October 7, 2016 at 5:34 p.m.
Two vying for school board seat
Betts, the current president, is facing challenge from Waters
Two vying for school board seat
Of the Jay School Board seats up for election this year, only one has an incumbent seeking another term. She is facing a challenge from a Jay County High School graduate making his first run at elected office.
Kristi Betts, who currently serves as board president, is running for her second term on Jay School Board while Mitch Waters is seeking to displace year.
Betts, who first lost a run for school board to Larry Paxson in 2010 before defeating Kirk Comer and incumbent Jim Sanders in 2012, graduated from Sturgis High School in Michigan and attended IUPUI and then Kalamazoo Valley Community College to become a paramedic.
“I don’t have an agenda,” said Betts, who spent five years as a substitute teacher before being elected to the board. “I’m super, super passionate about just knowing the law and the policies. …
“We’ve had a long-term plan for making cuts and increasing teacher pay and I feel like we’re finally at the pinnacle of that. There’s still changes coming into fruition and I want to finish that out.”
Waters is a 2002 graduate of Jay County High School and a 2007 graduate of Manchester College with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He worked as a physical trainer while pursuing a professional baseball career in the United States and Italy and has since served as director of operations at Jay Community Center for three years.
“I know there’s a lot of important issues that pop up as far as budget,” said Waters, “and being a taxpayer of the community I felt like sometimes you would like to know where that money is going and … to help make that decision as to where that money goes.”
Kristi Betts, who currently serves as board president, is running for her second term on Jay School Board while Mitch Waters is seeking to displace year.
Betts, who first lost a run for school board to Larry Paxson in 2010 before defeating Kirk Comer and incumbent Jim Sanders in 2012, graduated from Sturgis High School in Michigan and attended IUPUI and then Kalamazoo Valley Community College to become a paramedic.
“I don’t have an agenda,” said Betts, who spent five years as a substitute teacher before being elected to the board. “I’m super, super passionate about just knowing the law and the policies. …
“We’ve had a long-term plan for making cuts and increasing teacher pay and I feel like we’re finally at the pinnacle of that. There’s still changes coming into fruition and I want to finish that out.”
Waters is a 2002 graduate of Jay County High School and a 2007 graduate of Manchester College with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He worked as a physical trainer while pursuing a professional baseball career in the United States and Italy and has since served as director of operations at Jay Community Center for three years.
“I know there’s a lot of important issues that pop up as far as budget,” said Waters, “and being a taxpayer of the community I felt like sometimes you would like to know where that money is going and … to help make that decision as to where that money goes.”
Betts expressed a passion for special education, which she noted involves about a third of Jay County students. A project she said she’s looking forward to is looking at the school corporation’s use of funding in that area in an effort to make sure it’s being used effectively.
“How much funding are we getting? How many kids are getting services? How many need services? … We need to audit how we’re doing that and see, do we have the right number of staff, do we have the right programs,” she said.
Waters was critical of the current board, saying he feels it tends to get involved in issues that should instead be getting addressed by teachers and administrators, following the chain of command. He also said he’d like to see more communication between the board and the community.
“I just think that maybe some transparency with the board members and maybe getting out in the community and asking more questions … will help the tension that sometimes goes with it,” he said. “I feel like that’s maybe what’s been missing.
“As school board members, we’re there to serve people.”
The candidates also addressed potential building closures and the general fund budget, both of which have been key issues for the school board in recent years.
••••••••••
Building closures
Mostly because of budget issues, the school board has looked at the possibility of closing schools.
Pennville Elementary has been most often identified as the building likely for closure, but talks have also included ideas for closing other buildings, moving eighth grade students to Jay County High School, shifting all sixth and seventh graders to a single middle school (East Jay) and several other options.
Both candidates expressed a reluctance to close a school, but acknowledged that keeping all of the buildings opened in the current financial climate does not seem feasible.
Betts pointed out that the school system was designed for twice as many students as it has now and the need to be responsible to both small towns and the taxpayers as a whole. But instead of closings, she said she’d like to find a more creative solution such as seeking grant funding in an effort to turn a building into a specialized school focused on concepts like STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), agriculture or energy.
