Terry Britton, Marilyn Hiestand, Michael Salyer and Jerry Walker vie for HCS Board of Education
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The four candidates for the Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education each say they are seeking a position on the board to help make a positive difference in the lives of area students, and to create a better district for the people of the community.
However, while they all want to see the district elevated to an "excellent" state rating, they have different ideas about what needs to happen to achieve that goal.
There are two open spots on the board for candidates Terry Britton, Marilyn Hiestand, Michael Salyer and Jerry Walker. Incumbent board members Ken Shull and Laura Bagshaw chose not to run for another four-year term on the board.
Here are excerpts of HCP interviews with the candidates.
Terry Britton
Britton, a graduate of the Fairfield Local Schools, went to Hillsboro when he was in elementary school. He has two adult children who graduated from Hillsboro, and five grandchildren, who do not attend school in the district. He has lived in Highland County for most of his life.
"I've worked at Hobart for 41 years, and I've been in management out there since 1973," Britton said. "I was in engineering for nine years, and then for 20 years I have been in facilities and maintenance.
"We've got a very nice facility out there now, and I think the staff is going in the right direction. There are a couple things that I'd like to work on; basically, to make our students more well-rounded. We're in a global economy and our kids are going to compete in a global world. We've got the technology. In the past, I think the board has done an excellent job in getting the technology, and we now need to make sure that we've got the quality people to move that one forward."
One experience that really prompted Britton to take a more active role in the school district was time that he has spent volunteering with students at Hillsboro Middle School.
"It's something that's been close to my heart for the last couple of years," Britton said. "I've been doing some mentoring in the schools, and we need to make sure we don't leave any of the kids behind due to the economy, and due to other things that are going on in the area. We've got kids that need the extra influence that maybe they're getting, so they can make the right decisions going forward through school, and still have fun and enjoy themselves."
In addition to moving forward with technology and encouraging the current teachers and staff, Britton said that he wants to see more programs that teach practical skills.
"I think that they made great strides when they brought back some of the classes for skills," Britton said. "They had the Vo-Ag program for years, and industrial arts where kids can use their hands and develop skill levels. We need to make sure that when they get out of school they have some sort of skill. Not everybody is cut out to go to college, and we need to make sure there are other areas for the kids."
Britton said that he feels the district has been able to keep spending under control, and that the dollars Hillsboro have are being spent wisely.
"I sit on the business advisory board, so I see the numbers," Britton said. "(Superintendent Rick Earley) has done a nice job of taking a look at his budget, and still keeping a very good academic situation, while looking at all the costs as they go through to make sure that the money is being spent wisely. With the economy the way it is today, it's not just every dollar that's important. It's every penny."
Experience in business, and experience as a volunteer, according to Britton, make him a strong candidate who wants what is best for the district.
"I think that I bring over 40 years of experience in business, and I've been involved with the school system for a number of years," Britton said. "Even before my kids went through, I was involved. I'm just passionate about making sure that we give these kids everything that we can give them to go on and compete in the world."
Marilyn Hiestand
Hiestand has made a career out of counseling and education, and she said that those skills and experience can be put to good use on the board, because she can understand the wants and needs of the students and teachers, as well as the parents and public.
She has a bachelor's and a master's degree from Miami University. She spent 10 years working as a teacher for the online public school ECOT (Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow), and has worked as a counselor and licensed social worker for the Hamilton County Department of Welfare, a foster care agency, and Family and Recovery Services. She ran for school board two years ago after she helped organize the Save Our Schools initiative to preserve the old Hillsboro High School.
"I wanted to offer my services to the community, and the school board is something I know the most about because I have experience as a teacher, and I have experience with school boards from a different perspective," Hiestand said. "I was very involved in Save Our Schools, and we didn't win. They went ahead and tore it down. That was one of the things that made me aware that the board is all powerful, and you need to have good people on it. The board handles a great deal of money, and is one of the biggest employers in the county, and you need to have people who are conscientious and informed, and it helps to have people who are smart, idea people."
Hiestand said that she respects the current school administration, and believes that there are good programs that are currently in place.
