July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Sanders running unopposed (10/10/2008)
Jim Sanders, Portland running unopposed for a seat on the Jay School Board.
Sanders, who is retired, resides at 420 E. Votaw St. and has been a persistent critic of school corporation spending in letters to the editor and appearances before the school board. He is a graduate of Portland High School. A second candidate for the District 1 seat, Zeb Sutton, was ruled by the county election board to be ineligible because he did not meet residency requirements.
Sanders responded to a questionnaire from The Commercial Review. His responses follow.
What's the biggest challenge facing the Jay School Corporation going into the future?
Sanders: "Improving the education of every student, preparing students for post high school education, and ensuring proper fiscal responsibility of the school district will be the biggest challenges. Every child deserves the best education we can give, not just what we have to offer. Usually fiscal responsibility shortcomings are created by spending behaviors, perhaps based on agendas or impulse rather than reason or necessity. This is a practice that must be eliminated to provide this county the ability to afford what must be spent."
What sort of report card would you give the Jay School Corporation in terms of quality of education being provided, the quality of the physical facilities, and fiscal management?
Sanders: "1. With almost 25 percent of the senior class failing to graduate and little or no improvement in the ISTEP-plus results from year to year, I would currently grade the quality of education at a C-minus.
"2. For me to properly grade the quality of the school facilities would only be a guess at this time, therefore I believe it will take an individual tour of the facilities to make a proper decision regarding the facilities. However, with the huge debt the school system has brought to this county every facility should be in very good condition.
"3. I believe the fiscal management of this corporation is and has been totally lacking in financial responsibility to the people of Jay County. With tens of millions of dollars being spent on top of heavy administration, conveniences, luxury items, and the unnecessary building over the last decade, they have created an enormous debt that cannot be paid off in the near future. The responsibility to the people of Jay County hardly seems to be their concern and I grade management as: Totally Unsatisfactory."
How do you envision your role as a school board member?
Sanders: "Keeping in mind that the majority rules, my one vote role in some instances will, at best, place me in a limited position in many decisions whether I agree or disagree with the motion presented. However, my role may be best described as to delay or deter an unpopular or unnecessary decision or strongly advocate for the board to make a sound decision. I would prefer my role as being a caring, proactive representative of the students and people of Jay County while making a better school corporation for the future."
If you could point to one accomplishment at the end of your service on the school board, what would you like it to be?
Sanders: "The Jay School Corporation and the people of Jay County have a common sense approach that focuses on the priority of providing a quality education for our future generations. Not simply words that ALL of our children deserve a first quality education without exception, but responsible action to make this a realistic, achievable goal. We should not focus or attempt to duplicate what other school corporations do, but rather strive to set the example for others that Jay County has elevated to a standard of excellence in educating and graduating our students. The children's welfare, educational outcomes, and future potential are extremely important to me and for the entire county.
"I will not allow the school's administrative structure to impede our decisions or needlessly waste taxpayers' dollars as we collectively and collaboratively strive towards achieving an improved educational plan for our children."
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Sanders, who is retired, resides at 420 E. Votaw St. and has been a persistent critic of school corporation spending in letters to the editor and appearances before the school board. He is a graduate of Portland High School. A second candidate for the District 1 seat, Zeb Sutton, was ruled by the county election board to be ineligible because he did not meet residency requirements.
Sanders responded to a questionnaire from The Commercial Review. His responses follow.
What's the biggest challenge facing the Jay School Corporation going into the future?
Sanders: "Improving the education of every student, preparing students for post high school education, and ensuring proper fiscal responsibility of the school district will be the biggest challenges. Every child deserves the best education we can give, not just what we have to offer. Usually fiscal responsibility shortcomings are created by spending behaviors, perhaps based on agendas or impulse rather than reason or necessity. This is a practice that must be eliminated to provide this county the ability to afford what must be spent."
What sort of report card would you give the Jay School Corporation in terms of quality of education being provided, the quality of the physical facilities, and fiscal management?
Sanders: "1. With almost 25 percent of the senior class failing to graduate and little or no improvement in the ISTEP-plus results from year to year, I would currently grade the quality of education at a C-minus.
"2. For me to properly grade the quality of the school facilities would only be a guess at this time, therefore I believe it will take an individual tour of the facilities to make a proper decision regarding the facilities. However, with the huge debt the school system has brought to this county every facility should be in very good condition.
"3. I believe the fiscal management of this corporation is and has been totally lacking in financial responsibility to the people of Jay County. With tens of millions of dollars being spent on top of heavy administration, conveniences, luxury items, and the unnecessary building over the last decade, they have created an enormous debt that cannot be paid off in the near future. The responsibility to the people of Jay County hardly seems to be their concern and I grade management as: Totally Unsatisfactory."
How do you envision your role as a school board member?
Sanders: "Keeping in mind that the majority rules, my one vote role in some instances will, at best, place me in a limited position in many decisions whether I agree or disagree with the motion presented. However, my role may be best described as to delay or deter an unpopular or unnecessary decision or strongly advocate for the board to make a sound decision. I would prefer my role as being a caring, proactive representative of the students and people of Jay County while making a better school corporation for the future."
If you could point to one accomplishment at the end of your service on the school board, what would you like it to be?
Sanders: "The Jay School Corporation and the people of Jay County have a common sense approach that focuses on the priority of providing a quality education for our future generations. Not simply words that ALL of our children deserve a first quality education without exception, but responsible action to make this a realistic, achievable goal. We should not focus or attempt to duplicate what other school corporations do, but rather strive to set the example for others that Jay County has elevated to a standard of excellence in educating and graduating our students. The children's welfare, educational outcomes, and future potential are extremely important to me and for the entire county.
"I will not allow the school's administrative structure to impede our decisions or needlessly waste taxpayers' dollars as we collectively and collaboratively strive towards achieving an improved educational plan for our children."
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