“I would love to see a solution that’s maybe groundbreaking,” she said. “I just think we have kids that have ideas and there’s a way to teach them higher-level thinking, which helps with the test scores, but puts them in a different environment. I think we have teachers too that are innovative enough that maybe it’s something we can consider, if we have the space to do it.”
Waters focused on the need to look at the problem with a critical eye. He added that school performance and the operational cost of buildings in the corporation should be key factors in making that decision.
“You never want to close a school, especially with the tradition that follows it,” said Waters. “But I think if you’re going to close schools, you have to look at what schools are most effective, what buildings are the oldest buildings and how many kids is it going to effect. Of course, you want to effect the least amount of kids that you can.
“I think that’s where you would start … in order to make that best decision, if it’s needed. Hopefully it’s not, but if it is, I think you need to start there.”
Budget
The Jay Schools budget has been an area of concern as deficit spending in three of the last four years has resulted in the general fund balance slipping to about $3 million to about $1.7 million. (It is expected to rebound to just under $1.9 million at the end of 2016.)
The board has expressed an interest of keeping the balance around $3 million in order to have a cushion in times of financial hardship.
Waters referred to the budget as his main area of concern, noting its importance given that 90 percent of general fund money goes toward personnel in the form of salaries and benefits.
“My only concern with that is, with paying that high a percentage to those salaries, let’s make sure we have effective teachers and administrators,” he said.
He also said he’d like to study why enrollment is down and if there is something that can be done with programs, economic development or other areas that could stabilize it and help it to increase.
“I know that determines how much money we get,” Waters said. “(Enrollment) is down considerably. I think you have to look at why.”
Betts noted that the desire for a healthy surplus in the general fund must be balanced with making sure local children have all the educational opportunities they need to succeed.
“I think the $3 million is important, but I think most important is maintaining the level of education for the kids,” said Betts. “So, without sacrificing programs, something has to change. From the state level, something has to change. They’ve destroyed our system. They know that. We know that. Everybody knows that.”
Absent a change at the state level, she said the school corporation needs to continue the pattern it has implemented over the last several years by reducing staff through attrition. She added that she feels that the schools — the board, teachers, administrators and staff — and community working together can find ways to keep the budget strong.
“I think we have all the pieces, we just haven’t fit them all together,” she said. “We just have to keep finding new solutions.”
••••••••••
Betts noted that there is always a learning curve for new school board members and said she learned a lot over the last three-plus years. She emphasized her 280 hours of education through the Indiana School Board Association.
“I have a good grasp on what’s going on at both the state and local level,” Betts said. “I have confidence in the decisions that I’m making. Even if they’re hard, I’ll do what’s right.
“I feel like after four years I’ve just hit my stride. Let me keep going.”
Waters noted his desire to be straight-foward in presenting his opinions. He added that he would not shy away from expressing his ideas, even if they are not shared by the rest of the board.
“I believe that I’m not a yes man” he said. “With that being said, I feel like some of the board members just tell you what you want to hear …
“I never have been (a yes man). I know sometimes that can ruffle feathers, but if I tell you how I feel, that’s how I feel. I’m not going to necessarily bend just to appease somebody.
“I’m open to suggestions. I’m open to different ideas so we can work together so we can work to get the best solution.”
“How much funding are we getting? How many kids are getting services? How many need services? … We need to audit how we’re doing that and see, do we have the right number of staff, do we have the right programs,” she said.
Waters was critical of the current board, saying he feels it tends to get involved in issues that should instead be getting addressed by teachers and administrators, following the chain of command. He also said he’d like to see more communication between the board and the community.
“I just think that maybe some transparency with the board members and maybe getting out in the community and asking more questions … will help the tension that sometimes goes with it,” he said. “I feel like that’s maybe what’s been missing.
“As school board members, we’re there to serve people.”
The candidates also addressed potential building closures and the general fund budget, both of which have been key issues for the school board in recent years.
