Barnhart, Grigsby Looking To Get Seat On Triton School Board
October 28, 2022 at 2:26 a.m.
By Jackie [email protected]
Today’s answers are from Teresa Barnhart and Robert Grigsby, who are running for Triton School Board District 1.
Question 1: What qualifications do you possess make you the best candidate for the school board position?
Barnhart: I'm currently serving as the president of the Triton School Board and have been a member for the past 12 years.
I possess a thoughtful, sincere and deliberate approach to the position. An effective member seeks first to understand the issues, knowing that decisions have a tremendous impact on the community. I focus on serving the children, ensuring every deliberation, decision and action has their best interest in mind.
Having been born and raised in Bourbon, I have lived within the Triton community my entire life. I am a Triton graduate as well as my husband of 23 years and our oldest son.
My Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University - Bloomington has been a guide to operating my family's business and serving on several boards in Marshall County including the Plan Commission, 4-H Council and County Extension Board.
Grigsby: Experience as a father and business owner qualifies me eminently to make sure policies and governing system of a school board are implemented. Every home has rules and “bylaws” that must be followed or chaos erupts! And I have successfully launched a business from the business plan to overseeing daily assignments; public relations, advertising, budgeting, cost analyses and more.
Being able to identify a problem, determine the best solution and implement strategy for correction enables me to efficiently use taxpayer resources.
Question 2: How much experience do you have with budgets and how would you approach your school corporation’s budget if you’re elected to the board?
Barnhart: I have experience with budgets from my family business, the local boards I sit on, and within Triton School Corporation. When I was first elected 12 years ago, TSC was facing a deficit that had to be corrected. Hard decisions had to be made. Developing a good working relationship with the business manager is crucial to ensuring the well-being of the corporation for years to come.
School boards hold the fiduciary responsibility for the district. A school board member must have the financial knowledge and take the responsibility to learn the finances in order to become better stewards of the public funds spent on behalf of their students.
Grigsby: Budgeting a home and a business should be no different. Current budget is compared to last year's and any increases need justified and explained, item by item.
My approach at home is fiscal responsibility and my approach to education is no different. A focus on preparing a young person to excel in the world cannot be lost on finances.
Experience at home, as a business owner and a parent who raised a child through college, took planning and budgeting. This knowledge works at home and in a corporate setting.
Question 3: How much input should the public, especially parents, have in the school district, especially at school board meetings and why?
Barnhart: The Triton School Corporation is a wonderful community that supports its students, teachers, employees and administrators.
Within the school buildings, community and family involvement is welcome. When the community is involved in student learning it has positive outcomes such as lower absenteeism, positive student achievement, better civic engagement, fewer discipline issues and higher graduation rates.
I believe patrons have the right to ask questions and address school officials at in-person meetings. Those patrons are expected to hold their conduct in a professional and business-like manner.
Grigsby: Per Indiana law, all school boards are required to host a public comment period at all public meetings. Well, I should hope so! The school board represents parents.
Limit federal reach into our schools and allow ample parent voice on education and monies.
Today’s answers are from Teresa Barnhart and Robert Grigsby, who are running for Triton School Board District 1.
Question 1: What qualifications do you possess make you the best candidate for the school board position?
Barnhart: I'm currently serving as the president of the Triton School Board and have been a member for the past 12 years.
I possess a thoughtful, sincere and deliberate approach to the position. An effective member seeks first to understand the issues, knowing that decisions have a tremendous impact on the community. I focus on serving the children, ensuring every deliberation, decision and action has their best interest in mind.
Having been born and raised in Bourbon, I have lived within the Triton community my entire life. I am a Triton graduate as well as my husband of 23 years and our oldest son.
My Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University - Bloomington has been a guide to operating my family's business and serving on several boards in Marshall County including the Plan Commission, 4-H Council and County Extension Board.
Grigsby: Experience as a father and business owner qualifies me eminently to make sure policies and governing system of a school board are implemented. Every home has rules and “bylaws” that must be followed or chaos erupts! And I have successfully launched a business from the business plan to overseeing daily assignments; public relations, advertising, budgeting, cost analyses and more.
Being able to identify a problem, determine the best solution and implement strategy for correction enables me to efficiently use taxpayer resources.
Question 2: How much experience do you have with budgets and how would you approach your school corporation’s budget if you’re elected to the board?
Barnhart: I have experience with budgets from my family business, the local boards I sit on, and within Triton School Corporation. When I was first elected 12 years ago, TSC was facing a deficit that had to be corrected. Hard decisions had to be made. Developing a good working relationship with the business manager is crucial to ensuring the well-being of the corporation for years to come.
School boards hold the fiduciary responsibility for the district. A school board member must have the financial knowledge and take the responsibility to learn the finances in order to become better stewards of the public funds spent on behalf of their students.
Grigsby: Budgeting a home and a business should be no different. Current budget is compared to last year's and any increases need justified and explained, item by item.
My approach at home is fiscal responsibility and my approach to education is no different. A focus on preparing a young person to excel in the world cannot be lost on finances.
Experience at home, as a business owner and a parent who raised a child through college, took planning and budgeting. This knowledge works at home and in a corporate setting.
Question 3: How much input should the public, especially parents, have in the school district, especially at school board meetings and why?
Barnhart: The Triton School Corporation is a wonderful community that supports its students, teachers, employees and administrators.
Within the school buildings, community and family involvement is welcome. When the community is involved in student learning it has positive outcomes such as lower absenteeism, positive student achievement, better civic engagement, fewer discipline issues and higher graduation rates.
I believe patrons have the right to ask questions and address school officials at in-person meetings. Those patrons are expected to hold their conduct in a professional and business-like manner.
Grigsby: Per Indiana law, all school boards are required to host a public comment period at all public meetings. Well, I should hope so! The school board represents parents.
Limit federal reach into our schools and allow ample parent voice on education and monies.
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