1. WHY HAVE YOU BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR THE BOE?

I chose to run in order to bring common sense solutions to our district and restore community trust in decisions being made by the school board.

2. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A BOE?

The role of a school board is to serve as representatives of the community providing guidance and direction to the administration. A school board hires, supervises, sets goals for and evaluates the superintendent and treasurer. A school board should also provide the best possible public education at the lowest cost by carefully watching spending, managing finances and acting on our financial forecasts in a manner that provides long lasting financial stability and preserves academic success.

3. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT?

A superintendent manages the daily operations of the school district while carrying out the policies and guidance provided by the school board.

4. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A BOARD ATTORNEY?

Attorneys hired by the board are responsible for providing legal advice to the district.

5. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE NORDONIA HILLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The most important issue facing the Nordonia Hills School District is deficit spending. In 2019 the community came together to pass a new 6.98 mill levy, which brought in $7 million per year. The district has also received a $15 million settlement from the MGM and over $3 million in federal pandemic funds. Despite all of this new cash, poor management by board leadership had led us into deficit spending just 3 years later. Our district is forecast to spend $24 million more than it receives over the next 5 years. Without immediate reductions in spending and new revenue soon our district will go broke, our valuable educators and support staff will be laid off and the State of Ohio will take over our school district.

6. WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR ENSURING ALL CHILDREN IN NORDONIA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION?

Our district recently received a 5-star rating from the State of Ohio. Continuing to support our teachers, administrators and staff is important, but providing financial stability is a top priority. But all of their hard work and success can be wiped out by poor financial management on the part of our school board. We saw this just 4 years ago when my opponents voted to lay off 33 employees, cut busing and vital student programs. In 2011 our district faced the same fate, laying of 54 teachers. New leadership on the board is vital to ensuring all children in Nordonia Hills have an opportunity for a quality education.

7. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS SUCH AS VOUCHERS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS?

Ohio’s Educational Choice program is vital to ensuring that children and families in poorly performing districts have access to the same educational opportunities as the rest of Ohio’s students. This program allows parents to take their tax dollars to schools that provide the best education for their children. EdChoice is a state program and therefore not voted on or controlled in any way by local school board members.

8. WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE WAY OHIO FUNDS SCHOOLS?

More than 70% of Nordonia’s revenue is sourced from local property taxes. The remainder is a combination of several categories including state and federal funding. We also receive funds from ever increasing fees the board has imposed in parents, such sports fees, student fees, as well as kindergarten fees. The board cannot continue unchecked spending while increasing taxes and fees on parents to make up for it.

9. HOW ARE SCHOOLS FUNDED?

More than 70% of Nordonia’s revenue is sourced from local property taxes. The remainder is a combination of several categories including state and federal funding. We also receive funds from ever increasing fees the board has imposed in parents, such sports fees, student fees, as well as kindergarten fees. The board cannot continue unchecked spending while increasing taxes and fees on parents to make up for it.

10. DO YOU SUPPORT TAX LEVIES TO GENERATE LOCAL REVENUE? IF YES, EXPLAIN. IF NO, EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD GENERATE NECESSARY MONEY TO OPERATE SCHOOLS?

Under current Ohio law, local tax levies provide the majority of funding for local k-12 school districts. Local tax levies also provide the primary source for funding townships in Ohio. Without these levies local public schools could not exist and townships could not provide the basics services their residents need. 4 out of our last 5 school levy requests have been overwhelmingly rejected by the Nordonia Hills Community. Requests for tax increased must take into consideration the ability of the residents of the district to afford them.

11. WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS FOR MAKING NORDONIA SCHOOLS EVEN SAFTER FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF?

Safety and security for staff and students inside our schools is a priority of mine. I have served as a police officer in the community for 2 decades, working and training in our school district. In the past 3 months I have completed more than 20 hours of training inside our buildings with my colleagues on local police and fire departments. No other candidate has the knowledge, training or experience I have in keeping our students safe. A vital element of this is School Resource Officers (SROs). I am an advocate for full time SROs in each of our buildings, a goal that has not yet been reached. We use uniformed officers to protect our banks, courthouses, airports concerts and politicians. It time we provide the same level of protection for our children. Working inside our buildings with Nordonia staff, administrators and counselors SROs work to build lasting relationships with students and prevent incidents while standing ready to protect everyone inside from violence.

