Education is on the ballot ... consider voting for candidates that support funding schools

Public education, both the quality and the cost, is a critical consideration for many.  

Highly rated school districts attract strong home values, provide quality education to students of diverse backgrounds, becoming the springboard for post-secondary school opportunities in a variety of educational, professional and technical fields. Success in this effort produces graduates ready to become active members of society, and the best product any district produces is capable graduates. 

Regardless of whether or not a family has school-age children at the time, the performance of local School Districts in their mission impacts us all. Specifically in Ohio, our votes affect whether or not the legislature will work to repair the broken funding model, that impacts our district and students so significantly. As the November ’22 election is upon us, understanding each candidate’s position on education is an important consideration when we cast our votes. 

The Governor’s race features Democrat Nan Whaley, currently the mayor of Dayton and incumbent Republican Governor Mike Dewine. Here are the candidate’s stated positions on education in the state.

Nan Whaley sees education as the gateway to the future of Ohio’s children and young adults. Her platform, as  published on her website , includes fully completing and funding the Ohio Supreme Court’s order to rework Ohio’s school funding scheme, a commitment to better hire and retain quality teachers and a commitment to work with local school boards to make our schools safer. Ms. Whaley will advocate to expand the eligibility and access of child care facilities to an additional 250,000 Ohio families in part by working with JobsOhio to make the childcare and preschool industries a priority for investment.

Governor Dewine’s position is less specific. His 2022 website contains nothing on educational opportunities. His 2018 website’s educational platform offers no insight either, just a photo of his dog. His March 23, 2022 State of the State Address included sections on Covid, Mental Health, State Parks, Appalachia, Help for Parents Without Children, Highway Safety, Law Enforcement and The Governor’s Imagination Library but nothing on education. Governor Dewine did sign the Bill that promised more equitable funding for education in the state but he did not endorse or provide any funding for the effort.

While the differences between the candidates merit discussion and debate, that won’t happen this year as the Governor has refused to debate Ms. Whaley.
 
The local Statehouse race provides another opportunity to understand differences between the candidates. The Statehouse race is an important one as Statehouse Representatives write, sponsor and vote on State initiatives, including education.  
 
The candidates for our Local State Representative position are Republican Jenn Giroux and Democrat Rachel Baker. Here are their education priorities based on their websites.  
 
Jenn Giroux does not address funding or quality on her website, but does oppose the teaching of Critical Race Theory anywhere in Ohio, saying it, “intends to create division and foster a racist view of society.” Ms. Giroux also is opposed to, “graphic and obscene sex education … especially by teachers who are advocates of perverse lifestyles.”
 
Rachel Baker’s platform states that, “educated children equipped to become productive community members” are her top priority. To that end, she supports early childhood education, fixing the unconstitutional funding of education per the Ohio Supreme Court ruling, placing less emphasis on standardized testing and more focus on growth and learning, the accurate teaching of history, teacher support to enable hiring and retention and an opposition to book bans and censorship.  
 
Your vote counts, and education is impacted by state-level legislation much more so than by federal leaders, so make sure you know the facts this election!