School Board Candidates Face Deadline

Voters in school districts across Ohio will know Thursday afternoon the candidates in November's contests for local school boards. As the fall contests approach, the role of local boards is changing in the wake of state and federal actions. Rob Delane, director of school board development at the Ohio School Boards Association, says more decisions on curriculum and funding are being taken away from locally elected board members. Ohio measures performance on 22 state standards and requires a series of proficiency tests. Recent congressional action on education policy requires local boards to allow students to leave academically poor schools or lose large amounts of federal funding, but Delane says even with a reduced decision-making role, most local school board races will be contested. In Columbus, four seats are up for grabs in November. Three incumbents and a political newcomer are running together. Election day in November 4th.