Issues - Overview

Here is an overview of Jason Haap’s platform for Cincinnati School Board.  Please see the “Platform Highlights” on the left of the page for more depth. 

Additionally, you can check out the search feature at the top right of the site if you are looking for something and can’t find it!

Proportional Cuts
High paid administrators at the central office should never be able to make decisions about cutting services to students without first taking a cut themselves.  Too often, when talk of tax levies politicizes the education of children, we live with the fear of losing services that benefit kids - like extra-curricular programs, electives such as art and music, or even a reduction in teaching staff.  My proposal for “Proportional Cuts” would mean that anytime cuts take away things that benefit kids, a proportional cut must also be reflected in the budget of the central office administration that makes these decisions.

Holding Principals Accountable
Invariably, discussions about education result in someone using the word “accountability.”  However, when talking about “fiscal accountability,” or “teacher accountability,” we need to make sure we place emphasis squarely where it belongs - on the building principals.  They are the leaders of their respective schools.  We also need to be sure the evaluation process for principals is constructive - aiming to provide feedback for improvement.  This evaluation process should include public input.

Our principals need to be accountable for all aspects of their schools’ performance.  Our principals need to be principled leaders - with a vision and a personality to inspire their staffs.  Principals of under-performing schools should have to answer, in public, to the concerns of the community and the board.  If they don’t get the job done, they need to step aside.  I would rather have an energetic, young principal with a vision and no experience than a seasoned veteran experienced in maintaining the status quo.

A Curriculum of Social Justice
Our school system should link its curriculum to secular concepts in social justice.  Our schools, and our students, should be active stewards in our communities - working to make sure that we promote things like helping those in need, and accepting others despite differences in race, social status, sexual orientation, and so forth. 

I believe our schools should base curricular decisions around the ten “common principles” articulated by the Coalition of Essential Schools.

Other elements, like anti-bullying efforts and recognitions of excellence, should be linked into the curriculum more particularly.  Anti-bullying should not be reduced to random pull-out programs with guest speakers, but a district wide policy should make reporting and follow-up more user-friendly (such as accepting information via email, text, and so forth).  Those students who do something spectacular should be recognized more regularly for acts of excellence, and the district should partner with the City of Cincinnati and area media to promote excellence as a strategy to improve the schools, the neighborhoods, and the City as a whole.

More Research-Based Pilot Programs
The district should explore the implementation of more research-based instructional models, particularly for traditionally under-performing schools.  Options include things from membership in the Coalition of Essential Schools, to studying more magnet models - like Waldorf methods public schools.  More experimentation and diversity can foster new strategies for improving the student experience in our public schools.