League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2011 Election
	Mary Welsh Schlueter Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Cincinnati 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? (50 word limit)

With my service as CEO of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Partnership for Innovation in Education (http://www.piemedia.org), and my role as a CPS parent of young kids, I have shown a commitment to helping children realize a greater future for themselves and their communities.

2. What would you do to advance the concept of "equity in education" for Cincinnati Public Schools? (100 word limit)

Every child deserves an equitable education within our public schools. I have authored several national newspaper and magazine articles (reprints, http://www.piemedia.org) encouraging teacher evaluation systems rewarding student achievement, introducing student career skill proficiency in the 4C's (creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication), and supporting greater "district of choice" magnet school opportunities for our 33,000 students. CPS already has already met Race to the Top requirements, and I suggest we take bolder steps to push our lowest performing schools to reach Excellent and Effective Ohio Standards. Until ALL our 57 schools meet these standards, we cannot rest.

3. How would you use your students' state test results to improve education in your district? (100 word limit)

I fully support the District-wide implementation of the State-approved Core Curriculum Standards. In the next year, CPS teachers will be evaluated on their success of teaching such standards. Here at CPS, 50% of a teacher's evaluation is based upon student academic growth, and a recent program (PRE) was initiated offering monetary incentives to teachers showing student achievement (2% of salary). Teachers, teams and entire schools require the flexibility to teach to their particular student population. Thoughtful use of these improvement indexes will provide direction to teachers, principals and curriculum managers of how to improve the education product and process.

4. What will you do to build consensus in the community in support of Cincinnati Public Schools?

I have met with numerous political, education, business, faith and nonprofit leaders throughout Cincinnati and our regional partners. If elected, I will establish a non-quorum Roundtable of elected/appointed officials to discuss synergies, efficiencies and opportunities in budget, programs and day-to-day operations. Moreover, I would serve as a liaison to national business and education partners who might further collaborate with CPS as we try to realize our achievement goals.

5. What are your budget priorities?

I believe CPS must maintain its flat budget and enforce financial limits in these harder economic times. Moreover, with the upcoming significant loss of teachers due to retirement, I urge all Board Members to heighten fiscal transparency and adopt "best practice" efficiencies. Yet for CPS to become "best in class", we must continue to invest in our teaching staff, recruiting the best candidates from around the nation. In order to maintain the momentum our schools have shown in academic achievement, we must be more innovative in how we allocate funds. See http://www.MaryMeansBusiness.com for more details.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits may apply. See individual questions for specific word limits. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. Please edit your work before submitting. We are unable to provide spell-check at this time.

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 8, 2011 11:56
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