"I think a lot of good things are happening, and would like to be supportive to changes to get an "excellent" rating. Right now we have an excellent superintendent (Rick Earley) who has high expectations and wants things to go well for the students and provide a good setting for the students and teachers to be successful. I think the climate of the school is very important," she said. "(According to academic research) kids should have an opportunity to be successful every day. It helps them to be more engaged," she said.
The role that a local school district plays in a community is vital, Hiestand said, and can help draw people into the area.
"When people move into a community, one of the reasons they do so is because they have excellent schools. I want to be a part of supporting that effort. The school system is really a complex organism," Hiestand said. "There are a lot of things that go into making a school district successful that can be advised by research, but this is still our local district. One of the things that is untapped is the local community. Only 25 percent have kids in the Hillsboro City Schools. That's 75 percent of the community that is not involved with the schools. We need to reach out and make it easy for people who are not already involved to become involved."
"We need to be looking at each kid and saying, 'What does this kid need to be successful, and we should be meeting those needs. We want those kids to be successful. I know something about education. I understand what it takes to teach a child, not just theoretically, but actually. I understand what a valuable resource a community is, and (a school district) should have a good, strong connection with the community, and (the community) would appreciate knowing how the schools are functioning, and will support that sort of openness."
Michael Salyer
A desire to be an involved parent who takes an active role in his daughter's education, with the perspective as a community member and a taxpayer is what prompted Salyer to seek a position on the school board.
Salyer graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1995, and began working at Candle-Lite until he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1997. After serving four years with the Corps, he went back to work at Candle-Lite, and he has one child in kindergarten at Hillsboro Elementary.
"With the two vacant seats, and with my daughter just starting out at Hillsboro, it seemed like a good opportunity to participate more," Salyer said. "Being a board member who has a child in the district gives me the point of view where I can look at this as a parent, and say, 'How can we fix this?' from that perspective."
Salyer said that he sees the school district as an extension, and reflection of the Hillsboro community.
"Hillsboro has gotten bigger, but it's still a close-knit community," Salyer said. "People still come together to help each other. You don't get to see behind the scenes, but there are some things that we need to work on. Like, Lynchburg-Clay has an 'excellent' rating. We need to maybe bump up our curriculum to raise our students to that level. China is whipping us in education, and China basically runs the world, so we have to do what we can to raise student achievement. We want to go for the A, so other districts will say, 'We want to be like Hillsboro.' We need to be more encouraging to students, and get more parents involved."
Salyer said that he has been attending school board meetings since March when he decided to run for school board, and that he has been encouraged by the school and community involvement displayed by the current board members.
"When I was in school, my idea of the school board was a bunch of grumpy old men in suits and ties, but (the current board) has a great presence," Salyer said. "This board is out at the craft fairs and the ball games, and they're casual and approachable. I'm just a single parent, I'm kind of your average Joe. But I can see from the majority of people's view, and I can connect better."
When serving on the board, Salyer said that the interests of "the students, the staff, the parents and the taxpayers" need to be in the forefront, and each group has different needs.
"Like, a few months ago, the district did some refinancing. Did that help the students or staff? Probably not directly, but it helped the taxpayers," Salyer said. "There are going to be times when you have to make decisions that the taxpayers might not like, but will be a benefit to the faculty. You have to do what is right for each of them, but you have to be responsible and make tough decisions. It's part of the job. There might not always be easy calls, but you have to set priorities."
Jerry Walker
After spending more than 35 years as a teacher in the Hillsboro City Schools, Walker said that he knows from the inside what it takes to make a district successful.
Walker was born in Highland County and graduated from Hillsboro High School. He attended the University of Cincinnati before he joined the military for three years, and then went on to receive a master's in school administration, although, "I have always been a classroom teacher and was not in administration." He taught grades 7-12, mostly history, and American government, and was involved with the local Hillsboro Education Association and participated in approximately eight negotiations. He was a class adviser, Little League coach and chairperson of the social studies department.
