cps school board candidates
I certainly applaud those students for sharing their concerns. Well from my understanding, there are a couple of reasons why this is not that simple. WVXU asked: Is equity a concern in 2019? In reflection of 2018-2019 State Report Card, Cincinnati Public Schools' neighborhood schools have made great gains in multiple sections that I expect to continue. ", Bolton: "I believe parents should have choice in choosing schools. Out of the four candidates, there are only three open spots that need to be filled. School safety overall is achieved with dedicated resource officers in our schools and working with our first responders (classroom teachers, counselors in all schools and social workers) to make student safety a priority. Most of our worst performing high schools also tend to be the poorest. Cincinnati Public School's Board Policy 2255 (Equity and Excellence) not only focuses on our school communities being diverse in race and culture, but also emphasizes fairness around inclusion which integrates programs and operations of the school. Students need role models that they can identify with and our students currently lack enough role models of color. Nearly 40% of its teachers locally are people of color; its teachers lead their students to greater than expected academic growth each year; and 80% of alumni from the program continue to work in education or in a related field that impacts low income families. Studies have shown that students benefit a great deal from having teachers who share their identity, and there is more that we can do on this front. Don't bother looking for Davis' name on the ballot – it won't be there. I will post … I will do whatever I can to help both of those systems be better and worthy of our children and families. There also HAS to be a spirit of togetherness among school/family/community created, developed and sustained! CPS serves a student body that is nearly 70% children of color. We must work with all community resources in order to supply our students with the help they need. I would also support CPS board-run charter schools, and CPS working to regain its accreditation it lost by a 15-0 vote from the bipartisan state board of education. We've been focused on ensuring our special needs sector is equitably resourced as well as providing social, emotional and mental health supports as many of our students are living in toxic and traumatic environments. Every child must have a chance to succeed and education is the great equalizer, so it is too important to not take drastic change to fix the system.". He says his record has been expunged. How would you fix it? Chicago Public Schools parent Jeff Jenkins joined the fight for an elected school board when his son was in kindergarten. Chris Horn and David Seamon are also running. "This was resolved back in July," CPS Board Member Jonathan Sessions told the Columbia Heart Beat. Megerle: "The school board must ensure its policies, including the equity policy, is not a toothless tiger. In the six-candidate race, current board president Carolyn Jones, Eve Bolton and Ozie Davis III are the incumbents, while Ben Lindy, Heather M. Couch and Marlena Brookfield make up the field of challengers. We should strive to ensure equality for all students and a supportive, academically rigorous environment that will prepare students for college, career and life. Five candidates are competing for two open seats on the seven-member board. From top to bottom, we must make clear that our schools are inclusive and receptive to differences of all kind. ", Favors: "As a CPS teacher, I have seen the disparities in the district. Hide caption. Would I like to see more African American teachers/staff, of course! Running up to Election Day on Nov. 5, WVXU will run a series on the candidates' positions on major issues, starting today with issues of equity in public schools. However, high-performing schools 'perform' well for many reasons. Today focuses on funding in public schools. ", Davis: "I have supported TFA while on the Board. Your question does not point out that Teach for America has also been praised locally and nationally for the strong positive impact it has on children and the important teacher pipeline it provides. The superintendent did, in fact, meet with those students soon after that board meeting to discuss perceived inequities in providing needed supports. Ozie Davis (write-in candidate)Age: 54Neighborhood: Avondale How you may know him: Davis leads a community consultation business in Avondale. ", Carolyn JonesAge: 67Neighborhood: College HillOccupation: Retired mental health professional, "Equity and education is a critical determinant to overall student academic achievement and student success. Steve MegerleAge: 39Neighborhood: North Avondale How you may know him: Megerle formerly served as the chief of staff for Councilman Jeff Pastor and is an attorney. ", Lindy: "First, I want to note how important this issue is. "Maintaining equitable environment is most prevalent in 2019. Do you support the use of TFA locally? She talked about a fresh approach to learning. That's just wrong and must be addressed. We have done that with focused programming and increased funding as well as the implementation of the CLC (Community Learning Center) system.". Since he filed with the Hamilton County Board of Elections as an official write-in candidate, ballots cast for Davis will be counted. ", Bowers: "As noted above, each school has it's own needs necessary to help dissolve any barriers to improved academic success and the district's response to these needs are imperative to our district as a whole. I will also do what is required to continue the declining numbers of children in this area's charter system. The best way we can improve neighborhood schools is through an increased focus on excellent building principals. He was appointed to the board in May 2018 after Lannis Timmons resigned. I take issue with the two-year requirement of the TFA contract and their emphasis on hiring African American and Hispanic teachers as a priority. 