4 candidates vie for 3 Hillsdale Local Schools board seats

JEROMESVILLE — Voters in Hillsdale Local Schools will have school board choices Nov. 4. 

Incuments Vella King, Steven R. Smith and Keith Yeater all seek re-election. Mark W. Hoffman is also running for one of the three available seats.

Each seat’s term runs for four years and currently pays $120 per board meeting attended.

Early voting began Oct. 7. Read below for more information on each candidate.

Below is how candidates answered the following questions posed to them via email. Their answers have been organized alphabetically by last name and edited lightly for clarity.

Why are you seeking this particular office?

I want to serve the community and stay involved in the school system.

What are the top 3 issues you will address if elected? How would you address them?

1. It is important to stay current on laws that are introduced and passed, especially at the state level. Hillsdale should speak out when laws may negatively impact the district but once they are passed, the district must comply.

2. It is important to ensure the financial stability of the district and to make sure the taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and in the best interest of Hillsdale students.

3. It is important that the board be transparent to the community. Significant issues that come before the board should not be part of a consent agenda but should be discussed among members in public session so that the public knows the thought process behind decisions.

List the top 3 things that differentiate you from your opponents.

1. I worked in the district for 36 years, so I have been a part of good times and bad times at Hillsdale. I will have knowledge of and experience with most, if not all, issues that come before the board. 

2. I helped negotiate several contracts between the board and certified staff. This experience will be beneficial for the district as I believe that with trust and open communication a fair contract can be achieved for both sides. 

3. I have lived in the district for 34 years. My oldest son graduated in 2024, and my youngest son will graduate in 2026. I know the community very well and know what they expect from the school system.

Other thoughts you would like to share

I will evaluate every decision based on what is best for Hillsdale students.

Why are you seeking this particular office?

I am seeking reelection to the Hillsdale Local School board to continue to advocate for Hillsdale Local Schools and all public education students, along with representing my community on the local, state and federal levels. I originally ran because our district was in fiscal caution, staff was eliminated in a reduction in force and opportunities for students were reduced.

The biggest issue facing public schools is the desire to destroy public education through the disregard for Article VI, Section 2 of the Ohio Constitution that states ” The General Assembly shall make such provisions, by taxation, or otherwise, to secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state; but no religious or other sect shall ever have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of this state.”

What are the top 3 issues you will address if elected? How would you address them?

1. Unfunded mandates for public schools that are not also applied to private schools. A good example is the requirement to implement the Science of Reading. Our subsidy from the state for the Science of Reading was $44,000, but we paid approximately $110,000 for the Benchmark Advance Curriculum. 

2.) The legislators said they could not afford to fully fund public education all while providing for the unconstitutional use of public taxpayer money to fund EdChoice private education vouchers and $600 million for a billionaire’s football stadium. Over $1.7 billion has been siphoned off the state budget for these vouchers that, like the ECOT charter school debacle, have no accountability attached.

3.) The changes to the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan, which was to be implemented over three budgets and used categorically (such as gifted, special education, career technical education, transportation, English Language Learners, and Economically Disadvantaged Students) to determine the amount received from the state.

Now, schools are only guaranteed funding at FY21 numbers for the FSFP and there are supplements for Performance and Growth. This benefitted Hillsdale as we are receiving $225 per student in 2026 for our enrollment growth and receiving monies based on performance factor in our state report card.

Meanwhile, statewide, the local tax property burden has jumped from 49.5% to 53.1%.

While property tax reforms are needed, veto overrides or the elimination of property taxes will cut deeper with Ohio schools losing millions in property tax revenue.

List the top 3 things that differentiate you from your opponents

1. My husband’s family has lived in the district since the 1930s and our own family have been proud Falcons since 1978 after building our home on family land.

2. I have 12 years experience on the Hillsdale Local School board and have served on both state and federal public education advocacy groups.

3. I am passionate about public education. I believe it is the great equalizer in society but I also believe funding must be fair and equitable.

Other thoughts you would like to share

How can public districts offer safe facilities and opportunities for their students while the state share for public education funding has dropped from 44.8% to 33.5%, which is 11.2% below the national average? Ohio has fallen from 24th to 41st in the nation in state revenue per student with our state funding per student at $2,672 below the national average.

In every decision I make as a board member, I balance fiscal responsibility with the needs of our students, staff and community. 

Why are you seeking this particular office?

I am running for the school board to be able to have some say in what happens at Hillsdale and to help oversee the continued excellence in students that Hillsdale produces. My father’s family has lived in the Hillsdale community since the early 1800’s and long before it was Hillsdale and what it is today. I have deep roots in this community and want to see Hillsdale and the kids in this school thrive for many years to come. 

