October 21 , 2021 The Beacon • 15
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Seven running for 2 open positions on River View Board
Seven people are running for two open positions for the River View Board of Education . Cordell Brown is currently serving on the board , and Bethany Young , Kennedy Blakley , Matthew Cronin , Mindy Duncan , Michael Warschauer and Charlie Wright are all newcomers .
Bethany Young
Why are you running for this position ?
I am running for River View School Board because I am passionate about children and helping our community . I started attending the RV board meetings around the time they were trying to pass the income tax levy . I thought it was important to be more informed about what was going on in our district . Since then , I have learned more about our district and its needs , and I have a desire to be a part of helping meet those needs .
What do you believe is one of the top issues facing your district and how would you start addressing it ?
Right now , one of the top issues facing River View School District is finances . There are several factors that have affected RV ’ s financial situation over the years , but the biggest , most recent one was the closure of the power plant . That has placed a larger financial burden on the district and its community . Although at times it seems like a daunting problem , I believe that with creative ingenuity and community involvement , we can come together with a solution to our financial situation . It is going to require communication and collaboration between the district and the community , and it is going to require we rethink the way we view our district .
Right now , Keene Elementary School is open because the district used ESSER dollars ( stimulus money ) to keep it open . But those monies are finite , and once they are gone , we could be looking at deficit spending to keep the district up and running . One possible solution to our financial problem is looking at restructuring our district and the possibility of closing some of our old elementary schools .
How do you feel about mask and / or vaccine mandates in schools ?
When addressing mask and vaccine mandates in schools , I am opposed to them . I am in no position to give out medical advice to anyone . I have no authority on medical decisions other than for myself and my children . I can ’ t speak to anyone else ’ s health needs other than my own , and each individual has different health needs . It is not a one-size-fits-all solution . I believe if a person feels a mask and vaccine are beneficial to their health and their personal physician has advised it , then that is for them to do . I believe the same is true for those who believe wearing a mask or getting the vaccine are not helpful to their health . These are individual health decisions .
Election Preview
How would you improve communication with parents and / or help make them feel like their voices are being heard ?
Transparency and open communication are vital in creating a healthy working relationship . And we need a healthy working relationship between the district and its community . In the past there has been a lack of communication between the district and the community , and it has led to confusion and frustration . I think getting information into people ’ s hands is important , and we need to use every avenue available to us . Using things like the Beacon , the local newspaper , and radio are important . But we also need to utilize social media more as well .
Our school district is the eighth largest ( area ) school district in Ohio . That means we have a lot of area to cover and people spanning three counties we need to reach with information . There are people who live within our district who don ’ t receive the Beacon , the local newspaper , and who don ’ t get the local radio station . But most people have some form of social media , and we need to use that and find other ways of getting information out to all of our district residents . We also need to ask questions ; we need to ask our community what their needs are .
A board member ’ s role is to represent the community , and that means there needs to be open dialogue with the community so they can be properly represented . And in return , the community , who is informed about the district and its needs , can then better support the district . I spoke with Mr . Rinkes about the need for transparency , and he agrees , and he has some ideas of his own to help facilitate dialogue with the community . Making yourself available to hear someone out who has a concern or question is imperative .
Kennedy Blakley ( formerly Kennedy Webb )
Why are you running for this position ?
I have chosen to run for River View Local School District Board of Education because I care deeply for the community and its residents . My two nephews currently attend Warsaw Elementary , as will my young niece and future children . I truly feel like I could help guide the district during these challenging times , as I have a unique perspective . As the child of an educator , I understand and see firsthand the challenges being faced by our teachers . As a news reporter , I saw the challenges being faced by the entire community and school administration , and in my current role , I see the economicdevelopment challenges being faced across the Appalachian region .
As a recent graduate , I can recall the challenges being faced by students , and as an aunt to three small children , I can imagine the challenges being faced by my sister and other parents in the district . I would like to put this perspective into action by serving on the school board .
What do you believe is one of the top issues facing your district and how would you start addressing it ?
I believe one of the top issues facing River View Local School District is that of mitigating the elementary school buildings in the best interest of the students . I would address this issue by working closely with administrators , teachers , students and parents in order to gain additional information and understanding from each group in an effort to give the district the best overall plan of action .
How do you feel about mask and / or vaccine mandates in schools ?
I believe vaccinations and medical decisions are best left entirely in the hands of a student ’ s parents or guardians . As far as mask mandates go , there are many conflicting studies and medical opinions as to the effectiveness of facial coverings . As a board member , I would listen to input from local medical professionals and make a decision based upon their guidance .
How would you improve communication with parents and / or help make them feel like their voices are being heard ?
In order to ensure all voices of the community are heard , I would first and foremost make myself available for conversations and feedback . I also would like to explore the option of virtual polling in order to learn and listen to how the public is processing various situations . Every resident of the district has the right to share their views and be heard . That being said , knowledge and compromise must be at the forefront of decision-making .
Cordell Brown
Why are you running for this position ?
I have served on our school board since 2004 . That means 16 years now . During these 16 years , I believe I have learned how the board should run and what we are trying to accomplish . I have two basic reasons ( for running again ). I believe River View is a very conservative school district , and our priority as a board is to put the children and youth we serve as our top priority . That is the reason I am running . I believe my experience on other boards and my experience with local , state and federal funding is such that I am well versed in this area because Echoing Hills received funds from the same entities , only on the care and welfare side of young and individuals with developmental disabilities . That is another reason I would like to continue for one more term .
What do you believe is one of the top issues facing your district and how would you start addressing it ?
I ’ m sure we ’ re aware the face of our school will change within the next few years . That will be ,
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