2019 School Board Candidates On Funding Voters in the Cincinnati Public School District will have two school board elections on the ballot at next Tuesday's election. (706) 442-0530. There is no reason that every school in the district can't be high quality and put students on the pathway to college or a career. ", Jones: "I do not support hiring through TFA as a strategy to replace teachers as a standard practice, or for financial benefit to the district. ", Lindy: "Yes. Unfortunately, a commitment to the teaching profession comes into play locally. Yes, I believe if TFA instructors are good enough for our high-poverty schools, they should also be placed in our other schools as well. ", Davis: "No, the fact that we have a disproportionate amount of staff to students based on race is not a problem, but it is not best practice. ", Bowers: "I am not a supporter of school choice/voucher system.". A parent is in the best position to make the decision for what education is best for their child, and all options must be on the table when you have a failing school district. ', "As a board member, I am responsible to ensure full enforcement and accountability for the policy and any actions that come from that policy. ", Carolyn JonesAge: 67Neighborhood: College HillOccupation: Retired mental health professional, "The establishment, implementation and measurement of equity strategies are necessary to ensuring high-performing neighborhood schools. To fix this problem we need to create a pipeline of minority children who are willing to consider teaching as a profession. Heather Couch did not respond to WVXU. "The district has implored creative strategies to attract new teachers, support their work efforts while they are with the district, and promote retention. However, a description of the full CPS personnel complement from principals to support staff is more representative of the diverse CPS community. (I am proud to have been a member of CPS's first gay-straight alliance at Walnut Hills High School in the 1990s.) The percentage of college students graduating in the profession of teaching is down and not many majoring in teaching are interested in teaching in Cincinnati. It is important for the board to work with the administration to continually review our policies and uphold the laws as they are written. ", Megerle: "Teaching is a profession requiring a license just like being a doctor or a lawyer. Look at the graduation to college rate in the majority white schools versus schools where the majority of students are children of color. "Yes. She has nine years of teaching at Columbia Public Schools in 6-12th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies classrooms at West, Gentry, and Rock Bridge High Schools. ", Brookfield: "Cincinnati is one of the most segregated cities in the country, so it is absolutely important for minority students to see people who look like them working as educators. Additionally, I'll work with parents, students and educators to further develop anti-bullying procedures to protect all students. Since he filed with the Hamilton County Board of Elections as an official write-in candidate, ballots cast for Davis will be counted. I support students from all backgrounds having meaningful, high quality choice about the type of education they receive. 90+% of students at Walnut Hills graduate and go to college whereas between 30-40% of children at predominantly African American high schools graduate and go on to college. Q&A: Columbia school board candidates share their views on pandemic, racial disparities and isolation rooms. Although CPS has made genuine progress on this front in the last several years, there is much more work we need to do because there are still huge differences in educational opportunity (both within CPS and between CPS and its neighbors). ... 4 candidates in running for 3 CPS board … Couch did not respond to WVXU's questions for this series. No party designations appear on the ballot, but both the Hamilton County Democratic and Republican parties have endorsed the candidates. In my view, time is up; these issues should have been addressed a long time ago. CPS requires that all principal candidates earn CPS Eligible status in order to be offered a Uniform Principal Contract. The candidates are Dr. Erick Pruitt, currently the deputy chief of high schools for Chicago Public Schools; Dr. Chace Ramey, the current COO at the Iowa City Community School District; and Dr. Harold Yearwood, the current COO for the Manor Independent … "To truly live up to the goals of the board's equity policy (Board Policy 2255), the same energy and investment put into magnet schools needs to be put into neighborhood schools as well. The premise is false because it assumes district resource allotment unfairly gives less money to schools with the highest poverty. I support expanding the inequitable EdChoice voucher scholarship program districtwide so a chance to succeed is not based on a zip code or neighborhood school boundaries. I've spoken at board meetings to suggest that we put together a directory of resources for LGBTQ+ students and allies to be included in the Student Handbook which is given annually to all CPS families. Four candidates have put forth a bid for one of three available seats on the Columbus Public Schools Board of Education that are up for election this year. Favors: "I believe that every child, regardless of race or income, should be able to attend an excellent school. WVXU asked: How much time should be given to the superintendent to make progress on equity policy? In the three-candidate race for the unexpired term, Pamela Bowers, the incumbent who was appointed to the board in March, faces a challenge from Gary Favors and Steve Megerle. Running up to Election Day on Nov. 5, WVXU will run a series on the candidates' positions on major issues. The Cincinnati Board of Education are, from left, Pamela Bowers, Mike Moroski, Board President Carolyn Jones, Eve Bolton, Ben Lindy, Melanie Bates and Board Vice President Ryan Messer. "There is often significant misinformation about Teach For America discussed in this election. This plan will impact systemic and cultural inequities that impede student success, or fail to adequately address every students' individual needs. I would just add that we should also regularly and systematically listen to the needs and aspirations of students anyway. 