••••••••••
Building closures
Mostly because of budget issues, the school board has looked at the possibility of closing schools.
Pennville Elementary has been most often identified as the building likely for closure, but talks have also included ideas for closing other buildings, moving eighth grade students to Jay County High School, shifting all sixth and seventh graders to a single middle school (East Jay) and several other options.
Both candidates expressed a reluctance to close a school, but acknowledged that keeping all of the buildings opened in the current financial climate does not seem feasible.
Betts pointed out that the school system was designed for twice as many students as it has now and the need to be responsible to both small towns and the taxpayers as a whole. But instead of closings, she said she’d like to find a more creative solution such as seeking grant funding in an effort to turn a building into a specialized school focused on concepts like STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), agriculture or energy.
“I would love to see a solution that’s maybe groundbreaking,” she said. “I just think we have kids that have ideas and there’s a way to teach them higher-level thinking, which helps with the test scores, but puts them in a different environment. I think we have teachers too that are innovative enough that maybe it’s something we can consider, if we have the space to do it.”
Waters focused on the need to look at the problem with a critical eye. He added that school performance and the operational cost of buildings in the corporation should be key factors in making that decision.
“You never want to close a school, especially with the tradition that follows it,” said Waters. “But I think if you’re going to close schools, you have to look at what schools are most effective, what buildings are the oldest buildings and how many kids is it going to effect. Of course, you want to effect the least amount of kids that you can.
“I think that’s where you would start … in order to make that best decision, if it’s needed. Hopefully it’s not, but if it is, I think you need to start there.”
Budget
The Jay Schools budget has been an area of concern as deficit spending in three of the last four years has resulted in the general fund balance slipping to about $3 million to about $1.7 million. (It is expected to rebound to just under $1.9 million at the end of 2016.)
The board has expressed an interest of keeping the balance around $3 million in order to have a cushion in times of financial hardship.
Waters referred to the budget as his main area of concern, noting its importance given that 90 percent of general fund money goes toward personnel in the form of salaries and benefits.
“My only concern with that is, with paying that high a percentage to those salaries, let’s make sure we have effective teachers and administrators,” he said.
He also said he’d like to study why enrollment is down and if there is something that can be done with programs, economic development or other areas that could stabilize it and help it to increase.
“I know that determines how much money we get,” Waters said. “(Enrollment) is down considerably. I think you have to look at why.”
Betts noted that the desire for a healthy surplus in the general fund must be balanced with making sure local children have all the educational opportunities they need to succeed.
“I think the $3 million is important, but I think most important is maintaining the level of education for the kids,” said Betts. “So, without sacrificing programs, something has to change. From the state level, something has to change. They’ve destroyed our system. They know that. We know that. Everybody knows that.”
Absent a change at the state level, she said the school corporation needs to continue the pattern it has implemented over the last several years by reducing staff through attrition. She added that she feels that the schools — the board, teachers, administrators and staff — and community working together can find ways to keep the budget strong.
“I think we have all the pieces, we just haven’t fit them all together,” she said. “We just have to keep finding new solutions.”
••••••••••
Betts noted that there is always a learning curve for new school board members and said she learned a lot over the last three-plus years. She emphasized her 280 hours of education through the Indiana School Board Association.
“I have a good grasp on what’s going on at both the state and local level,” Betts said. “I have confidence in the decisions that I’m making. Even if they’re hard, I’ll do what’s right.
“I feel like after four years I’ve just hit my stride. Let me keep going.”
Waters noted his desire to be straight-foward in presenting his opinions. He added that he would not shy away from expressing his ideas, even if they are not shared by the rest of the board.
“I believe that I’m not a yes man” he said. “With that being said, I feel like some of the board members just tell you what you want to hear …
“I never have been (a yes man). I know sometimes that can ruffle feathers, but if I tell you how I feel, that’s how I feel. I’m not going to necessarily bend just to appease somebody.
“I’m open to suggestions. I’m open to different ideas so we can work together so we can work to get the best solution.”
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD