Reform of the Ohio State Board of Education

OVERVIEW

Ohioans deserve a much more robust K-12 education system that produces students better prepared for the job market or to continue their education. Our past and historical examples show that innovation occurs with competition. Just as our founding fathers envisioned States competing to attract businesses and residents - on a smaller scale, the same should be valid for public education. Schools should compete with other schools.

When we centralize power in education, we get cookie-cutter solutions and less-than-ideal outcomes. We need local school boards to play a more prominent role in educating our children and not be dictated to by the state of Ohio. Rather than a top-down dynamic, we believe a bottom-up approach with proper incentives will be much more beneficial.

We also need to be aware of teachers and their unions working in their best interests. We do not want to produce a financially unsustainable education system, and it is essential that we know that the administrators of our education system are acting in the public's and students' best interest. We need to have safeguards in place to ensure that our education system does not burden the communities they serve. Such burdens stifle prosperity and in a very real sense, deprive residents of their freedom.

We believe parents should have a louder voice than educators, school administrators, and government bureaucrats. We also think we should give parents choices on how best to educate their children and what type of school they may want to attend, whether that is a public school, religious school, charter school, online school, or home school. This is why we believe that more centralization and control by the State of Ohio is a mistake.

Lastly, we believe the time has come to compensate State Board of Education members. We cannot continue asking State Board of Education members to take on a full-time responsibility without compensation. Ohio should provide for a modest compensation of State Board of Education members.

COMPENSATION

“You get what you pay for…” and as a matter of consequence, the State Board of Education has not worked well because the positions are part-time and unpaid positions. It is past time for members to be compensated for their time. We recommend that State Board of Education members be compensated at $50,000 per year and have annual travel and meals compensation of no more than $5,000, making these modestly paid full-time positions. We also believe that a performance bonus (incentive) is due when education goals meet a threshold set by the Ohio legislature and are under budget. Members of the State Board of Education will be compensated at 15% of the savings when coming in under budget and a maximum of $30,000.  Also, the State of Ohio should compensate members of the State Board of Education up to $2,000 per month for office space within their district.

COMPOSITION

We believe a 40-member board instead of the current 19 will better represent Ohio school districts. The composition will be as follows:

1. The Lieutenant Governor shall be the Chairman of the State Board of Education. The Lt. Governor may only vote to break a tie. (1)
2. All Ohio State Board of Education appointees shall serve terms at the pleasure of their appointer and coinciding with their appointer’s term in office.
3. The Governor of Ohio may make three appointments. They will be the Vice Chairman, the Secretary, and the Treasurer of the State Board of Education. (3)
4. The Chair, Vice Chair, and ranking members of the Ohio House Committee on Primary and Secondary Education shall be on the State Board of Education. (3)
5. The Chair, Vice Chair, and ranking members of the Ohio Senate Committee on Education shall be on the State Board of Education. (3)
6. Each Congressman may appoint one man and one woman who are parents of a child or children in Ohio’s public education system to represent their congressional district - none of which may be on any Ohio School Board and may not be working for any school district or receiving compensation from any Ohio school district or State Retirement System for Educators. Failure of a Congressman to make appointments before December 31st will allow the County Commissioners or a County Executive from the least populated County in the district to make the appointment by January 5th. (30)
7. All members of the State Board of Education must take this oath:

I solemnly swear to uphold the following oath as a member of the Ohio State Board of Education:

I pledge to support and defend the Ohio Constitution, the United States Constitution, and the principles of justice and liberty they represent.

I dedicate myself to ensuring equal opportunity for all students, regardless of race, creed, color, or sex.

I commit to adopting policies that advance educational exceptionalism for every student, striving to provide the highest quality education that empowers individuals to achieve their fullest potential.

I vow to be a responsible steward of public monies and the public trust, consistently seeking efficient and effective ways to allocate resources for the betterment of Ohio's educational system.

I promise to create and maintain a safe environment for robust educational competition, allowing students to explore their potential and grow in an atmosphere of healthy challenges.

I will set aside political biases and work tirelessly to make decisions solely in the best interest of our students and the taxpayers of Ohio.

