Lakewood School Board Member Markling Goes to Columbus to Present and Represent
Lakewood School Board Member Matthew John Markling
From November 8 through November 11, 2009, Lakewood School Board Member Matthew John Markling will be attending the 54th Annual Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Capital Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus to serve as a speaker, delegate, and liaison on behalf of the Lakewood City School District Board of Education. The OSBA is a private, not-for-profit statewide organization of public school boards. At least 10,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Capital Conference, which features more than 100 sessions of panel discussions, workshops, one-on-one assistance and nationally renowned speakers addressing a variety of educational issues.
During the Capital Conference, Markling will be just one of a select few educational leaders and experts who will participate as a speaker. Markling will provide a board development presentation entitled, “When You Are In the Minority,” which will discuss proven techniques for establishing effective consensus leadership in a divided board.
“The current members of the Lakewood City School Board appreciate that we will each be in the minority on some issues and will need to reach consensus in order to make decisions that are in the best interest of the Lakewood City Schools while, at the same time, not compromising our individual core values and beliefs,” said Markling. “Our school board has been able to establish effective leadership in such situations by focusing on how we ‘can’ work together toward our mutual goals and objectives rather than focusing on ‘can’t’ hurdles such as personality differences, pointless policy and guideline constraints, pigeonholing, and the 5-0 paradox.” Markling will explore each of these four obstacles in his board development presentation.
While at the Capital Conference, Markling will also represent the Lakewood School Board as its delegate at the Annual Business Meeting of the OSBA Delegate Assembly. More than 600 public school boards from around the state will be represented at the Delegate Assembly. Markling will join his fellow delegates in considering the OSBA legislative platform, a comprehensive document that defines OSBA’s views and goals on a wide spectrum of education issues.
“The purpose of the OSBA Legislative Platform is to convey to policymakers and the public where school board members across Ohio stand on public education issues,” said Markling. “For example, the proposed platform opposes any advertising or campaigning by the Ohio Lottery Commission or agents of the State of Ohio that implies, directly or indirectly, that the funding of public education is contingent upon gambling. The proposed platform also calls for an educational tax system that is stable, competitive, and reflective of the current economy.” There are numerous other educational proposals which Markling will vote upon as well, after having given his colleagues on the Lakewood School Board an ample opportunity for input and guidance.
Throughout the Capital Conference, Markling will also represent the Lakewood School Board as its Student Achievement Liaison. Markling will join his fellow liaisons in obtaining and sharing information on such topics as improving student achievement, maintaining a constant school board focus on improving student achievement, and establishing and maintaining relationships with academic booster groups.
“The Lakewood City Schools is very well respected for student achievement throughout Ohio,” said Markling. “In fact, the Lakewood City Academy was showcased at the 2008 Capital Conference Student Achievement Fair as an innovative project and program that other school districts can model to boost student achievement and engage youth in learning and growth.” The Lakewood City Schools’ hard work toward student achievement during the 2008-2009 school year also resulted in the school district receiving an “Excellent” designation on the Ohio Department of Education’s Report Card.
Markling is serving his first term as an elected member of the Lakewood City School District Board of Education. For more information about Lakewood School Board Member Matthew John Markling, please visit www.lakewoodschoolboardmember.com.
