I was glad to see under Endorsements postings some remarks by Dr. Rigelman yesterday. He has been an articulate advocate of balanced growth and fiscal responsibility. I hope he will continue to be involved in community affairs and the operations of our school district following the end of his term in January 2004.
Bruce and I agree on far more items than we disagree. Several of his closest allies and biggest supporters are top advisors to Marcy Raymond's campaign. I believe his position on the Community Authority has helped form Raymond's position on this important issue.
And, I agree with him that Wes Monhollen has done an outstanding job as school board president. History will speak kindly of Monhollen's tenure. The most important function of a school board is to provide leadership and hire an effective management team for the school district.
During Monhollen's presidency, we have hired an outstanding superintendent in Dr. Thiede and an outstanding treasurer in Vince Utterback. Utterback's communications and financial skills will helped us enormously. The hiring of an outstanding management team is far more important accomplishments than the ones listed by Bruce (preventing $1 million shed by the junior high, etc). In addition, the board has been able to keep all of the top administrators like Lew Stemen, Marty England, Barb Geis, Tim McManus, Jim Reed and principals ... all people who have helped build this school district into one of the finest in the nation. We have the finest management team in place -- kudos to the school board and Wes Monhollen.
However, Bruce and I disagreed on the concept of minimal millage in fall of 2000. And, we both will go to our graves thinking our positions were correct. Truth be known, we were probably both a little right and both a little wrong.
The only black spot on the current board's record is shutting out the media and the public from board decisions(illegally) during the period of January through March 31 of this year. Nick Pittner, one of the best education attorneys in Ohio, had to set the board straight on April 7 when he advised against conducting any more illegal finance committee meetings and CommuUNITY 1st meetings.
The board needs to always remember to include the public in their decision-making and that one of the most important leadership principles is that people will support things they feel they have helped to create.
I have been told that Lisa Reade's participation in the illegal meetings excluding the public and media cost her any consideration by the Pickerington Times Sun in their endorsement process. I wast told she wasted her time even being interviewed.
Let's hope all board members in the future will listen carefully to the public and share their decision-making authority with all of us. It is our money, not theirs.
There are six excellent candidates for the school board, not just two. We all will win with the election of Marcy Raymond, Jim Brink, Lisa Reade, Larry Sigman, Mike Smith, and/or Chris Vail. All have valuable assets and excellent credentials to bring to the board.
The future of our schools looks bright!
Bruce and I agree on far more items than we disagree. Several of his closest allies and biggest supporters are top advisors to Marcy Raymond's campaign. I believe his position on the Community Authority has helped form Raymond's position on this important issue.
And, I agree with him that Wes Monhollen has done an outstanding job as school board president. History will speak kindly of Monhollen's tenure. The most important function of a school board is to provide leadership and hire an effective management team for the school district.
During Monhollen's presidency, we have hired an outstanding superintendent in Dr. Thiede and an outstanding treasurer in Vince Utterback. Utterback's communications and financial skills will helped us enormously. The hiring of an outstanding management team is far more important accomplishments than the ones listed by Bruce (preventing $1 million shed by the junior high, etc). In addition, the board has been able to keep all of the top administrators like Lew Stemen, Marty England, Barb Geis, Tim McManus, Jim Reed and principals ... all people who have helped build this school district into one of the finest in the nation. We have the finest management team in place -- kudos to the school board and Wes Monhollen.
However, Bruce and I disagreed on the concept of minimal millage in fall of 2000. And, we both will go to our graves thinking our positions were correct. Truth be known, we were probably both a little right and both a little wrong.
The only black spot on the current board's record is shutting out the media and the public from board decisions(illegally) during the period of January through March 31 of this year. Nick Pittner, one of the best education attorneys in Ohio, had to set the board straight on April 7 when he advised against conducting any more illegal finance committee meetings and CommuUNITY 1st meetings.
The board needs to always remember to include the public in their decision-making and that one of the most important leadership principles is that people will support things they feel they have helped to create.
I have been told that Lisa Reade's participation in the illegal meetings excluding the public and media cost her any consideration by the Pickerington Times Sun in their endorsement process. I wast told she wasted her time even being interviewed.
Let's hope all board members in the future will listen carefully to the public and share their decision-making authority with all of us. It is our money, not theirs.
There are six excellent candidates for the school board, not just two. We all will win with the election of Marcy Raymond, Jim Brink, Lisa Reade, Larry Sigman, Mike Smith, and/or Chris Vail. All have valuable assets and excellent credentials to bring to the board.
The future of our schools looks bright!
