Hello, my name is Gary Scott, and I am running for a position on the Board of Education for Marlington Local Schools. I grew up in Lexington Township, one of eight children, and graduated from Marlington High School in 1995. After high school, I spent five years in Yuma, Arizona, with the United States Marine Corps. After the Marines I stayed in Yuma an additional seven years, working as civilian, training Marines, before moving back to Ohio and settling in Washington Township. My beautiful wife Deana and I have to two great kids, Gabriel who is in the fourth grade, and Nathaniel who is entering Kindergarten at Washington Elementary. I am seeking this position to help insure that they will receive the same quality, conservative education that I did, and to give the average resident in the Marlington school district, a voice on the board. My time in the Marine Corps taught me how to lead, using time tested principles like honor and integrity, and common sense solutions, and I know that I can apply those same traits to the problems facing our district.

       I believe that Marlington has done an outstanding job at bringing the highest level of education to our children. One look at our district’s rating lets you know that we are an act for others to follow. However I have grown increasingly concerned about some of the curriculum changes that have been made, with little or no public input. The move towards the Common Core curriculum is especially concerning to me. In a time where so many schools are rushing to implement progressive curriculums, I believe it is necessary for the Marlington community to exercise constant vigilance over what is taught in our schools, if we are to remain the conservative educational option in our area.

       I have also grown increasingly concerned when I see Renewal Levies being bought up as permanent tax levies. Under no circumstance should a levy ever be permanent. To do this takes away an important check and balance from "We the People". When a government has to ask the people to renew their funding source, they are essentially asking, “Do you approve of the job we are doing”?  When we renew the levy, we are answering “Yes”. We need to ask ourselves, why is it that Marlington is taking that right of redress away from us? Their answer is that it relieves us from the necessity of voting on a levy every year, to which I answer, don’t worry; I don't mind, it is my pleasure to do that. The real reason for permanent levies is twofold, #1- They don’t feel it necessary to continually ask us if they are doing a good job, and #2- They want to keep the ballots clear so that it is easier to run levies for new money. As a voter, it bothers me to have to make a choice between taking much needed money away from the school, or taking my right of redress away. No voter should ever be faced with that decision.

       I believe the biggest hurdle facing this district at this time is the issue of what to do about the taxpayer provided buildings. For over a decade now the district has operated with the mindset that the buildings were on borrowed time, and would soon be replaced with new ones. This assumption has been devastating to the structures themselves. Four times the voters have made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that they do not want new buildings. Marlington is a conservative community, and our most basic principles compel us to conserve what we have, and that is what has been voiced at the polls. We are at a crossroads; the buildings are now in a condition, that if we don’t spend a little money, and make the necessary repairs now, we will have no other option but to spend a lot of money to replace them. We need to understand, the buildings are dying, but they are not dying of old age, they are dying of neglect.

       It has been a long time since I have felt like anyone on the school board represented me, the common voter. I reject the idea that certain businesses, parents who tow the administration’s line and teacher are the only “Stakeholders” in the district. We are all stakeholders; we owe our children a proper education, and not just indoctrination into the prevailing belief system. I believe that with the proper leadership, based on sound common sense principles, we can provide that long into the future. I know that I can, with the community’s help, provide that leadership. I will not sit here and make a bunch of "If I am elected" promises. I will only make one. If I am elected I promise to be a true representative of the community. I will do my best to give the voters all the information about issues, and not just what is best for my side. I will listen to, and respect everyone options, especially those that I don't agree with, I will promote the idea that more voices are better than less voices, and I will keep an open mind at all times, because nothing will destroy our childrens future faster than a bunch of closed minded leaders.