What are the top 3 issues you will address if elected? How would you address them?

One issue is the property tax repeal for school funding that the senators and representatives here in Ohio are proposing. I would want to make sure that what the folks in Columbus are proposing is fair to small rural schools like Hillsdale. I want to help navigate Hillsdale through these interesting proposals and make sure it is fair to Hillsdale. 

Another issue is the oil and gas pipeline tax issues and laws that have recently been decided in Columbus. I want to make sure that the tax money that was promised comes to fruition and the money promised actually happens as it has been tied up in various law suits and things for several years. When this tax money comes in I want to make sure it gets used as it was intended. 

The third issue is keeping the playing field the same and fair in regards to state funding and standard testing with rural versus urban school systems as well as public schools versus private and on-line schools. I plan to have discussions with elected officials in regards to these issues as the playing fields are not the same currently. 

List the top 3 things that differentiate you from your opponents.

I believe that all four people on the ballot for Hillsdale school board are very similar and offer good things. I plan to live in the Hillsdale community the rest of my life as my relatives before me have. I also want to see what is best for the kids in Hillsdale and will do my best to put the kids first in my decision making as I have two of my own kids in school at Hillsdale.

Other thoughts you would like to share

Hillsdale Local Schools have produced countless successful students over the years, even as being a small rural school system. There are many doctors, lawyers, corporate CEO’s and  business owners that I know can say they graduated from Hillsdale. Many people have said that to be successful in life you need to go to a larger school that maybe has more opportunities. The people that Hillsdale has produced is evidence that this is not necessarily true. 

Why are you seeking this particular office?

I’m running for the Hillsdale School Board because I care deeply about our students, teachers and community. I’m a lifelong Hillsdale resident, a husband, a proud father of three HHS graduates and an even prouder grandfather.

Public education has shaped my life. My father (Gene Yeater) taught, was principal and superintendent here. And my children, like I, benefited from the values and opportunities Hillsdale provides. With a career spent helping organizations improve leadership and performance, I believe it’s time to give back to the community that shaped me. I want to help ensure Hillsdale continues to be a place where faith, family and education thrive.

We face real challenges — from unfair state funding to the erosion of community values, but I believe together we can protect what makes Hillsdale special and prepare our students for bright futures.

I would be honored to serve and represent our community.

What are the top 3 issues you will address if elected? How would you address them?

While the question asks for three issues, I believe two stand out above all others. These two challenges, in my view, far outweigh the rest in both urgency and long-term impact. So rather than touch lightly on several smaller issues, I’d like to focus on the two that I believe matter most to Hillsdale and to public education as a whole.

First, funding.

In Ohio, the way our schools are funded has been ruled unconstitutional—and yet, nothing has changed. The system continues to put rural districts like ours at a disadvantage. It often feels as though the state legislature is trying to eliminate local control and weaken the foundation of public education.

We can’t sit on the sidelines. As a district, we must stay actively engaged with our legislators and intentional in our involvement—making sure our voice is heard and our students are not forgotten.

The second challenge is the erosion of family and community structure. While Hillsdale remains stronger than most, I see warning signs of the same struggles that have impacted communities across the country.

Schools can’t do it all—but we are the central structure within our community.

We must continue to be a guiding light and a gathering place—where values are reinforced, families feel connected and young people are reminded that they are part of something bigger than themselves.

If we can stay united—focused on faith, family, and education—I believe Hillsdale can continue to be a model for what’s right in public education.

List the top 3 things that differentiate you from your opponents.

I believe diversity of thought and experience is essential to any effective board. I bring the perspective of business and financial accountability, shaped by years of working with organizations across the United States and seeing firsthand the challenges businesses and communities face.

I’ve served as a Vice President and Director of multiple operations businesses, leading complex organizations with many stakeholders and competing priorities. I understand the balance required to make decisions that are in the best interest of kids, teachers, parents and the community as a whole – and that often takes thoughtful compromise.

I’m also active locally, serving as president of the Hayesville Lions Club, where I see broader community challenges beyond the school walls. That perspective helps me make informed, balanced decisions and provide meaningful guidance to our district’s leadership.

In short, I bring business discipline, community understanding and a servant’s heart to the role.

Other thoughts you would like to share

If what I’ve shared aligns with your values—if you believe, as I do, that Hillsdale should remain a strong, family-centered school system that prepares our kids for life—then I would simply ask for your support and your vote.

I’m not running for any personal agenda; I’m running because I care deeply about this community, our teachers, and, most of all, our students.

Together, we can keep Hillsdale moving forward and protect what makes it special. Thank you.