In addition to the economy, education has been a hot-button issue during this year’s election.
With the state taking control of several public schools, six of the seven being Indianapolis Public Schools; low test scores; and an unsatisfactory drop-out rate, 10 concerned residents are taking the bull by the horns and have decided to run for the IPS board.
The Recorder contacted candidates and got their views on key issues that are affecting IPS.
The candidates were asked:
n What’s your stance on school vouchers and their impact on public schools?
n Are you satisfied with the current IPS budget and what the monies are allocated for?
n How would you improve underperforming schools, low test scores and graduation rates?
n Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about you?
Here’s how they responded.
Samuel Odle
Running for: At-Large
On vouchers: The School Board doesn’t get to decide whether we want vouchers or not. That’s really a state decision. They’re using a trial voucher program now that will probably be expanded. If vouchers are going to be the order of the day, we have to make IPS schools more competitive so families and kids stay in IPS.
On funding: It would be my first time on the School Board. I don’t have all of the access to information about the budget, but I will once elected. Then, I’ll make sure I scrutinize the budget and work to make sure we have enough money to give to kids to have an excellent education.
On school improvements: I think we have to look at leadership of the school, the teachers and improving parental involvement and student participation. We’re going to have to create schools where everyone is learning.
Additional comments: I’m a product of the IPS school system. You can point to some of the successes that people from IPS have achieved. We have the ability to educate kids, but what we have to do is make sure that’s happening to every kid.
Larry Vaughn
Running for: At-Large
On vouchers: School vouchers are illegal because of Article 1, the sixth section of the Indiana Constitution. It says we should issue no money to any religious or theological institutions. That means parochial schools. I’m surprised no one has filed a law suit. We’re not adhering to our Constitution.
On funding: The board does deal with appropriating funds, but the common school system should have the ability to work at cost. We shouldn’t have any budgetary problems.
On school improvements: This is a real problem but it can be solved. We can create any program we want from within. We can monitor (employees) rather than bringing in outsiders.
Additional comments: I’ve been here in Indianapolis for over 56 years. I’m a product of the common schools and am very well educated. I’m an artist, activist and a professional glass mason. I think IPS is failing as a district because we’re not enforcing our rights.
Caitlin Hannon
Running for: District 1
On vouchers: I believe strongly in public education. I envision reforms that will make IPS the first choice of families in Indianapolis. Vouchers are one reason IPS needs to get better so that it is a viable option for all families.
On funding: I’m not satisfied with the current budget, because no one (including current board members), is given a transparent view of the budget. As a commissioner, I would demand transparency for both the board and the public, so that we have a true understanding of where our tax dollars are going. I also believe those dollars should be going to schools and classrooms – not a top-heavy central office.
On school improvements: As a commissioner, I would empower school leaders to autonomously do what is best for the students, teachers and families in their schools; and recruit and retain the best leaders we can. By giving excellent leaders the resources, the support and the freedom they need to do their jobs well, we will offer better options for families.
Additional comments: I am a former IPS teacher and educational policy advisor. I am running because, as a teacher, I saw the struggles that teachers and students experienced in the classroom, and I feel with my unique background, I could make it better.
Jim Nixon
Running for: District 1
On vouchers: I do support vouchers. In IPS, there are a lot of families that aren’t looking at the programs in their schools and in many cases, the programs aren’t matching the children. I do think IPS has the best options out there, but vouchers provide other opportunities. It is not a perfect program, but it does create a conversation and an opportunity for families to look at whether they should go somewhere else or not.
On funding: I don’t have all the details. My focus coming in would be understanding who the end user is. We talk about employees failing, but it could be the system failing. Just like other candidates, I want money in the classroom, but I also believe we’ve had trouble in how we’re handling money and how it’s spent. We need a system that will work.
On school improvements: I support an autonomous school. It’s led by a principal that’s a leader first and credentialed second. I still believe employees are the greatest asset in IPS. Our teachers are more stringently assessed than our principals are. That’s odd. Yes you have teachers that are in constant contact with kids, but the leader should be equally assessed. I also want to see more volunteers and mentors involved. We’ve also got to improve reading.
Additional comments: I’m a proud graduate of Arlington High School. I feel very strongly about the situation teachers are in. It’s difficult for them to teach because of distractions, but we have some very professional people out there who are trying to do well with our children.
