SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE
Candidate’s Name: Michael
Troper
Contact Address:
Contact Telephone Number: 614-846-0285
Contact Email Address: mtroper@wowway.com
Please answer all questions and send a completed questionnaire by January
16 via email to:
1. Please state your
professional or volunteer activities with K-12 education, either in the
I am currently an Ohio Department of Education
licensed school treasurer. I am the Ohio
Controller for a charter school management company which manages eleven charter
schools in
Our daughter attends full day kindergarten at
Wilson Hill where my wife volunteers selling Tiger Tender and as the coordinator
for the school pictures for the Wilson Hill PTO.
2. What personal traits,
skills, or experiences would you bring to the position that you feel would make
you an effective board member?
Education is a priority for our family and I would ensure that it
remains a priority as a board member.
Prior to my current position, I was the first Business Manager for a
virtual charter school in
My current position gives me first hand knowledge about what is
happening with educational issues, school finance and the retirement systems
that K-12 teachers and non-teachers participate in.
3. What do you think is the
most pressing issue in the Worthington Schools?
The most pressing issue in ensuring that the district continues to
provide an excellent education for its students while remaining fiscally
prudent.
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?
I would look first to cut non-teaching (academic) operating areas
and seek to preserve teachers in academic areas.
5. If it were possible to add new programs to the district, what
programs would you seek to add?
I would add foreign languages at earlier grades and include more
instruction for computers.
6. What do you see as the
impact of “No Child Left Behind” on the Worthington
Schools? What about the Ohio Core legislation?
The NCLB legislation requires all teachers to be highly qualified
in core academic subjects and require the schools to meet adequate yearly
progress. Requiring the district to have
highly qualified teachers could force the district to spend additional
professional development funds if all the teachers are not already highly qualified. Requiring the schools to meet AYP will have
little impact on a district like
The Ohio Core legislation will impact current 5th
graders by requiring increased curriculum requirements for graduation in
Mathematics and requiring three years of lab-based Science. This could impact the district by requiring
more teachers for these two subject areas without any increase in the per-pupil
funding.
7. If selected, what do you
see as your role in influencing state education laws and policies that affect
the Worthington Schools?
I would try to ensure that the legislature does not continue to
require unfunded mandates and to ensure the safety and well being of our
students. The STRS is considering
increasing the employees’ and employers’ share 0.5% per year over the next five
years. If approved, in five years, this legislation would require the district
to spend an additional 2.5% of its budget for positions that require a teaching
license. This will cause a significant
increase in the district’s budget that the taxpayers would be required to pay.
I would also work to ensure that the district is provided with
reasonable levels of student funding.
8. What do you see as the
roles and responsibilities of a school board member?
My roles as a board member are to:
1)
ensure that the students are proved
with a safe, nurturing environment for learning
2)
implement policies and procedures
regarding school personnel and courses of study
3)
ensure that the district is fiscally
responsible
4)
interact with staff, students,
parents and the voters of the district
5)
inform and engage the public about
decisions that affect the district
My responsibilities as a board member are to:
1)
serve as a role model for students
2)
demonstrate ethical behavior
9. What evidence do you
believe shows the Worthington Schools are adequately, or inadequately,
preparing students for their lives after graduation?
The district is rated excellent by the Ohio Department of
Education. It is the largest district in
the state to achieve this rating.
I know alumni/ae of the district who are doing well professionally
and who have said that they received an excellent education in the district.