Elections 2011: Julie A. Schafer is Running for Copley-Fairlawn School Board

As part of our 2011 election coverage, Fairlawn-Bath Patch will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voter, make more informed decisions at the ballot box.

Watch Juilie A. Schafer's candidate video.

Name: 

Age: 54

Occupation: Family Law Attorney in private practice

Education: A.A., Brooks College, 1979; B.A., Hiram College, 1999; M.B.A, University of Akron, 2002; J.D., University of Akron, 2002

Political Affiliation: Non-partisan race

(According to the Summit County Board of Elections, Schafer is registered Republican)

Office Sought: Copley-Fairlawn City Schools – Board of Education

Previous Political Office Sought or Held: Elected in 1997, served 1998-2001; elected 2003, served 2004-2007; elected 2007, served 2008-2011.

Candidate Statement: I have a passion for public education as a whole and for Copley-Fairlawn City Schools in particular.  My daughter (Class of 2001) received an excellent education at Copley and I anticipate that my sons (Classes of 2025 and 2028) will enjoy the benefits of attending Copley as well.  I have invested 23 years of my life monitoring, participating and promoting the district not only from home, but in the community and on the State level as well. 

Our public school system is under attack – not only state wide (see H.B. 136), but nationwide as well.  This is primarily the result of the poor performance of the students in a number of larger districts.  The political response has been to “throw the baby out with the bathwater” and I am adamant that punishing successful districts, such as Copley-Fairlawn, for the lack of success in other districts is short-sighted at best and reckless at worst.  My goal is to continue to steer Copley’s students towards being educated, intelligent, responsible and contributing members of our communities by ensuring that we continue to provide high quality staff and administration and a well rounded, challenging curriculum.

I have been an active participant in continuing my education as a board member through seminars and workshops hosted by the Ohio School Boards Association and others.  I have earned 5 Awards of Achievement for my ongoing participation in OSBA workshops and service and I attained Master Board Member status in 2008 as a result of my continuing to strive to be a better Board Member for our district.  I am presently serving a two-year term on the Ohio School Boards Association Executive Committee for the Northeast Region and am 2013 President-Elect for Northeast Region as well.  I also am serving a two-year term as a Trustee for the Ohio School Boards Association, helping to oversee how OSBA advocates for public education.