"When you elect a candidate, you look at the issues today, and you judge the candidate on the issues today. That's not the way it should be. In schools, you need to understand that there's a dynamic of change," Walker said, "from unfunded mandates to the state changing rules for standardized testing or evaluations for schools. Issues today are real, but new issues will be coming up in the next three to four years. I would submit for the voters that because I have been immersed in the Hillsboro City Schools for so long, that equips me to face the issues that are coming. We need someone who has been through some of those circumstances, who has been through those issues and worked through them. We have a good staff, and good administration. I think those situations can be conquered or overcome, but strong leadership on the board is required."
In addition to reaching out to students, and making sure the district is in a strong position to meet changing state requirements so that the district might achieve and "excellent" rating, Walker said that he is passionate about making sure that students have access to healthy meals and learn good eating habits while they're at school.
"When I was in school, I ate the chicken nuggets and the mac and cheese, but when I left school I lost weight," Walker said. "Children's health is such a critical part of their learning, and you want them to be healthy. So many kids have access to food during the school day, but I would want to try to find a way to create a summer lunch program."
Walker said that as a board member he would stress communication between the district and parents, as well as the public sector.
"We could probably do a little bit of a better job of communicating with the parents, and bringing the public into the arena where we need them, and I believe they are equipped and willing," Walker said. "We need to continue to stress community involvement. I would advocate efforts to bring the business sector in alignment with the schools. Everyone should be working together in unison, and you have to encourage them, and the board is part of that equation, to cheer and to praise; and if you are going to criticize, you don't need to do it publicly, you go directly to the source. We need to do a better job of supporting and encouraging our teachers."
Walker said that he hopes that voters will remember his experience, which will prepare him for the future challenges that the district and the board will face.
"Where I have been will tell you where I will go," Walker said. "I have longevity in Hillsboro, and I am uniquely qualified. My faith is an important part of my life, and it was an important part of the classroom. I do not proselytize in the classroom, but I rely on that to lead me. When I go on the board, there is a learning curve. I've seen in the past where the learning curve is so steep that (new board members) simply yield to the administration and they tend to just surrender. Because of my long history in the community, as a graduate of the high school and a teacher, (he will be able to hold his ground as a new board member).
"I hope that people know me, know where I've been, and know where I want to go, so I hope they would vote for me on that basis."
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However, while they all want to see the district elevated to an "excellent" state rating, they have different ideas about what needs to happen to achieve that goal.
There are two open spots on the board for candidates Terry Britton, Marilyn Hiestand, Michael Salyer and Jerry Walker. Incumbent board members Ken Shull and Laura Bagshaw chose not to run for another four-year term on the board.
Here are excerpts of HCP interviews with the candidates.
Terry Britton
Britton, a graduate of the Fairfield Local Schools, went to Hillsboro when he was in elementary school. He has two adult children who graduated from Hillsboro, and five grandchildren, who do not attend school in the district. He has lived in Highland County for most of his life.
"I've worked at Hobart for 41 years, and I've been in management out there since 1973," Britton said. "I was in engineering for nine years, and then for 20 years I have been in facilities and maintenance.
"We've got a very nice facility out there now, and I think the staff is going in the right direction. There are a couple things that I'd like to work on; basically, to make our students more well-rounded. We're in a global economy and our kids are going to compete in a global world. We've got the technology. In the past, I think the board has done an excellent job in getting the technology, and we now need to make sure that we've got the quality people to move that one forward."
One experience that really prompted Britton to take a more active role in the school district was time that he has spent volunteering with students at Hillsboro Middle School.
"It's something that's been close to my heart for the last couple of years," Britton said. "I've been doing some mentoring in the schools, and we need to make sure we don't leave any of the kids behind due to the economy, and due to other things that are going on in the area. We've got kids that need the extra influence that maybe they're getting, so they can make the right decisions going forward through school, and still have fun and enjoy themselves."
In addition to moving forward with technology and encouraging the current teachers and staff, Britton said that he wants to see more programs that teach practical skills.
"I think that they made great strides when they brought back some of the classes for skills," Britton said. "They had the Vo-Ag program for years, and industrial arts where kids can use their hands and develop skill levels. We need to make sure that when they get out of school they have some sort of skill. Not everybody is cut out to go to college, and we need to make sure there are other areas for the kids."