12. SHOULD SEL BE A PART OF THE DAILY CURRICULUM?

In 2021 our school board voted in a 3-2 vote to spend $288,840 on a 3 year contract for a “7 Mindsets” Social Emotional Learning program for our district because “the vocabulary is not uniform across the grades” according to Superintendent Clark. The program is not a graded part of the Ohio curriculum. The contract for that program expires next year. Due to poor financial planning, the board will not have the funds to renew it, regardless of how any candidate feels about it. Our board cannot continue to ignore financial warnings and must be more careful with taxpayer funds.

13. DO YOU SUPPORT DR CLARK (MR. WRIGHT) AND HIS ADMINISTRATION? IF SO, WHY AND HOW WILL YOU? IF NO, WHY?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and have a lengthy conversation with Mr. Wrght and our treasurer Mr. Kiffer. We discussed the many challenges the district is currently facing and I came away confident from that both understand difficult decisions that will need to be made to put the district on the right path. I look forward to working with both of them to lead our district in the future.

14. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE NEW BOE (POTENTIALLY)?

I have maintained good relationships with many of our current board members over the past several years, having lengthy conversations about school issues with several of them recently. Last week I met with our new Superintendent Casey Wright and our new Treasurer Kyle Kiffer for over 2 hours, discussing the challenges facing our district and how new voices in the district can work to successfully move our district into the future. I will build on these relationships and bring unique strengths and new perspectives to the table, building consensus and working daily to make decisions in the best interest of the students, parents, while also balancing the wants of the school district with the ability of the community to afford them.

15. HOW WILL YOU HELP HEAL A DIVIDED COMMUNITY, IF ELECTED?

Our community became deeply divided by decisions the board and administration over the past several years. A large portion of our community has not forgotten those decisions and will not support much needed funds going forward without a change in leadership and a change on the school board. Over the past several years a significant portion of our community completely ignored. Senior citizens have had no voice. My campaign has received overwhelming support from all sides of the community. When elected I will work to represent ALL members of the community, ensuring the best chance of success for Nordonia Schools moving forward.

16. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MAJOR ISSUES IN YOUR CAMPAIGN?

My campaign is focused on the 3 major issues that students, parents, residents and staff members have brought to me over the past several years. I am the only candidate with a website identifying the challenges facing our community and the solutions to those challenges at www.ellisfornordonia.com.

1. Safety and Security in our school buildings. For many years district leaders have stated that safety and security are their top priority, yet millions have been spent in other areas while safety and security concerns remain. Details can be found here. https://www.ellisfornordonia.com/issues/Nordonia-safety-security

2. Fiscal Responsibility. Despite the passage of a 6.98 mill levy just 4 years ago our district is going broke. My opponents have served for 2 terms and have never questioned a spending measure. They have supported multiple tax increases that the community has overwhelmingly rejected. It’s time for change. Details can be found here. https://www.ellisfornordonia.com/issues/fiscal-responsibility

3. Transparency and Accountability. It has been a year since the last time a parent, student or resident of the district has been allowed to speak at a board meeting and receive a response. In that time, the board has spent over $50 million taxpayer dollars without allowing a single question at an open forum. It’s time for change. Details can be found here. https://www.ellisfornordonia.com/issues/transparency-and-accountability

17. DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN THAT ATTEND NORDONIA SCHOOLS?

Yes, I am the only candidate with 3 children currently attending Nordonia Schools. When elected I will work tirelessly to bring common-sense solutions to our district that have been lacking for many years. The Nordonia Hills School District has a historic opportunity to do something great. With a new treasuerer, assistant treasuerer, new superintendent and a new business director the community can begin a new era of transparency and cooperation by electing a new board member. I have been serving the residents of the community as a first responder for over 2 decades and I look forward to serving you in a new role as a new school board member when elected on November 7.