Gayle Cosby
Running for: District 2
On vouchers: I agree with the concept of school choice. As a parent, I feel it is a parent’s right to make a choice that’s best for their child. What we need as a district is to realize that we have to offer the schools and programs that parents want. If IPS is offering nearby schools in every neighborhood, that provide a world-class education, then I think that school choice would be a non-factor, because more parents would be choosing to enroll their children in IPS.
On funding: The way money is currently being spent in IPS is very top heavy. As a former IPS teacher, I recall having to buy my own copy paper, because it was rationed out to teachers, and always ran out. There is no excuse for this. IPS needs to send more money to the classrooms, where it is needed the most.
On school improvements: I think this can be accomplished in a couple of ways. First, making pre-school education available to every child in the district would help level the playing field.
Introducing our children to reading at age 4 or 5 would most likely boost test scores. Additionally, I would like for us as a district to revamp our curriculum. We need to start viewing the Indiana state standards as the floor, and not the ceiling.
Additional comments: I am a product of IPS as a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School and my children have attended IPS schools as well as charter schools. I share common experiences with many parents in Indianapolis, who have at times felt that IPS was not the best educational choice for their child, and aim to change that. As an IPS teacher, I worked as an elementary special education teacher for four schools. I have experienced the policies within IPS and how they affect those “in the trenches.” These are the groups of people that are least often considered when policies are put into place – groups I intend to represent as an IPS board member.
Sharon Dunson
Running for: District 2
On vouchers: I don’t know a lot about the voucher system, but my stance would be that this system seems good, however we should make sure we have a checks and balance system to make sure they’re administered fairly.
On funding: I don’t know a lot about the budget because I haven’t been inside the system, but from what I see is they’re taking away programs that have been useful. The money is going to administrators. I don’t like that they cut money for teachers and support staff.
On school improvements: Everyone’s not going to be a lawyer or doctor. Schools should have a well-rounded curriculum that includes things such as the fine arts. You should provide things that make kids want to come to school. I also want to implement legislation to stop kids dropping out at 16.
Additional comments: I don’t have a big plan that’s going to solve all of our issues, however I am for children and want to be their voice. I want to see that they get the best education they deserve. I will strive to make that happen.
Alvin Esper
Running for: District 2
On vouchers: I have a problem with any voucher that takes money away from IPS.
On funding: I’d have to look at some of the things in place before I can completely comment on it. Some of the things that they’ve spent money on, I’d have to look at the results of those programs to see whether they are justified or not.
On school improvements: I would look at schools that are performing well, and duplicate those programs in schools with lower test scores.
Additional comments: I’ve been in Indianapolis since 1992 and I work for the Department of Veteran Affairs. I’m concerned about the direction IPS is going in. I hate to see schools being taken over so I think I can make a difference.
Elizabeth Gore
Running for: District 2
On vouchers: Vouchers help people go to schools of their choice, however the impact on public schools is that it takes money away from our general budget that could be educating students within our school system.
On funding: I really am satisfied with our current budget. We approve a budget monthly.
On school improvements: We’re doing that at this point. At IPS we’re improving our teachers’ ability and trying to ensure students take courses that will enable them to be competitive with other schools.
Additional comments: I am an IPS graduate and have worked in the Martindale-Brightwood community for over 40 years. I do this because I care about the quality of life for families and children.
Diane Arnold
Running for: District 4
On vouchers: I am not necessarily opposed to vouchers or charter schools. My biggest problem with vouchers is that they do not help the poorest of our children gain access to the best private schools because the tuition is still too high for them. I worry there is an over saturation of charters which often don’t perform better than IPS schools.
On funding: There is too much top down management that takes resources away from schools and students. The best schools in IPS are those with strong building leadership. We must find the best principals and then give them the autonomy to make the best decisions for their own buildings. The downtown office should be central services, a place where services are made available to support our schools i.e. transportation, security, special education, food services.
On school improvement: We must allocate more resources to schools. We also tend to keep contracting with lots of entities but we are not achieving much growth in our outcomes. Early childhood is another issue that we must address. If children do not arrive at school until age 7 and have not had preschool or kindergarten, it is ridiculous to believe they will read by third grade. IPS needs to contract with organizations that are already providing early childhood education to provide space and dollars to replicate programs in every underperforming school.
Additional comments: The elected IPS board must set the vision and develop the strategy to embrace the vision. We cannot blame our children, parents, teachers, principals and administrators for poor results. The buck stops with the board to set the direction and tone and then to hire the best personnel to implement the plan.
At Recorder press time, candidate Larry Whiteman, who is running for District 2, had not responded to questions.
