Update 10/30: The KEA Forum begins at 7 tonight in the KHS Auditorium. The moderator is Derek Faulkner, assistant prosecuting attorney for the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office and a 1991 Kings graduate. Bonnie Baker-Hicks, Hale Husband and Bob Hinman will field questions from the audience. Kim Grant has declined to attend.

On Nov. 5, the Kings community will vote to fill three open slots on the district’s Board of Education. There are four candidates vying for the three seats: two incumbents, Board President Bonnie Baker-Hicks and Vice President Hale Husband; and two challengers, Kim Grant and Bob Hinman.

This means that at least one new face will serve on the Kings School Board. Which newcomer will join the board? Or will both win a seat? More importantly, if chosen to serve on the school board, how do all of these candidates plan to serve the Kings community, especially in a time when education is undergoing dramatic change at both the state and federal level?

The Knight Times recently contacted each candidate with a short survey. The questions are formulated to address concerns of particular interest to Kings students. Below are the candidates’ responses, listed alphabetically by last name. The responses appear verbatim, as submitted to The Knight Times. If the candidate uses social media for their campaign, those web addresses are included beneath their response.

The Knight Times will also cover a candidate forum planned for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the KHS auditorium. The Kings Education Association (the Kings teachers’ union), is sponsoring the open event, and is encouraging the community to participate by asking questions.

In the interest of fairness and space, all of the candidates’ responses will appear after the reader enters the story by clicking the “Read More” prompt below.

Now, meet the four candidates for the Kings Local School Board … 

Bonnie Baker-Hicks

1. Are you a board incumbent? If so, for how many years have you been a school board member, and what is your position on the board?

I am an incumbent; this is my 12th year on the Kings Board – my 3rd term. We have to be re-elected every 4 years. I am currently the President of the Kings Board. We rotate the positions of President and Vice-President – that way, everyone gets a turn at that leadership role.

2. With which political party do you most closely identify?

I am a registered Republican. The way things are going, I’m not sure I want to identify with any of them!

3. If elected, how would your role as a school board member directly impact students?

My focus has always been that I am “All About Kids”. Trying to get students ready for their future roles is my major goal. Making sure students have all the tools they need for success definitely impacts students! I want a wide variety of programming to offer our wide variety of kids. I want to do whatever is necessary to ensure that every student receives a high school diploma – whether they want it or not!

4. What do you see as the board’s roles and responsibilities in regards to the students of Kings Local?

Everything we do as a Board comes back to the STUDENTS of Kings Local. One major responsibility is to keep our students safe from harm in a violent world. School should be a safe haven for our students. Every decision we make ultimately focuses on our students – whether it’s who we hire for a certain position – to how much money we have to spend on technology for our students – to replacing some light bulbs in an elementary building classroom – every decision revolves around STUDENTS!

5. Do you have any particular changes you would like to see made in school district policies, programs, or the various curricula being offered at Kings Local? If so, what changes would you like to see made and why?

As far as school district policies are concerned, we keep up with changes needed from the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio School Boards Association. There are no new policies I would like to see implemented at this point. As far as programs or curricula are concerned, I don’t think I have ever been opposed to any new programming requested by any school. I want us to keep growing in that respect. What is offered to Kings High School students now is just awesome! Let’s keep up the great work!

6. Describe your personal experience and involvement with the Kings Local School District that qualifies you as a school board member.

Let me give you some personal history. I entered first grade at Kings in 1954; I graduated in 1966 (we were the Kings Mills Atoms back then!) I started teaching 6th grade at the current KEC building in 1970. In 2000 I retired from Kings after teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for 30 years. I ran for Board in the fall of 2001 and took office in January of 2002. I’ve been a board member ever since. I am still involved with teaching kids! I now tutor students at the Warren County Career Center for the OGT tests. I also tutor students who are incarcerated at JDC and Mary Haven. I am always looking at the needs of students and how I can help them become productive citizens. I’ve always been and always will be “All About Kids!”

7. In your opinion, what sets you apart from your fellow candidates?

I believe my personal history with the Kings Local School District sets me apart from any other candidate. My heart is with Kings; I bleed red, white, and Columbia blue! I have no “agenda” except STUDENTS. I am not a member of any “organized group” that might have a specific agenda in mind. (Well, I am a member of a Sweet Adelines Chorus – I suppose that is an organized group with a specific agenda in mind!) I’m a very positive person who wants KINGS to be number 1 in the State of Ohio – AND the entire nation! GO KNIGHTS!

Kim Grant

1. Are you a board incumbent? If so, for how many years have you been a school board member, and what is your position on the board?

No

2. With which political party do you most closely identify?

I am a registered Republican but I consider myself an independent. I vote for the candidate and what they stand for not the party.

3. If elected, how would your role as a school board member directly impact students?

Current Board members have been there a long time and seem satisfied with the status quo.

I wil bring a fresh and more current approach to addressing student concerns. I am a problem solver willing to listen to students. I believe if one student is being bullied, hazed or failing to succeed in the classroom this is a problem that needs to be addressed .

4. What do you see as the board’s roles and responsibilities in regards to the students of Kings Local?

The Board must work to provide the best possible education for all students at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer. Kings needs to be on the cutting edge of education.
We need to see that our resources are in the hands of capable administrators with a plan and a vision. We cannot keep doing the same thing in the same way.
We can do better. Best practices in education ensure we do what is best for the student. The fact that 22% of Kings graduates that stay in state for college need remedial English or Math courses needs to be addressed. I will make sure our students and teachers have the tools they need to achieve success in the classroom.