Britton said that he feels the district has been able to keep spending under control, and that the dollars Hillsboro have are being spent wisely.
"I sit on the business advisory board, so I see the numbers," Britton said. "(Superintendent Rick Earley) has done a nice job of taking a look at his budget, and still keeping a very good academic situation, while looking at all the costs as they go through to make sure that the money is being spent wisely. With the economy the way it is today, it's not just every dollar that's important. It's every penny."
Experience in business, and experience as a volunteer, according to Britton, make him a strong candidate who wants what is best for the district.
"I think that I bring over 40 years of experience in business, and I've been involved with the school system for a number of years," Britton said. "Even before my kids went through, I was involved. I'm just passionate about making sure that we give these kids everything that we can give them to go on and compete in the world."
Marilyn Hiestand
Hiestand has made a career out of counseling and education, and she said that those skills and experience can be put to good use on the board, because she can understand the wants and needs of the students and teachers, as well as the parents and public.
She has a bachelor's and a master's degree from Miami University. She spent 10 years working as a teacher for the online public school ECOT (Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow), and has worked as a counselor and licensed social worker for the Hamilton County Department of Welfare, a foster care agency, and Family and Recovery Services. She ran for school board two years ago after she helped organize the Save Our Schools initiative to preserve the old Hillsboro High School.
"I wanted to offer my services to the community, and the school board is something I know the most about because I have experience as a teacher, and I have experience with school boards from a different perspective," Hiestand said. "I was very involved in Save Our Schools, and we didn't win. They went ahead and tore it down. That was one of the things that made me aware that the board is all powerful, and you need to have good people on it. The board handles a great deal of money, and is one of the biggest employers in the county, and you need to have people who are conscientious and informed, and it helps to have people who are smart, idea people."
Hiestand said that she respects the current school administration, and believes that there are good programs that are currently in place.
"I think a lot of good things are happening, and would like to be supportive to changes to get an "excellent" rating. Right now we have an excellent superintendent (Rick Earley) who has high expectations and wants things to go well for the students and provide a good setting for the students and teachers to be successful. I think the climate of the school is very important," she said. "(According to academic research) kids should have an opportunity to be successful every day. It helps them to be more engaged," she said.
The role that a local school district plays in a community is vital, Hiestand said, and can help draw people into the area.
"When people move into a community, one of the reasons they do so is because they have excellent schools. I want to be a part of supporting that effort. The school system is really a complex organism," Hiestand said. "There are a lot of things that go into making a school district successful that can be advised by research, but this is still our local district. One of the things that is untapped is the local community. Only 25 percent have kids in the Hillsboro City Schools. That's 75 percent of the community that is not involved with the schools. We need to reach out and make it easy for people who are not already involved to become involved."
"We need to be looking at each kid and saying, 'What does this kid need to be successful, and we should be meeting those needs. We want those kids to be successful. I know something about education. I understand what it takes to teach a child, not just theoretically, but actually. I understand what a valuable resource a community is, and (a school district) should have a good, strong connection with the community, and (the community) would appreciate knowing how the schools are functioning, and will support that sort of openness."
Michael Salyer
A desire to be an involved parent who takes an active role in his daughter's education, with the perspective as a community member and a taxpayer is what prompted Salyer to seek a position on the school board.
Salyer graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1995, and began working at Candle-Lite until he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1997. After serving four years with the Corps, he went back to work at Candle-Lite, and he has one child in kindergarten at Hillsboro Elementary.
"With the two vacant seats, and with my daughter just starting out at Hillsboro, it seemed like a good opportunity to participate more," Salyer said. "Being a board member who has a child in the district gives me the point of view where I can look at this as a parent, and say, 'How can we fix this?' from that perspective."
Salyer said that he sees the school district as an extension, and reflection of the Hillsboro community.
