Four candidates running for three seats on Brunswick Board of Education

Steven Diedrick, 39 Education: He has a bachelor's degree in political science from the Ohio State University and a master's degree in education administration from Ashland University. He has done additional graduate coursework in business administration. Family: He said he is a proud father of two children in Brunswick Schools. Job history: He has experience as a high school social studies teacher at Strongsville Schools and is a former elementary principal at Strongsville Schools. Website: "Steve Diedrick for Brunswick City Schools Board of Education" on Facebook. Kimberly Goessler, 56, incumbent Education: She has a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from West Virginia University. Family: She has been married to her husband David for 30 years. She also has two children who graduated from Brunswick Schools. Her son Kyle graduated in 2019, and her daughter Courtney graduated in 2021. Job history: She worked as an internal auditor at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh and then at National City Bank in Cleveland for a little more than four years. She worked in client financial management at Andersen Consulting, now Accenture, for five-plus years and has volunteered at Brunswick Schools and its various parent support organizations since 2006. Website: N/A Mary Weinhauer, 48, incumbent Education: She has a bachelor's degree from the Ohio State University. Family: Her husband is Gary, and her children are Austin, Ella and Luke. Job history: She is a former educator and a small-business owner. Website: N/A BRUNSWICK — In the November election, four candidates are running for three spots on the Brunswick Board of Education. Write-in candidate Aidan Michael Jeffery did not respond to the candidate questionnaire after multiple requests for comment. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Diedrick: "I bring a unique perspective as both a teacher and a former principal, giving me insight into how decisions at the board level impact students, classrooms and budgets. I've worked directly with teachers, parents and administrators to solve problems and improve student learning. As a parent with two children in the district, I'm invested in our schools' long-term success. My experience in leadership, curriculum and policy allows me to ask the right questions, make informed decisions and keep the focus on what matters most — our students' achievement and well-being." Goessler: "I have volunteered in many capacities in the Brunswick City Schools for the past 19 years, including serving as a member of the school board since September 2020. I am a levelheaded, data-driven person with a financial background who can see and understand the big picture. I do not have a personal or pre-conceived agenda other than to continue to work tirelessly to ensure we are providing a rigorous curriculum and relevant experiences for all our students while continuing to do so in a fiscally responsible manner." Weinhauer: "I am an excellent candidate for the Brunswick Board of Education because of my experience on this board and because of the desire I have to do what's best for Brunswick's students, families and staff." What is the biggest challenge facing the city, and how would you address it? Diedrick: "The biggest challenge is financial uncertainty, particularly with state funding and mandates that often shift without adequate resources. This makes it hard to responsibly plan for the future while maintaining the high-quality programs our community expects. My approach would be to prioritize investments that directly impact students, such as strong academics, extracurriculars and mental health supports. At the same time, I would advocate at the state level for fairer, more predictable funding. By working collaboratively with staff, families and community members, I will ensure our budget reflects both fiscal responsibility and our community's educational values." Goessler: "The biggest challenge currently facing the Brunswick City School District is the uncertainty surrounding whether the Ohio House and Senate will override the items vetoed by Gov. DeWine as part of the biennium budget bill. Should these overrides take place, the (district) will quickly go from financial stability to major financial uncertainty. I will continue to work with our district administrative team to further develop the relationships we have built with our legislators and ensure they understand how the legislative decisions they make will impact the (district) and our students." Weinhauer: "The biggest challenge for our district, and every public district in Ohio, is a lack of a proper and constitutional state funding system. The current system relies too heavily on local property taxes and needs to be completely overhauled." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.