By Jason M. White
May 01, 2008 08:19 am
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PENDLETON — One South Madison school board candidate would start a blog on the district’s Web site.
And another candidate already has a cell phone number she would dedicate to school board business if elected.
During an April debate, candidates for the South Madison Community School Corp. board of trustees discussed how they would interact with taxpayers, parents, teachers and school support staff such as bus drivers and janitors. The candidates’ final debate is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday JWhite 4/29/08 May 5 at Maple Ridge Elementary School, 8537 S. County Road 650 West, Pendleton.
Nine candidates are running for four school board spots, which make up a majority of the seven-member board. The election is May 6.
Candidates are:
n Parent Marilea Wyatt and incumbent Richard “Buck” Evans, who are running for the school board’s Adams Township seat.
n Incumbent DeAnn Wehner, parent Shane Cline and former principal Terry Auker, who are running for the Fall Creek Township seat.
n Business owner Chris Boots and incumbent Susan Campbell, who are running for the Green Township seat.
n Incumbent Amy McGinnis and parent Quincy Flatford, who are running for the at-large seat.
Elections come at a time when the school district is coping with enrollment growth.
For example, a new middle school is expected to open in 2009, board members plan to renovate the current middle school after the new building opens and the board will have to redistrict school boundaries.
And at the same time, the school district is in danger of losing thousands of dollars from the state during the next few years because of property tax reform.
These issues make it important for incumbents to get re-elected, because they are familiar with issues such as the school district’s budget, McGinnis said.
“Now is the time you need a board that is experienced and knowledgeable,” she said.
If re-elected, McGinnis said she would be visible in the public. She has recently knocked on the doors of more than 3,000 homes within the South Madison school district to speak with parents and taxpayers, she said.
She also frequently attends school sporting events and speaks with the people at those events.
Her opponent, Flatford, said he would make himself available to anyone in the school district. He works during the day but is available after work hours by his house phone or cell phone.
Also, he would encourage more people to attend school board meetings.
Going beyond meetings, Boots said he would like to see a blog on the school district’s Web site. This would be a good place to keep taxpayers and parents informed, as well as give them a forum to voice their opinions and concerns, he said.
Boots is also active in the community.
“My wife and kids can’t stand to go to a restaurant with me, because I never see a stranger there,” he joked.
Recently, he has visited every school and spoken with teachers, bus drivers, principals, parents and custodians.
His opponent, Campbell, said she would always make herself available to people who had concerns, questions or comments. She said she is more available than most people because she is retired.
Anyone who is hesitant to call her should go ahead and call her, she said.
And if people had concerns or problems with others in the district, Campbell would be more than happy to act as a mediator, she said.
Wehner said she would keep in touch with people by staying active in the community. She speaks with people at the fitness club where she works out every morning, talks to people while at church and makes time to visit schools and support staff.
For instance, she recently rode along on a school bus at the invite of a bus driver.
“I feel like I’m everywhere,” Wehner said.
One of her opponents, Cline, said he is also active in the community, which is key. When he first decided to run for school board, many people did not even know the names of their board representatives, he said.
A school board member needs to be out in the public and in the schools, he said.
Auker, who is running for the same seat as Wehner and Cline, agreed that board members should go beyond attending meetings. They should meet with teachers, parents and support staff, all of which play a critical role to the school system, he said.
Evans said he would make himself available to anyone who wanted to talk. His phone number is in the book and also available by contacting the school administration office, which can give out his e-mail too, he said.
His opponent, Wyatt, has a cell phone number dedicated to school board business if she gets elected to the board. She would encourage people to contact her to speak about issues, because she wants to represent the public and does not have her own agenda, she said.
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