2019 School Board Candidates On Funding; 2019 School Board Candidates On Transportation; Voters in the Cincinnati Public School District will have two school board … This too is an equity issue! Secondly, there is a three-candidate race for the unexpired term of Ericka Copeland-Dansby, who resigned from the board earlier this year. Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century and my goals are to take CPS from failing to first.". Clockwise from top left: Ben Lindy, Ozie Davis, Marlena Brookfield, Gary Favors, Pam Bowers, Steve Mergele, Eve Bolton and Carolyn Jones. Congratulations are in order! "We have already left the two-tiered system and are closing the once wide gap between the magnet and neighborhood system. Horn and Seamon have never been on the Columbia Board of Education. The Tax Man Cometh COLUMBIA, 3/8/17 (Beat Byte) --A Columbia School Board (CPS) Member and incumbent candidate for the April election says a Missouri state income tax lien and Boone County Circuit Court Judgment filed against him have been satisfied, despite records to the contrary. Let's not be afraid if we have a continually failing school to turn it upside down and start over to get it right. ", Favors: "As a black male, I am aware of the difference I make in my school and with my families. Board members are unpaid and serve three-year terms. I’m also encouraged that 9 of 16 high school principals are black men. "Yes. Voters in the Cincinnati Public School District will have two school board elections on the ballot at next Tuesday's election. Assistant Principal | Assistant Principal. Accounting for specialized services available at each school also makes comparing schools difficult. How CPS impacts those environments by the preparation of our students is critical in our potential success! Teresa Maledy is the only incumbent running for the CPS Board of Education. ", Gary FavorsAge: N/ANeighborhood: Avondale Occupation: Special education teacher, "Yes, equity has always and will always be of great concern. Today focuses on transportation. Columbia School Board candidates from left, Jay Atkins, Della Streaty-Wilhoit and Blake Willoughby answer questions Thursday during the school board candidates … 2019 CPS School Board Candidates On Transportation. Marlena BrookfieldAge: 34Neighborhood: Green TownshipHow you may know her: Brookfield is a CPS parent and self-described public education activist. That work should be job No. That is actually false. The Columbia Board of REALTORS® Candidate Forum will be held virtually next Wednesday evening. First, there is a six-candidate race for three seats on the seven-member board of elections. CityBeat Staff Nov 5, 2019 11 PM Should we move away from what seems like a two-tiered system of magnet schools vs neighborhood schools? ", Bolton: "The premise of flagship schools versus poverty schools is a false premise. Our students benefit in many ways from having a teacher of the same race or ethnicity and while it is certainly advantageous and necessary to academic achievement to hire and retain minority staff, students are more concerned that their teachers, counselors, social workers, etc., have the capacity to personally connect with them, regardless of racial, ethnic or other demographic characteristics. "Greater focus on how the environment impacts our students needs to be addressed! Five candidates are running for two open spots on the Columbia Public School Board of Education, to be decided by voters in the Tuesday, April 6th election. KBIA's Logan Franz spoke with each candidate - here's a breakdown of the issues and goals they have in mind. 'Equity' in education means students of all backgrounds and in every zip code have access to an excellent education. Lindy: Teach For America is a non-profit organization (similar to a domestic Peace Corps) with widespread bipartisan support, including the support of President Barack Obama and both of his secretaries of education. ", Davis: "As policy chair, our students' safety is of utmost importance to me. ", Davis: "I think parents should choose CPS and that's why I’m working so hard to make sure CPS can provide the highest quality option available! This shows that CPS is serious about addressing equity in our schools! Marlena Brookfield, Heather M. Couch and Ben Lindy are the challengers in the race. This year traffic crashes total 12,651 with 17 being fatal and 141 severe injuries, according to city data. The school board over the years has created inequitable situations for students across the district, for example not providing counselors, physical libraries, accompanying librarians, music teachers and art teachers in neighborhood schools with student populations of under 500 children. Both candidates in the race for Chicago mayor say they support a Chicago Public Schools board that is elected, rather than appointed, like it is now. I did so even though, as a fully licensed teacher, I believed that TFA, no matter how good many TFA-ers might be, represented the DE-PROFESSIONALIZATION OF MY PROFESSION. Davis had to file as a write-in candidate after he failed to gather enough candidate petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. ", Brookfield: "As a member of the queer community who helps facilitate a high school GTSA, this is a matter very close to my heart. ", Megerle: "CPS is a failing school district for the majority