My Platform

Reasonable Approaches to Our Children's Education

Dealing With the Budget Crisis

The district’s money troubles did not come on overnight, and they won’t be solved overnight either. Even though the state legislature’s actions are important, we can’t wait for help from Columbus, and trying to influence the state budget has to take place alongside an examination of our own expenditures. We need a mix of short-term and long-term actions that will help the district save money as well as make operations more efficient. And there are a number of areas where the district can spend money better. Having looked at key parts of Southwest’s line-item budget, I have many ideas about where we can find these savings, especially when it comes to energy usage and transportation.

While streamlining our operations, we have to be able to improve our schools and help our faculty get the professional development they need. What I propose to do is increase our efforts to seek money from grants and other programs so that we can move forward on important initiatives without having to ask for more money from our residents. Every year, schools around the country compete for millions of free dollars from corporations and community organizations to fund all kinds of activities; not only do I want us to get more involved in this, but I also want to give our teachers and staff members the tools to be successful in pursuing this money. I would also like to restructure the way professional development money is spent in Southwest Local. Along with annual district-wide in-service and the newly-instituted late-start days, I want to give teachers a chance to get money to participate in professional activities that are specific to their grade level or content area, or to work on an aspect of teaching that is personally relevant.

One way I do NOT want to save money is by cutting jobs. Reducing staff, whether certified or classified, should always be an option of last resort, and I will not vote for any such reductions in force unless every other option has been explored and ruled out.

Back to the Top

Integrating Curriculum from the Oaks

In the 2009-2010 school year, Harrison Junior School and High School are introducing a number of courses through Diamond Oaks in the areas of business, technology, and family and consumer sciences. The Oaks is very interested in adding more courses, and this can be a great benefit to our students. While not every student wishes to attend vocational school, many would like the opportunity to take a course or two from the vocational curriculum. Also, residents of Southwest Local send a portion of our tax dollars to the Great Oaks Vocational District, and by allowing more students to take classes from the Oaks, this gives us further return on those dollars.

However, integrating courses from the Oaks should not come at the cost of existing teaching positions. If teachers are going to be transferred to the Oaks, I will see to it that there is extensive discussion with those affected, and it should not come as an “either/or” proposition. Likewise, I want to make sure that current course offerings are not eliminated to make room for Oaks courses. With a stated desire for more elective offerings, it would be counter-intuitive to get rid of classes to replace them with other classes. Our students should have as many options as feasible for building and staff size, and their choices should dictate what classes are available, not administrative mandate.

Back to the Top

State Building Fund

Soon, Southwest Local will be up to receive money from the state building fund. Beginning steps are already underway; Superintendent Chris Brown has started surveying district residents to get their opinions on the building process, and state officials have already come to buildings to take measurements and make initial observations. This is an amazing opportunity for us to update our district’s infrastructure and the resources in the classrooms that will be used to educate our students for years to come, and we should look on this chance with great anticipation.

There are two areas in this process where the school board will be instrumental. The first is in coming up with and presenting a funding plan for any recommended renovations or new construction. If we want to get funds from the state of Ohio, the district has to come up with matching money. This is a difficult time to be asking for new money from our residents, and if we need to do this, as a board member I want to make sure that any plan is fully articulated to our constituents. I do not want anyone to have doubts about how our tax dollars are going to be raised or spent nor what the cost to you will be.

The other area where the board will play a key role is in the planning for the construction. As an educator, I want nothing more than to provide our teachers and students with the physical environment most conducive to learning. I will make sure that the board incorporates feedback from teachers in any design decisions so that we can provide the kind of place necessary for a 21st Century student body.

Back to the Top

Contract Negotiations

In three years, the district contract with teachers is due to be re-negotiated, and anyone elected this year will be involved in that process. I worked on the research team for this past year’s negotiation, so I am very aware of what the concerns of our faculty are district-wide, and I also know what’s involved in planning for the process and what can and cannot be communicated with outside parties. Part of the process is creating tone, and I want all parties concerned to feel that they can work together to come up with the best outcome. If the sides don’t feel like they can trust each other, whether it’s concerning immediate decisions or ramifications down the road, it creates an excessively adversarial atmosphere that doesn’t help anyone. I also will make sure that the board upholds its responsibility to the taxpayers and does not agree to anything that will harm the district’s financial position in later years. Finally, it is my goal that in any contract negotiation our employees get the best situation that we can provide. Whether it is the teacher in the classroom, the secretary in the office, or the driver on the bus, each is charged with the greatest task in the world: helping our children. We can’t afford to have them worrying about how they’re going to take care of their own families when we need them to be taking care of some of the most important members of ours.

Back to the Top

Endorsements

Passion for Education

"His lessons really showed in our lives"

Sarah Focht, Harrison alumna, Class of '08

Why do I believe in Brian Compton? I guess it because he has taken the time to not just teach his students, but to shape their lives. He pushes his students to challenge themselves, just like he challenges himself. Latin isn't exactly the easiest subject to learn, but he was able to teach us the language, make the class fun, and teach us lessons from the Roman culture and history. One of the main lessons he taught us was about leadership. And his lessons really showed in our lives. In my Latin 4 class, all four of us had at one point held a student class government position. Three out of four of us finished as the top three of our class, with the fourth in the top 20. He not only taught his students in the classroom, but also through Latin Club. He had bright ideas for the club's future and he challenged every member to the club reach those goals. I know that the same bright ideas he had for the club will translate to the district. He pushed every student to take roles of leadership, whether that was taking an officer position or stepping up to help with an event. It takes a great leader to teach the values of leadership and it takes great care for the students to put in that much time and effort for every student he taught. I believe in Brian Compton and know he will make a great school board member.

