving traditional public school to charters
schools that operate with little accountability. This is the
backdrop for this race. This is why Tom is running for the
State Board of Education. He has the experience and
knowledge to offer our children something better.
Why the
Ohio Board of Education?
As the governing board of the
Ohio Department of Education, the state Board of Education
is charged with overseeing elementary and secondary
education in Ohio.
The Board helps prepare the proposed budget for education,
oversees education programs, sets standards and approves
curricula.
One key but overlooked power of the State Board of Education
is the power, as granted in state law, to “exercise
leadership in the improvement of public education in this
state.” As the crisis in Ohio education deepens, this is
where the Board has been most lacking and where Tom can
bring a real change.
Next year we will have a new Governor, potentially an
entirely new slate of executive officials and at least
one-third of the members of each house of the legislature
will be new. This is a golden opportunity for new leadership
for real change and the State Board of Education is an
excellent platform for that leadership.
Fix School
Funding
The Problem: Years of
failed leadership
The Solution: State
School Board members who lead the effort to reform school
funding.
Four concepts for
school funding reform--read about them
here. |