The president of the Ohio School Board Leadership Council, Dr. Kelly Kohls, presented "Why Education is Failing Our Children," Monday night at the Mansfield Tea Party meeting at The Waterford in Mansfield.

Dr. Kohls has taught in public universities for 10 years followed by more than a decade in private practice.
 

Dr. Kohls said communities in Ohio need to understand where our students stand globally in education compared to other countries.
 

She said she supports education reform to help students excel.

"We need the reform because our students have lost global ground. They're at a mediocre rating in education in the state of Ohio and in individual districts. I believe our state is really trying to get somewhere with reform to help our students excel," Dr. Kohls said.

 The Ohio School Board Leadership Council, is an organization focused on coaching citizens and School Board members on education issues and the need for a philosophy shift.

Dr. Kohls and the council, developed the philosophy and methods to Children First Budgeting. The philosophy is a zero based budget process applied by the Springsboro Ohio Schools.

 The plan turned a projected $30 million deficit into a $10 million surplus with no additional burden on citizens property taxes.

"I believe typically education spends beyond their means, beyond what taxpayers are giving them and they go into deficit spending. We don't believe that's a sustainable model for education," Dr. Kohls said.