Back to the Top

"The most influential teacher I have ever had"

Matthew McNally, Harrison alumnus, Class of '09

Why Should You Believe in Brian Compton? Well, I know why I believe in Brian Compton. Over the three years I have known Mr. Compton, he has been many things to me. An academic team coach, a teacher, a friend, and a mentor. It is no stretch of the truth to say that Mr. Compton has been the most influential teacher I have ever had (that is to say my favorite teacher) and it has always been enjoyable to be around Mr. Compton.

Mr. Compton was not only a remarkable teacher in class, but he also went far above what he was obligated to do as a teacher. He was willing to take us to both National and State Latin conventions, drive us to Certamen early on Saturday mornings, and even coach academic team. He was more involved with his students than most teachers I have ever encountered, and as a student, I feel I am a fairly qualified judge of that.

Whether it was in class while he was lecturing on Latin Grammar, or taking a long bus ride to an academic team match, Mr. Compton was always willing to communicate with his students. Mr. Compton is the kind of teacher of whom you are not afraid to ask a question. He would always take the time to make sure that your question was answered fully.

I have a hard time doing Mr. Compton justice, partly because I don't consider myself to be a very good writer, and partly because of how remarkable of a teacher he really is. When the news came that Mr. Compton's position as a full time Latin teacher at Harrison was going to be removed, he got an unprecedented amount of support. He had a way of connecting with his students, and they CARED that he wasn't going to be around to teach them the next year and actively engaged in protesting this. This in itself is a remarkable feat. Many teachers dream to simply engage their students, and Mr. Compton surpassed this benchmark ten times over.

I am saddened that I won't be able to have Mr. Compton as a teacher anymore, but I am glad to find out that he will be running for school board. While teaching in a classroom is obviously something he is very good at, I think that he can have a further impact and be highly successful as a school board member. I know for a fact the he can be an effective leader after seeing him as the co-chair of the 2008 National Latin Convention. Although I probably will not have the privilege to have Mr. Compton as a teacher again, I am glad to know that he is moving on to bigger and better things.

So why do I believe in Brian Compton? Because he is a great educator, leader, and person.

And for Mr. Compton's campaign, I would like to think back to a lesson Mr. Compton taught us in class. As Caesar crossed the Rubicon to head off to war with Pompey, he shouted "Alea iacta est (The die is cast)." Mr. Compton, this campaign is your Rubicon. May you soon return victorious from battle!

Back to the Top

About Me

Dedicated to Education

My Background

Education is very important to my family. I've been an educator for 10 years at the secondary level; after teaching Latin for four years at St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, I moved out to the Southwest Local District in 2003 to begin teaching at Harrison High School, and this next year will be my first at Fairfield High School in the Fairfield City School District. My wife Jill is also an educator at the elementary level, teaching in the West Clermont School District before moving with me to Harrison; she is now in her fifth year as a 3rd grade teacher at Elda Elementary in Ross Local. And as we are expecting our first child, Cole, this November, education is even more important as we look forward to his school years.

Back to the Top

Education and Training

I was born in Cincinnati and raised in West Chester, where I went to St. Susanna's elementary before going on to Archbishop Moeller High School. I then went to Miami University, and I knew from the start that I wanted to be a teacher. I majored in Latin Education, and I graduated from Miami in 1999 with a B.S. in Education.

Back to the Top

Experience in Southwest Schools

In 2003, following my first teaching assignment, I came to Harrison High School and took over the Latin program. The following year, my wife and I moved here after getting married, and we have lived in downtown Harrison for the last six years. During my tenure at Harrison, I grew the Latin program and made it successful on the local, state, and national level through the Junior Classical League. I also encouraged students to get out into the community to promote Latin; the students and I went out to the elementary schools and introduced the Latin program as part of a first-year project, and our Latin Club has done park clean-ups, presentations at the Harrison Library, and fund raisers at the Minges Pumpkin Festival.

Back to the Top

A Problem Solver

Along with working with the students of Southwest, I've also done a lot alongside the teachers. I served as a building representative for the high school in the Southwest Local Classroom Teachers Association (SLCTA) for two years. During that time, I worked to organize teachers at the high school as we tried to come up with ideas to help ease our current budget crisis and prevent cuts to job positions. I also served on the research team on the last contract negotiation, working to gather information on the concerns of teachers about classroom setting and working conditions.

Back to the Top

In Summary

Although I no longer work for Southwest Local, I care very much for its students and the staff that serves them. I want the best for them, at all levels of education, and that means using our resources in the most responsible way possible. We have great students, great teachers, and great support personnel, but most importantly, we have a great community. I am happy to be a part of it, and I hope to serve you as part of your school board.

Back to the Top

How to Help

I Welcome Your Support

Donate

Donate to the campaign. Please send donations to the following address:

Committee to Elect Brian Compton
329 N. Sycamore St.
Harrison, OH 45030

Please make checks out to "Committee to Elect Brian Compton"

Yard Signs

You can volunteer to put a yard sign out in October.

Downlaod and Give a copy of my Campaign Sign to your friends and neighbors and direct them to the website to find out more about the campaign.

Endorsements

Write a short statement for the Endorsements page.

VOTE!

If you will not be in Harrison on Election Day (Nov. 3), please apply for an absentee ballot; find out how and download an application at the Board of Elections Web Site.

Get Out on Election Day

Be at the polls on Election Day to campaign. Polls are open from 6:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Contact Me

If you would like to volunteer, write an endorsement, or have any questions or concerns you would like addressed, please contact me at bcompton99@gmail.com.