Mounir Lynch
1. Budget and Spending Priorities
Columbus City Schools, like many similar districts, faces significant financial challenges while still needing to provide a high-quality education for every student.
How will you address the district’s financial constraints while ensuring that students—especially vulnerable and high-need students—have the resources and programs they need to succeed and how will you prioritize spending to ensure teachers have the tools they need to support student success?
I will address Columbus City Schools’ financial constraints by prioritizing equity, efficiency, and transparency in budget decisions. Funding must be directed toward students with the greatest needs, ensuring resources for special education, mental health services, and classroom support. I will advocate for reducing administrative overhead to invest directly in teachers through competitive wages, professional development, and essential classroom tools. Expanding partnerships with local stakeholders and grant programs will bring additional resources into our schools without increasing financial strain. Additionally, I will push for deeper fiscal transparency and community-driven budget making, ensuring that spending decisions reflect the voices of staff, parents, and students. Smart investments in school facilities and infrastructure, including workforce development opportunities for our students, will ensure that our district spends wisely while strengthening opportunities for all
2. Safe Green Schools
At the urging of our organizations, the Safe Green Schools Resolution was recently adopted by the school board, committing the district to be carbon free by 2050. There are resources, both public and private, to help schools move in a more sustainable direction while also reducing energy costs. For example, transitioning to solar energy would save the districts millions of dollars. Community groups like Safe Green Schools are prepared to offer technical support and advice to support CCS in implementing cost saving sustainability initiatives—such as solar energy, electric buses, weatherization, and school gardens.
What role do you think schools have in combating climate change and what benefits do you envision from promoting sustainability and energy efficiency for the district?
How will you work to implement the Safe Green Schools Resolution and its priorities, like installing solar panels and transitioning to other green energy sources for the district’s buildings?
Just as with all other public institutions, our schools have a vital role in combating climate change by adopting sustainable practices, reducing their carbon footprint, and educating on topics of environmental responsibility and sustainability. CCS can lead by example through energy-efficient buildings, expanded recycling programs, and green initiatives like solar power and much more sustainable transportation. Investing in sustainability not only reduces long-term costs, freeing up funds for classrooms and student resources, but also creates healthier learning environments with improved air quality and temperature control. Additionally, integrating environmental education into curricula and hands-on initiatives, such as school gardens and renewable energy projects (many of which already exist), can empower students to become climate-conscious leaders. Through sustainability, CCS can lower utility costs, create green job pathways for students, and ensure a healthier, more resilient future for our community.
I proudly supported the recent Safe Green Schools Resolution. As a board member, I will champion the success of it by ensuring sustainability remains a priority in the CCS budget and facilities planning. This includes advocating for dedicated funding and grants to support the installation of solar panels and the transition to green energy sources, including in transportation, reducing costs while improving impact. I will push for strong partnerships with local and state organizations and clean energy providers to garner resources, and elicit union labor for sustainable upgrades. Additionally, I will promote transparent and bold progress tracking and accountability measures, ensuring that we follow through on commitments to the community in the process. By prioritizing energy efficiency and green infrastructure, we can reduce expenses while making our entire community healthier.
3. LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ students are an integral part of Columbus City Schools, yet they have faced increasing attacks and challenges in recent years.
How will you work with other board members, school administrators, and the larger community to protect LGBTQ+ students and ensure that CCS is a welcoming place for all students? What specific actions will you take to support teachers who are working to protect LGBTQ+ students?
Just as with all other public institutions, our schools have a vital role in combating climate change by adopting sustainable practices, reducing their carbon footprint, and educating on topics of environmental responsibility and sustainability. CCS can lead by example through energy-efficient buildings, expanded recycling programs, and green initiatives like solar power and much more sustainable transportation. Investing in sustainability not only reduces long-term costs, freeing up funds for classrooms and student resources, but also creates healthier learning environments with improved air quality and temperature control. Additionally, integrating environmental education into curricula and hands-on initiatives, such as school gardens and renewable energy projects (many of which already exist), can empower students to become climate-conscious leaders. Through sustainability, CCS can lower utility costs, create green job pathways for students, and ensure a healthier, more resilient future for our community.
I proudly supported the recent Safe Green Schools Resolution. As a board member, I will champion the success of it by ensuring sustainability remains a priority in the CCS budget and facilities planning. This includes advocating for dedicated funding and grants to support the installation of solar panels and the transition to green energy sources, including in transportation, reducing costs while improving impact. I will push for strong partnerships with local and state organizations and clean energy providers to garner resources, and elicit union labor for sustainable upgrades. Additionally, I will promote transparent and bold progress tracking and accountability measures, ensuring that we follow through on commitments to the community in the process. By prioritizing energy efficiency and green infrastructure, we can reduce expenses while making our entire community healthier.
4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) & the Racial Achievement Gap
Federal and state efforts to roll back DEI policies threaten to worsen existing inequities in education.
Diversity: Having a variety of individuals, experiences, and viewpoints.
Equity: Everyone having what they need.
Inclusion: Making sure everyone has access, no one is left out.
Why do you feel these three things are important for all CCS students?
What should CCS do to reduce the racial achievement gap, especially as programs aimed at addressing disparities come under increased scrutiny?
These are important for all CCS students because our district is extremely diverse in all ways. Economic, racial, religious, gender, etc. As our district grows and moves forward, we must continue to ensure that we are leveraging our strength in our diversity to uphold an inclusive environment for all. In many ways, the systemic inequities I’m dedicated to fighting against still present themselves in many ways across CCS.
In order to close this gap, a lasting product of segregation, CCS should hold strong on its programs and projects that address disparities. We must invest in pre-K/early childhood education in all zip codes, ensure equitable resource allocation (which includes staffing, and not just finances and facilities), eliminate discriminatory disciplinary strategies, and do a much better job of strengthening community and family engagement.