1. WHY HAVE YOU BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR THE BOE?

My family’s ties to this community date back to 1975. I am a 1992 graduate of Nordonia High School along with my 4 siblings. After graduating from Kent State University in 1997, I became a Certified Public Accountant in 1998. When I got married, my wife and I moved back to Nordonia to raise a family and then start my business. Both of my children have attended Nordonia schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. The community has previously elected me as a board member, a position of trust and obligation, which has been both an honor and a privilege. We have great students, parents, staff and residents in our district, which has made my experience as a board member both rewarding and fulfilling. As a graduate, a current school board member for 9 years, a Certified Public Accountant for 25 years and a local business owner since 2005, I believe I am uniquely qualified to help set policies that ensure the sustainability of our district at the highest of academic standards and quality of student life. One of the jobs of the school board is to set policies for the district in order to maintain our high academic standards while maintaining funding to keep pace with inflation, increased building costs and budget constraints. I have faced these realities existing in our school district for the last 9 years and am willing and able to continue to do so for another 4 years.

2. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A BOE?

• To hire and evaluate the superintendent
• To hire and evaluate the treasurer
• To set school and district polices
• To advocate for the community’s public education needs

3. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT?

The superintendent is the chief executive officer of the district. As such, the superintendent runs the day-to-day operations in accordance with the policies set by the board of education. The superintendent is also the leader who aspires and inspires to improve student achievement.

4. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A BOARD ATTORNEY?

To represent the district in legal matters and to offer advice on legal and policy matters. The board’s attorneys help the district follow the complex and everchanging web of state and federal regulations affecting education.

5. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE NORDONIA HILLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?

Finances. The most important issues facing just about every public school district is finances. It can be very difficult to ask and then convince the community to vote to raise their own taxes. Nordonia is continually near the lowest tax rate of all 17 school districts in Summit County. For the high quality education the students of Nordonia receive at a low tax rate, our community receives a great return on their tax investment. However, the schools still need to go back to the voters from time-to-time to ask for more money to be able to continue to provide the education our students deserve.

6. WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR ENSURING ALL CHILDREN IN NORDONIA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION?

I am a strong advocate for public education and believe strongly that every child is entitled to a public education. I will continue to advocate for every student in our district. We have a great staff. I believe the relationships the students have with their teachers is the starting point for a high quality education. I will work with our superintendent to make sure we continue to higher the best people we can then let them do their jobs.

7. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS SUCH AS VOUCHERS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS?

Disagree, adamantly – The State of Ohio continues to give more and more funding to private schools via voucher programs. The Ohio constitution very clearly states “...will secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state...” I believe these programs are in violation of the Ohio constitution by creating multiple systems and not one common system. Vouchers take public tax dollars and funnel them into the private schools. Those private schools do not have the same oversight or standards that public schools must adhere to, therefore, not a common system throughout the state.

8. WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE WAY OHIO FUNDS SCHOOLS?

See previous comment. Every year, the State is continuing to funnel more public tax dollars to private entities. If the State adequately funded public schools with the money being illegally siphoned to the voucher programs, the tax burden to local homeowners would be reduced tremendously.

9. HOW ARE SCHOOLS FUNDED?

Public schools are funded primarily by local real estate taxes. In Nordoina 65% of our annual revenues come from local real estate taxes. Funding is also provided by Federal and State sources. For the 2023 fiscal year Nordonia received only about $1350 from the State which is less than 8% of our district's funding. Most of the burden of funding our public schools falls to the local real estate owners.

10. DO YOU SUPPORT TAX LEVIES TO GENERATE LOCAL REVENUE? IF YES, EXPLAIN. IF NO, EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD GENERATE NECESSARY MONEY TO OPERATE SCHOOLS?

