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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Qualifications,
Improvement,
Building Consensus,
Equity
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What are your qualifications for office?
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Answer from George Brunemann:
I have been responsible for advancing the state of the art in technology for over 30 years and am the inventor on over a dozen patents. That same approach can be used to develop new ways to deliver personalized education programs at reduced ongoing expense. As a small business owner and project manager, I am proficient at estimating resources and controlling expenses. We need to apply the same return on investment philosophy to the school system in order to minimize the tax burden on the community.
Answer from Gerry Trennepohl:
I retired from Procter & Gamble after a 35 year career in Finance & Accounting, where the last 15 years in helped manage large people budgets, similar to the Oak Hills school budget. I've been a practicing Christian for the last 38 years which guides my daily life and those same principles will guide my decisions for our children on the school board.
Answer from Nicole Hensley:
I have many qualifications for office, the first being I am a current teacher, whom has several Master's degrees in education and am working toward a PhD in education. I am not only abreast on current school policy but can offer a teacher's perspective to the way a school is governed. Secondly, by working within a public school for the past 10 years, I understand the hurdles education has to overcome in the current times. I can bring perspectives from my work experience and education to continue to make Oak Hills great.
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2. What can be done to improve your school district's results at current funding levels?
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Answer from George Brunemann:
I believe that the introduction of innovative technology combined with a comprehensive review of the budgets is the way to maintain the integrity of the schools while reducing the overall cost. Expanded use of the Internet and computer based learning can customize the learning experience to the skills and needs of the individual students. The Oak Hills School District has an excellent reputation and has been a major asset to the community. We can build on that history only if we are successful in reversing the reliance on ever increasing tax revenue. The key is to reach beyond the traditional approaches and to become the premier innovator in delivering education.
Answer from Nicole Hensley:
Our schools, while great, do have some improving to make. In order to be able to achieve under the new Ohio Accountability report card, much improvement is needed. We will need to analyze and look at new, possibly creative solutions to the budget problem. However, the school will need to ensure it has the amount of funding needed in order to be successful.
Answer from Gerry Trennepohl:
Oak Hills results overall are very good so the challenge is to maintain that level of excellence, especially if the tax levy does not pass. I will review the many unfounded State Mandates for efficiencies to better use funds. Funding for schools in Ohio has been declared Unconstitutional four (4) times by the state Supreme Court, so I will pursue another funding structure though our legislature. I will stop Common Core from its implementation. This federal program tells us: What to teach, How to teach, and How to Pay our teachers. It is costly and removes virtually all local control of our schools.
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3. What will you do to build consensus in the community in support of your school district?
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Answer from Nicole Hensley:
As a parent and a member of the community, I feel the school district needs to do a better job communicating with its stakeholders. I will ensure all members are provided the information needed and will welcome members to come to board meetings, as by becoming involved within the school community will only make the community itself stronger, thus providing a stronger school system.
Answer from Gerry Trennepohl:
I will use community groups and churches to develop a system to receive information about perceptions of the schools and the needs of our children. This system will be a vehicle to provide support to families needing social and other assistance. These groups will be the basis for helping families with social and financial needs to Improve the education of the children.
Answer from George Brunemann:
The Oak Hills website (OHLSD.us) does a good job of calendar and general news information but has little information about the overall district management. Only the Board meeting agendas and summary of minutes appears online. We need to expand the website to give the background information on the items that come before the Board including the budgets and long-term plans. The community needs to be made aware of the management of the district on an ongoing basis.
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4. What would you do to advance the concept of "equity in education" in your district?
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Answer from Gerry Trennepohl:
This is a term that implies every child receive the same education regardless of social, family, or financial circumstances. These effect the quality of education for our children and need to addressed. I will go to churches & non profit organization already in existence to provide this assistance, while working closely with the school system. These groups would provide the help to the parents and for children without participating parents to be ready to learn when they come to school each day. These groups will pursue their own funding outside of the school system being a support system, and providing a conduit for information on needs and successes back to the school system.
Answer from George Brunemann:
I believe Oak Hills is a fairly homogeneous community especially in the area of education opportunity. Both the public and parochial schools in the district have excellent reputations. The best way to promote "equality" is through freedom of choice. Parents should have the choice of where to enroll their children. The variety of programs (technical, fine arts, vocational...) offered should be expanded so that the choices include the ability to tailor the education to the child's individual proficiency.
Answer from Nicole Hensley:
To be equitable to all students is much needed. Equitable does not mean to treat all the same as if the students are robots, but yet to provide for each and every student in a differing fashion. I will continue to be an advocate for enrichment and remediation programs to better serve our children. I will work to proved additional programs to support children in their differing needs of education.
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.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
