Bartholomew County is preparing for the elections, and this year, there’s more to vote for than ever. Specifically, six candidates are running for seats on the BCSC school board. School Board candidate Leigh Britt shares why she believes education is such an important topic.
“So for me, education is my hill to die on,” Britt said. “I am passionate about education, the experience of kids in school. I’m passionate about getting them ready for the next step.”
Britt also voiced how she wants the referendum to be decided by the voters, not school board members.
“We need to keep our teacher salaries, keep our school resource officers, keep our stem aids, and make sure that our buses are safe for students,” Britt said. “I want that to go back on the ballot, because I want the voters to have the opportunity to vote on that referendum. If the voters decide overwhelmingly that they want to do it again, then we need to do it again. If the voters decide overwhelmingly that we don’t want to do this anymore, it’s on them to decide that.”
School Board candidate Nicole Wheeldon supports the referendum, and believes that it will help maintain teacher pay.
“So the referendum that’s currently in place expires in 2028 and it allows supplemental money to go to the school system, primarily used for teacher’s salaries,” Wheeldon said. “I do believe that we need a referendum to help maintain our teacher pay.”
Wheeldon emphasizes the importance of knowing who you’re voting for, and understanding their positions.
“There is just so much activity and noise, and there’s a skill to knowing how to sift through all of that and do the real research into candidates and positions and know where you stand,” Wheeldon said.
School Board candidate Whitney Lloyd also feels strongly about voting, and hopes BCSC teenagers will feel empowered and excited to vote.
“There’s a lot of important issues nationally and locally that I believe students are passionate about and it’s my hope that they will let their voice be heard,” Lloyd said. “With the attention that has been on the election, I would hope that more people are sifting through information, learning about candidates, studying up on issues, and being empowered to vote. Certainly, it’s just a huge election.”
Lloyd also supports the referendum, noting that she believes it is necessary to support multiple different aspects of education.
“I believe the referendum should be decided upon by our community. As a board member, if elected, I would vote to put it on the ballot so that our community has the choice whether or not to put another referendum back in place,” Lloyd said. “I do believe the referendum is critically important for the continued level of teacher pay, school safety, stem education, and more. I am pro-referendum.”
School Board candidate Tom Glick emphasizes the importance of money being used efficiently, and for students’ benefit.
“We’re spending inappropriately on things that look nice instead of applying money just to fix things and update a little bit,” Glick said. “We can make things look nice, we can build things that are pretty, and attractive looking, but what is that doing to better our education? How is that bettering our students? Because in reality, aesthetics don’t breathe education.”
Glick noted that he disagrees with how the referendum will increase tax rates depending on where you live.
“Some people’s [property taxes] went up 40 percent, some only went up 10 percent, and some even went down,” Glick said. “I know people that are a little disheartened because property taxes and asset values are based on how nice a neighborhood is so it’s almost like a ‘punishment tax.’
If keep my property looking nice, then I get punished to pay more because I’m actually caring for my property.”
School Board candidate Samantha Ison voiced her support for analyzing how the administration allocates its funding.
“I believe our teachers are our front line of schools. Without teachers we have no school,” Ison said. “I’m curious why teachers are not upset that the administration is taking money from the educational fund and putting it into operations. We need to look at why we are overspending in certain areas and have so much waste.”
Ison supports bringing more parental engagement in the school board.
“I am a believer of having parents be more involved,” Ison said. “I would like for teachers and parents to work together.”
School Board candidate David Theile supports managing the district’s funds more effectively, believing it prevent the need for a referendum.
“So, if you look at the educational funds for your teachers, the administration and the school board have been moving funds out of that operation, so that puts the teacher pay in jeopardy,” Theile said. “ In my opinion, if we manage our funds correctly, and not move funds out of there into the operations fund, there shouldn’t be a need for the referendum.”
Theile believes that BCSC needs to be responsible for preparing students for the future, not only academically, but also for their adult careers.
“If you don’t come out of North with life skills ready, then we’re not doing our job,” Theile said. “We, as a school board, and as educators, need to make sure that through the education experience you have, that when you come out, you can function properly in society and you’re ready to go whatever path you choose.”
He wants students to be prepared for their future with all aspects they might need, including the voting experience.
Current District 5 School Board member Todd Grimes encouraged student voting, and researching those on the ballot.
“I would encourage all students that might have a chance to vote or want to get out to vote to pay attention to all the candidates and what they stand for, and be as informed a voter as absolutely possible,” Grimes said.
He understands that it is beneficial for high school students to learn what the candidates are running for.
Principal David Clark feels strongly about the importance of the responsibility of voting, and emphasized the impact that one vote can create.
“It can come down to one vote and that does matter, and that’s where I would want to press upon people as they move forward here,” he said. “You have the opportunity but it’s also a responsibility, and don’t lose the right by not being responsible.”
Clark noted how voting is a right, but also a responsibility that students should take seriously.
“I’ve been a high school principal for many years now, and you always hear that students want their independence, and they want to be treated as grownups. Well, this is one of those grownup responsibilities. You’ve got the right to vote, but more importantly, you’ve got the responsibility to vote.” He says, “Having the right doesn’t mean anything if you don’t take advantage of that.”
