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| Affiliation | Republican |
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| Name | Michael J. King |
| Address | 795 Overlook Drive
, Ohio , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
00, 1971
(53 years)
|
| Contributor | None Entered |
| Last Modifed | Thomas Walker
Oct 09, 2007 12:30am |
| Tags |
Married - Protestant -
|
| Info | Michael J. King is a living testament to the adage, "Success is what happens when preparation and opportunity meet." Raised in adversity in the Toledo area, Michael began working at age 13 to help support himself. He quickly recognized that education would be the key to opening life's doors. "I was really fortunate to have good public schools and teachers who inspired me," he recalls, "because without them I might never have realized my potential." He became a candidate for the Columbus School Board to help ensure that all of our students, regardless of their status or background, have the same opportunity for success.
Today Michael is an attorney with Dinsmore & Shohl, where his practice focuses on trial and appellate litigation. He is a 1997 graduate of The Ohio State University and a 2000 graduate of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. While in law school he served as a guardian ad litem for children in abuse and neglect cases, and from 2000 to 2002 he served as Law Clerk to the Hon. Lisa L. Sadler on the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Michael and his wife Elizabeth have been married twelve years. Their son Aaron attended Indian Springs Elementary in Clintonville, and will attend Ridgeview Middle School this Fall. "We have some very good schools in our district that stand out as examples of what we are doing right," Michael says. "They are the schools parents apply for every Spring through the School Choice lottery. But we have an obligation to provide a quality education to all of our students, not just those whose numbers are drawn at random. As a parent, you shouldn't have to win a lottery to send your kids to a good school."
Age: 36
Residence: 795 Overlook Drive
Web site: [Link]
Occupation: attorney, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Education: bachelor's and law degrees, Ohio State University
Experience: guardian ad litem for children in abuse and neglect cases; clients have included Ohio Department of Education
Family: married, with son at Ridgeview Middle School
Religion: Protestant
Why he's running
I am not running for office; I am running for the Columbus school board. The difference between the two, as I see it, is the difference between a politician and a public servant. The former runs for office, while the latter sees a public need and does what he can to help fill it.
I am a candidate for the Columbus school board because I feel strongly that we can and must do better for the children of Columbus. The challenges we face as a large urban district are complex and daunting, but they are not insurmountable. As a two-time graduate of Ohio State University and a practicing attorney, I can help meet these challenges. And as the parent of a current CPS student, I have learned firsthand many of the strengths and weaknesses of our district.
I started working at age 13 to help support myself because my parents were unable to. As a child I dealt with the effects of domestic violence, alcoholism and more, and books provided my earliest escape from that unpleasant reality. I was a gifted student, and I was fortunate to have quality public schools and teachers who inspired me. I eventually worked my way through college and law school at Ohio State, and today I am blessed with a wonderful wife and a gifted son and the ability to earn a good living doing work that I really enjoy. My life could easily have turned out differently, and I am thankful every day for the opportunities my education has provided. I feel a strong obligation to pay that debt forward.
Have you run for public office before? When?
I have never been a candidate before.
What are the three biggest issues?
We still have too many underperforming schools, and improving them will require us to address a number of interrelated issues including improving discipline and security; raising teacher morale; providing more individual attention to students; and increasing parental involvement.
What makes you the best candidate to address those issues?
As an attorney my job is to solve problems; to think critically and creatively; to set and accomplish goals; to advocate; to communicate; and always to learn. As a board member I will use these skills to help meet the complex challenges facing the district and help ensure that all of our students, regardless of their status or background, have the same opportunity for success.
What do you hope to accomplish?
I hope I will help restore public confidence in the district by improving accountability and transparency, by maintaining fiscal responsibility, and by improving our underperforming schools. I hope to reduce the number of voucher-eligible schools in the district and improve our ability to meet or exceed applicable state standards.
Financial issues
Should the Columbus school district continue to hold spending increases to 3 percent a year?
I do favor spending restraint to help assure the public of the district's continued commitment to fiscal responsibility, but I would not favor a rigid spending cap. Any restraint should have some flexibility from year to year in light of recent, unanticipated cost increases such as insurance and fuel.
In what areas should the district reduce spending? In what areas should it invest more money?
As a general matter, the district should invest in areas that will provide the greatest long-term return in student performance, and limit spending on administrative and overhead costs. We should continue to press for equitable reform in school funding, but we must also make the absolute most of our limited available resources.
The district might ask taxpayers to approve an operating levy and a bond issue in the next couple of years. Should the district seek these and should they be on the same ballot?
The district will have to put an operating levy on the ballot to replace the 2004 operating levy when it expires next year, and voters should support it. I would be reluctant to seek a bond issue on the same ballot.
Did the district close the right number of schools, too many or too few? Should closed schools be sold or should the district keep those properties for future use?
Closing schools is an extremely difficult decision, but the number of schools in the district should be driven by considerations of operational efficiency and enrollment projections. Disposition of closed schools should be made on a case-by-case basis, and properties should be sold, leased or converted to other uses depending on what will provide the greatest long-term benefits to the district.
Should nonclassroom operations, such as food services and busing, be privatized?
I have not studied the issue of privatizing non-classroom operations, but my initial concern would be the issue of district oversight. There should never be a repeat of the First Student bus driver situation.
Climate/competitive Issues
How can the district improve student discipline? Would uniforms help, and should they be mandated?
I support the SuccessWorks Academy program and I am interested in learning more about how its first year has gone and what adjustments might be made to improve and expand it. I will also propose a practical school uniform policy for the district, which I believe will help.
How can the district better compete with charter schools?
In my view, the charter school system as it currently exists is seriously flawed. It is a well-intended but short-sighted solution to long-term challenges and, unless changes are made to level the playing field, I believe charter schools over the long term could actually increase the disparity between the most-served and the least-served students in the state. We should be working to narrow that gap, not allowing it to widen. That said, two observations must be made: One, charter schools are not going away any time soon, so as a district we have no choice but to improve our underperforming schools and provide families with viable options. Two, to the extent that charter schools can foster that element of competition, they are not all bad.
Should the district create more alternative programs and/or charter schools? What kind?
As a board member, I would support the creation of more alternative programs and district-run charter schools. A one-size-fits-all education might work well in small suburban districts, but it is not sufficient for our large and diverse student population. As for what kind of alternative programs and charter schools we should create, I would seek significant input from the community and educators before reaching any conclusions.
Do residents trust Columbus City Schools? What should the district do to improve its public image?
I think that trust is starting to grow. The school board can foster that trust and help improve the district's public image by continuing to hold itself to high standards of professionalism; by renewing its commitment to accountability and transparency; by maintaining operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility; by championing our successes and acknowledging our failures; and by improving our underperforming schools.
[Link] [Link] |
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