Fehlan wants to continue to improve schools

by DALE SHEFFIELD

Enterprise reporter

Brian Fehlan, who has been a member of the Wellington Board of Education since 200, is going on the ballot in November to serve for another four years.

Fehlan said he's seen a lot of change in the time he's been on the board. "There was so much negative news coverage on the district," said Fehlan about when he was first elected. "There was a clear lack of confidence in the administration's ability to run the district. Students were not performing well on proficiency tests. We've been through some difficult things."

Now, Fehlan said, "Things are running pretty well. We've got the best group of administrators. There are some excellent things going on. I want to continue the success we've had."

There's still room for improvement, however, said Fehlan. He said that there are three issues the school board is currently facing.

The first of these issues is school funding. "We're in the middle of a recession. We have to do more with less. We've done a good job of belt tightening when the opportunity arose," he said. "One of the toughest issues the board faces is how to fairly balance the needs of staff members, students, and tax payers."

The second issue challenging the school board is the need for new or improved facilities. On the November ball ot is an issue for the construction of a new building for grades 3-12. "Asking for money is never easy, even in good economic times. We listened to the residents and cut back the project," Fehlan said. "I'm supportive of this because the state has offered a better opportunity than we had in February,"

Finally, the school board must address the need to improve scores on student achievement tests. Last year, the district received an overall rating of "effective."

"Like it or not, these test results are used to judge our effectiveness as a school," Fehlan said. "The board must provide the additional resources necessary to help push our scores above state standards."

Fehlan said he can, and has, contributed to the school board with his experience as a board member, as a parent, and as a business owner.

"People don't always treat a school as a business, but it is. We are the one of the largest employers in town," he said. "In these trying times, we must have a business approach to finances. I can add something in that respect."

Fehlan is an independent agent with Nationwide Insurance and also farms 500 acres. He grew up in Brighton Township and graduated from Wellington in 1982. He received a degree in marketing from Ohio State University in 1987. After living in Minnesota for a few years, he moved back to Wellington in 1991. Fehlan and his wife, Jana, have four children, three of whom are students in Wellington schools. Their oldest daughter is a freshman at Ohio State.