So help me, God.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

1. Shall hire a Superintendent of Public Instruction that is tasked with interfacing with local public schools and carrying out the will of the State Board of education
2. Adopt a Mission and a Vision Statement for the State Board of Education
3. Set short-term and long-term goals for the State Board of Education
4. Adopt policies and rules that benefit student and taxpayers
5. The State Board of Education shall maintain an online register to record press releases, policies that were and were not adopted, and to note traditions of the State Board of education.
6. Provide a platform maintained by the State Board of Education to deliver and curate a world-class educational curriculum for Ohio’s K-12 students and learning disabled students that may be utilized by home schools, charter schools, and private schools and by students that may be unable to attend a physical public school. These courses may have multiple different teachers and teaching disciplines so students can find what works best for them.
7. The State Board of Education shall allow advertising approved by the State Board of Education as appropriate to help offset the cost of delivery of electronic curricula via the internet via streaming on demand or by live streaming by channel).
8. The State Board of Education shall allow content it approves that is provided by private companies, non-profits, and religious organizations to be provided for advanced college placement or for extra-curricular education that shall serve to benefit students.
9. The State Board of Education shall provide electronic testing via the internet, certified proctors, and testing centers to assess the comprehension and critical thinking of students. The State Board of Education shall provide proctor programs for parents that home school.
10. The State Board of education shall provide trade and apprentice programs via the internet with local public schools, technical schools, or participating companies providing the hands-on training needed to complete their education.
11. Provide an electronic marketplace to connect tutors with students that does not require a teachers certificate. The platform will ensure that tutors know the subject matter they are tutoring. The marketplace shall allow a rating system and comments on tutors by students and by parents. All tutors must pass an annual background check.
12. Provide an online forum where students and parents can help other students
13. The State Board of Education shall provide model bylaws and policy manuals for every facet of Ohio’s School Systems. The State Board of education shall provide a program of legal help for school boards to draft bylaws and policy manuals.
14. The State Board of Education shall provide methods to assess all Ohio Students and to assess schools. The assessments shall allow students to see where their education ranks among all Ohio students and where all Ohio schools rank in relationship to each other.
15. The State Board of Education may become a purchasing agent for school districts that it enters into agreements with to better realize savings for purchasing in quantity.
16. The State Board of Education shall set the standards for life skill that students need to graduate.
17. Provide tests to determine if a student is learning disabled

MEETINGS

1. Physical meetings shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised latest edition, and such other parliamentary procedures for remote meetings and asynchronous meetings as adopted by the State Board of Education
2. The Ohio House members of the State Board of Education may appoint a parliamentarian. If House members fail to appoint a Parliamentarian, the State Board of Education may by a two-thirds vote appoint one. Parliamentarians must be compensated no more than $300 per meeting
3. The Ohio Senate members of the State Board of education may appoint a second Parliamentarian.
4. The Executive Committee of the State Board of Education shall be the Ohio House and Senate members appointed to the State Board of Education and the Gubernatorial appointees to the State board of education and the Lieutenant Governor. All officers of the State Board of Education shall be the officers of the Executive Committee.
5. If Parliamentarians have conflicting interpretations of parliamentary procedure the Executive Committee shall vote on which interpretation to recognize.
6. The Chairman shall set the annual schedule for meetings no later than the second Saturday in February
7. The Ohio State Board of Education must meet at least forty times per year either remotely, by internet video conference, or physically. 
8. At least 26 meetings of the State Board of Education shall be held remotely by internet video conference.
9. The Ohio State Board of Education must meet physically at least twelve times per year on a Saturday in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium with accommodation for at least 800 members of the public or at another facility within five miles of the Ohio Statehouse that can accommodate at least 800 members.
10. All meetings of the State Board of Education must be video recorded and made available to the public.
11. The public, acting civilly, with courtesy and respect, shall be invited to testify at all meetings and given no less than fifteen minutes to speak. Any belligerence, disrespect, or disruptions will not be tolerated or accepted. The Chairman of the State Board of Education may stipulate that testimony be provided by recorded video and may request that the video testimony be provided prior to the meeting of the State Board of Education. In all such cases, these video testimonies must be made available for the public and State Board of Education members to view on a website the State Board of Education maintains. The State Board of Education must provide a method for the general public to rank the video by popularity, and the most popular videos, as determined by the public, must be displayed by descending popularity.
12. The Chairman of the State Board of Education shall appoint a Sergeant at Arms to provide security and maintain decorum for all physical meetings. The Sergeant of Arms shall not be a member appointed to the State Board of Education and may be paid no more than $1,000 per physical meeting. The Sergeant of Arm may contract security services from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, local law enforcement, and from the Ohio National Guard
13. All votes taken by the State Board of Education shall be displayed for the public to witness and must allow the public to discern how each member voted. 
14. The respective appointer may fill any vacancies in the board.
15. Board members may appoint a proxy to attend meetings and vote in their absence. Proxy members must be registered with the Chairman of the State Board of Education and may not fill in for more than 15 meetings without approval by a majority of the State Board of Education.