5. Do you have any particular changes you would like to see made in school district policies, programs, or the various curricula being offered at Kings Local? If so, what changes would you like to see made and why?

Making protecting our students our number one policy not protecting the image of the Kings School District. I believe in telling the community the truth. If you are always just covering up problems nothing will ever truly improve.
Kings is a great district. We have dedicated teachers , students and parents and I am proud of that but we do have serious issues that need to be addressed in and open and transparent way.
I want transparency through out the system. I’d like to survey students and teachers to see what other policies and programs they feel are needed .

6. Describe your personal experience and involvement with the Kings Local School District that qualifies you as a school board member.

As a former teacher, I will bring practical knowledge as well as energy and insight to the Board. I am an independent thinker. I analyze information to make decisions based on facts.
I am willing to listen and research issues. I have attended School Board meetings for years and seen a lack of follow -thru and willingness to answer questions. The only way I can make a true change is be on the Board. I will respond to concerns and complaints .

7. In your opinion, what sets you apart from your fellow candidates?

For one thing, I am the person the administration does not want on the Board because I will hold them accountable. Students, teachers, parents and taxpayers can count on me to protect their interests. I will be honest about the problems on hand and deal with them in an open way. I believe serving on a School Board is one of the most important responsibilities that a citizen can undertake. I am not afraid to make tough decisions and stand behind them. I will maintain strong ethical standards, knowing what is right is more important than protecting the status quo.
I will make sure we run the district in a way that makes children the number one priority.

Website: http://kimgrant.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteKimGrant

Bob Hinman

1. Are you a board incumbent? If so, for how many years have you been a school board member, and what is your position on the board?

Not Yet. First time running for the Kings Local School Board

2. With which political party do you most closely identify?

Mainly with the Republican-Conservative

3. If elected, how would your role as a school board member directly impact students?

I would continue to put Kings Students priority 1. I would seek more AP, College Credits for the High School Students, more Arts for all levels, and expand the offerings of courses for Jr. High, and the elementary Students. I would also work to make sure that we continue to have the best faculty and staff in the State of Ohio.

4. What do you see as the Board’s role and responsibility in regards to the students of Kings Local?

The Board’s role in the district is to set the agenda of education for educating our students. They also hire the Superintendent and Treasurer and give them guideline based that Agenda. It should always be in the betterment and opportunity for learning at each of our Schools. The Board should always be reviewing the performance of the Administration, to be sure that the Administration is following these prescribed guidelines at the highest level

5. Do you have any particular changes you would like to see made in school district policies, programs, or the various curricula being offered at Kings Local? If so, what changes would you like to see made and why?

Kings is an excellent district and ranked very high in the State of Ohio. This said, we are not the top district in the state and I will, when elected meet with the top 5 districts and seek their advise, on what they are doing different from the next 30 districts and how we can or need adopt these procedures. We need to continue to offer more and more AP classes and those classes that offer College Credits.

6. Describe your personal experience and involvement with the Kings Local School District that qualifies you as a school board member.

I have put my 3 daughters through Kings Local as a single parent and as a married one. Stephanie grad 1989, Elizabeth grad 1993, and Melissa grad 1997. I have volunteered at many events throughout the years, including coaching youth sports, after prom and I have announced many of the Varsity Sports since 1993. There are dozens of groups that I have volunteered for in the past 28 years of living within the Kings Local District.

7. In your opinion, what sets you apart from your fellow candidates?

I have been a success in business and I can bring business background to the Board. I am running for the love and success of the District and my greatest wish it to bring the District into the top 5 districts, with ultimate goal of being the BEST DISTRICT in the State of Ohio. Once I set a goal, I will finish it to the end.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobHinmanForKingsSchoolBoard

Hale Husband

1. Are you a board incumbent? If so, for how many years have you been a school board member, and what is your position on the board?

I am an incumbent and have served on the Board for 15 years. I am currently the Board Vice President.

2. With which political party do you most closely identify?

When it comes to the Board I do not belong to any party. I am a conservative in my thought processes.

3. If elected, how would your role as a school board member directly impact students?

My role is to make sure the Superintendent and Treasurer are doing their jobs and following Board Policies and those Agenda items passed by the Board during a Board meeting. I listen to what is being said and based on that information and good questions we as a Board makes the decision. It takes a minimum of three Board members to agree on an item for it to become a reality. Once the agenda passes then there will be effect on the student through the Administration following up on that agenda item. Example: Student Handbook

4. What do you see as the board’s roles and responsibilities in regards to the students of Kings Local?

Our role and responsibilities are to listen to parents and the community who voted us into office and to follow Board Policies and the Ohio Revised Code.
To make sure that we are doing what is necessary to ensure that the students are getting an excellent education with those funds allocated to us by the State and the community through taxes.

5. Do you have any particular changes you would like to see made in school district policies, programs, or the various curricula being offered at Kings Local? If so, what changes would you like to see made and why?

We just finished an update to our Board Policies (which I and another Board member participated in along with the administrative staff).
I have always been for continuous improvement in the classroom by furnishing the support necessary to add new courses. I always want to improve teacher effectiveness by supporting their efforts to have the student achieve academic success in the classroom.

6. Describe your personal experience and involvement with the Kings Local School District that qualifies you as a school board member.

My success at working with others to achieve goals and performing a program of continuous improvement over a period of 15 years. By working together we have made this district one of the best in the State of Ohio!

7. In your opinion, what sets you apart from your fellow candidates?

My experience and knowledge gained through 26 years of involvement in Kings Local School District. It is not my success… it is our success that makes our District what it is today. Every teacher, parent, Administrator, worker, and friend of the district contributes to this success!