League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund
Hamilton County, OH November 8, 2005 Election
	Carmen McKeehan Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Norwood City School District

Questions & Answers

1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

As a Mom and past educator, I understand the importance of a great education. As a Norwood homeowner and taxpayer with an accounting background, I also understand the importance of fiscal responsibility.

My education background includes working with grades K-12 under the International Baccalaureate Program for diplomatic corps children.

2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (100 word limit)

Inherent to all successful school districts is a reliance on strong leadership. As a school board member, I intend to ensure that top leadership positions are filled with the most qualified and experienced candidates with a thorough knowledge of the most successful academic programs.

It is essential that school counselors and advisors increase contact with students and that mentoring programs be put in place to ensure that all students are headed toward graduation. The Superintendent's Advisory Council should be reinstated and Board of Education committee meetings need to be open and receptive to the comments, concerns and suggestions from parents and the community.

Along with streamlining costs, financial priorities need to be reassessed and a renewed emphasis needs to be placed on the academic needs of the students.

3. What will you do as a Board of Education member to increase parental involvement in your school system? (100 word limit)

For the last several years, I have actively petitioned the Norwood Board of Education for reinstatement of the Superintendent's Advisory Council. The council, which was cancelled in March of 2003, was a part of the Continuous Improvement Plan filed with the State of Ohio. The council served as a valuable communication link between the school administration and the residents and I would make reinstatement a priority.

As a board member, I would also like to make committee meetings more open to parents and residents by allowing all attendees, not just those employed by the district, an opportunity to voice concerns and participate in the discussions.