Yes. There are no other ways to provide primary funding to public schools in Ohio. Public schools are forced to ask the voters for more funding via tax levies. These levies can come in the form of real estate tax levies or a local income tax. Either way, schools must go directly to the voters and ask for funding to provide the necessary resources to operate the school.

11. WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS FOR MAKING NORDONIA SCHOOLS EVEN SAFTER FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF?

Since I have been on the Board, we have added the Barricade Door Control System to every classroom, approved a new Crisis Alert System and added School Resource Officers to every building and gone through an extension safety audit by a trained professional. The district has a safety and security team made up of district personnel and members of the local police and fire departments. We will continue all these measures and expand on them as needed.

12. SHOULD SEL BE A PART OF THE DAILY CURRICULUM?

Yes. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) should be a part of the regular curriculum. SEL programs positively affect student success. Studies show that social-emotional skills help improve academics, reduce negative social behaviors and create positive classroom climates.

13. DO YOU SUPPORT DR CLARK (MR. WRIGHT) AND HIS ADMINISTRATION? IF SO, WHY AND HOW WILL YOU? IF NO, WHY?

Absolutely. Dr. Clark has been a fantastic superintendent for the past 12 years. We have a great and stable administrative staff. I expect Casey Wright to pick up right where Dr. Clark is leaving off and our District to continue to move forward without missing a beat. As long as Nordonia continues to provide a great education at a fair and reasonable cost to the taxpayers, the administration will have my support.

14. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE NEW BOE (POTENTIALLY)?

My hope is Liz and I will be re-elected and the board will not change for the next 2 years. As it stands right now, the current board works very well together. Also, with both a new superintendent and a new treasurer, board continuity and stability will be very important.

15. HOW WILL YOU HELP HEAL A DIVIDED COMMUNITY, IF ELECTED?

Communication with the community is key. Since I have been on the board, we have implemented regular community open forum meetings, annual state of the schools address, forums with elected officials from the local municipalities and send out informational post cards to the entire community 3 times per year. Also, I try to regularly answer community questions via email and social media. I will continue to provide information and facts to the community in hopes of rooting out misinformation and disinformation.

16. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MAJOR ISSUES IN YOUR CAMPAIGN?

Misinformation, disinformation and character denigration. There’s a lot of incorrect information put on social media about me and what I believe. I would prefer people ask me questions directly rather than believe what they hear around town.

17. DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN THAT ATTEND NORDONIA SCHOOLS?

My son graduated from Nordonia in 2021. My daughter is currently a senior and will graduate in May 2024.

1. WHY HAVE YOU BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR THE BOE?

I am running for a third term as a board of education member because I have a passion for learning and education. This is my way of supporting my community with the education, skills, and experience that I have accumulated as I enter my 24th year as an educator.

2. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A BOE?

The Board of Education governs the school district through policy and hires, oversees, and evaluates the Superintendent and Treasure. The Board reviews and approves service contracts, gives a final vote on all new hires, and negotiates contracts with both the classified and certified staff.

3. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT?

The superintendent is the leader of the district and operates as an ambassador to the community along with the treasurer. In Nordonia, the superintendent is also the head of human resources and communications, while other districts often have directors for these positions at added expense.

4. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A BOARD ATTORNEY?

The district utilizes board attorneys to produce and update policy most often dictated by legislation. Board attorneys are also consulted to be sure student rights are being upheld and making sure district actions are in accordance with the law.

5. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE NORDONIA HILLS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT?

There are always three main issues circling.

• Continued academic strength and improvement
• Safety and security
• School funding and budgeting

6. WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR ENSURING ALL CHILDREN IN NORDONIA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION?

In education we follow “best practices.” These educational practices are research based and peer reviewed showing the highest effect to promote learning and student success. Core curriculum must meet content standards, and content and instruction is differentiated to meet the needs of students. By meeting students where they are, we eliminate barriers promoting the advancement of all. The community has identified the student caliber that is expected in the work they did in developing the Portrait of a Knight.

7. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS SUCH AS VOUCHERS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS?

