Solon School Board Candidates Answer Questions at Forum

The Solon Education Association and Council of PTAs held a forum Monday night with the seven candidates for Solon School Board.

Each candidate had the opportunity to give a brief opening statement and then each candidate had 1 minute to each question. The questions covered Issue 2, qualities of a good superintendent, teacher evaluations, arts funding and more.

Below is a quick summary of each candidate's responses. The full question and answer session will be broadcast on Solon Education Television soon. We will post a link to it once it's up.

Bio Blast: Former teacher; parent of students; stay-at-home dad. Read his .

Opening Statement: "I think Solon is very special. We have what so many people want and we have to work hard to maintain that."

On Issue 2: Bryan said that collective bargaining is the reason teaching became a true profession. He said that Solon doesn't need Issue 2, but that whatever happens on Nov. 8, the school board will have to deal with.

Out-of-the-Box Idea: Bryant said the schools should work with the city to use their to confirm student residency. 

Quotable: "Education is an opportunity for kids to collect keys to open doors later."

Bio Blast: Current president of the school board; Solon business owner. Read her .

Opening Statement: "I believe the board has played an important role in the success of the Solon schools."

On Issue 2: Glavin said that, whatever happens on Nov. 8, many of the reforms of Issue 2 are inevitable. She said that the administration has worked very cooperatively with staff over the years, and she doesn't expect that to change. "I hope our relationship with our staff won’t change," she said. "When it happens, I know we as a school district will handle it.

Out-of-the-Box Idea: Glavin said she can imagine a time when Solon, Orange and Chagrin Falls unite into one school board. While that may be out in the distance, she said regionalism of some form is definitely the future. "I believe the school board needs to be out front in these issues," she said. "It might be something we want to look into at some point."

Quotable: On state funding for schools: "the state has created winners and losers over the years ... We can never make a decision to back off on the levy side unless we get the funding that other districts gets."

Bio Blast: Certified Public Accountant; parent of Solon students; work on strategic planning process. Read his .

Opening Statement: "It takes a village to educate a child, and it happens here in Solon."

On Issue 2: Heckman said Solon has worked collaboratively with its teachers, but acknowledged that if funding it can't be about more taxes all the time. "You can’t keep on spending, spending and spending," he said. "You have to have the money and the answer can’t always be going back to the taxpayers."

Out-of-the-Box Idea: Heckman agreed with regionalism, but also said he thinks a "Give Back" day for students would also be valuable, when students can go out and volunteer in the community. He said only one-third of Solon has kids in the school system. This effort would give the other two-thirds an opportunity "to meet our kids."

Quotable: "This is a thankless job - you have to love it. I would like to continue working toward the financial stability of Solon school district."

Bio Blast: Lawyer; parent of special-needs child in Solon. Read his full .

Opening Statement: "I have several experiences and credentials that will help this board over the next four years," Myers said. "I think there’s some rocky issues ahead, and we need to face them."

On Issue 2: Opposes Issue 2. "I do not want the state of Ohio dictating to the Solon School District how it deals with its employees," he said. "I don’t want the state mandating what has to be done or what rights are given and taken away from school employees."

Out-of-the-Box Idea: He said the school board needs to be out front to talk about a difficult subject: Race. "As I go around community, I know there’s lots of whispered conversations about bubbling up racial issues. I think we need to get ahead of this and have honest, frank discussions."

Quotable: On the lack of lawyers on the school board: "You don’t necessarily need five lawyers on the board, but you need one."

Bio Blast: Former Solon mayor; worked on school's levy campaign. Read his .

Opening Statement: "I believe I bring a strong background of education, government and community service.”

On Issue 2: Some of the issues covered by Issue 2 -- costs of pensions and health care - are credible, Patton said. Others need further study. But teachers and others should have "the opportunity to negotiate in good faith."

Out-of-the-Box Idea: Patton said he would want to hold internal "town halls" where the staff can talk about issues in a private setting without worrying about criticism or ramifications.

Quotable: "Serving on school board is animportant civic duty: it takes time, energy and talent."

Bio Blast: Former Solon Mayor; knowedgable about how Columbus works. Read his . 

Opening Statement: "This school district cannot maintain its excellent status very long without adequate funding."

On Issue 2: Paulson said he believes there's good things in Issue 2, but that legislators put too much in. Still, he believes public employees have the right to collective bargaining, including the right to strike.

Out-of-the-Box Idea: Paulson said these ideas fall by the wayside without enough money. "We have to get districts like ours screaming at Columbus," he said. "I know how to do that, I know how to get that done."

Quotable: "I will be a plain speaking board member that gets things done."

Bio Blast: Current school board member. Read her .

Opening Statement: "Our collective goal is to develop the best school system that inspires students to achieve their best."

On Issue 2: Seibert said that Issue 2 is "confusing." "So much of it is state law, we weren’t negotiating it anyway," she said.

Out-of-the-Box Idea: Seibert said that state legislators should spend a day shadowing the superintendents and treasurers in their district -- especially when they are grappling with budget challenges from the state. "I think they are isolated sometimes when they do this budget, and it needs to be personalized," Seibert.

Quotable: "We want to keep attracting involved, caring citizens to our schools and our community. We have the best community members, who demand excellent schools and support excellent schools."