League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2011 Election
	Jack Lee Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Winton Woods City School District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What are your qualifications for office?

Prior to joining the Winton Woods Board of Education 16 years ago, I served on a variety of school candidate and levy campaigns, School Board Advisory Council, PTO volunteer, as well as supporting my two children, who are successful K-12 graduates of the District. My college degree from Miami University was in Business Education. While I chose other employment upon graduation, I did teach a Junior High level of Junior Achievement for 15 years and am Past President of the Hamilton/Fairfield Junior Achievement Board of Directors. The Greenhills-Forest Park Kiwanis are very supportive of our local schools and I am a Past President of that organization, as well.

2. What would you do to advance the concept of "equity in education" in your district?

Winton Woods comes close to defining "diversity", and not just racially, but in students with disabilities, students deemed economically disadvantaged, students where English is a second language (26 nationalities at last count). We don't talk the talk, we walk the walk. We strive to assure that each and every student has access to a thorough educational experience and that they achieve success to their full potential. This is evidenced by improved standardized scores over the last 8 years and a tripling of graduate college scholarship offers.

3. How would you use your students' state test results to improve education in your district?

While it is necessary to have accountability, demonstrated through comparative state test results (Ours have risen sharply over the last 8 years), those results should and must be tempered by the fact that we are a unique public school. Very few schools have 1 in 5 students being Special Needs students, 54% Economically Disadvantaged, and 24% student mobility over the course of a year and still achieve the type of results we do. Our Administration and Staff do Excellent work, but we will won't be satisfied until we achieve an Excellent rating. We are nearly there at the High School and Elementary School. We have shown gains, but need more work at the Intermediate and Middle School. We are on the right track.

4. What will you do to build consensus in the community in support of public schools?

In a day and age when it seems way too popular to take pot-shots at teachers/administrators and public schools in general, where the media seems almost gleeful to point out the bad, there is a lot of good going on in our schools. We are mindful that 80% of the voting public has no direct contact with the schools and there a variety of new educational choices for school age parents. We communicate both our successes and challenges via the printed and electronic media, email newsletter, websites, social media, phone calls, public meetings, and the tried and true notes in the back pack. Anything we can do to convey that we are out here, we need your support, and we are making a difference.

5. What are your budget priorities?

We passed our last levy in 2009 after 5 tries. Since then we have seen substantial cuts in State funding and roll backs of primarily business taxes. Budget cuts and layoffs have been made. Extending the time for any future levy requests has become a challenge of mammoth proportions. We have undertaken studies and initiated programs (such as the Academy of Global Studies) to find ways to reduce our cost per student, offer improved educational opportunities, and find additional avenues for income through cost sharing with other entities, sharing of services, Open Enrollment and International student tuition. We are seeing some success and we want to further expand those efforts as opportunities come up.

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Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 12, 2011 13:32
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