Markling for School Board

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marklingm
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Postby marklingm » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:49 am

Why Paula Reed Is Voting Markling for Lakewood School Board - Leadership

In the October 16, 2007 edition of The Lakewood Observer, Paula Reed authors an article entitled, Why I Am Voting Markling for Lakewood School Board - Leadership.

To view this article, please click here.
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Postby marklingm » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:51 am

Markling Only FOP Endorsed Lakewood School Board Candidate - An Article

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In the October 16, 2007 edition of The Lakewood Observer, Rick Wair authors an article entitled, Markling Only FOP Endorsed Lakewood School Board Candidate.

To view this article, please click here.
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Postby marklingm » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:54 am

The League of Women Voter's Guide - School Board Candidate Responses

In its October 16, 2007 edition, The Lakewood Observer publishes the League of Women Voter's Guide. To review the responses of all school board candidates, please click here.
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Postby marklingm » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:19 am

Lakewood Sun Post Article and Correction

In the October 18, 2007 edition of the Lakewood Sun Post, David George authors an article entitled, Issues in background of board race.

Portions of the article read as follows:

Lakewood Sun Post wrote:The 36 year-old Markling, an attorney and professor dealing with Ohio school legal issues, says his work with districts outside Lakewood gives him a better idea of what other systems are doing to solve financial problems, student performance and other issues. He has also worked with current school officials on the district's school climate and heritage committees. "I'd like to see improvement in school achievement, conduct, and leadership," he said.


To read this entire article, please click here.

As a point of clarification, my sons are only 21 months and 3 1/2 years old - so, not quite the kindergarten age in the Lakewood City Schools. On October 25, 2007, the Lakewood Sun Post issued the following correction:

Lakewood Sun Post wrote:Correction
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Lakewood Sun Post

Matthew John Markling, a candidate for Lakewood school board, has two sons, ages 21 months and 31/2 years old. Neither attends school yet.


To download the correction, please click here.
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Postby marklingm » Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:20 pm

dl meckes wrote:Are any red flags raised when candidates' children don't attend Lakewood schools?


That really is not an issue in this school board election. I believe that Linda and Chas sent all their children to Lakewood schools, as did Dawn when she lived in Lakewood with kids. Martin is currently sending his two daughters to Lakewood schools. And, my sons are only 21 months and 3 1/2 years old - so, not quite the kindergarten age - but they will attend Lakewood schools and are currently very active in both Lakewood Early Childhood PTA and Lakewood City Schools programming and activities.


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Postby marklingm » Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:31 am

Thank You Lakewood Chamber of Commerce

Yesterday, on October 19, 2007, I had the honor of participating in the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Candidates Luncheon Forum. Each school board candidate was given 90 seconds to share information about our background and views of the Lakewood City Schools over the next two years. All school board candidates were in attendance. This event was open to the public and will be aired on Channel 74 soon.


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Postby marklingm » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:01 pm

Lakewood Sun Post Article

In the October 25, 2007 edition of the Lakewood Sun Post, David George authors an article entitled, State ratings, taxes highlight board race, David George.

Portions of the article read as follows:

Lakewood Sun Post wrote:Although Superintendent David Estrop has often criticized state and federal school rating systems, candidates for Lakewood school board say the district must continue to strive for the highest ratings possible, despite the systems' flaws.

* * *

While some individual Lakewood schools have received "excellent" or "effective" ratings in past years, overall the district itself has generally been unable to rate higher than the "continuous improvement" designation. Estrop has said on several occasions that the district is penalized by a system that unfairly weights subgroups in its ranking systems, particularly in progress goals set by the federal No Child Left Behind program.

Candidates agreed, but said that Lakewood schools need to meet any benchmarks set.

"No excuses," attorney and college professor Matthew Markling said. "What I want to hear from leadership is that the goal is excellence. Those are the rules we're playing under. The test is what the test is. Dr. Estrop has done an excellent job explaining it."

* * *

Markling said he has heard a common complaint from parents that they find it difficult to get information easily and directly from school sources.

"What I hear is that a simple answer is all they want," he said.

* * * Markling was endorsed by Lodge No. 25 of the Fraternal Order of Police. He, Beebe, and Geiger have mutually endorsed each other.


To read this entire article, please click here.
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Postby marklingm » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:27 pm

LAKEWOOD SUN POST ENDORSES MARKLING

In an editorial entitled, Make an educated vote for schools (October 25, 2007), the Lakewood Sun Post announces its endorsement of my candidacy for the Lakewood School Board! In its endorsement, the Lakewood Sun Post states that:

Lakewood Sun Post wrote:Markling, a 36-year-old attorney, gets the nod for the third seat. He has two young children and can bring that perspective to the board. He also specializes in school law and is intimately familiar with the issues facing a district like Lakewood. Markling's learning curve would be short, since he regularly attends board meetings and is well-versed on the most pressing issues.

[T]he strongest candidates are Beebe, Geiger and Markling, and they should be elected to the school board on Nov. 6.


