Wellman, Masters are unopposed

Two unopposed candidates for Jay School Board — Greg Wellman and Mike Masters — responded to The Commercial Review’s pre-election questionnaire as a courtesy to their constituents.
Wellman, 8340 North 700 East, Bryant, is a farmer and rural letter carrier now finishing his second term on the board representing District 6.
Masters, 9661 W. 400 South, Redkey, is owner of Masters Insurance and Masters Financial Network, Dunkirk. He’s finishing his second term representing District 4 on the school board.
What prompted you to seek a seat on the school board?
Masters: “To make sure all our children get the best education possible and to maintain fiscal integrity for the taxpayer.”
Wellman: “Since our oldest child entered kindergarten in 1994, I have been involved in our schools in one capacity or another. In just over two years, our youngest will be graduating from high school. I am running for this seat on the Jay School Board to continue to stay involved and to influence how education looks in the Jay School Corporation throughout the time our family has been enrolled here.”
What do you see as the role of the board and the role of individual board members?
Masters: “To oversee all areas of the corporation and to set and maintain high standards.”
Wellman: “The role of a school board member is mainly to set a budget and policy.”
Reductions in state support have forced a number of spending cuts in recent years by Jay Schools. What should the criteria be for any cuts in the future?
Masters: “That is a better question for state legislators, but we as a local school board need to be prepared for the worst and pray for the best.”
Wellman: “Criteria for any further cuts in the future should be that cuts are made that have the least negative impact on the positive education of students.”
What do you see as the greatest strength of Jay Schools?
Masters: “Great community, families, kids, education and administrators.”
Wellman: “The greatest strength of Jay Schools is our people. From the bus drivers, who for many of our students are the first and last person from our corporation that students see, our administrators, support staff, and teachers.
“Major or small the job they do is what makes us successful.”
What do you perceive to be the greatest weakness of Jay Schools?
Masters: “Fiscal restraints prevent us from offering everything we would like.”
Wellman: “Our greatest weakness is the number of kids who grow up in homes where family values based on Christian principles are lacking.”
If you were grading the school corporation with a report card, what letter grade would you assign to each of the following and why? Elementary schools? Middle schools? High school? Central office? The Jay School Board?
Masters: “Elementary — B. Middle — B. High school — B. Central office — B. School board — B. All are doing well! But we still have a lot to accomplish!”
Wellman: “In grading our school corporation, I would only repeat what the state of Indiana has given us by our state standards results which is an A-rated school corporation.”


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