The candidates for the three seats on the Hamilton Board of Education. An * denotes an incumbent.
Name: Steven Isgro
Age: 60
Residence: Hamilton
Occupation: Retired Hamilton police lieutenant
Previous political experience: None
Website: None
Name: Arthur Roden
Age: Candidate declined
Residence: Hamilton
Occupation: Intervention Specialist/Computer Consultant
Previous political experience: None
Website: None
Name: George N. Jonson*
Age: 79
Residence: Hamilton
Occupation: Retired attorney
Previous political experience: 10 years on Hamilton City Council and 32 years on Hamilton Board of Education
Website: Hjonsonlaw.com
Name: Glenn W. Stitsinger Jr.*
Age: 72
Residence: Hamilton
Occupation: Dentist
Previous political experience: 28-year member of the Hamilton Board of Education, including eight terms as president. Currently serving as president.
Website: None
Name: Anna Harvey*
Age: 77
Residence: Hanover Twp.
Occupation: Retired
Previous political experience: 12 years on school board
Web Site; annahhsboosters@aol.com
Name: Robert W. Weigel
Age: 28
Residence: Hamilton
Occupation: Funeral director
Previous political experience: None
Website www.democracy.com/robweigel
Raising test scores and improving performance on the state report cards were the common theme for the six people seeking seats on the Hamilton Board of Education.
Incumbents Anna Harvey, George N. Jonson and Glenn W. Stitsinger Jr. are seeking re-election to four-year terms on the school board. There are three challengers, Arthur Roden, Steven Isgro and Robert W. Weigel, who are seeking their first terms in any elective office.
A retiree, Harvey, 77, will be completing her 12th year as a board member this year.
Harvey said the three top issues facing the Hamilton City Schools are improving the district’s scores on the state report card; increasing parent participation in the schools; and dealing with the additional stress levels for teachers and administrators with the new evaluations set down by the state.
“I would like to see how we can help the teachers and administrators get through this trying time and still maintain the level of teaching to get our report card grades up.” Harvey said. “Our teachers and administrators work very hard to make our schools successful.”
Jonson, 79, is a retired attorney who will be completing his 32nd year on the school board. Prior to being elected to the school board, Jonson had served 10 years as a member of Hamilton City Council.
“I am seeking re-election because I feel that with my vast experience, it will be of great value with all the state-mandated changes that have come down this year,” he said. “The Common Core along with the New Evaluation Model and the Third Grade Reading Guarantee call for experienced board of education leadership that I can help provide.”
As for the top three issues facing the district, Jonson identified improving academic achievement through the implementation of the Common Core and increasing the academic rigor of courses and setting higher expectations; finding and keeping highly qualified teachers by continuing to set high employment standards and keeping competitive with neighboring school districts in compensation; and maintaining financial stability noting the district has not had a new operating levy since 1993.
Stitsinger, 72, is a dentist and life-long resident of Hamilton who has served on the school board for 28 years that also includes eight terms as the board’s president.
“I am a candidate because my leadership can make a difference in the education of students. I care deeply about Hamilton and the importance education plays in children’s lives …,” Stitsinger said. “In a time of unprecedented challenges, I provide leadership necessary to keep strong focus on academics while keeping the district strong financially…”
As for the top issues facing the district, he said student achievement is the board’s “highest priority.” His other top issues included financial responsibility and ensuring the district lives within its means as well as making sure the district can attract, retain and fairly compensate its employees; and keeping up with new technology that is constantly changing.
Among the challengers, Roden said he’s running to establish strong leadership and effective allocation of resources in the district.
A Hamilton resident who is an intervention specialist/computer consultant, Roden said his “goal is to focus on providing quality education in Hamilton, which will raise the state’s academic rating of the district, generate more pride and support in the community, and bring families and businesses back to Hamilton — thereby improving the standard of living for everyone.”
Roden said the top three issues facing the district as generating more public interest in school board meetings so residents can share their community values and expectations with the board; raising the district’s state academic rating through “a stronger curriculum that exceeds the minimum standards and embraces the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic; and the expiration of contracts and to start searching for future leaders that will work with the community and put academics first.
“(The) Hamilton City School District is at a fork in the road, the community has the opportunity to show its pride and support by choosing the high road by electing new board members who desire to be advocates for the community, or the community can take the low road they have traveled on average for the past 20 years,” Roden said.
Like Roden, Weigel seeks to bring about change.
“I’d like to see some new ideas and a fresh perspective brought to the board,” said Weigel, 28. “I am a native Hamiltonian, a product of Hamilton City Schools, and I’d like to see Hamilton schools and it’s students succeed.”
Weigel, a local funeral director, identified academic achievement and closing gaps that prevent students from learning; doing a better job of preparing students for the work world and the jobs that are available; and for graduates to become active participants in the community after graduation. Other issues include parent participation in the schools and the stress level in the schools with the new evaluation system.
“I believe there is room for positive change that would significantly benefit all three areas,” Weigel said. “I’d like to see more transparency, accountability, and community involvement. Hamilton City Schools are the foundation of our city and our biggest tool for economic development. Hamiltonians must demand the best from every facet of our schools. As our community changes our schools must evolve. If we remain the same we will fall behind.”
The third challenger for a school board seat is retired Hamilton police lieutenant Steven Isgro.
Like the other two challengers, Isgro, 60, of Hamilton, has no previous political experience.
“I think I can make a difference and bring change to the district,” he said. “The board did a good job with the (new) buildings, but I would like to see better scores on the state report card.”
Isgro believes the top issues facing the district are raising test scores and graduation rates.
He said students getting a good education is key for them to get a good job somewhere and to help them become better-rounded citizens.
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