The state has created a charter system wrought with corruption with little oversight for student success. The voucher system that has been vastly expanded takes taxpayer dollars for private education with no academic or fiscal accountability. The lack of regulation will breed corruption with money provided by Ohio’s citizens. All schools taking tax payer dollars should all be held to the same layers of accountability both academically and fiscally.

8. WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE WAY OHIO FUNDS SCHOOLS?

The state of Ohio funds schools largely by local property taxes, most of which are fixed at a flat rate, except for Nordonia’s 4.97 inside mills, creating a need to return to voters for new revenue. This creates strife within the community making deep divides among residents. The state now funds three different educational systems, public, charter, and private, while our state constitution calls for a common school.

9. HOW ARE SCHOOLS FUNDED?

In Ohio, public schools are funded mostly by local property taxes. The state gives a far smaller portion to the education of our students. Nordonia does not receive the full Fair School Funding amount due to the state’s perceived wealth of our district. Nordonia is one the few districts on a guarantee, which means we receive less revenue for our students. When we divide it out, we get a rough average of $1300 per student from the state. The smallest portion of the budget comes from other miscellaneous items including investments.

10. DO YOU SUPPORT TAX LEVIES TO GENERATE LOCAL REVENUE? IF YES, EXPLAIN. IF NO, EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD GENERATE NECESSARY MONEY TO OPERATE SCHOOLS?

Yes. While I don’t like my property taxes increasing, it is important to fund the education of our collective future. Nordonia has 4.97 inside mills that can bring increased revenue when property values rise, but this is a smaller portion of our funding. The larger portion is in levies that bring in fixed revenue. The primary expense of public schools are employees. Like all businesses this expense along with maintenance, transportation, and academic programming goes up an average 2-5% a year. While all expenses must be minimized, the only way a district can increase revenue is to return to their stakeholders and ask for a levy or income tax increase.

11. WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS FOR MAKING NORDONIA SCHOOLS EVEN SAFTER FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF?

Strategic safety measures are in place, but it is imperative that they be continually tested and upgraded. The placement of SROs is instrumental in a proactive approach to student safety, and I am incredibly grateful to our local municipalities for their collaboration to make this happen. There are layers of security in place to protect our students and staff. However, students and families must continue to be vigilant. If you see something, say something.

12. SHOULD SEL BE A PART OF THE DAILY CURRICULUM?

Social emotional learning is an integral part of education. Meeting children where they are is critical to being able to learn. We can teach critical thinking skills, social skills, self-regulation, and help with traumatic events that limit a child’s ability to learn. Suicidal ideation is at an all time high and is impacting student at younger ages. It would be unconscionable to do nothing to support the needs of our students. Social emotional learning (SEL) is critically needed in schools.

13. DO YOU SUPPORT DR CLARK (MR. WRIGHT) AND HIS ADMINISTRATION? IF SO, WHY AND HOW WILL YOU? IF NO, WHY?

I have supported Dr. Clark during my two terms on the Board of Education. We are now in the early stages of looking for the next Superintendent of the Nordonia Hills City Schools. Casey Wright will be the Interim Superintendent starting October 1, 2023.

14. HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH THE NEW BOE (POTENTIALLY)?

The board must have the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. That requires trust and transparency. I have always been respectfully upfront with my views on education, and I expect all other members to operate in a similar manner in order to bring about positive outcomes for the district.

15. HOW WILL YOU HELP HEAL A DIVIDED COMMUNITY, IF ELECTED?

I believe in expressing myself in a kind way when articulating opinions and reasons for my decisions. There is an art to listening to others, which is key when listening to members of the community and working with fellow board members. Having served on the board of education I have always been able to have productive conversations with people who had a different view.

16. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MAJOR ISSUES IN YOUR CAMPAIGN?

• Academic performance and growth
• Safety and security
• School funding and keeping costs in line

17. DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN THAT ATTEND NORDONIA SCHOOLS?

Yes, I had one year when all four of my children attended Nordonia ranging from a kindergartener to a senior. I now have two Nordonia graduates and two current Knights, and I am very pleased with the education that my children have received.