Yes, Ohio - you do get to vote on Common Core
The state board of education race, normally mired in obscurity, is a bit more interesting this time around. According to some, this race could be a referendum on the Common Core standards.
"If I am elected it will be an indictment of Common Core and a call for local control," said Mary Pritchard, a home school teacher from West Chester who is among four candidates running for one seat in District 3, which includes Butler County.
Pritchard is among those campaigning on an anti-common core platform, which she considers a government takeover.
Zac Haines, an entrepreneur from Symmes Township who is running for District 4,is another. "I ... support current efforts in the Ohio Legislature to repeal it. A federalized top-down, one-size-fits all approach simply will not work," he said on his web site.
Common Core, new learning standards adopted in Ohio, Kentucky and more than 40 other states, have become increasingly controversial. In Ohio, legislation is pending to repeal them. If the bill passes, the school board will be the group to guide implementation of whatever new standards are adopted.
The State Board of Education sets education policy for the state. The board is comprised of 19 members –11 elected and eight appointed by the governor. Seven of the 11 elected seats are up for grabs this election. Three are in our region. Candidates are nonpartisan, although some in this race are noting their political affiliation in their platform too.
The state school board's role is to figure out how to carry out the education law set by the legislature. Just like the board of education for your school district sets policy and guides the direction for your district, the state school board members make these types of decisions at the state level.
Among just some of their roles, they implement content standards for the state, approve graduation requirements, direct the state's testing and accountability (report card) system, and set the workings of the teacher evaluation system. They also are the deciding voice in numerous administrative decisions such as approving disciplinary action against teachers' licenses. They appoint the state Superintendent of Public Instruction. They meet twice a month in Columbus.
So who are the candidates and where do they stand on the issues? Here's the rundown.
Who you'll be voting for:
Ohio is divided up into 11 districts. Each has an elected board member. The counties in Southwest Ohio are represented in districts 3, 4 and 10.
• District 4 (Hamilton, Warren Counties and a tiny section of Butler County)
In this district,the two candidates are at odds when it comes to Common Core. Zac Haines, of Symmes Township and Pat Bruns, of West Price Hill are competing to replace Debe Terhar, the outgoing board president.
Haines wants to repeal the Common Core standards. He has campaigned on that front and recieved a high-profile endorsement from U.S. Sen Rand Paul, R-Kentucky because of his stance.
Meanwhile Bruns supports Ohio's participation in Common Core. She also thinks changing the standards now would cost too much.
Although she supports the standards, Bruns also said students' personal information needs to be protected, parents and communities need to be involved in the implementation of the standards, and no one should make high-stakes decisions based on the standards for three years.
Here's how they stand on two other key issues:
Testing load: Both candidates think students are being required to take too many tests.
Charter school accountability: This issue took center stage recently when a group of teachers and others approached the board with allegations of improprieties at a Horizon charter school in Dayton. A statewide investigation is now underway for the chain of schools, which includes the Horizon Science Academy in Cincinnati. The FBI is also investigating potential misuse of federal technology grants.
Bruns said the Horizon situation should have been investigated much sooner and wants the state to adopt protocols to reduce future delays. She's concerned about how much public money is going toward charter schools that are run by for-profit operators. She wants to halt expansion of charter schools and cut off all funding to "for-profit" schools if they are performing below state standards. She wants charter schools to have the standards and reporting protocols that regulate public schools. Currently charter schools have their own sets of rules.
Haines declined to comment on the Horizon investigation since it's still pending. He said he believes that parents should have multiple school options to choose from but also believes charter schools should be transparent and accountable. He noted Ohio has taken steps recently to tighten oversight.
• • District 3 is comprised of Butler, Preble, Montgomery, Miami and about half of Darke counties.
This is the most crowded of the three local races. Incumbent A.J. Wagner a Dayton attorney, is facing competition from three opponents: Charlotte D. McGuire of Centerville, a national consultant for the Reclaiming Futures initiative; Mary M. Pritchard of West Chester, a home school parent and educational services board member; and Sarah "Sally" L. Roberts a retired educator from Vandalia.
Wagner a former judge and Dayton mayoral candidate has been in the job just a few months. He was appointed by Gov. John Kasich in August to fill a vacancy. Wagner has an education degree, started his career as a teacher and wants to use the office as a platform to talk about some of the issues he's passionate about such as poverty and early childhood education. "If we're serious about fixing our schools, we have to be serious about fixing poverty and finding ways to develop programs that help poor children from birth," he said.
