Valley Hopefuls Participate In Candidate Forum
October 28, 2016 at 7:11 p.m.
By Carol Anders-
The event was hosted by students in the Tippecanoe Valley High School political and economic science class of teachers Jeff Shriver and June Yazel.
Candidates Aaron Zolman, Tyler Bouse and David O’Brien are running for one open seat in District I. Three other candidates, including Matt Smith, Adam Heckaman and Stephanie Overbey, are vying for one seat open in District 2.
Serving as the moderators were Rita Price-Simpson and Micah Lukens. After the meeting, Price-Simpson said, “These are all great candidates and all well-qualified. They each have something to bring to the table.”
Opening the forum was senior Johnathan Engle, who also serves as the high school representative to the school board. Referring to one of the reasons the class of 32 students chose to hold the event, Engle said, “The class understands the need to be an informed voter.”
School Board member Todd Hoffman presented a short history on how the funding through the state is handled and how its effects are hurting the smaller rural schools. He also addressed the introduction of the voucher system, which allows the state to fund students in nonpublic schools and diverts funding away from public schools.
Each candidate was given two minutes per question to give their viewpoints. The first of five questions asked the candidates to say why they are running for school board and what strengths they would utilize to be most effective.
Zolman said, “We are a community like no other.” He said, “I am a leader at heart and will help make the board work as a team.”
Bouse said he was running because of his own three kids. He said, “I have a fundamental belief that every student can graduate.” He went on to say that he is always dealing with government policies in his lines of work.
O’Brien, current board president, responded to the question as well. He said, “We try to do more with less and less. I think the state is out to get rid of public schools.”
Smith said, “I believe in this community. I want to see our children grow up in this community and stay in this community.” He said he would support and listen to teachers.
Heckaman said he had two reasons for running, including his daughter’s education and to make a positive difference in the community. He said, “Board members need to be deeply rooted in the community.” He also spoke to his experience as a small business owner who hires community members.
Overbey said running for a seat was something she had thought about for a long time. She said her strengths include being well-informed, experienced and having “mom sense.”
Candidates were given an opportunity to say what they think are the current strengths and weaknesses of the corporation. Bouse said the strengths are the administrators and educators and the corporation is fiscally responsible. He pointed out the declining enrollment and low test scores in the both the high school and middle school as weaknesses.
O’Brien said they are offering more Advanced Placement classes, the buildings are good, and they didn’t have to raise taxes by keeping an eye on the budget. He said, “The weakness is technology. It changes daily and we can’t keep up with it.”
Smith said, “The corporation has a good teaching staff. We don’t thank our teachers enough. We fail to remember that the job is sometimes a thankless job.” He alluded to the lack of communication.
Heckaman also praised the staff saying, “Hands down our staff is our number one resource.” He said, “Communication is awful.” Referring to the budget, he said, “ Are they spending the dollars where they need to go? We need to make sure teachers are funded and have the supplies necessary.”
Overbey said the corporation has a healthy financial reserve. She said, “There is a declining enrollment and ISTEP and SAT scores are below average for the last ten years.”
Zolman said, “Our teachers need to come first. We need to have more legacy opportunities.” He said, “It’s tough to change things.”
When asked what priorities and new ideas they would bring to the board, the candidates had lists of what they would like to see more of in the schools.
O’Brien said, “Auto mechanics are just as important. Not everybody goes to college.”
Smith said he would like the latest technology available to students and more classes to teach how technology comes about, along with more general business classes.
Heckaman said he would push and offer more AP classes and vocational skills. He said, “We need to teach our kids skills for local businesses.”
Overbey said, “My honest answer is cultural change.” She said, “What can we do? What does it take?”
Zolman pointed out the jobs in the orthopedic industry for machine operators. He added that there should be more athletic recognition.
Bouse said the biggest challenge is to stop the decrease in enrollment. “We need to connect the board more with principals, set a priority list and attach it to the budget,” he said.
Technology was one of the topic areas. Candidates were asked the question, “How do you believe that Tippecanoe Valley can utilize technology to prepare students for the 21st century?”
O’Brien said that computers were put into the high school four years ago and are now at the middle school. He said, “They need to go down to the elementary.”
Smith said, “We need to teach kids good digital citizenship.”
Heckaman said, “New teaching methods take new technology.”
Overbey spoke to training teachers. She said, “It is not enough for our students to have technology. They have to know how to use it.”
Zolman said, “Students need to know more than core subjects.”
Bouse said, “It needs to be better utilized to make learning exciting.”
The final question asked how the candidates plan to address the declining student enrollment.
Heckaman said, “It comes down to competition.” He then talked about AP and vocational classes and after school activities.
Overbey said, “It’s much easier to retain.” She said the net loss of students over the last five years was 162.
Zolman said, “We have to set goals and measure them. “
Bouse said, “It is critical to increase the public outreach.”
O’Brien said, “Us and every corporation around has the same problem. People in our community have to promote our system.”
