Seven Seek Seats On WCS Board
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Seven candidates, including three incumbents, will run for four positions on the Warsaw school board in the Nov. 3 election.
Vying for the District 1 seat are incumbent George E. Klinger, West Lake Street, Warsaw, and newcomer Brad C. Brail, Oriole Drive, Warsaw.
Klinger said recently that he is running for re-election because "I want to give our students a quality education at a reasonable cost to taxpayers, and provide a safe and orderly environment for our children to learn at Warsaw Community Schools."
Klinger said that he's happy with the direction of the school corporation: "I think we're hitting all the necessary areas that need attention."
However, one area he would like to expand in the future would be hiring teachers who are bilingual - in Spanish and English - to keep up with the English-as-a-second-language demand.
Brail said he's running for the position because he has three children in the school system and thinks it is "important to have parents involved in goal-setting and setting of priorities and making sure the system remains strong."
He would like to see the school corporation focus on technology, physical security and academic excellence in the coming years.
District 1 encompasses precincts 1 and 2 in Prairie Township, and precincts 6, 7 and 9 in Wayne Township.
In District 2, Cathy J. Folk, North CR 150W, Warsaw, is running against incumbent Joel G. Scrafton, EMS T25 Lane, Leesburg.
Folk is running for a board seat because, she said, she has a child in sixth grade at Leesburg Elementary.
"I've seen some things I don't like, and we have six more years," she said.
She is "concerned that we're not providing education for kids not going on to college," she said. She also is concerned about drug and gang issues, and wondered if the school system is taking advantage of available grants for programs.
Scrafton, who has served four years, said Tuesday he's running because he thinks "it is an honor and a privilege to serve. ... I'm running because I have the experience and I want to see education move forward in the future and there is a lot of opportunity for that."
Scrafton said some of the issues WCS faces include state changes in funding, school security, working with the business sector to help students prepare for careers, and staying abreast of developments in charter and private schooling and adapting those developments for public schools.
He believes the school board is not the ruling entity for the school system but a support forum, Scrafton said.
"We're mainly supporting the parents, who basically run our schools," he said.
District 2 includes precincts 1, 2 and 3 in Plain Township.
Larry Chamberlain, Apple Court, Winona Lake, is the only candidate who has filed for District 5, which is ward 2, precinct 2, and ward 3, precinct 1, and precincts 3, 4 and 10 in Wayne Township.
Also a member of the board for the Warsaw Community Public Library, Chamberlain said he is committed to building a consensus and wants to work with other members of the school board in accomplishing the board's overall mission.
Chamberlain said prioritizing capital expenditures while considering the taxpayer burden "is always going to be a big issue."
Former school board member Roy J. Szymanski and current board president Gordon H. Vanator will compete for the District 7 seat.
Szymanski said he is concerned about fiscal spending regarding such proposed projects as a high school football stadium and theater.
"We need to know at what expense those things are done. It's a concern that we're doing the right thing and we're very prudent in our spending," he said.
He also thinks drug testing is an issue that should be looked at more closely.
"I'm wondering where does it end, why are we selecting certain students. ... I don't like taking a broad brush; the cost will take away from education," he said.
Vanator said he represents "a voice that nobody else represents on the board, and that's the rural farmer - and we want quality education for dollars spent."
A board member for eight years (appointed for his first four years), Vanator said he brings longevity and a background in education to the board.
Vanator also is concerned with financing, he said.
"Finance is going to be a number-one priority with future school board members. As the state does less and less, the local economy's going to have to pick it up."
District 7 comprises Wayne Township, precinct 8, Clay Township, precincts 1 and 2, and Lake Township, precincts 1 and 2. [[In-content Ad]]
Seven candidates, including three incumbents, will run for four positions on the Warsaw school board in the Nov. 3 election.
Vying for the District 1 seat are incumbent George E. Klinger, West Lake Street, Warsaw, and newcomer Brad C. Brail, Oriole Drive, Warsaw.
Klinger said recently that he is running for re-election because "I want to give our students a quality education at a reasonable cost to taxpayers, and provide a safe and orderly environment for our children to learn at Warsaw Community Schools."
Klinger said that he's happy with the direction of the school corporation: "I think we're hitting all the necessary areas that need attention."
However, one area he would like to expand in the future would be hiring teachers who are bilingual - in Spanish and English - to keep up with the English-as-a-second-language demand.
Brail said he's running for the position because he has three children in the school system and thinks it is "important to have parents involved in goal-setting and setting of priorities and making sure the system remains strong."
He would like to see the school corporation focus on technology, physical security and academic excellence in the coming years.
District 1 encompasses precincts 1 and 2 in Prairie Township, and precincts 6, 7 and 9 in Wayne Township.
In District 2, Cathy J. Folk, North CR 150W, Warsaw, is running against incumbent Joel G. Scrafton, EMS T25 Lane, Leesburg.
Folk is running for a board seat because, she said, she has a child in sixth grade at Leesburg Elementary.
"I've seen some things I don't like, and we have six more years," she said.
She is "concerned that we're not providing education for kids not going on to college," she said. She also is concerned about drug and gang issues, and wondered if the school system is taking advantage of available grants for programs.
Scrafton, who has served four years, said Tuesday he's running because he thinks "it is an honor and a privilege to serve. ... I'm running because I have the experience and I want to see education move forward in the future and there is a lot of opportunity for that."
Scrafton said some of the issues WCS faces include state changes in funding, school security, working with the business sector to help students prepare for careers, and staying abreast of developments in charter and private schooling and adapting those developments for public schools.
He believes the school board is not the ruling entity for the school system but a support forum, Scrafton said.
"We're mainly supporting the parents, who basically run our schools," he said.
District 2 includes precincts 1, 2 and 3 in Plain Township.
Larry Chamberlain, Apple Court, Winona Lake, is the only candidate who has filed for District 5, which is ward 2, precinct 2, and ward 3, precinct 1, and precincts 3, 4 and 10 in Wayne Township.
Also a member of the board for the Warsaw Community Public Library, Chamberlain said he is committed to building a consensus and wants to work with other members of the school board in accomplishing the board's overall mission.
Chamberlain said prioritizing capital expenditures while considering the taxpayer burden "is always going to be a big issue."
Former school board member Roy J. Szymanski and current board president Gordon H. Vanator will compete for the District 7 seat.
Szymanski said he is concerned about fiscal spending regarding such proposed projects as a high school football stadium and theater.
"We need to know at what expense those things are done. It's a concern that we're doing the right thing and we're very prudent in our spending," he said.
He also thinks drug testing is an issue that should be looked at more closely.
"I'm wondering where does it end, why are we selecting certain students. ... I don't like taking a broad brush; the cost will take away from education," he said.
Vanator said he represents "a voice that nobody else represents on the board, and that's the rural farmer - and we want quality education for dollars spent."
A board member for eight years (appointed for his first four years), Vanator said he brings longevity and a background in education to the board.
Vanator also is concerned with financing, he said.
"Finance is going to be a number-one priority with future school board members. As the state does less and less, the local economy's going to have to pick it up."
District 7 comprises Wayne Township, precinct 8, Clay Township, precincts 1 and 2, and Lake Township, precincts 1 and 2. [[In-content Ad]]