The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Qualification, Priorities, Parental involvement

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from Frank L. Hutson, III:

I am currently an active Board Member of the Sycamore Boosters. Past Board Member of the Broadway Series of Cincinnati for 10 years (original member)before ,during and after completion of the Aronoff Center. VP and past President of the Advertising Club of Cincinnati. Past volunteer fund raiser,organizer, for Deaconess Hospital, the Anna Louise Inn and other charities. Work Odd Couples Ball and After Prom. Steering committee member who passed the Levy.

Answer from Mary C. Overman:

I've been a member of the Sycamore Board of Education for the last 4 years and Vice President the last 2 years. I've been an educator since 1978. Our 3 children graduated from Sycamore where I've been an active member of the schools since we moved here in 1982.

Answer from Jean A. Staubach:

1. 8-year incumbent member of Sycamore Board of Education
2. Principal architect of Sycamore 5 year Financial Plan (2004-2009)
3. 17 year Montgomery resident
4. Parent of 4 children, recent graduates ('99,'01,'02,'04) of Sycamore High School - active students in academics, art, music, athletics, and community
5. 2001 Board president

Answer from Diane Adamec:

My proven business leadership and dedication to the community make me an ideal candidate. As a P&G manager for 18 years, I successfully led others to achieve high goals, eliminate waste, and improve operations. I have served my community through many volunteer activities focusing on children and education. See http://www.DianeAdamec.com.

Answer from Rick Friedman:

This is my 14th year with children at Sycamore, and I own a company in Blue Ash. I spend hundreds of hours annually volunteering in the schools, and was formerly VP of the Sycamore Planning Commission. I am passionately devoted to Educational Excellence, delivered in a well-managed, cost-conscious environment.

Answer from Diane Adamec:

An open, honest dialog with the Sycamore community is key to serving our schools. I will work in partnership with the school board, administration, and staff to maintain the highest quality education possible for our children while improving cost efficiency. I will listen attentively to the needs of our community and cut unnecessary spending, utilize existing facilities efficiently, and proactively communicate the district's goals and successes in these areas. I will bring accountability to the School Board through a personal commitment to all residents with an eye toward planning for a future of qualified graduates and high property value.

Answer from Rick Friedman:

We must have Board leadership that governs Sycamore like a business. Taxpayers deserve integrity, business sense and communication from the Board and Administration. We have to get decisions correct the first time, and have the appropriate communication mechanisms in place to proactively provide the community with timely responses to inquiries and information requests. Specifically, communication must be managed by Email linkage and direct, personal communication. We need to have the resources in place to proactively analyze data, and the Board needs to be hands-on in asking tough "what-if" questions. Similar districts, such as Upper Arlington, Solon, Hudson, and Centerville, must be analyzed (and emulated) to ascertain how they distribute services at lower costs.

Answer from Frank L. Hutson, III:

Fiscal responsibility: I plan to attend all board meetings and fully digest the issues and options available to me before implementing changes necessary to keep the Board spending within budget. Find Alternative Cost cuts: As a Board member of the Boosters we decided to underwrite the secondary sports teams at Sycamore so that all children with sports ability would be afforded play time. Donated $40,000 per year for the next 3 years. Communication: Always available to answer questions from the citizens and keep an open mind to suggestions. There are people smarter than I.

Answer from Jean A. Staubach:

The "Contract with the Community" reflects the overall goals of our community and the community trust given to the Board of Education to attain those goals. The Contract dictates we stay within our financial parameters while providing a top quality education to all of our students. Teamwork by the Board will be required to meet these priorities and accomplish these goals. We must monitor programs and processes to provide better value to the taxpayer than ever before. We must not exceed the financial limitations of our budget. We must ask our employees and the community to embrace new and better ways of providing services to our students. We must communicate our financial situation and decisions to the taxpayers on a continuous basis.

Answer from Mary C. Overman:

In order to implement these priorities I will assure clear direction and policies are provided to the Superintendent, administration, and staff. I will thoroughly investigate and evaluate each item to be presented to the Board. I will also bring to our Board best practices "and cost saving ideas shared by other board members from other districts at the monthly meetings that I have established.

Answer from Frank L. Hutson, III:

Volunteerism is the key. By setting an example of continued community support within the Sycamore school and sport system, I also have reached out to larger organizations in an effort to better the Greater Cincinnati Community at large. I plan to encourage all Sycamore Parents to become involved in some part of the process. Involvement becomes infective and once someone buys into the process they assume ownership and want things to work out for the best.

Answer from Rick Friedman:

There is only one way to increase parental involvement in the District, and that is to communicate with parents. I have had significant success coordinating parent volunteers in the set-building for the Junior High musical, two of the past three Odd Couples Balls at the High School, as well as the design and construction of the Ferris Wheel at the 2005 After-Prom. I simply asked for help, and treated people with respect - the results speak for themselves. Direct, personal communication is a very powerful tool.

Answer from Diane Adamec:

The Sycamore School District has excellent parent involvement in the schools through PTO activities, classroom volunteers, and a variety of Booster organizations. Most agree this helps drive the success the district enjoys. I believe there needs to be more involvement by both parents and other community members in the strategic operations at the district level. More effective use of the existing committees, formation of other possible community committees (ie compensation, cost reduction), and improved overall district communications are ideas I will champion as a School Board Member.

Answer from Mary C. Overman:

I feel the key to parent involvement is providing opportunities where they can be involved. As a Board member I will support all activities that encourage this involvement. An example where I became directly involved is the art displays at the Board Offices, a program where classes would show there art work over a period of time. In 2004 this was being discontinued so this year I volunteered to coordinate this program so the art can be displayed. This is just an example where parents, with their children can visit the Board Office and be proud of their child's accomplishments.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.