To download this editorial, please click here.
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Postby marklingm » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:05 am

Thank you Lakewood League of Women Voters and Summary

A special thanks goes out to the Lakewood League of Women Voters for last night's event. It was great to see such a large crowd of civic minded Lakewoodites in attendance.

Two main questions were asked of all candidates. The first dealt with teaching quality under limited finances and the second dealt with religion and public schools. As to the first question, there can be no doubt that we currently have outstanding teachers and, as pointed out by Linda G. Beebe and W. Charles Geiger, III, the Lakewood City Schools has no shortage of applicants wanting to take full advantage of our new and improved resources for teaching and learning. As to the second question, we also need to ensure a clear separation of Church and State in our public schools while, at the same time, making sure that all controversial issues are not summarily rejected but, rather, have relevant and valid educational objectives.

As the LWV responses were limited to 60 seconds each, I would also like to refer my fellow Observers to my postings of September 24, 2007, where I shared with you my responses to the LTA questionnaire.

With respect to teaching and finances, I said:

[quote="Matthew John Markling"]LTA Question No. 5

In a period of tight school funding, how would you rank the following as targets for cost reduction? (Please rank each from 1-11, with one (1) being the first to target for reduction and eleven (11) being the last to target. Please type your numbers right after each hyphen.)

- Supplies / materials
- Remedial programs
- Gifted program
- Class size
- Maintenance/building improvements
- Salaries
- Employee insurance
- Media specialists / aides
- Extra-curricular activities
- Staff size
- Staff development


I must respectfully disagree with the premise of this question. No item can be considered in a vacuum. Nor should any specific item set forth above be considered a “targetâ€Â


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Postby marklingm » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:30 am

Thank You Bob Sedlak!

In the October 25, 2007 edition of the Lakewood Sun Post, Robert W. Sedlak authored a letter to the editor entitled, Teachers should have endorsed Markling. In his letter, Bob writes:

Robert W. Sedlak wrote:Teachers should have endorsed Markling
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Lakewood Sun Post
To the editor:

The recent endorsement of candidates for the Lakewood school board by the Lakewood Teachers Association did not include the name of Matt Markling. With membership in excess of 500, the teachers association (of which I am a member) has many dedicated and well-educated instructors. We all have many different points of view and are passionate about fixing the many problems involved with education. Though unsure of the reasons of excluding Markling as a recommended candidate, I feel that it is my responsibility to voice my very contrary opinion. Markling should be a recommended candidate.

He was a vibrant and integral part of the recent year-long investigation done on behalf of Lakewood High School in studying school climate for past and future years. His strong input regarding solutions to, or remedies for, Lakewood’s challenges were thoughtful, in some cases bold, but always with the best interests of our student body and staff. It is important that our school board continue to express themselves in thoughtful reflection of what is best for our students, but more important, to act on what they feel is best. Making difficult decisions are sometimes unpopular with the majority, but that does not mean they are wrong. They are just unpopular.

Markling attended many meetings throughout the course of the year-long study and continually contributed positively to all aspects of the study. He often times would solicit our opinions between meetings via e-mail, requesting feedback, supplying new information and generally moving the process of decision making to timely rational conclusions. His attention to detail and to deadlines, kept all the members of his committees on task.

Markling’s solid rational views on public education, coupled with a strong desire to contribute positively to Lakewood’s young people, should not go ignored by the voters. He will be an asset to the board of education, bringing strong leadership skills and a concerned willingness to work with the present board.

Robert W. Sedlak Rocky River Sedlak is a teacher at Lakewood High School.


As a former Lakewood School Board Member and current Lakewood High School Teacher, I have the utmost respect for Bob's opinion and guidance. To download Bob's letter, please click here.

While I would have been honored to have received the LTA endorsement, it does not change my view of the LTA as a key stakeholder in the Lakewood City Schools. In a posting of September 24, 2007, I shared with you my responses to the LTA questionnaire where I promised the LTA:

Matthew John Markling wrote:LTA Question No. 14

Should we choose to endorse you, what does being a candidate endorsed by the Lakewood Teachers Association mean to you? If you are elected to the board with our support, what does that mean to you?


For me, being endorsed by the Lakewood Teachers Association means that the Association agrees with my platform of academic excellence, school safety, and leadership, and would certainly be an honor.

If I am elected, with or without the endorsement of the Lakewood Teachers Association, I will work collaboratively with the Association to maximize academic excellence and school safety throughout the Lakewood City Schools. An endorsement does not affect my view of the Lakewood Teachers Association as a key stakeholder.


Lakewood is indeed very fortunate to have outstanding teachers throughout the Lakewood City Schools.


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Postby marklingm » Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:31 am

Markling And Incumbents Exchange Endorsements

In the October 30, 2007 edition of The Lakewood Observer, you will find a notice entitled, Markling And Incumbents Exchange Endorsements.

To download this notice, please click here.


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Postby marklingm » Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:11 am

Thank You!

Dear Observers,

Thank you for electing me to the Lakewood City School District Board of Education!

I look forward to working with you to improve academic excellence, school safety, and leadership throughout the Lakewood City Schools.



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