Watson seeks re-election to Harrison Hills Board of Education

Why should residents vote for you?

 “I believe that I possess many qualities that serve both the youth and the residents of our district well. I consider myself a solutions-oriented decision maker. At any table I’ve ever sat at, I don’t have the desire to be ‘right’ in every discussion. In collaborative fashion, I do have the desire to find solutions that will positively impact the most people possible. My record on the board will show that I’m a critical thinker, willing to listen to many different perspectives. I’m not a self-server; I prioritize the needs of others and overall team goals in front of my own. These are all characteristics that I look for in community leaders, and I consider myself well-rounded in these attributes.”

Please share about your experience as a board member.

 “Serving on the board since 2016, as the board president for the nearly six years, has been one of the most rewarding responsibilities of my adult life. I believe there isn’t a public office better positioned to create the most beneficial impact in the lives of our young people, and that has truly been my experience. In my time in office, our District has experienced a rebirth or rebrand in many ways. These monumental changes have required an open mind, as well as careful considerations for where we’ve been as a District in the past, to where we are headed in the future. I continue to learn more about our community every day, and for me that is motivation to continue serving in this capacity. Learning breeds improvement and being on the Board has improved my ability to serve the community that developed me into the leader I am today.”

What sets you apart from other candidates?

“I do believe all candidates in any given race have individual strengths. My strengths are a product of my experience. Board of Education members should be versatile community leaders, and I believe I am the most versatile candidate in this race. In my professional life, I work directly with young people daily. As the Executive Director of the Belmont-Harrison Juvenile District, I manage a facility that operates a registered school within the program. I serve on the Belmont-Harrison Joint Vocational School Board, the Ohio University Eastern Foundation Committee, and the Sally Buffalo Mark at the Park Entertainment Committee to name a few. I am the only candidate to graduate from the consolidated version of Harrison Central High School in 2004, attending school in all three of the remaining buildings before the new campus was built. I later went on to earn my bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. I am also a small business owner, with a focus of serving Harrison County interests at an intensely local level.”

What issues facing the school are you most concerned about?

“Without question is the uncertainty surrounding property taxes in the State of Ohio, and the impact these decisions will have on the funding of many public services. We have worked very hard to reduce the tax burden on taxpayers in my time on the Board. I have continually supported lowering the new building bond collection rate, paying down the remaining building bond, and I voted to eliminate a three-mill permanent improvement levy in 2019. The result is an overall lower millage collection today, in comparison to when the new building levy passed in 2015. I do believe tax reform is warranted, and I believe my proven leadership is important while the landscape continues to shift in that direction.”

What do you hope to accomplish if re-elected?

“Once re-elected, I will continue to support building out the dynamic school security package already in use at our facilities. Our children need safe spaces to learn and grow, therefore remaining on top of the ever-changing trends in school security is imperative. I believe student mental health is an arm of this effort, and that will remain a focus of mine in my next term.

“I will continue to push for a more flexible, adaptable, and effective curriculum. It is important that our model pushes past the ‘middle’ and encompasses learners of all abilities. The District serves as a centerpiece of the community in my opinion, and our curriculum should reflect that at the local level.

“Lastly, I want to completely pay down the new building bond and ease the burden on our taxpayers. We are currently working on a plan for this to happen now, and I want to see that process through from start to finish.”