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 Qualifications, Addressing priorities, Funding

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from A. Chris Nelms:

Graduate of Cincinnati Public Schools, Employed by CPS in numerous positions for over 25yrs (Teacher, Coach, Preventionist, Administrator). Children, grandchildren and relatives products of CPS. Masters in Education (Xavier), Adjunct Instructor, Cincinnati State, UC, Chatfield College. Campaign Volunteer over 10 years. Currently employed with Children's Hospital as Prevention Educator - Servicing Public School Students & Community...(over word count)

Answer from Eve Bolton:

I am a graduate of CPS and a veteran Wyoming High School teacher. My expertise and public service experiences have prepared me to raise CPS performance. As County Recorder I reinvigorated the office by reorganizing the workforce, flattening the bureaucracy, increasing communication and collaboration, all of which CPS needs now.

Answer from MIchael Flannery:

I'm a Dad, not a politician. I don't care if I'm ever re-elected. I have no personal or professional agenda for seeking this office. At Channel Nine I put the needs of the child in my story ahead of everything. Direct instructions from a supervisor went ignored if I felt it was not in the best interest of the child. The students of Cincinnati Public can expect the same treatment. Most important, I can spot an Emperor with no clothes EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Answer from Rick Williams:

My parents were educators so my exposure to the district began early. I am a graduate of Cincinnati Public Schools with eight years of experience on the School Board. My job is a daily reminder of the connection between quality schools and neighborhoods as I watch families choosing home ownership outside of Cincinnati because of the schools.

Answer from A. Chris Nelms:

The most critical components is a child's educational development is both parents and community involvement. School only acts as an extension of the home. The key is connecting parents to resources such as, PTA's, LSDMC's and the newly formed Parent Leadership Institute, designed to educate, train and empower parents to be advocates and proactive agents in their child's educational development. Making parent partners in their children's education progress.

Answer from Rick Williams:

I have begun with a resolution to the Board to begin a study of best practices and successful urban settings to be performed by the Council of Great City Schools, Knowledworks Foundation and STRIVE. The resolution also included the creation of a public engagement process to be designed by the Public Engagement and Partnership Committee which I chair, and STRIVE. These activities will create the profile for the next superintendent, which will be done with the support of the Broad Foundation.

Answer from Eve Bolton:

• Selection of a new Superintendent and the election of new Board members could end the factional miscommunication on the Board and between the Board and Superintendent as referenced in the STRIVE Report.
• In this new transparent environment we can restructure the bureaucracy, institute more formalized communication and budget development. We can implement the strategic plan, set annual goals, and strengthen our partnerships with corporate, labor and NGO supporters. We can make curricular and extracurricular changes that encourage students to graduate and extend their day because they receive support, remediation and career path guidance.

Answer from MIchael Flannery:

I'm not going to tell you I have all the answers. I don't know if I have any of the answers. I'm not a member of Academia, an attorney or an accountant. ( I don't even balance my own check book) I'm just a Dad who believes it's more important for school board members to be parents than politicians.

Every Parents should volunteer their time to the their child's school. How they volunteer depends on their resources and abilities. The mom with accounting skills, becomes the treasurer. The dad with the 15 passenger van drives on the field trips. Since I can get elected to school board . . . then that's what I should do.

Answer from A. Chris Nelms:

I am definitely in favor of amending The Ohio Constitution on funding Public Schools, due to the following reasons. I believe that the current method for funding public education is and was unconstitutional, as declared by the Ohio Supreme Courts in 1997. Each state should take responsibility for providing adequate funding for public education and not leave it to the decision of the government. Considering four basic areas by the Ohio Supreme Court. 1). State Basic Aid. 2). Local Property Tax, 3) Borrowing. 4). School Facilities.

Answer from Eve Bolton:

If the legislature and governor don't find a remedy for school funding in the next two years, the people will have to initiate a Constitutional amendment. Any solution must address the inequities and the burdens that result from too heavy a reliance on property tax. Three solutions might be to force a greater allocation of state funds generally, equalize the funding gaps specifically or radically redesign the entire tax structure in Ohio in order to reduce the property tax and make more equitable dollars spent on Ohio children. Any one of the solutions could help solve the funding problem. However I want local communities to keep control and schools to remain accountable to their tax payers. In the meantime the state needs to end unfunded mandates, exempt excellent districts from state measurement and greatly increase the Poverty Base Funding per student. After all, achievement gaps revolve around socio-economic differences.

Answer from MIchael Flannery:

Four times the Supreme Court rulled that the way we fund our schools is unconstitutional and four times the Ohio Legislature ignored these rulings. Would any of us get away with that???? How come both houses aren't charged with contempt of court.

My position is the citizens of Ohio should initiate a class action lawsuit against all and past present legislatures who have ignored the supreme court's rulings. And the supreme court should be impeached for not doing their job as officers of the court.

Answer from Rick Williams:

Change in the funding of public education in Ohio is mandatory! It has been determined more than once by the State Supreme Court that the current funding practice is unconstitutional, yet it remains. Ohio is among the lowest in financial support for public education. It is no wonder our economy is weak. Our state legislators primarily represent geographic areas that immune to the problem. This must be changed. If the urban cities continue to be minimized educationally, the state will never thrive economically!

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.