WORTHINGTON BOARD OF EDUCATION

SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

Candidate’s Name: David Aaron Nadolny

Contact Address: 175 Kenbrook Dr, Worthington, OH 43085

Contact Telephone Number: 614-781-8821

Contact Email Address: dnadolny@columbus.rr.com

Please answer all questions and send a completed questionnaire by January 16 via email to:

vgnezda@worthington.k12.oh.us

Please state your professional or volunteer activities with K-12 education, either in the Worthington School District, another school district or in a private school.

Colonial Hills PTA (2006-2007). I believe that a healthy PTA is vital for the success of our schools. When my son started kindergarten this year, I joined the PTA on day one. Since then, I have worked with the PTA publishing company where we help students to make books with blank pages that they can customize later. I find helping the kids rewarding and love seeing the smiles on their faces when they have the end product finished. I was recently appointed to the parliamentarian position on the Colonial Hills PTA.
Columbus Jaycees Youth Foundation (1993-1994): During my tenure as a director on the Columbus Jaycees Youth Foundation we awarded grants to local youth organizations. The Columbus Jaycees Youth Foundation has provided funding from their endowment to Special Olympics, Christmas Wish, the Hugh O‘Brian Youth Foundation and more.
Phi Kappa Psi House Corporation (1992-2006): I served as vice president for the majority of that time. While this experience was with college students, I believe it is certainly applicable to my qualifications. During my 15 years on the board, we worked with the local chapter of the fraternity on many policy and financial issues which helped guide the students to a successful college experience and to be valuable members of our community.

2. What personal traits, skills, or experiences would you bring to the position that you feel would make you an effective board member?

· I have been working in the fiscal sector of local government for almost twenty years. During that time, I have developed and honed the ability to work through government financial formulas. I may not be familiar with all the particular financial issues that affect the Worthington Schools, but I can certainly learn any of them without a problem.

· I can work within the system without being a disruption while still looking outside of the box for new and innovation ideas. I can listen and absorb information provided by others in meetings.

· I am willing to work with the board on any issue. I do not have preconceived ideas that will make me a road block.

· During my tenure as a budget analyst for the County Commissioners, I made many recommendations to my superiors for cuts or with new ideas. Many of my recommendations were not taken, but I always tried to make my recommendations based on the facts rather than my personal feelings on issues.

· I am willing to run for election November. I believe that the board needs continuity to be most effective.

· I am logical and will consider all of the information readily available before making decisions. I qualified the above with “readily” as I understand that there is always more information that can be gathered, but that it is necessary to make decisions at times that are time sensitive or dependent.

3. What do you think is the most pressing issue in the Worthington Schools?

Without a doubt, the most pressing issue is what will be done about the declining enrollment issue. No matter what the board decides, there will be vocal opposition from the parents, students and taxpayers that it affects. In some ways this is a no-win situation, in that it is impossible to make everyone happy. There will be vocal criticism of the board, no matter what decision they make. On the other hand, a good decision has the potential to be very positive for the district. An alternative education format (similar to Linworth) might be feasible and might make the Worthington school system even better, the data showing enrollment projections might be incorrect (based on actuals) and the system might not need a major change at this time, etc... The board has a duty to all the students to provide a top notch education while being respectful and fiscally prudent to the taxpayers in the district.

4. If it were necessary to make substantial cuts in the expenditures of the district, what areas would you cut first, and what areas would you seek to preserve?