He thinks there are good arguments on both sides of the Common Core debate, but thinks lawmakers should let the current standards stay. "I honestly can't say how I would have voted on Common Core. But after everyone has spent so much time and money into these, it would be wrong to pull the plug on them."
Pritchard, the West Chester home school parent disagrees vocally. The first sentence in her campaign web site says she's opposed to the standards. She's a staunch conservative who is in favor of local control.
McGuire is also opposed to the Common Core standards because she doesn't feel parents and communities had enough input. Roberts didn't specifically say whether she supports or opposes the standards. She called them a "starting point" and a "road map." "In our very mobile society, it is important that there is some consistency among school districts and states for what children are expected to know and be able to do," she said. "Common Core describes the skill sets that all students should demonstrate, while giving local districts control over the curriculum and materials used to meet or exceed the Standards." She thinks all stakeholders need to be involved in implementation.
Here's where they stand on:
Test load:
Wagner: Says there is a legitimate concern that they take up too much class time, but his main concern is that they're being used to evaluate teachers. That shouldn't be their purpose, he said.
Pritchard: Thinks the test load is too high. Thinks teachers should decide how and how much to test.
McGuire: Says its too high, and the tests are too long. Says it needs to be adjusted.
Roberts: says students should be monitored for progress and should take the state tests when they are ready, not on a state schedule.
Charter school accountability:
Wagner: Says charter schools are supposed to be innovative, but most aren't. Thinks they should have the same rules as traditional schools unless they can prove why they deserve flexibility.
Pritchard: Supports charter schools that require parent involvement. Thinks that is key to avoiding corruption. "When the state attempts to hold schools accountable, there seems to be corruption," she said. "When parents hold schools accountable there seems to be success."
McGuire: Also believes in getting parents involved. Said charter schools need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis and if things aren't' working right, fix it or close it.
Roberts: Thinks charter schools should operate under the same standards of academic and financial reporting and accountability as public schools
District 10: (includes 16.5 counties including all of Clermont.)
Michael B. Kinnamon, an education consultant from Chillicothe is trying to unseat incumbent Ron Rudduck, an adjunct professor from Wilmington.
In this race, both candidates do not think the Common Core standards should be repealed, but both have their concerns. Kinnamon said the state needs to make sure they're developmentally appropriate and shouldn't be used to label students and teachers failures. Rudduck said the standards need some work, but a repeal would be far more harmful because of the "continuing culture of change and the interruptions to the educational process which a repeal will cause."
Where they stand on:
Test load:
Rudduck: Shares the concerns about too much testing, says the state needs to re-evaluate the number and necessity of its tests.
Kinnamon: Thinks Ohio has gone "overboard" with testing, especially in high school. "We need to slow down and pay attention to quality."
Charter school accountability:
Rudduck: Thinks charter schools should be held to the same standards as traditional schools. Supports programs that encourage innovation in all types of schools. "There are some very good things going on in many charter schools but overall there is still work remaining," he said.
Kinnamon: Took the legislature to task. "Our legislature has created this mess with certain individuals and organizations taking valuable resources away from our public schools," he said. Although the State Board of Education can't make laws, "we should do everything we are able to do within the law to see to it they are held accountable. It seems everybody knows this except the legislature."
About the candidates
DISTRICT 3 Butler, Preble, Montgomery, Miami and about half of Darke counties.
AJ Wagner (incumbent)
Hometown: Dayton
Occupation/experience: attorney. He has served as a judge, county auditor, and chaired the Dayton Civil Service Board. He served on the Miami Valley Regional Transit Association Board of Trustees and as vice president of the Ohio Council of County Officials
Education: degrees in education and law
Family: married two children, two grandchildren
Key issues: Increasing the investment in early childhood education, focusing on addressing poverty.
Contact/web site: ajwagner@flhslaw.com. Does not have campaign web site.
Other: Author of children's poetry books, interested in the impact of "zero tolerance" policies. Thinks other methods are more successful to reach and help students.
Charlotte D. McGuire
Hometown: Centerville
Occupation/experience: National consultant for Reclaiming Futures for Montgomery County Juvenile Courts. She has also been President/CEO of the Senior Resource Connections and President/CEO for Project Impact-Dayton.
