Candidates running for the Warsaw Community Schools district 2 school board seats shared their views on school issues.

Brad Hagg and Delores Hearn are vying for the school board seat in the second district, which includes the Leesburg area.

During the forum, both candidates gave an opening statement, answered four pre-selected questions and audience questions before giving a closing statement.

"I believe we can't go wrong if we make meeting the needs of our young people the number one priority," Hagg said. He also stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility and teaching children strong values.

Hearn, who is the mother of three Warsaw graduates, said as a school psychologist she wants to improve communication between parents and the schools and get parents more involved in their children's education.

The candidates each were asked four prepared questions and given three minutes to respond with prepared answers.

Do you think the middle schools should incorporate sixth-graders; why or why not?

Hagg said he felt there was a "huge developmental difference between a sixth-grader and an eighth-grader." He added that if sixth-grade students were put in the same building as eighth-grade students, he feels that the younger students should be separated most of the day.

Hagg also understands that putting the three grades together could save funds by lowering the costs of instruction and administrative services.

Hearn said she would have sent her children to a school with sixth, seventh and eighth grades together in one building. She believes that sixth-graders are more like seventh- and eighth-graders than fifth-graders.

She stressed that some of the benefits to integrating sixth-grade students into the middle school would include "more counseling for students at that level."

"I think we should look at what sixth-grade parents think," Hearn said.

Warsaw Community Schools has many pressing issues. If elected to the school board, where are you going to focus your energies?

Hearn said one of her primary concerns was communication. She wants to see more open communication with the community and parents.

"Schools are in the business of educating children," Hearn said, adding that schools should primarily be concerned with student achievement, and the more involved parents are, the more successful children will be.

"It is important for the board to establish a policy of family involvement," Hearn said.

Hagg said it is important for the school board not to take a philosophy of "doing what we've always done."

He feels it is most important to "focus on the needs of our young people. ... Every loan we take out and pay interest on is one less dollar we can use in the classroom."

What are the roles of the parents, the teachers and the community in improving student literacy? What ideas can be implemented at the board level to help each of these groups accomplish their responsibilities?

"I've always felt the number one thing that parents can do for their children educationally is read to them as much as possible," Hagg said, adding that children who have parents who read to them "develop literary skills much faster than those who are not read to."

Hagg said programs at school such as Star Reading, Accelerated Reading, Reading Recovery and NWEA testing should continue to be used and expanded through the school system to improve reading for all students.

"I believe we all have a responsibility to help children learn," Hearn said. "We can do more to coordinate (programs) and ... become more involved."

She added that it is important for parents to be comfortable reading and asking questions of their children at home. She also believes that community partnerships with schools can help get more technology in homes that do not have computers for students to use.

On Nov. 2, the school corporation will appeal to the state tax board for an adjustment to the 2007 transportation budget. If that appeal is not granted, the transportation budget, using current budget numbers, would begin running in the "red" by fall next year. If you are on the school board, what cuts would you support in the 2007 budget?

"I believe that (this) question is a little misleading," said Hagg. "I believe we should begin dealing with a shortfall now instead of waiting until 2007."

Hagg suggested asking teachers to choose field trips that are closer to school or asking parent groups to help fund field trips.

He also suggested that drivers' salaries and fuels costs for buses used to transport students to athletic events be taken from the athletic fund instead of the transportation fund.

Hagg said bus routes could be analyzed to make sure buses are being used at capacity and the routes are the most fuel-efficient. He also suggested the possibility of becoming part of a fuel cooperative to help lock in lower gas prices.

"Every line item in the budget is certainly worthwhile," Hearn said, adding that board members should ask themselves, "Where do we get the most bang for our buck? ... This is not my area of expertise. I would look to the superintendent and the chief financial officer to give us opinions."

After the four prepared questions were answered, the audience was given a chance to ask questions of the candidates as well. Dean Harman of Clunette asked what the candidates thought the relationship between the size of the school and the amount of parent involvement is.

"I'm not sure size plays a big role," Hearn said, adding that she felt it was important for schools to reach out to parents to draw them in and get them involved.

Hagg said he thought that the size of the school may play a role, but he felt that principals and staff at schools can encourage parental involvement. He said a good example of that was Harrison Elementary School and its principal, Randy Polston.

"He is one of the best principals in the state," Hagg said. "Harrison is an excellent model of what we should be doing."

Then Harman asked if the candidates felt that spending $40 million on athletic fields and an auditorium was a financially responsible decision and what each candidate thought of the project when it was proposed.

"Hindsight is always 20/20," Hagg said. "In this case mistakes definitely were made. ... But we can't go back and we can't change it."

He said the most unfortunate part of the situation was that trust was lost between the community and the school board, and there was a lack of respect between the school board and the superintendent.

Hearn mirrored Hagg's statement about mistakes made during the process, and said she talked with board and community members when the issue came up.

In closing statements, Hearn stressed why she wanted to be a member of the Warsaw school board.

"Warsaw schools have a tradition of quality education for students," Hearn said. "I would like to be a part of continuing that tradition on the Warsaw School Board."

Hagg also told the audience why he wants to be a member of the school board.

"I want to be on the Warsaw School Board solely because I care about your kids and mine," Hagg said. "I want to give them the best education we can afford to provide." [[In-content Ad]]