Four seek three seats on Medina Board of Education in November election

Victoria Druley, 38 Education: The Ohio State University: Bachelor of Science in biology and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Family: Husband, Patrick and four children who attend Medina Schools: Fox, Jet, Oak, and Roc. Job History: Grant writer; community volunteer/activist. Website: www.druleyformedina.com Aidan Haggard, 19 Education: Medina High School, Class of 2024; current student at Ashland University, studying political science and classical learning. Family: Two older brothers and a loving mother and father. Job History: Currently a student. Website: linktr.ee/friendsofhaggard Aaron Hair, 43 Education: Undergraduate in business management; MBA in management. Family: Wife, Taylor, is an educator for Akron Schools. He has a daughter, Brinley, who is a senior at Medina High School and a son, Brady, who is in sixth grade at Claggett. Job History: Director of Underwriting for Pie Insurance. Website: aaronhair4medinaboe.com Jeanne Pritchard, 73, incumbent Education: Bachelor of Science in education from Ohio State and a master's degree from Ashland University. Family: her cat, Mamma Mia. Job History: Teacher/Coach at Medina High School for over 30 years; coached at Walsh High School, Ashland University and Wayne College in Orrville. Website: tinyurl.com/3efhyk3n MEDINA — Four people are running for the Medina Board of Education in the November election, including incumbent Jeanne Pritchard and challengers Victoria Druley, Aidan Haggard and Aaron Hair. There are three spots to be filled on the board. Pritchard is the only incumbent running for the position, as Medina Board of Education members Joe Nichols and Rebecca Parkhurst are not running in the current election. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Druley: I have invested years of steady volunteer work in Medina schools through Kids First Medina, the facilities committee, PTOs, PTO Council and the Partnership Council because I believe strong public schools build a strong community. I listen carefully, show up, and keep students at the center of every decision. As a parent of four Medina students, I understand the day-to-day experiences of families and the importance of excellent programs and supportive staff. I am ready to serve so that every child has excellent opportunities and our schools remain a source of pride for the entire community. Haggard: As a recent graduate of Medina High School, I understand what students need from their education to be successful, whether it be college, trade school, or directly to the workforce. I understand how the policies and actions taken by the school board and administration affect students, and I can use this as a guiding point on how to vote. As the only conservative running for the school board, I bring a new perspective to looking at the value of a dollar and the value of a quality education. Hair: I believe the school system is the heart and soul of the community. Everywhere you go, you are reminded, "You are a bee," and you are one member working together for the greater whole. Because of my experience as the president of Medina Youth Lacrosse, I have been fortunate to develop relationships not only with the school system but also with some of our great City of Medina employees. We need to continue to collaborate as a city and school system to bring projects to life while ensuring fiscal stability for years to come. Pritchard: I am an educator who cares deeply for the community and the school system. I am a lifelong resident who has been through the good times and the bad times of Medina Schools. I know the inner workings of the school system and the importance our schools are to our community. I have been the president of the teachers' association, and I understand contracts and the importance they have in maintaining a good school system. Nothing is more important to me than students becoming good and productive citizens and maintaining high standards within our schools and community. What is the biggest challenge facing the school district and how would you address it? Druley: Medina's biggest challenge is maintaining financial stability as state funding lags behind actual student needs. I will advocate for fair state funding and provide clear, responsible oversight of local resources to protect classroom learning, extracurricular programs, and the staff who support students. Careful planning and open communication will ensure that our district continues to deliver strong academics and opportunities. By safeguarding our finances, we protect what matters most: high-quality education and the excellent programs that help every student succeed. Haggard: The largest problem that we see within the school district, and the state of Ohio as a whole, is a spending problem, not a raising problem. Our community members are being taxed out of their homes, with the recent school levy increase and the state-mandated property tax reassessment. We need to have more individuals on the board who are willing to exercise fiscal conservation and prudence, and I look forward to exercising that. We also need more individuals who are willing to ask tougher questions to the superintendent and treasurer, equipping the public with more opportunities to hold us accountable. Hair: As a community member on the BOE finance committee, I've had firsthand experience reviewing the district's finances. For the most part, the administration has done a solid job of being fiscally responsible; however, we must continue to look for ways to reduce expenses and increase revenue. I think the revenue side of the equation is often overlooked, and we need to look beyond property taxes. Pritchard: Our biggest hurdle is the lack of fundamental and fair fiscal support from our elected officials in Columbus. We need elected representatives who understand the foundation and significance of all local schools. This leads to our second problem, which is the political climate and uncertainty of funding is deterring students from becoming educators. The fix is not easy, but we (school boards, teachers and community members) need to communicate with our representatives and encourage the electorate to elect pro-public school representatives. Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.