Yesterday, I filed to become a candidate for Kettering School Board in November’s election. I turned in my petitions to the Montgomery County Board of Elections, with a total of 231 signatures, and I paid the required $30 filing fee. I thought I had 232 signatures, but I discovered that the election rules prohibit candidates from signing their own petition and, so, I had to scratch out my own name.
The Board of Elections will announce on Tuesday, August 25, the names of all of the certified candidates in the county. 150 signatures are required to be verified in order to be certified by the Board of Education as a candidate for election to the Kettering School Board, so I have 81 extra signatures; 35% of the signatures I turned in could be discarded and I would still meet the 150 requirement, so I should make it. But I’ll know for sure on August 25.
Several people said, flat out, they never sign anything and refused to sign. But these were the rare exception. Overall, everyone I spoke with was overly friendly and encouraging. I enjoyed walking the neighborhood, and, a side benefit, on the hot and humid days as I walked the walk, I must have lost five pounds.
I was surprised that at two houses the person answering the door asked, “Are you a liberal or are you a conservative?” It is interesting how pervasive the liberal / conservative frame of reference has become. I felt pressed for time, but in both case I took the time to explain some of my views about the purpose of public education and about how public education might be improved. “But are you a Democrat or are you a Republican?” one man demanded. You can’t expect your efforts to make a better world to be appreciated by everyone, I guess.
It should be how do you want to fund the schools ? How are you going to work to improve the schools? Where do you see Kettering schools ten years from now and what can you do to make that happen?
Dollslikeus — Great question you ask, and one every candidate should be prepared to answer: “Where do you see Kettering schools ten years from now and what can you do to make that happen?” I intend on dealing with this question in as much depth as possible and I hope to encourage discussion about this question as part of the Kettering School Board election campaign.
Here’s my question:
Do you believe the unfunded mandates in the Governor’s education reform plan are constitutional?
If so, will you ask taxpayers to pay additional taxes or shift priorities in the district (which priorities would you shift?)?
If not, how will you respond to the Governor’s effort’s to coerce compliance with unconstitutional mandates?