Education: Bachelor's in business administration from Central State University. Graduate work at University of Dayton
Family: married, two children, two grandchildren
Key issues: She said she's not a politician. "I believes in evidenced truth that all children are created equal and all have the inherent potential to succeed," she said. She wants to be a "voice for our children's success."
Contact/web site: www.facebook.com/CharlotteMcGuireOhioStateSchoolBoard
Other: She grew up in the segregated South and was taught an education was the key to freedom. She brings that lesson and perspective with her to this race, she said.
Mary M. Pritchard
Hometown: West Chester
Occupation/experience: Home-school teacher. Has served on the board of the Butler County Educational Services Center for 17 years including 11 years as president.
Education: Bachelor's in Engineering from the Ohio State University
Family: Married, three children
Key issues: She's a conservative who is opposed to Common Core. Sees it as federal takeover. "I am a conservative voice for parents who believe it's their right to direct their children's education."
Other: She and her husband foster Shriners burn patients
Contact/web site: http://www.marympritchard.com
Sarah L. Roberts
Hometown: Vandalia
Occupation/experience: Retired educator. She taught at several Dayton-area school districts, was supervisor for gifted services and adjunct professor at Wright Sate University's Professional Development programand Antioch Midwest.
Education: Bachelor's in education from Ohio Northern University, Master's in Education from Wright State University
Family: Married, two children
Key issues: "High-quality education opportunities should not be dependent on zip code or special grants from the state." She thinks the board should focus on policies and operating standards that include requirements for art, music, foreign languages in elementary schools and supports technology and field based experience opportunities for all students. "
Contact/web site:www.facebook.com/pages/Roberts-for-State-Board-of-Education/1506817156229660
Other: She was an OEA member while she as a teacher. She's retired but continues to testify at on education at the statehouse and at the sate board of education.
DISTRICT 4 Hamilton, Warren Counties and a tiny section of Butler County (paste infor from e-mails)
Zac Haines
Hometown: Symmes Township
Occupation/experience: Entrepreneur
Education: Bachelor's degree, Miami University
Family: married, one child
Key issues: Wants to repeal Common Core, bring focus to civic education, supports school choice (including home school) and parental involvement and wants to bring more technology to the classroom.
Contact/web site: http://hainesforohio.com
Other: He has a black belt in karate, active in the Republican Party, founded IndustryHuddle.com, a social trade network.
Pat Bruns:
Hometown: West Price Hill
Occupation/experience: Ran for state board of education in 2010. Retired art teacher. Works as a muralist at ArtWorks.
Education: Bachelor's degree University of Kentucky, master's degree Miami University
Key issues: increase charter school accountability, improve access to the arts,
Contact/web site: http://friendsofpatbruns.com/
Other: Chair of Price Hill Will, was president of the teacher's union while teaching in the Northwest school district. Endorsed by the state and local Democratic party and teacher's unions.
DISTRICT 10 includes 16.5 counties including all of Clermont.
Michael B. Kinnamon
Hometown: Chillicothe
Occupation/experience: Education consultant for the Ross-Pike Educational Services Center State Support Team, Region 15. He also serves on the Adena Local school board. He's has 39 years of educational experience as superintendent, principal and teacher.
Education: Bachelor's in education, Ohio State University. Master's in Education Administration, Xavier University
Family: Married, two children
Key issues/platform: "Public School Advocate."
Contact/web site: www.facebook.com/kinnamonohioed
Other: Thinks public education is taking a back seat to charter/voucher schools. Supports developmentally appropriate Common Core standards, but opposes to Common Core if it's used to label students and teachers failures.
Ron Rudduck (incumbent)
Hometown: Wilmington
Occupation/experience: Adjunct professor of school finance at Xavier University and Antioch Midwest. Has a career in education. Served a superintendent, principal and teacher. Authored "The ABCs of School Finance," served on several state committees and served as consultant to the Ohio School Facilities Commission and Buckeye Association of School Administrators.
Education: Bachelor's Wilmington College. Master's in education Xavier University.
Family: Married. Two children, two grandchildren.
Key issues: Wants to increase local control. "The best school improvement plans are developed at hte local level." The biggest problem facing schools is the "culture of continuous change."
Contact/web site: http://www.facebook.com/District10.stateboard
Other: Is concerned about some parts of Common Core but thinks repeal would be harmful. Concerned about too much testing and rush to use them for high-stakes decisions. Thinks charter schools should be held to the same standards as traditional schools.