Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
One thing 31 years as an educator and education administrator have taught Lloyd Cabiness - one nevers stops learning - it's a life-long process.
And Cabiness, principal of Bremen Elementary Middle School, is putting that philosophy into action, learning what it is like to be a political candidate. He is on the Democratic ticket challenging incumbent William Ruppel (R-Manchester) for the District 22 Indiana House of Representatives seat in November's general election.
"I'm a beginner (in politics) and I would go to Indianapolis with a willingness to learn. I'm a life-long learner and would like to serve the people of the 22nd District with an attitude that reflects that philosophy," Cabiness said.
Not surprisingly, considering his background, Cabiness's primary legislative focus would be education. His top educational policy priorities include property tax relief and restructuring how education is funded, addressing the high book rental rates and making all-day kindergarten commonplace in the state.
"Property tax relief is an educational and noneducational issue. But, at this time, I can't say what would be the best way to resolve that issue," Cabiness said.
Any proposal on changing how public education is accomplished should maintain and improve the quality of the education provided, Cabiness added.
"Education is an investment in the future and one of the main issues and one of the most important items the General Assembly faces every year," he said.
Reforming the way textbooks are paid for is also a priority to Cabiness. It is a problem he deals with everyday, he said, adding that textbook rental can be as high as $150 per child in his school district.
"I think people who send children to school have some responsibility in paying for the textbooks they use, and they need to pay a portion of that," he said. "But, since education is a statewide responsibility, it (the parent's book rental share) should only be a portion - maybe even a small portion," he said.
Cabiness said he also the idea of day-long kindergarten as a way of ensuring students entering the first grade have the skills necessary to be successful. Studies have shown that preschoolers who participate in day-long kindergarten perform better in the early elementary years.
He attributes this to the preponderance of two working parents having changed the nurturing environment in the home that is needed to ensure academic success.
"Eighty percent of a child's potential ability is set when a child starts school," Cabiness said. "We need to provide a way to develop that potential for the parents who can't be home all day, every day.
"The cost estimates (for all-day kindergarten) are scary, but I want to look a the alternatives," he added.
He also wants to see some regulation of the rising incidence of home schools, as well as addressing the concerns of parents who choose to send their children to private schools.
"I think there needs to be some regulation of home schooling standards. We have some who do well in following a proper curriculum, but then we have others that have no curriculum at all," he said.
"Also, we in the public schools need to do a better job so these parents don't want to send their children anywhere else but to public school," he said.
As to other issues that may be of concern to the voters of the 22nd legislative district, Cabiness said he's not sure what they are, but he intends to find out.
"I don't know what other issues are of concern to the voters of the district, but, as a principal, I've learned how to listen and how to ask the right questions," he said. "My experience in education has taught me how to analyze and weigh issues. I have to deal with many things every day that I may not know very much about. But I draw on the resources available to me and make a decision."
Kosciusko County Democratic Chairman Steve Haines said area Democrats are excited to have Cabiness in the race and to offer a challenge to Ruppel.
"I'm glad Bill Ruppel finally has an opponent and that he'll have to spend his campaign funds for something other than on mileage driving around the district," Haines said.
