'Beat' Voucher Expansion by 'Producing Better Students': Board Member

While Greenfield School Board member Len Cich doesn’t necessarily agree with the expansion of the school voucher program, he’s certain about one thing:

A debate about the voucher program does not belong at a board meeting.

Cich made that point Monday when he was one of only six present board members to vote against a resolution initiated by fellow member Robert Hansen that denounced the expansion of the voucher program.

“The way to beat the voucher schools is to produce a better product,” Cich said. “If we produce a better student and test scores are up in the clouds, it’s going to drive those voucher schools away. They won’t be here anymore.

“All this complaining about it, I don’t think that’s the way to go about it. Devote your attention to improving our schools. … They’re there. Somebody wants them there, but if we produce a product, they’re going to lose.”

Cich agreed with fellow members and said the program does need more accountability and transparency than it has now, but he said the debate has political connections a nonpartisan board should shy away from.

Some members disagreed.

“I don’t see us supporting or not supporting vouchers as Republican or Democrat,” Board member Cathy Walsh said. “I‘m elected to help promote public schools in Greenfield. That’s not partisan. That’s my job. That’s why I was elected. I don’t seen any conflict whatsoever supporting a resolution that‘s against the expansion of the school voucher program.”

Added board member Rick Moze: “We’re a pubic school board, and this is taking money away from our students. And we should be fighting for or against it. There’s no doubt about it. … If they’re taking money away from public schools and it makes it harder for us to educate our students, I have a problem with that.”

The resolution passed 5-1; board member Russ Spahn was excused.