LIFE SKILLS

Examples of Life Skills:

• Read, Spell, and Write to a 12th grade level
• Learn to read and write in cursive
• Addition, Subtraction, Division and Multiplication to a 12th grade level
• Basic Algebra
• Learn how Ohio’s political parties work and local Boards of Elections
• Learn Roberts Rules of Order
• Learn to tell time - analog and military time
• Learn about Republics, Democracy, Socialism, and Communism
• Learn basic laws of the United States and Ohio
• Learn about banking, taxes, tariffs, and money creation
• Learn basic economics
• Learn about the US Revolution
• Learn about the Civil War
• Learn about the Civil Rights Movement
• Learn basic Geography
• Learn how to use a computer
• Learn how to use a word processor
• Learn how to use a spreadsheet
• Learn how to drive a car
• Learn how to change a tire
• Learn how to change the oil on a car
• Learn how to jump start a car
• Learn basic trouble shooting of a car
• Learn basic residential wiring
• Learn basic residential plumbing
• Learn how to fix dry wall and plaster
• Learn how to mow a lawn
• Learn basic landscaping
• Learn the basics of taking care of a baby
• Learn basic hygiene
• Learn how to sew
• Learn how to cook and wash dishes
• Learn how to file your taxes
• Learn how to make a resume’
• Learn how to make a business plan
• Learn how to buy stocks, bonds, and commodities
• Learn about retirement planning
• Learn how to grow and can and preserve food
• Learn basic survival skills
• Learn self defense
• Learn about loans and credit cards
• Learn how to debate

COMMITTEES

1. There shall be 14 standing Committees that need to be filled after a Congressional election.
   • Executive Committee - sets the Budget and sets the Mission, Vision, and priorities.
   • Life Skills Standards Committee
   • Testing and Assessment Administration Committee
   • Universal Vouchers Committee
   • Curricula and Content Committee
   • Advertising Committee
   • Technology Committee
   • Legal Counsel Committee
   • Educational Excellence Audit Committee
   • Teacher and Adminstrative Review and Certification Committee
   • Tutor Review and Certification Committee
   • Business and Industry Advisory Committee
   • Technical Jobs Advisory Committee
   • Safety, Philosophy, Religion, and Morality Committee
2. Committee assignments will occur as follows:
   • The Chairman of the State Board of Education will determine the order in which the committees will be drawn.
   • At the first meeting of the State Board of Education, all members who wish to be considered for a committee will put their names into a hat, and the chairman will draw nine names from the hat, and they will be on that respective committee. No more than nine State Board of Education Members may be on any standing committee unless appointed by the chairman in accordance with these rules.  
   • Once a person has been selected for four committees, they may not put their name in the hat for any subsequent committee draws.
   • Any member who is not on at least three committees may ask the Chair to appoint them to committees of their choosing so they can participate in at least three committees.
   • Committee members may voluntarily trade spots after all drawings are done and seats have been assigned. The State Board of Education members shall have no more than two hours to trade seats on committees, after which they must stay on that committee for the next two years.
   • Members of the State Board of Education may serve on no less than two committees and no more than five committees.
   • For any new members who are filling vacancies before a new Congressional election, the Chairman may appoint the new member to committees of their choosing.
   • The standing committees must appoint a Chairman and Secretary
   • The Chairman presides over all meetings and sets the agenda and meeting dates. The Secretary records the minutes of the meeting and is in charge of press releases and communications for the committee. Minutes of each meeting and videos will be posted on the State Board of Education website.
   • Each member of a standing committee, except for the Chairman of the standing committee, may appoint one unpaid advisory member to the committee. Advisory members are not members of the State Board of Education, but they do have voting power on the standing committee for which they have been appointed.
   • All proposed resolutions will go to the Chairman of the State Board of Education, who will forward the resolution within 14 calendar days of receipt to an appropriate committee as decided by the chairman.
   • The standing committee chairman may accept the resolution or forward it to a more appropriate committee that accepts it within 7 calendar days.
   • The standing committee must allow public comment for thirty calendar days before they vote the resolution out of committee or vote it down. Public comment must be in the form of proponent testimony, opponent testimony, or interested party testimony. Testimony may take the form of a recorded video of no more than 15 minutes unless more time is approved by the chairman for individually selected testimonies of the committee, or testimony may be submitted as written testimony.
   • Once voted out of the standing committee, the resolution goes to the State Board of Education for a vote.
   • Once a resolution is passed by the Ohio State Board of Education with a simple majority, the Governor may veto it, and two-thirds of the Ohio State Board of Education is needed to override the Governor.

