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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > October > 07 > Entry
Editorial: Arnold, Carter, Grant best candidates for Beavercreek schools
2009 ELECTION
Beavercreek’s school board is an ambitious bunch. The district, already one of the Dayton area’s high performers, seeks a place among the very elite, measuring itself against stalwarts like Centerville and Oakwood.
At the same time, Beavercreek schools face extra challenges. The education-focused community consistently attracts new families, which has stretched its older facilities to the max. Although a bond issue for new construction finally passed in 2008, Beavercreek’s enrollment growth continues to press the district to capacity even as new schools come on line.
Voters in the community care about schools, but also are budget hawks. They demand that tax money is spent efficiently. School board members must aim high, manage well and communicate clearly to succeed.
On Nov. 3, voters must pick three from among five candidates for the board.
Two candidates are incumbents. Peg Arnold, an acquisition specialist for an Air Force contractor, is seeking her third four-year term. Joyce Carter, vice president of human resources at the University of Dayton, seeks election for the first time after she was appointed to the board in June 2008. Both deserve voter support.
The final open seat is being vacated by board President Richard Eckhardt, who is not seeking re-election. Three newcomers are vying for it — Kim Grant, a sales and marketing expert at Children’s Hospital; Donna Dempsey, a Greene County sheriff’s deputy; and Robert Dotson, a regional manager for a manufacturing company.
All three bring strengths. Ms. Grant’s marketing background could be useful for the board’s levy campaigns. Ms. Dempsey is strongly in touch with community sentiment and does much volunteer work. Mr. Dotson, with two special needs children, is knowledgeable about many of the practical issues facing the district at the classroom level.
Any of the three would make a good board member. But Ms. Grant is the best fit for the board in this group. She has been active in the schools as a PTO leader and her professional talents can help the board improve its community relations.
In her eight years on the board, Ms. Arnold has been smart and sensible and emerged as a leader, having served as board president for a time. The district has benefited greatly from her careful study of the issues, her thoughtful guidance and her strong will. She is a first-rate school board member.
Ms. Carter, in a short run on the board, has contributed well. Her expertise in human resources has been helpful as the board managed labor negotiations and personnel issues.
For example, when the board’s effort to hire Mark North from Lebanon schools as superintendent collapsed during the summer, Ms. Carter used her contacts to find a strong interim solution in the recently retired Gale Mabry, formerly of Northmont schools. Mabry has been well received, and the board is in talks to try to make his appointment permanent.
Beavercreek schools have issues on the horizon that will require a deft hand to manage. Ohio’s new all-day kindergarten requirement, for instance, will exacerbate crowding problems and require the budget to grow so more kindergarten teachers can be added. As an affluent suburb, the district is not getting help in the form of state aid growth. At the same time, board members want to add new programs, such as more elementary school language instruction.
With Ms. Arnold, Ms. Carter and Ms. Grant, Beavercreek’s school board will have the best chance to make the right choices that will keep academics the top priority for the city’s schools, while managing costs the way the community expects.
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