Meet The Candidate: Natalie Donahue, Bethel Local Board of Education

Vol. III, No. 140 - Today we meet a candidate running for School Board in one of the county's fastest growing school districts

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Meet Natalie Donahue

Today, our publication highlights another local candidate for public office here in Miami County by getting to know Natalie Donahue, who is seeking re-election to the Bethel Local Schools Board of Education.

This publication reached out to a number of candidates in contested elections and gave candidates either a choice of answering broad questions or providing their own ideas in a written statement. Ms. Donahue provided the following statement, which reflected some of the questions we asked to all candidates. Without any further delay, let’s meet Natalie Donahue.

I am honored to seek Re-Election for the Bethel Local School Board. After receiving my Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at The Ohio State University, I chose to return to the Bethel community because, like many of you, I know it is a wonderful place to live, raise a family, and go to school. After spending several years of being a volunteer at the school with my children and attending countless school board meetings as a parent and community member, I decided it was my turn to give back and support the school district in the next best way as a school board member.

During the past four years of my first term there have been several accomplishments, such as the introduction of a Young 5’s program and the opening of a new K-5 elementary school and stadium facility, to name a few. We know there is still work ahead to keep Bethel Local Schools moving forward with continued success. I want to be able to support those efforts that I am currently working on with another four-year term on the school board.

I have the experience and desire to help all Bethel students succeed. My experience comes from many views. I am a proud 1980 graduate of Bethel. My husband of 31 years and I are grateful parents of two sons, both graduates of Bethel as well. I have been a school board member for four years and have been attending the school board meetings for over 22 years, giving me the historical background needed for perspective. I have been an active volunteer for several student groups and events over the years, serving as the Bethel PTO Vice President, the After Prom Treasurer, and the Treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 286. I have taken part in the Music Boosters, provided meals for the Golf team. and chaired or worked multiple school fundraisers.

I have also attended the township Trustee meetings and the Bethel Zoning meetings for nearly as long to remain engaged and aware of activities and concerns in the school district and community. As a result of these experiences, I have gained a wealth of knowledge, stayed informed of the issues at hand and the resolutions enacted, and recognized the resulting impact on the school district.

After working at Delphi/GM for 22 years, I have now been an employee of WPAFB for 15 years with a focus on engineering during acquisition, where I have enhanced my skills in project management, leading teams, and mentoring. In my free time, I currently enjoy being the Bethel Local Historical Society Treasurer, the Troy Historical Society Treasurer, and a Scouting USA Merit Badge Counselor.

I want all Bethel students to succeed and have ample opportunities to prepare for their next steps. While I am pleased to have been on the board as the district opened the new K-5 elementary building in 2023, time is of the essence as we urgently need to add classroom space. We know that more students are coming in the next few years, and we need to create space to provide great academic education soon without asking the taxpayers for added funding. I also want to ensure that all students’ needs are addressed so they have their best possible start and finish at Bethel as they learn the foundations of reading, writing, science, and math that allow them to expand and grow along the way to achieve their full potential.

I currently Chair the Board’s public monthly Facilities Committee and am a member of the Finance Committee. We are collaborating with the school administration, staff, and community to strategically lay out a path that will best serve students, giving them the academic environment and services to learn and succeed. We are currently reviewing data on projected enrollment with timelines, site maps and available options for potential buildings, and discussing funding opportunities with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. We want to make good decisions for a solid long-term plan and solution.

If I was lucky enough to be on the Bethel School Board and the Facilities Committee and we were awarded a $1 Million grant, I would quickly make the recommendation that we apply it towards providing 4-6 additional classrooms within 18 months to be ready for the next wave of students.

I will continue to ask questions and base my decisions on traditional values, applying a common sense approach that prioritizes needs and positive student outcomes. I am fiscally conservative and believe in transparency and accountability at all levels. I take the time to research and prepare for each board meeting to ask questions to verify information ahead of voting on agenda items because it is important.

I am happy to speak to anyone about school matters, and I welcome local input. I can guarantee that I will work hard on behalf of all Bethel students, families, and community members.

Thank you for your support and consideration in electing me for another four-year term on the Bethel Local School Board of Education. I am asking for your vote during early voting or in-person on Election Day on November 4th.

Respectfully,

Natalie Donahue

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