This question is difficult to answer without all the facts in front of me. I can say that I would analyze all of the data and try to make the funding cuts based upon performance versus costs. I would also take into consideration the desires of the majority of the parents, students and taxpayers. With that being said, I know that you actually want specifics to this question. Knowing that I am writing this answer without all the facts in front of me, I will say that only palatable substantial cuts would have to involve the closing of a school with the consolidation of that schools enrollment into other schools in some form. Some may say they would first cut sports or music programs from the curriculum, but I feel that those programs and other non “reading-writing-arithmetic” programs are necessary to turn out well rounded students from our schools. Any other cuts that might be proposed would either not be substantial or would not be acceptable in my mind.
I’d also like to note that alternative forms of revenue rather than substantial cuts might be a possibility. Much research would need to be done, but a couple ideas I was mulling about in my head include (these are strictly unresearched ideas, brainstorming if you will):

Increasing the Worthington boundaries by annexing some of Clintonville ward 9 into Worthington from Columbus. East side of High Street south to the School for the Blind. I can see many Columbus residents who would be happy to have their children attend a better school district.
Working with the legislature on alternative revenue formulas based on the Supreme Courts decisions.
From a business standpoint, one of our largest assets, the school buildings, are lightly used at night and in the summer. There is a potential for revenue there if we can determine a potential proper use that brings in revenue. The one that comes to mind would be alternative evening childcare for parents that need a night out or such. Other uses could surely be found if we brainstormed.

5. If it were possible to add new programs to the district, what programs would you seek to add?

I would be a proponent of programs that have the biggest effect on the education of our children for the least expense (highest performance value). I do feel that an expansion of a program similar to Linworth would be a good idea when discussing the declining enrollment issue and a possible closing of a middle school.

6. What do you see as the impact of “No Child Left Behind” on the Worthington Schools? What about the Ohio Core legislation?

It is difficult to argue that the goals of “No Child Left Behind” are laudable. However, I do not believe that local education should not be a federal issue. I believe that localities should operate with only local and possibly State supervision and funding.
In regards to “Ohio Core Legislation” I believe that not every student is exactly alike. They are not robots, and therefore we need to tailor each student’s education to that student. Every student should certainly have minimum skills in many areas, but I believe that many students would be better served if they were able to focus their high school studies in much the same way they will need to focus their college classes. In addition, I am concerned that unless the State is willing to pony up a significant amount of additional cash, then they need to let the localities run the schools.

7. If selected, what do you see as your role in influencing state education laws and policies that affect the Worthington Schools?

State laws are sometimes inadvertently made without due consideration of all the ramifications to the people who they affect. Board members need to make sure that the local effects of proposed education legislation is coherently provided to the legislature so that better decisions can be made.

8. What do you see as the roles and responsibilities of a school board member?

To make sure our community’s children receive a top notch education while being respectful and fiscally prudent to the taxpayers of the district.
To hire and retain a qualified and innovative school superintendent and treasurer.
To make decisions that reflects the majority of the people in the district. I believe that board members are elected to represent those persons and should not pontificate from their positions of power.
To lead a public life that serves as a role model to the students of the district.

9. What evidence do you believe shows the Worthington Schools are adequately, or inadequately, preparing students for their lives after graduation?

I moved to Worthington solely for the education my children will receive. We were extremely happy with the community we lived in before with the exception of the schools. We choose to move before our first child would start school so that he could go to the same school district without interruption for his entire education. When we decided to move, we considered all of the central Ohio schools and Worthington was clearly a cut above the rest. Worthington turns out students who are assets to our community.
It is unbelievable that 26 qualified applicants applied for this board opening. This is a great indication that the people of our community support and are concerned with our schools. Strong community support is vital to the success of our schools. What a great opportunity for the board to get a list of people who are this interested in our children’s education. I encourage the board to make sure they use these 26 applicants in future committees that are formed by the board.

In closing, I would like to make a statement that might seem odd in that it praises another candidates qualifications. Dr. Abramo Ottolenghi is uniquely qualified for this opening. He has all of the qualifications that I have seen quoted as needed by the current board members in newspaper articles. He has the superb knowledge of the local district (as well institutional knowledge of past decisions), he is active in the schools, and he has a great knowledge of the relevant financial issues and is intimately aware of the legislative issues that are currently being discussed that affect our schools. He also would be an exceedingly strong candidate in November, ensuring continuity on the board.

If you choose Dr. Ottolenghi to be a candidate in the next phase of the process, then I cannot see how I could begin to compare with his qualifications as a finalist in that phase.