Reforms for the Ohio State Board of Education are proposed with several major benefits in mind:

COMPENSATION:

• Attracting Qualified Members: By offering compensation at $50,000 per year, the State Board of Education can attract highly qualified individuals who may have otherwise been unable to commit to unpaid positions. This ensures that the board benefits from the expertise of its members.
• Full-Time Dedication: The provision for annual travel and meals compensation of up to $5,000 transforms these positions into full-time roles, allowing members to dedicate more time and effort to their responsibilities.
• Incentive for Performance: The introduction of a performance bonus creates an incentive for members to work diligently and efficiently. The 15% bonus of savings (up to a maximum of $30,000) rewards prudent financial management and the achievement of educational goals while staying under budget.

COMPOSITION:

• Enhanced Representation: Expanding the board to 40 members from the current 19 ensures that Ohio's diverse school districts are better represented. This offers a more comprehensive perspective on educational matters and allows for more inclusive decision-making.
• Incorporating Key Leaders: Involving the Lieutenant Governor, Governor's appointees, as well as members of the Ohio House and Senate Committees on Education, ensures that experienced and influential individuals are part of the decision-making process.
• Community Representation: Enabling congressional districts to appoint parent representatives to the board ensures a direct link between communities and the education system. These representatives will bring the concerns and perspectives of parents and students directly to the board.

MEETINGS:

• Transparent Decision-Making: Following Robert's Rules of Order and providing video recordings of all meetings ensures transparency and accessibility to the public. This encourages open and accountable governance.
• Civil Public Participation: Allowing the public to provide testimony while maintaining a civil and respectful atmosphere ensures that diverse viewpoints are heard without disruptions. The platform for ranking video testimonies by popularity promotes inclusivity.
• Safety and Decorum: Appointing a Sergeant at Arms to provide security at physical meetings, with the option to contract security services, ensures a safe and respectful environment for all attendees.
• Accessible Voting Records: Displaying all votes for public scrutiny helps maintain transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.
• Public Engagement: Inviting public testimony and allowing individuals to participate in the decision-making process fosters public engagement and trust in the educational system.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION:

• Improved Oversight: Hiring a Superintendent of Public Instruction to interface with local public schools enhances oversight and coordination in the education system.
• Mission and Vision: Developing a mission and vision statement, as well as setting clear short-term and long-term goals, provides a framework for board activities.
• Efficient Curriculum Delivery: Providing a platform for delivering and curating a world-class educational curriculum ensures a consistent, high-quality educational experience for Ohio's students.
• Diverse Educational Resources: Allowing advertising and content from private companies, non-profits, and religious organizations provides a diverse range of educational resources for students.
• Comprehensive Assessment: Offering electronic testing and assessments, along with proctor programs for homeschooling parents, ensures students' comprehension and critical thinking abilities are evaluated effectively.
• Practical Skill Development: Offering trade and apprentice programs online, as well as a platform for connecting tutors with students, helps develop practical skills and enhances educational experiences.
• Public Engagement: Providing opportunities for the public to engage with the educational system through online forums and feedback mechanisms promotes collaboration and community involvement.

COMMITTEES:

• Structured Decision-Making: Establishing 14 standing committees ensures that a range of educational issues and policies can be thoroughly discussed and addressed.
• Inclusivity: Involving advisory members from the public on committees enhances the diversity of perspectives and helps in informed decision-making.
• Transparency: Requiring public comment on resolutions before committee decisions and offering video recordings of meetings maintain transparency and openness.

These proposed reforms aim to improve the effectiveness, representation, transparency, and inclusivity of the Ohio State Board of Education, ultimately benefiting students and taxpayers while fostering public engagement and accountability.