School board members are locally elected officials who serve as the governing body of a public school district. They are responsible for establishing policies, adopting the district’s budget, approving curriculum, and hiring and evaluating the superintendent and treasurer. School board members represent the community’s interests in public education and make decisions that shape the direction and quality of local schools.Source: Ohio Revised Code §§ 3311.05, 3313.06–3313.33
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Contact Email
thenewsmiths@gmail.com
Education (30 words)
Completed Bachelor of Science Agricultural Communications Wilmington College; Pursued Master of Science in Agricultural Education Oklahoma State University; Completed Teacher Certification in Agricultural Education Ohio State University
Current job (10 words)
Owner and Travel Advisor at The TravelSmith Travel Agency
Work experience/qualifications (60 words)
Rachel Smith has a proven track record of district volunteerism. She currently serves as Northridge Vikings Music Boosters Treasurer and is a member of the Northridge Athletic Boosters and Academic Committee. Smith has also volunteered on five district levy committees since 2018.
phone
7408194539
notes
Rachel Smith and her family have lived in the Northridge Local School District since 2009. She and her husband Scott spend their spare time attending band performances and swim meets for their two children Cora, 15, and Lily, 13, who are both students at Northridge.
A Northridge Local Board of Education member is one of five Northridge community members chosen by citizens to represent them in the policymaking decisions of Northridge Local School District.
If elected, I plan to work collaboratively with other board members, and get input from administration, teachers, staff, and students to ensure policies are written in the best interest of our students.
1. Uncertain Funding: The budget and financial uncertainty from Columbus and DC makes long-term planning for student programs incredibly difficult. I will advocate for a stable state funding formula and responsible district budgeting to protect our students.
2. Low Community Trust: When parents and residents don't have confidence in the board, it undermines our shared goals. I will prioritize transparency and open communication to ensure every decision is in our students' best interests.
3. Staff and Teachers Report Culture of Intimidation: Low staff morale and fear directly harms our students' learning environment. I will work to rebuild a culture of respect and safety to attract and keep excellent educators and staff.
Northridge teachers and staff work hard to provide a quality education, but low morale is a significant concern. We must remember that a teacher's work environment is a student's learning environment.
By the end of my term, I want to see improved staff morale. This will be achieved by the board actively welcoming input from administrators, teachers, staff, and students. Using this feedback, we can make decisions that ensure every Northridge student has the support and resources needed to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Our teachers and staff are dedicated education professionals whose expertise is invaluable in determining how best to serve our students.
Every family has the right to choose the kind of school that best fits their needs. Ohio’s public schools are uniquely mandated to serve ALL students.
Universal Access: Public schools must educate EVERY child in the community, regardless of ability, background, or need. Charter schools, religious schools, and private schools can choose their students.
Public Governance: Public schools are directly accountable to taxpayers through a locally elected school board, not a private or appointed board.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
