COMMUNIQUÉ Election Special Edition 2016 Publication for Members of Central OEA/NEA • Adrienne M. Bowden, President
Champions of Public Education Adrienne M. Bowden (Pickerington EA), Central OEA/NEA President This past year we have had many successes on the issues that are important to public education, students and educators. But, like much of what we all do, it has not always been easy. Almost everything about how a school is run is directed and affected through elections-whether it is your local school board, State school board, state legislature, Congress, Senate or President of the United States. The outcome of these upcoming elections will impact important issues such as school funding, standardized testing, privatization, and teacher accountability. This is why it is important to discuss these topics and to care about who is elected. Each makes decisions that affect our working conditions, which in turn affects studentlearning conditions. This election season has been unlike most. Education policy, typically at the forefront of discussions, has felt sidelined at times throughout this campaign making informed voting more important than ever before. As educators, we influence and inform our students, parents, colleagues, friends, and communities. For our schools and learning to improve we must be an active part of the process. We cannot sit out or be passive. Our students need us to be involved in the fight for a quality public education. Before you vote, visit www.ohioballot.com to find out which candidates are “Champions of Public Education.” Share it with your friends, family and colleagues. This tool is simple to use and will list the recommended candidates in your area. We may never agree completely with what any one candidate may say or stand for, but we need make our voices heard on educational issues at the ballot box. The decision to vote for pro-public education candidates is crucial for our schools, students, profession, and what it means to educate and to learn.
What Is the Process for Recommending Candidates for Office? The screening process is bipartisan, objective, transparent, inclusive of members, and thorough. Candidate recommendations are not based on issues unrelated to public education or party affiliation. Candidates for statewide office are interviewed by the OEA Fund for Children and Public Education (FCPE) State Council, which consists of representatives from each of OEA’s 10 districts, OEA’s Retired affiliate, and the OEA Board of Directors. Candidates are invited to complete a written questionnaire and participate in an interview to discuss their views on a variety of educational issues, including school funding, employee rights, retirement, and privatization. Recommendations for endorsement are made based on the candidates’ records in office and positions on those issues. Candidates who choose not to participate in the
screening process are not eligible for endorsement. Candidates for Ohio House and Ohio Senate are interviewed by district-level interview teams that include representatives from each OEA local and a five-member District Screening Council. As with statewide candidates, interviews cover educational issues, and candidates must participate in the process to be eligible for endorsement. Contributions to candidates’ campaigns are made only to candidates who have earned an endorsement, and such contributions come from voluntary donations by members to the OEA or NEA Fund for Children and Public Education. By law, members’ dues dollars may not be used for contributions to candidates for office.
OEA Recommends Hillary Clinton a country have neglected—like giving low-income kids, English learners, and kids with disabilities the support they need to thrive. We ask so much of our educators, but we aren’t setting them up for success. That’s why Hillary will launch a national campaign to elevate and modernize the teaching profession, by preparing, supporting, and paying every child’s teacher as if the future of our country is in their hands—because it is. Rebuild America’s schools. In cities and rural communities across America, there are public schools that are falling apart—schools where students are learning in classrooms with rodents and mold. That’s unacceptable, and it has to change. That’s why Hillary will build on the highly successful Build America Bonds program to provide cities and towns the capital they need to rebuild their schools.
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On Education: Launch a national campaign to modernize and elevate the profession of teaching. America is asking more of our educators than ever before. They are preparing our kids for a competitive economy, staying on top of new pedagogies, and filling gaps that we as
Dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. Schools should be safe places for students to learn and grow. But in too many communities, student discipline is overly harsh—and these harsh measures disproportionately affect African American students and those with the greatest economic, social, and academic needs. Hillary will work to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by providing $2 billion in support to schools to reform overly punitive disciplinary policies, calling on states to reform school disturbance laws, and encouraging states to use federal education funding to implement social and emotional support interventions.
OEA Recommends Ted Strickland for US Senate Ted Strickland fought against SB 5 and has always stood for the rights of workers to form unions and collectively bargain for better working conditions. Rob Portman, on the other hand, has supported a national Right To Work bill that threatens to decimate unions. Ted Strickland puts education first. He supports a constitutional funding system that guarantees a quality public education, for all Ohio students regardless of zip code. Rob Portman supports charter schools—giving our tax dollars to out of state corporations that want to profit off our children’s education—and supported redirecting public education funding to private schools.
Election Special Edition 2016
SAMPLE BALLOT of OEA Recommended Candidates
Each election helps our children understand who we are as a people and what we value in life. They are watching, listening, and taking notes. Log on to www.ohioballot.com today. See how your candidates measure up and who educators across Ohio recommend as a “Champion of Public Education.” Candidates recommended by fellow members in Central OEA/NEA are listed below.
Ohio House HD 17
Adam Miller (D)
HD 26
Hearcel Craig (D)*
HD 78
No Endorsement
HD 18
Kristin Boggs (D)
HD 48
Kirk Schuring (R)*
HD 79
Alex Wendt (D)
HD 19
Michael Johnston (D)
HD 67
No Position
HD 83
No Position
HD 20
Heather Bishoff (D)*
HD 68
Rick Carfagna (R)
HD 85
No Position
HD 21
Mike Duffey (R)
HD 69
Steve Hambley (R)
HD 86
No Position
HD 22
David Leland (D)*
HD 71
Joseph Begeny (D)
HD 92
No Position
HD 23
Lee Schreiner (D)
HD 72
No Position
HD 24
Jim Hughes (R)
HD 74
Barb Niemeyer (D)
HD 25
Bernadine Kent (D)
HD 77
Brad Nicodemus (D)
Ohio Senate SD 2
Randy Gardner (R)*
SD 6
Peggy Lehner (R)
SD 10
Matthew Kirk (D)
SD 12
No Position
SD 16
Cathy Johnson (D)
SD 18
John Eklund (R)
SD 20
No Position
SD 22
No Position
SD 26
No Position
SD 30
Lou Gentile (D)*
Ohio Supreme Court Judge John P. O’Donnell Judge Cynthia Rice
*Endorsed as friendly incumbent
Election Speical Edition 2016
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4 OEA Endorsed Ohio State Board of Education Candidates District 1 Linda Haycock District 5 Roslyn Painter-Goffi District 6 Antoinette Miranda District 8 Debbie Phillips District 9 Stephanie Dodd District 10 Braydon L. Bevens District 11 Bill Lavezzi
Election Special Edition 2016