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Hundreds learn about Poland BOE candidates
By Sean Barron
A few hundred teachers, students and others learned more about where four candidates running for a seat on Poland Board of Education stand on everything from state Issue 2 to open enrollment in the district.
The two challengers and two incumbents running in Tuesday’s election spoke and addressed questions during Tuesday’s 90-minute forum at Poland Seminary High School, 3199 Dobbins Road.
The challengers are Agatha “Aggie” VanBrocklin and James Lavorini. The incumbents are Elinor S. Zedaker and Robert Shovlin, who were elected to the board in 1991 and 2007, respectively.
Moderating the session was Dennis LaRue of the Business Journal and president of Poland Schools Foundation for Academic Excellence, which sponsored the event.
Shovlin said that during his four years on the board, he pushed for all-day kindergarten and more high-school electives such as sign- language and Italian classes.
Zedaker said she will bring valuable experience to deal with fiscal and other challenges the district faces.
Lavorini and VanBrocklin noted that their top priorities are disciplined, sound fiscal policies and a transparent three-year strategic plan, respectively.
The board likely will have to contend with a bleak five-year financial forecast. Treasurer Donald Stanovcak has said he expects the district to see about $1.5 million in carry-over at the end of this year, but projected a $2 million deficit by 2014.
In addition, five-year, 3.9-mill and 4.9-mill emergency levies were defeated last November and May.
During the question-and-answer portion, Lavorini explained that he plans to vote no on Issue 2, despite agreeing with certain provisions that he said could help fix the state’s fiscal situation.
Shovlin said he feels it’s wrong to lump all state employees together, but added that key provisions regarding health-care costs can save the state money.
VanBrocklin and Zedaker took a neutral stance on Issue 2, which is a referendum on Senate Bill 5 that would limit collective-bargaining rights for many Ohio public employees.
“It will have a horrid impact in public education,” Zedaker said when asked how she feels about state House Bill 136, which would expand Ohio’s school-voucher program.
The other three candidates said they also oppose the bill, noting that the district already is losing students largely because of open enrollment as well as charter and online schools.
The four candidates said they favor the all-day kindergarten program because children today need a greater knowledge base than in the past, and it better prepares them for elementary school.
Other topics included cuts for busing high-school students, rumors about the possibility of closing North Elementary School and the elimination of gym, art and music classes for elementary-school students because of funding cuts.
All four candidates also expressed opposition to open enrollment and the state’s school funding formula, which was declared unconstitutional in 1997 by the Ohio Supreme Court.