Members could attach political affiliation when they run for election

COLUMBUS, Ohio — State Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur is pushing a proposal that would require potential members of the State Board of Education to align with a political party when they run for election. House Bill 235 also aims to decrease members of the State Board of Education.

The current board is comprised of 19 members, and 11 members are elected and eight others who are appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine. However, if the proposal is enacted the board could shrink to 15 members by 2027. All of the members being elected first through a partisan primary, and then through a general election. The members will then be picked from congressional districts during the general election next November. 

"I feel it is very important for voters to have the ability to choose someone that aligns with their values and goals in this role," Fowler Arthur said.

Fowler Arthur said the goal is to bring more transparency to the State Board of Education in Ohio. She believes members should declare a political party during an election cycle. The bill also removes nonpartisan election races that the State Board of Education has participated in the past. It tweaks the language around Ohio law regarding nonpartisanship. 

"We did include party affiliation as well as a transition from a partially elected, and partially appointed board membership," Fowler Arthur said. "Because we believe that transparency in representation is very important."

"There's so much rancor, partisanship and political posturing that's getting in the way of teaching, and learning in our schools," Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association said. 

DiMauro believes politics could potentially cause a rift in education policies.

"We need to focus on student learning and achievement," DiMauro said, "and make sure we're providing opportunities for all students regardless of their background to have success in our public schools." 

However, while DiMauro does not agree with the entire proposal he said he believes Fowler Arthur’s intentions are in the right place. 

"I think representative Fowler Arthur has some interesting ideas," DiMauro said. "Certainly supports the need for transparency and continuing to have an opportunity for the public to engage in the rule making process." 

Under the proposal, the board would use Ohio’s congressional boundaries to divide up its districts. The bill would also bring back public testimony on K-through-12 education rules.

"The gist of the bill simply says that I believe that public transparency is very important to continue," Fowler Arthur said. "Under the new structure with the Department of Education and Workforce, that we should continue to have a public hearing process where constituents, or parents, or teachers, students can offer public feedback on a rule, or regulation prior to it being finalized and that it would be a public part of the record." 

Another piece of legislation introduced this week by Republican State Rep. Mike Loychik would require candidates running for state and local boards of education to declare a political affiliation. If that became law, those candidates would need to participate in primary elections instead of being listed on a nonpartisan ballot.