Wellman challenging Starr (4/22/04)

The District 6 incumbent on the Jay School Board will see a familiar face challenge him in his re-election bid.

Duane Starr, who was first elected to the school board in 2000, will square off against Greg Wellman — who also sought that seat four years ago — in the May 4 school board election.

Starr, 57, graduated from Winchester High School in 1964 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970. He attended Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne in 1972-73. He has owned and operated P&D Auto for 30 years.

He served on the Madison Township Advisory Board from 1994 to 2000, and made his first run for a school board seat in 1996.

Starr and his wife Patty, who reside at 8274 South 600 East, Portland, have two daughters, Shawndra and Jessica and two sons, Brent and Jonathan. They attend Fort Recovery Naz-arene Church.

Wellman, 44, is a 1977 graduate of Jay County High School. He attended Purdue University in 1979 and took ag short courses. He also has taken courses on religious education at the University of Dayton for 12 years.

Since 1977, he has been a grain and livestock farmer. He also has worked for the Bryant Post Office for 19 years, and as a rural letter carrier for the last 15 years.

In addition to his unsuccessful bid for school board, Wellman was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Wabash Township Advisory Board three and a half years ago. He ran and was elected to that position in the fall of 2002.

He and his wife Kathy have two sons, Ben and Joshua, and two daughters, Stephanie and Michelle. The Wellmans reside at 8340 North 700 East, Bryant.

Wellman attends Trinity Catholic Church, where he has taught junior and senior high school CCD classes for the past 18 years. He also is a past member and chairman of the parish council and religious education board. He is a member of the men's St. Joseph Society, and served on the Jay County Purdue University Cooperative Extension Board of Directors for six years, the last three years as president.

Starr and Wellman recently agreed to answer questions from The Commercial Review about their candidacy and school corporation issues. Their answers follow.

What prompted your decision to run for school board?

Starr — I've been pleased to be part of bringing Jay Schools' finances into order, and having been part of boards that have embarked on an aggressive program to catch up on maintenance and repair of facilities.

I like being able to help students and parents who are having problems in the system, either by pointing them to the correct people, or on rare occasions, by direct intervention.

When I ran four years ago, I promised change. I've delivered and would be pleased to serve the people for four more years.

Wellman — Our focus has been on materials possessions, like money and buildings, for many years now. I believe it's time for a philosophical change. Parents, teachers support staff and students are what makes education successful. It's time to change our focus.

What personal qualifications do you bring to the job as a school board member?

Starr — The ability to work with people, over 30 years of business experience, a common sense approach and the courage to stand up for what I feel is right.

Wellman — I care.

Philosophically, what do you believe the role of the school board should be?

Starr — The board should provide consistent direction to the administrative team. The board should ensure facilities are maintained, and when necessary constructed to adequately serve our students. The board should monitor the work of the administrative team to be certain the board's direction is being carried out, but at the same time not "micro-manage."

The board must always keep kids first and also manage with the best long-term interests of the taxpayer in mind.

Wellman — I believe it's the role of the school board to put together a system that attracts and retains qualified people. In conjunction with that, we set the parameters within which we allow these people to perform freely to the best of their ability. Students must know their role, they must know we are serious about their education.

If you could change one thing about Jay Schools what would it be?

Starr — I would like to see more students take advantage of the opportunities available at Jay County High School. We have too many easy ways to get a diploma. I'm not opposed to kids sampling many different areas, but we currently have too many easy majors that will be of limited value for most kids after high school. I would like to work toward channeling kids into more math and science courses.

Wellman — I would change the make-up of the school board and work at getting the Bible taught at the high school.

If you could preserve one thing about Jay Schools what would it be?

Starr — Our rural roots. We are not problem-free in Jay Schools, but compared to many large urban schools we have a much safer and secure environment. The overwhelming majority of our students are great kids.

Wellman — As our kids have become involved in band and choir and sports, Kathy and I have had the opportunity to encounter and interact with families throughout Jay County. Although our county isn't perfect, there's no better place to raise a family, and most of the people in our school corporation reflect that. I've heard prayers offered up at sport banquets and other places. I've heard "under God" pronounced proudly in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance. We have a foundation of deeply rooted people who not only should we preserve, but build upon to take our schools to the next level.[[In-content Ad]]