Brecksville-Broadview Heights Board of Education Election 2011: Candidate Mark Dosen

Editor’s note: As part of Brecksville Patch’s local election coverage, we will provide profiles of each candidate running for office. These profiles will include biographical information and other relevant details to help the voters make informed decisions. For more election coverage, check our and like our Brecksville Elections page on Facebook.

Name: Mark Dosen
Age: 47
Occupation: Senior Database Technical Architect for Accenture
Education: , bachelor's degree in computer and information science with a minor in accounting from Cleveland State University
Political Affiliation: Independent
Office Sought: BBHCSD School Board
Previous Political Office Sought or Held: None

Candidate Statement:

I am running for school board as part of a reform slate with . Our campaign slogan of “Change You Can Afford” captures the essence of our candidacy. Our goals are as follows:

• Avoid further staff reductions and improve our financial position through reasonable shared sacrifice
• Establish long-term sustainability by reforming the compensation system
• Work to eliminate the need for new tax levies
• Increase the level of transparency
• Maintain our heritage of educational excellence

Despite millions in cuts, overall district expenditures are still not coming down, voters are unwilling or unable to pass a new tax levy (the last three attempts failed), state funding is decreasing ($1.9M less in FY12) and budget deficits are projected to grow. With $10M in cash reserves to sustain us for the short-term, we have to act now. We have a three-step plan to address the mounting budget deficits and place our district on a path towards long-term sustainability:

1. A 6 percent rollback of recent cost-of-living increases received by all district employees in 2008-09 and 2009-10;
2. A two-tier system to put newly hired teachers on a modified, more gradual salary schedule resulting in significant long-term savings;
3. After securing concessions, a small short-term new tax levy to repair the budget deficit.

To learn more about us and our platform, please visit www.MarkandMike4SB.com or email us at MarkandMike4SB@gmail.com.