Those organizing the forum estimated that there were well over 100 people in attendance.
The event was hosted by students in the Tippecanoe Valley High School political and economic science class of teachers Jeff Shriver and June Yazel.
Candidates Aaron Zolman, Tyler Bouse and David O’Brien are running for one open seat in District I. Three other candidates, including Matt Smith, Adam Heckaman and Stephanie Overbey, are vying for one seat open in District 2.
Serving as the moderators were Rita Price-Simpson and Micah Lukens. After the meeting, Price-Simpson said, “These are all great candidates and all well-qualified. They each have something to bring to the table.”
Opening the forum was senior Johnathan Engle, who also serves as the high school representative to the school board. Referring to one of the reasons the class of 32 students chose to hold the event, Engle said, “The class understands the need to be an informed voter.”
School Board member Todd Hoffman presented a short history on how the funding through the state is handled and how its effects are hurting the smaller rural schools. He also addressed the introduction of the voucher system, which allows the state to fund students in nonpublic schools and diverts funding away from public schools.
Each candidate was given two minutes per question to give their viewpoints. The first of five questions asked the candidates to say why they are running for school board and what strengths they would utilize to be most effective.
Zolman said, “We are a community like no other.” He said, “I am a leader at heart and will help make the board work as a team.”
Bouse said he was running because of his own three kids. He said, “I have a fundamental belief that every student can graduate.” He went on to say that he is always dealing with government policies in his lines of work.
O’Brien, current board president, responded to the question as well. He said, “We try to do more with less and less. I think the state is out to get rid of public schools.”
Smith said, “I believe in this community. I want to see our children grow up in this community and stay in this community.” He said he would support and listen to teachers.
Heckaman said he had two reasons for running, including his daughter’s education and to make a positive difference in the community. He said, “Board members need to be deeply rooted in the community.” He also spoke to his experience as a small business owner who hires community members.
Overbey said running for a seat was something she had thought about for a long time. She said her strengths include being well-informed, experienced and having “mom sense.”
Candidates were given an opportunity to say what they think are the current strengths and weaknesses of the corporation. Bouse said the strengths are the administrators and educators and the corporation is fiscally responsible. He pointed out the declining enrollment and low test scores in the both the high school and middle school as weaknesses.
O’Brien said they are offering more Advanced Placement classes, the buildings are good, and they didn’t have to raise taxes by keeping an eye on the budget. He said, “The weakness is technology. It changes daily and we can’t keep up with it.”
Smith said, “The corporation has a good teaching staff. We don’t thank our teachers enough. We fail to remember that the job is sometimes a thankless job.” He alluded to the lack of communication.
Heckaman also praised the staff saying, “Hands down our staff is our number one resource.” He said, “Communication is awful.” Referring to the budget, he said, “ Are they spending the dollars where they need to go? We need to make sure teachers are funded and have the supplies necessary.”
Overbey said the corporation has a healthy financial reserve. She said, “There is a declining enrollment and ISTEP and SAT scores are below average for the last ten years.”
Zolman said, “Our teachers need to come first. We need to have more legacy opportunities.” He said, “It’s tough to change things.”
When asked what priorities and new ideas they would bring to the board, the candidates had lists of what they would like to see more of in the schools.
O’Brien said, “Auto mechanics are just as important. Not everybody goes to college.”
Smith said he would like the latest technology available to students and more classes to teach how technology comes about, along with more general business classes.
Heckaman said he would push and offer more AP classes and vocational skills. He said, “We need to teach our kids skills for local businesses.”
Overbey said, “My honest answer is cultural change.” She said, “What can we do? What does it take?”
Zolman pointed out the jobs in the orthopedic industry for machine operators. He added that there should be more athletic recognition.
Bouse said the biggest challenge is to stop the decrease in enrollment. “We need to connect the board more with principals, set a priority list and attach it to the budget,” he said.
Technology was one of the topic areas. Candidates were asked the question, “How do you believe that Tippecanoe Valley can utilize technology to prepare students for the 21st century?”
O’Brien said that computers were put into the high school four years ago and are now at the middle school. He said, “They need to go down to the elementary.”
Smith said, “We need to teach kids good digital citizenship.”
Heckaman said, “New teaching methods take new technology.”
Overbey spoke to training teachers. She said, “It is not enough for our students to have technology. They have to know how to use it.”
Zolman said, “Students need to know more than core subjects.”
Bouse said, “It needs to be better utilized to make learning exciting.”
The final question asked how the candidates plan to address the declining student enrollment.
Heckaman said, “It comes down to competition.” He then talked about AP and vocational classes and after school activities.
Overbey said, “It’s much easier to retain.” She said the net loss of students over the last five years was 162.
Zolman said, “We have to set goals and measure them. “
Bouse said, “It is critical to increase the public outreach.”
O’Brien said, “Us and every corporation around has the same problem. People in our community have to promote our system.”
Those organizing the forum estimated that there were well over 100 people in attendance.
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