Page 9 - REPORT Brinkman 1-MAY EDU Roundtable

the funding model for vouchers to open more voucher opportunity that does not directly
impact public schools.
• This is not easy. We all want kids to have a good education. Vouchers (and charter schools)
originated as a response to that not happening in failing areas. They did not simply come out
of thin air. The solutions to failing schools are complex and, I think, local. As Demetria
pointed out, in her school she had the approaches to prevent kids falling in the cracks. But
what do we do when children are in play who will not get a second chance and the solutions
can take some time (and frankly leadership).
2. What are your views on fracking?
• I support fracking.
3. Why didn’t the general assembly deal with redistricting?
• Redistricting is done in accordance with the census. As I stated at the end of the meeting, it
is not as simple as people would like to make it. Personally, in the Ohio House any manner of
redistricting (considering urban district constraints and the voting rights act) will have little
impact on the make-up of the house. I would encourage you, for example, to ask Alicia
Reece if she would like to redraw our two districts to make each more competitive?
4. Why did you support / vote for HB 114?
• HB 114 relates to barricade devices on school doors in the event of a lockdown. Those
devices would normally violate fire codes. I am not a co-sponsor of the bill but I support the
bill. It is a challenging trade-off but in the event of a lockdown I believe sealing the facility is
a greater priority.
5. What is your view on water pollution from sewer overflows?
• I think it is horrible and am against it. I think, though, it is mostly a local issue in terms of
sewer districts. Unfortunately, we have aging systems in too many places.
6. How will you make sure that people who need pain meds receive them?
• I think prescription length, as brought up in the event, is double edged. I see both sides of
the issue. At the core law enforcement and cultural change need to eradicate this horrible
opioid crisis.
• That said, I think this is mainly a patient / doctor issue. Doctors are best to determine proper
prescription lengths etc.
7. How will eliminating Ohio's standards, with its aligned curriculum and evaluation system improve
student learning? Won't we take a step backwards?
• In our session, the ODE was described by participants as out of touch, not inclusive of
teachers, etc. I think that supports the point that centralized systems of standards (such as
Common Core), put the out of touch bureaucrats in charge at the expense of
superintendents, principals, teachers and parents.
• I believe there needs to be state requirements (ex: x years of English to graduate) and there
does need to be a reasonable “standardized” testing approach to allow for evaluation of
performance across schools and the country. I believe the Iowa Basic Skills test (what we
used in the past) did a better job of that than our current approach of over-testing and of
using unproven tests for 1-2 years only to then switch the test.
8. With increasing emphasis on College and Career Readiness currently aligned with state standards,
how do you ensure all districts are appropriately preparing students for those expectations?
• Let me start by saying that many of our schools are not doing a good job at College and
Career readiness. The two are connected but different. In the past, we had true career
readiness in our high schools with vocational classes. Too many of those are gone now and
the result is a skills mismatch in the workplace. College skills, to me, involve critical thinking,
liberal arts, STEM, etc.

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