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Appoint Haap to board vacancy!
2009 Green Party School Board Candidate Says “Choose Haap” for Board Vacancy
(Cincinnati)—With the recent announcement that Michael Flannery has resigned from Cincinnati School Board for health reasons, 2009 Green Party candidate Jason Haap says he’s the best person for the job.
Kids in danger?
Cincinnati’s children aren’t dangerous, but they are in danger!
(Cincinnati) - Jason Haap, Green Party candidate for Cincinnati School Board, is calling on school and city leaders to adopt policies restricting the presence and potential use of tasers in the public schools. “The City of Cincinnati’s children aren’t dangerous, but they are in danger of being tased—which can be deadly,” said Haap. “Kids as young as 12 years old have already been tased for merely having a bad attitude, which is hardly a life-threatening circumstance against heavily armed officers. Further, children as young as 9 years old can be tased under current Cincinnati policy.”
CityBeat, Enquirer
This week, I’ve been pleased to get positive ink from two Cincinnati newspapers—both CityBeat and The Enquirer. CityBeat gave me their full endorsement, and The Enquirer gave me a near-endorsement. Check out what they had to say!
Plan to add literacy and art teachers
School board candidates Jason Haap and Lisa Schare cross party lines to benefit Cincinnati’s students
(Cincinnati) - For the past couple weeks, Jason Haap, the Green Party candidate for school board, along with Lisa Schare, a Democratic candidate, have been talking about similar issues for the schools that have now converged into a new and concrete plan. The school board race is officially non-partisan, and this new plan is a non-partisan project based on benefitting kids, crafted by the two public school teachers in the race.
Prevailing Wage: Reality v. Ideality
Photo courtesy of here.
The issue of “prevailing wage” has captured the popular imagination with regards to the business of Cincinnati’s school board. On one side, some board members say non-union workers are more affordable, making it easier to meet the promise made to taxpayers regarding the number of new or renovated seats in the district. On the other side, union advocates say non-union workers produce shoddy work that costs more money in the long run. The ensuing debate then falls into the realm of political ideology, into an “Us v. Them” argument between those who support unions, against those who oppose them. However, I have just obtained new documents which may help settle this matter of ideality with a health dose of reality. Check out this file featuring 66 photographs taken inside Rockdale Academy!
Health Dept. can develop sex ed!
Cincinnati Health Department can develop a model sex education curriculum
(Cincinnati) - This past weekend, Jason Haap, the Green Party’s candidate for Cincinnati School board, spoke to Dr. Marilyn Crumpton, the Cincinnati Heath Department’s director of school and adolescent health. Dr. Crumpton confirmed the Health Department has the capacity to create a sex education curriculum based on “best-practices”—a term for approaches founded on scientifically-based research.
The merit pay myths
Today’s Washington Post has a good item about myths surrounding calls for merit pay systems. And one of the items on the list fits with my call for “holding principals accountable.”
Team “Haap on Board!”
CPS needs sex ed
Schools should partner with Cincinnati Health Department
(Cincinnati) - Today, Green Party school board candidate Jason Haap documented that CPS does not have a district-wide and comprehensive sex education program. “Comprehensive sex ed is a matter of public health,” said Haap. “We have a responsibility to guarantee such a curriculum for the overall safety and health of our kids.”
EQCincy Endorsement!
Equality Cincinnati PAC Endorses Jason Haap for Cincinnati School Board
(Cincinnati) - Today, Equality Cincinnati PAC announced its endorsements for the upcoming City elections, and Jason Haap is proud to have been included as an endorsed candidate for Cincinnati School Board.
A case for Proportional Cuts
Did you see this item about the Reading School District? This development helps make the case for my number one platform point—Proportional Cuts.
Let’s Dare to Drop D.A.R.E
This is a media release from Anitra Brockman, Green Party candidate for Cincinnati City Council
Cincinnati, OH, September 24, 2009: Anitra Brockman, Green Party candidate for Cincinnati City Council agrees and stands with, Green Party School Board Candidate, Jason Haap that the D.A.R.E. program is ineffective in Cincinnati.
DARE cops to high crime spots?
Copy of a media release distributed this afternoon.
(Cincinnati) - Jason Haap, the Green Party’s candidate for Cincinnati School Board, has learned that the local D.A.R.E. program employs seven officers, and costs over a quarter of a million dollars, with only half that covered on average by grant money.
End the D.A.R.E. Program
Copy of a media release recently distributed by the Haap on Board campaign.
(Cincinnati) - Jason Haap, the Green Party candidate for Cincinnati School Board, has called on the current board and City Hall leaders to end the D.A.R.E. program in the public schools. Haap points to a City web page that claims the D.A.R.E. program is active in over 40 CPS schools. He also says inquiries to the district regarding D.A.R.E. have gone unanswered.