of the student consumers. She replaced Ericka Copeland-Dansby who resigned on March 6. CPS has made great strides in the adoption and implementation of its equity policy over the past several years. The controversy is primarily centered around lack of license and credentialing standards. WVXU asked: What are your thoughts on school choice options for parents in the current system? He’d also like to hold board meetings in neighborhood schools and regular public forums on the state of CPS. Teachers and principals need to be able to create a welcoming culture for students of all backgrounds, and we should look for this skill as we hire new staff members and further develop this skill in existing staff through professional development. Unfortunately, that opportunity is far too rare in Cincinnati. ", Lindy: "Ensuring that every student has access to an excellent education is the most important job that the superintendent has. Jonathan Sessions and Helen Wade are running for another term. Marlena BrookfieldAge: 34Neighborhood: Green TownshipHow you may know her: Brookfield is a CPS parent and self-described public education activist. This is the type of poor leadership that creates inequities with our education system.". On Tuesday, Columbia voters will decide who will fill two open seats on the Columbia School Board. Candidates are Lucas Neal, Katherine Sasser, Jeanne Snodgrass, Aron Saylor and incumbent Teresa Maledy. As I’ve visited our schools and communities along the campaign trail, I’ve seen far too many glaring disparities among individual schools for me to say we're doing justice to Board Policy 2255: Equity and Excellence in Education.". Member. We need to show more urgency around improving academic performance for our children. In the six-candidate race, current board president Carolyn Jones, Eve Bolton and Ozie Davis III are the incumbents, while Ben Lindy, Heather M. Couch and Marlena Brookfield make up the field of challengers. The process in achieving equity and excellence encompasses comprehensive strategies for engaging all parties involved with students in the district, internally and externally. COLUMBUS — Three incumbents and one newcomer are contending for three seats on the Columbus Public Schools board in the Nov. 8 general election. ", Jones: "The district's anti-bullying policy clearly enumerates the traits and characteristics of students that could be the basis of bullying, i.e., 'race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender characteristics that may be defined by the district state educational agency. WVXU asked: CPS data shows minority hires (classroom teachers, district coaches, psychologists, social workers and counselors) make up 27.5% of teacher demographic while 71% are white. Posted in Issues in Education, Missouri, School Board, Uncategorized, tagged candidates, Columbia School Board, CPS, election, spring break on March 25, 2010| Leave a Comment » The knots in my shoulder, the cramps in my hands and the loud ring of my cell phone will soon fade into the background for a week as I leave for Spring Break. Seat four: Three candidates are vying for one seat in a special election. We have the top three high schools in Ohio on the U.S. News list (Walnut Hills, Wyoming, Indian Hill), and yet fewer than 2% of seniors at many of the low-income CPS high schools have a college-ready ACT score. For me personally, and for the community, I believe the lack of minority hires within CPS is a great concern. We must work to expose our future educators studying at local universities to consider the value of coming to CPS to work and make a unique difference.". We took steps to ensure we are turning our buildings inside out in the Strategic Plan and hope to build on the success of the Community Learning Center Institute.". When we work together, we can make a difference, but we need relatable role models to help us. According to news partner WCPO, he helped anonymously pay for pamphlets with anti-gay overtones aimed at another commission candidate. Couch did not respond to WVXU's questions for this series. TFA teachers are members of the union and the data suggests that they are overall good teachers. The goal of the district is to ensure equitable resources across the district, which is not a point in time designation, but rather a process over time. ", Bolton: "We have already changed policy, provided clubs, worked on developing positive and welcoming school culture. Principal | Assistant Principal. Although we have made progress in the last decade, the fact that we've still earned two D's in a row on the state report card indicate that we are not making progress fast enough. Board members are unpaid and serve three-year terms. Secondly, there is a three-candidate race for the unexpired term of Ericka Copeland-Dansby, who resigned from the board earlier this year. More concentration on social emotional resources and resources to address toxic and traumatic living conditions are needed! Our curriculum at all levels should include examples of individuals from many different backgrounds (including LGBTQ+ individuals), and we should support the development of queer-straight alliances across the district. Do you think it is equitable that the teachers are placed in lower performing schools like Taft IT, Bond Hill Academy and LEAP? We need to ensure that every child, regardless of race or income, has the opportunity to attend an excellent school. Through stronger recruitment programs, career advancement opportunities for educators of color, and partnerships that help cover parts of student loan debt, we can improve the diversity of the CPS workforce. Showing up role models that they can identify with and our students is in... Together, we can improve neighborhood schools through Teach for America discussed in election. A surprise that those are the schools where they are overall good teachers for... 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