"Hillsboro has gotten bigger, but it's still a close-knit community," Salyer said. "People still come together to help each other. You don't get to see behind the scenes, but there are some things that we need to work on. Like, Lynchburg-Clay has an 'excellent' rating. We need to maybe bump up our curriculum to raise our students to that level. China is whipping us in education, and China basically runs the world, so we have to do what we can to raise student achievement. We want to go for the A, so other districts will say, 'We want to be like Hillsboro.' We need to be more encouraging to students, and get more parents involved."
Salyer said that he has been attending school board meetings since March when he decided to run for school board, and that he has been encouraged by the school and community involvement displayed by the current board members.
"When I was in school, my idea of the school board was a bunch of grumpy old men in suits and ties, but (the current board) has a great presence," Salyer said. "This board is out at the craft fairs and the ball games, and they're casual and approachable. I'm just a single parent, I'm kind of your average Joe. But I can see from the majority of people's view, and I can connect better."
When serving on the board, Salyer said that the interests of "the students, the staff, the parents and the taxpayers" need to be in the forefront, and each group has different needs.
"Like, a few months ago, the district did some refinancing. Did that help the students or staff? Probably not directly, but it helped the taxpayers," Salyer said. "There are going to be times when you have to make decisions that the taxpayers might not like, but will be a benefit to the faculty. You have to do what is right for each of them, but you have to be responsible and make tough decisions. It's part of the job. There might not always be easy calls, but you have to set priorities."
Jerry Walker
After spending more than 35 years as a teacher in the Hillsboro City Schools, Walker said that he knows from the inside what it takes to make a district successful.
Walker was born in Highland County and graduated from Hillsboro High School. He attended the University of Cincinnati before he joined the military for three years, and then went on to receive a master's in school administration, although, "I have always been a classroom teacher and was not in administration." He taught grades 7-12, mostly history, and American government, and was involved with the local Hillsboro Education Association and participated in approximately eight negotiations. He was a class adviser, Little League coach and chairperson of the social studies department.
"When you elect a candidate, you look at the issues today, and you judge the candidate on the issues today. That's not the way it should be. In schools, you need to understand that there's a dynamic of change," Walker said, "from unfunded mandates to the state changing rules for standardized testing or evaluations for schools. Issues today are real, but new issues will be coming up in the next three to four years. I would submit for the voters that because I have been immersed in the Hillsboro City Schools for so long, that equips me to face the issues that are coming. We need someone who has been through some of those circumstances, who has been through those issues and worked through them. We have a good staff, and good administration. I think those situations can be conquered or overcome, but strong leadership on the board is required."
In addition to reaching out to students, and making sure the district is in a strong position to meet changing state requirements so that the district might achieve and "excellent" rating, Walker said that he is passionate about making sure that students have access to healthy meals and learn good eating habits while they're at school.
"When I was in school, I ate the chicken nuggets and the mac and cheese, but when I left school I lost weight," Walker said. "Children's health is such a critical part of their learning, and you want them to be healthy. So many kids have access to food during the school day, but I would want to try to find a way to create a summer lunch program."
Walker said that as a board member he would stress communication between the district and parents, as well as the public sector.
"We could probably do a little bit of a better job of communicating with the parents, and bringing the public into the arena where we need them, and I believe they are equipped and willing," Walker said. "We need to continue to stress community involvement. I would advocate efforts to bring the business sector in alignment with the schools. Everyone should be working together in unison, and you have to encourage them, and the board is part of that equation, to cheer and to praise; and if you are going to criticize, you don't need to do it publicly, you go directly to the source. We need to do a better job of supporting and encouraging our teachers."
Walker said that he hopes that voters will remember his experience, which will prepare him for the future challenges that the district and the board will face.
"Where I have been will tell you where I will go," Walker said. "I have longevity in Hillsboro, and I am uniquely qualified. My faith is an important part of my life, and it was an important part of the classroom. I do not proselytize in the classroom, but I rely on that to lead me. When I go on the board, there is a learning curve. I've seen in the past where the learning curve is so steep that (new board members) simply yield to the administration and they tend to just surrender. Because of my long history in the community, as a graduate of the high school and a teacher, (he will be able to hold his ground as a new board member).
"I hope that people know me, know where I've been, and know where I want to go, so I hope they would vote for me on that basis."
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