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TO: Members, State Board of Education FROM Senator Boggs, Rep. Sweeney, and Rep. Oelslager DATE: October 17, 1995 RE: Anonymous Vote Policy Dear Members of the State Board of Education: We are writing to express our strongest possible opposition to your new vote recording policy. Our concern about the new policy can be summarized in one word: accountability. By junking roll call votes, you have invited a cloak of secrecy to be pulled over the publics eye. You have also begged an important question: What on earth is the possible motivation behind the new policy? Frankly, we are outraged and astounded that any government board would consciously choose to conduct the people's business in the black hole of anonymous votes. Justifications that the new policy will streamline board operations stretches reality. There is not a single board of education in the whole state of Ohio that would consider such a policy. Frankly, it is irrelevant and far too late to clarify exactly what is or is not your intention. Regardless of the motivation for the new policy, the result will be the same: less accountability to the people of Ohio. This is no way to conduct the public's business. On behalf of the taxpayers and schoolchildren of Ohio, we demand that the State Board of Education reverse the new policy and record all resolution votes by roll-call. If you choose to maintain the new policy and frustrate the right of the people to know exactly how each board member votes on each issue, you can be assured that the General Assembly will consider legislation to force the board to be accountable. The public's right to know how their individual school board member is voting is at stake. Do the right thing. Restore the roll call vote policy. Sincerely, ROBERT BOGGS Senate Minority Lead Member, 29th Senate District House Minority Leader |
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