In an unprecedented election, six candidates will compete for three Board of Education seats Nov. 4.
The last time board seats were on the ballot was November 2023, when four candidates competed for two open seats. This year, six candidates are competing for three seats, a large number compared to previous elections. A review of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections archive shows that since 1983, there have been no races featuring that many candidates; for most elections, the number of candidates equaled the number of seats.
“I do think the number of candidates willing to serve on the Board of Education reflects the dedication and enthusiasm residents have for their Shaker Heights school system,” Shaker Heights resident and Realtor Liz Schorgl said.
This year’s candidates are incumbent board President Lora Cover; longtime Ludlow neighborhood resident and architect Kevin Dreyfuss-Wells; entrepreneur Ardelia Holmes; attorney Kate Nielson; former interim principal of the high school James Reed III; and communications professional Jenny Steadman.
Senior Sarah Galin said that she is registered and plans to vote in November. “For gov class, we can go to an activity fair and learn about the different candidates and meet with them. But also I’m planning on talking with my parents and doing my own research,” she said.
Galin said that student voters have especially important views. “I think our opinions are very validated because we have to be here for four years, and it feels like we don’t really have a say sometimes,” she said.
According to state and local law, BOE responsibilities include selecting a superintendent, approving an annual budget for the school district, considering recommendations from the superintendent, and adopting policies for the governance of the school district. The five members of the board meet regularly to fulfill these duties.
“I believe the role of the Board of Education is to steward the well-being of all students. This includes providing educational opportunities and safety. A positive environment for learning and experiencing life as a child should also be encouraged by school board members,” Schorgl said.
“I have immense respect for school board members. It’s one of the hardest jobs in Shaker,” Shaker Heights City Council member Sean Malone said.
Malone has served as a councilman for a decade and said he works closely with the school board on a number of issues.
“The importance of the board is huge,” Malone said. “People won’t invest in the community if there isn’t a great public school district.”
Senior Leah Reymann said that she is looking for a candidate who is genuine and stands for the community. “Being genuine, to me, doesn’t mean you put ‘Black Lives Matter’ or ‘equality’ on a site just because you think that’s what people want to hear. It’s something that you believe in,” she said.
Aside from the everyday responsibilities of running a school district, the board’s impact stretches to other aspects of the community such as the value of homes. “The district’s role is fundamental to real estate values in Shaker Heights,” Malone said.
The quality of public schools in any Ohio community drives demand for housing, causing property values to increase and benefiting residents.
Cooperation between the council and the BOE is important given the ongoing renovations of educational facilities in the city such as the Ludlow Early Learning Center and the future Woodbury campus. “Many facilities have to be renovated and replaced,” Malone said.
Students aren’t aware of the BOE, according to sophomore Benny Kerr. “The school board is unknown to most students,” he said.
Kerr said that new members of the school board should do a better job providing students the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.
Schorgl said that outreach is crucial. “The board should not assume they are reaching everyone by asking people to come to them,” Schorgl said. The district should make an effort to tell the story of Shaker schools, including its integration. According to Schorgl, telling these stories would build a positive relationship with the community.
Senior Maya Kestin said that she is looking for a school board candidate who “knows what they’re doing, [is] kind and respects everybody equally.”
The three candidates elected Nov. 4 will take office in January.
