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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
Qualification,
Priorities,
Parental involvement
Click on a name for other 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 Forest S. Heis:
28 years prior experience on Forest Hills Board of Education as President, Vice-President, Past Chairman of Policy, Finance and Extra Curricular Committees
Answer from Julie F. Bissinger:
Children in 9th and 3rd grades. For nine years, served the schools: Sherwood chair of numerous PTA committees, Vice-President and President; Nagel orientation chair and PTA Secretary; Forest Hills Council of PTAs member and President. Served on Boards of Boys/Girls Clubs, Community Chest and Commmunity Action Agency.
Answer from Tracy Zimmerman Huebner:
As a teacher, I know what it takes to educate students and I know how the school system works. I've lived in Forest Hills my whole life, and am a graduate of Anderson. Combining all of these allows me to have the best interest of the students and the taxpayers.
Answer from Richard W. Neumann:
Twice previously elected with eight years experience on Forest Hills School District Board of Education; Twenty years private sector business owner/management experience; Nine years experience as high school teacher/coach; Three years experience as high school administrator; Certified Assistant Superintendent (ODE 2002); Certified Secondary Principal (NJDE 1982)
Answer from Nicholas H. Schmelzer:
My wife and four young children live in Anderson Township. I am a CPA and tax attorney with a large company. I have no political experience or agenda. I have no experience or agenda in education. I am professional, independent, objective, open-minded, and results oriented.
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2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)
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Answer from Richard W. Neumann:
Along with Superintendent and Treasurer maintain sharp focus on district finances and fiscal responsibility while insuring that administration and professional staff have necessary resources to maintain ODE "Excellent" rating now attained for five straight years and district goal of "Success For All Students". Work diligently with all constituencies in the community to pass operating levy in 2006.
Answer from Nicholas H. Schmelzer:
I have the judgment, independence, and professionalism to address any of the problems facing the Board. If elected to the Board, I will collaborate with those with the experience to understand the problems, and I would propose or support practical and effective solutions.
Answer from Tracy Zimmerman Huebner:
1. Provide the necessary training and tools for teachers so they are more comfortable with technology and can use it more extensively in the classroom.
2. Continue surveying parents, faculty, and students to find a uniform dress code that will enable students to focus on learning, rather than what they are wearing.
3. Work with other school board members, parents, the superintendent, and Treasurer to make sure that the district is making the best financial decisions.
Answer from Forest S. Heis:
Continue to employ, develop and retain outstanding, caring teachers supported by a committed administration with vision to maintain and improve the academic, fine art and broad based opportunities available to our children. The board must continue to be good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars, exercising financial responsibility in order to keep the faith with the voters and taxpayers who have traditionally supported our schools when they perceived the District to have a real need for additional funds. Further, we need to continue to inform the public of our successes and our challenges to meet the ever changing demands of society for our students so that we can maintain the community's pride in our schools and their support of a top quality education for our children.
Answer from Julie F. Bissinger:
Due to State cuts in public education funding, the Board voted to place an operating levy on the 2006 ballot. I will support the levy to insure its passage and continue Forest Hills' "Excellent" rating. I will thoroughly study and act on the administration's recommendations stemming from the Vision 2010 study regarding Wilson Elementary, a pre-kindergarten/kindergarten facility, and the future of our high schools. I support elementary schools offering a solid basic computer curriculum and middle and high schools offering advanced courses. Teachers must receive training on the latest computer equipment and methods.
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3. What will you do as a Board of Education member to increase parental involvement in your school system? (100 word limit)
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Answer from Forest S. Heis:
I support full, prompt, direct and open communication with the parent community about our successes and our challenges. This begins with the classroom teacher involving the parents in their childrens' educations, including personal calls to their homes about the progress of their children, encouraging their volunteering in their children's activities at school, membership in PTA's, booster groups and FHIMA. I support the continued development of the District's website giving current information about all areas of school operation. Other methods include monthly newsletters from the school principal, open houses, community meetings with the superintendent and special public board meetings where appropriate on special issues.
Answer from Julie F. Bissinger:
Board members help build community support and understanding of public education, and lead the community in demanding quality education. Forest Hills is blessed with active, passionate parents. The Board should involve the leadership of the Forest Hills Council of PTAs in recruiting and selecting parent volunteers to serve on committees to address the Athletic Code of Conduct, Dress Code, District Safety, Diversity, and Enrollment/Facilities. It must also recruit dedicated, well-informed chairs to lead the levy effort in 2006, who will in turn engage hundreds of parent volunteers, to insure the levy's passage and continued excellence in the district.
Answer from Tracy Zimmerman Huebner:
- Keep each school's website current so parents can find up-to-date information (such as upcoming meetings and extracurricular opportunities for students).
- Encourage principals to post weekly or bi-weekly letters online, informing parents of what is happening around the school and what they can expect in the week(s) to come.
- Provide technology classes for parents so they can learn more about EDLINE, e-mailing teachers/administrators, and searching their children's' school websites for information.
- Recommend PTA involvement
- Promote parent volunteering in schools (as a front door greeter, photocopier, field trip chaperone, etc.)
Answer from Nicholas H. Schmelzer:
I will support parents that accept their responsibility for being involved with their children's education. My primary concern for the future of the District is ensuring that it provides students with a world-class education so they can succeed in the competitive global environment they will face.
Answer from Richard W. Neumann:
The Forest Hills School District is very fortunate to have incredibly strong support from our parent community. The Board, Superintendent and administration are always seeking ways to enhance that relationship through the Forest Hills Council of PTA's, Booster and Band Clubs, but especially at the baseline level of consistent one-on-one classroom teacher to parent interaction.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
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League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