Dare to question D.A.R.E.?
According to this link at the City of Cincinnati, the police department is still actively pursuing the D.A.R.E. program in Cincinnati Public Schools. This raises some questions. How much, if anything, does this cost not only the district, but the City? Is this the most effective use of police officers’ time in our current citywide climate? And why isn’t drug education just part of the health curriculum, instead of part of a pull-out program?
Thanks for the support!
A special thanks to everyone who came to Cadillac Ranch on Saturday night to support the campaign! Things are moving along very nicely. We have almost sold out of our first round of t-shirts, and we’ve started placing our gigantic yard signs around town.
Keeping it honest…
Below, you will find a series of emails I exchanged yesterday. In short, I realized the non-incumbent and endorsed Democrats were wearing name badges that appeared to violate Ohio election laws. Rather than filing a formal complaint, I just thought to send the Democrats an email, asking them to stop. Because it involved the race, I copied the other candidates for whom I had an email address. For some reason, the Republican school board candidate came running to their defense - but by the end of the day the Democrats appeared to have changed their badges due to my concerns!
Fundraiser! Sat. Sept. 12!
Haap on Board to Cadillac Ranch! Saturday, September 12th
Join School Board candidate Jason Haap at Cadillac Ranch on Saturday, September 12th for a “Haap on Board!” fundraiser! We’ll meet from 7-9pm, and the suggested donation is $10.
Bad quality? Calling on leaders!
In the following letter, which I have sent to board members, candidates, union leaders, and local media, I call on all stakeholders to join me in attempting to document the truth about building workmanship at new CPS buildings.
CFT Questionnaire
Here is the questionnaire, and my answers, for the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers.
Update on “Sexual Orientation”
A few weeks ago, I proposed the school board add language to their district policies defining sexual orientation harassment. Since that time, I have spoken at two school board meetings, attended the board’s policy committee meeting, and collaborated with the local branch of GLSEN. I’m proud to say that my efforts have brought change to the district’s policies.
Urban schools go door-to-door?
I just stumbled upon this article from Richmond, Virginia—and it includes the kind of out-of-the-box thinking we need to see on the Cincinnati School Board (which is why I’m pleased to bring the issue to your attention!).
Thank you, CincyPAC
I just got off the phone with Candace Klein from CincyPAC, and I am honored to have received their endorsement! Last month, I issued what I called a “challenge” to area Young Professionals—and I look forward to partnering with CincyPAC to advance a shared vision for both our City and our Schools.
Cheap new buildings?
I don’t think any candidate can have all the answers, all the insights, and all the perspectives. That’s why campaigning is such an important part of the Democratic process: it affords opportunities to learn information that might not be readily available to the public. Last night, while campaigning, I heard from more than three different people about the substandard quality of several new buildings in CPS—from people claiming to be teachers, as well as construction union members.
“Haap on Board!” Campaign T-Shirts!
Friends,
Thank you for visiting my campaign page, and I’d like to take this opportunity to ask for some help.
What about “Sexual Orientation”?
You can view the Cincinnati School District’s policies online here. Click on “5000 Students,” and you’ll find the district’s anti-harassment policies (5517) and the anti-bullying policies (5517.01). Check out 5517, and you’ll see on the various types of harassment named—such as “Sexual Harassment,” “Race/Color Harassment,” “Religious (Creed) Harassment,” National Origin Harassment,” and “Disability Harassment.” Where is the definition for “Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Harassment”?
Some perspective on tech-frenzy
Q: What is the one thing a good teacher needs?
A: Students.
One responsibility of a board member is to approve purchases—things like textbooks, or other materials relative to the overall course of study. An article in today’s Enquirer shows why it is so important for board members to have a clear understanding of sensible educational priorities—based on something other than a mainstream frenzy that so often accompanies the cult of technology when it comes to thinking about education.
An example for Proportional Cuts
Though not a story about the Cincinnati Public School district, this recent item in the Enquirer about the Winton Woods district highlights the need for something like my plan for “Proportional Cuts.” Central office administration should never be immune in a tough economic climate when services to kids hit the chopping block.
Reading List
I have received some inquiries regarding the “professional reading” I’ve engaged. I thought I’d link to those books that stand out as influencing my thoughts about education. This is a partial list presented in no particular order.
CincyPAC Questions
This week, I received questions from CincyPAC. I am thrilled that they decided to consider school board candidates, but I do wish they had crafted questions particular to that race. (School board candidates received questions designed for City Council, so not all of them applied, and not all applied in a direct manner.) Nevertheless, I think it’s great they are reaching out to school board candidates. Here are some of the questions, and my answers, from their questionnaire.
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Thank you for your interest in Jason Haap's campaign for School Board. We hope you will join us this season. "Haap on Board!"