Meet the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School Board Candidates

Four candidates are running for election for three seats on the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Board of Education. Following are questions posed to them by the Brecksville Magazine and the candidates’ responses. Responses were limited to 250 words.

1. What are your qualifications for this position?

Dosen: When I ran in 2011, the district was in a financial crisis. New money levies failed in 2009, 2010 and 2011 accompanied by layoffs, elimination of high school busing, 100% pay-to-participate fees and other reductions. Higher taxes were the only solution, or so we were told. I disagreed and believed the district could better manage short and long-term expenditures without compromising educational quality and that is exactly what has been achieved over my eight-year tenure.

Laszlo: Having given up my law career when my first child was born, I found a profound calling in our district. I have supported our board and have become an informed advocate on behalf of our students and staff. I have forged strong connections in my community and have taken the time to listen and engage fairly with all stakeholders. I am an executive board member of two PSO units, frequently volunteering and witnessing district policy carried out. I had an active leadership role in the successful 2017 school levy and 2018 school bond campaigns. The Brecksville Education Association selected me as its prestigious 2018 Friend of Education for my contributions to our district’s growth.

Mack: I believe that one board member should be an educator. I have been in public education for 12 years. I have worked as a reading specialist, kindergarten teacher, general education teacher, and a gifted specialist, servicing students in grades three through eight. When decisions are being made, I will always examine the educational impact that it will have. Finally, I have been an active leader these past nine years on the board. I have been board president at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (two years) and Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District (current). I have worked to restore trust between our parents, staff, and community for the board, and I am proud of the work both boards have accomplished.

Wigman: As a graduate of BBH in 2003, and resident since 2012, I have volunteered for 2017 district levy, co-chaired the 2018 bond campaign for the new elementary school, and joined the Schools Foundation as their marketing/PR chair—all before becoming a parent of the district this year. My focus in all of these capacities has been about communication. I hold a master’s degree in higher education, with an emphasis on academic advising and student retention.

2. The district recently made the decision to delay the opening of its new elementary school by one year. What is your opinion on revised construction schedule?

Dosen: While it was disappointing to delay the opening, it was in the best long-term interest of our community. Staying with the original aggressive schedule left no buffer for delays, had cost and quality risks and still offered no guarantee of opening on time. Postponing by one year offered the best opportunity to complete the building on time, under budget and with the highest level of quality.

Laszlo: I fully support the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. Financial implications aside, the delay has significant educational effects on the current relocated student population. With the closing of Central, the elementary schools are currently crowded and changes to programming, contact time, interventions have further strained students and staff. I would have liked a more proactive approach in preparing for a possible delay, with an evaluation of the proposed construction timeline before the brisk decision to close Central School. 

Mack: I am disappointed about the new construction schedule; however, I understand that it is necessary in order to obtain the quality of workers that a project of this magnitude will need. If re-elected I plan to look for creative schedules that get our teachers and students in the building as soon as possible.

Wigman: I am a proponent of the delay. Financially, I err on the side of caution and prefer spending the time to get the project done right. However, the communication regarding the delay should have been better and more should have been done to evaluate the capacity of the existing elementary schools prior to closing Central School.

3. What is the most important issue facing the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District?

Dosen: As your leading voice for fiscal responsibility while still maintaining our heritage of educational excellence, I have seen firsthand how the economic pressures on our district never cease. Nearly every initiative you can think of to improve services to our students and families will have a cost. This makes it imperative that we manage our expenses carefully to ensure we get the most benefit out of every precious tax dollar. As the only board member and candidate from Broadview Heights, I will continue to ensure we minimize taxes while maximizing educational outcomes.

Laszlo: Communication is a key issue: respectfully conducted between elected officials/administrators/staff during times of contention and clearly, relevantly, and proactively with parents/residents.

Mack: Mental health. Our students need us to provide them the tools to thrive in a world that can be challenging and overwhelming. I spearheaded the change of school start times (along with support from our unions). Our older students are sleep deprived which detrimentally impacts their mental well-being.

Wigman: Student mental health. Students today are bombarded with extensive and pervasive feedback from school, sports, and social media. Combined with overscheduling, students have trouble coping with the stimuli around them. By continuing to provide access to mental health resources and support programming that funds district mental health initiatives (like the Schools Foundation’s Uphill Downhill Run), we can continue to support the pursuit of academic excellence in a balanced approach.

4. Vaping in schools has become a hot-button issue locally and across the nation. How should the district address this trend?

Dosen: Our Community Awareness and Prevention Association (CAPA) continues to address vaping as we explore additional options.

Laszlo: Coupled with strong mental health initiatives and parental engagement, I support aggressive measures against vaping/drug use such as vape detectors, random testing for athletes, and elective clubs conditioned upon privacy protection measures being firmly implemented.

Mack: Education is the key to combating this issue. We have a wonderful group at our school called CAPA (Community Awareness & Prevention Association) which is providing our students with anti-vaping programming.

Wigman: The school district currently has a policy in place addressing vaping, but I believe that the first-offence option of attending an Insight Program/Tobacco Education Program should be mandatory. Additionally, I believe we should be doing a better job of monitoring the locations (bathrooms) where vaping is most likely to occur.