Local school board candidates were asked three questions about running for the position.
Today’s answers are from Heather Coy and Neil Likens, who are running for Wawasee School Board District 1.
Question 1: What qualifications do you possess make you the best candidate for the school board position?
Coy: I have been advocating for education for children in our community since 2007, and 15 years later, I am still passionately chasing my dreams and trying to make sure our future leaders of our community are ready for the world when they leave our school corporation on graduation day.
During this time, I have held seats as executive director of an early learning facility, and even after leaving that facility; I took over as Board of Directors president to ensure our facility was providing high-quality care and education to the children in our community. Over the course of those years, I have sat on other nonprofit board of directors and advisory committees through Ivy Tech to ensure that at the college level we are implementing the highest level of curriculum in the early learning field.
I currently work in the mortgage industry, which allows me to practice fiscal responsibility and budgets on a daily basis. I believe my extensive background in early childhood education, nonprofit business management skills, extensive awareness of fiscal responsibility and experience with grant writing makes me the best candidate for District 1 seat of the Wawasee School Board.
Likens: I am a parent of three Wawasee School Corporation students, I am a law enforcement officer trained in safety measures, my wife and I own a small business in this community.
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?
Coy: Coming from a background of 15 years in nonprofit business management and my current career in the mortgage industry, I have very extensive experience and training with budgets and fiscal responsibilities. I think it is key to mention that my background in nonprofit business management has given me the knowledge and skill set to understand how our school corporation receives and utilizes state and government funding.
When asked how I would approach Wawasee School Corporations budget if elected, I plan to continue to increase transparency around how our community’s tax dollars are spent. I am a firm believer in our school corporation having fiscal transparency to our community and educating the public on where and how their tax dollars are being utilized to prove that we are being a good steward of tax dollars.
Likens: My wife and I own a small business and understand the importance of spending conservatively. I would approach the school budget with the same mentality and look for other local ways to generate funds before tax dollars are spent.
Question 3: How much input should the public, especially parents, have in the school district, especially at school board meetings and why?
Coy: When being asked how much input should the public and parents have in our school district and at board meetings, I believe this is a simple answer: Parents belong at the table. It is time we fight for our children, our community and our future. I firmly believe that parents not only have a voice when it comes to their children’s education, but they have the final voice.
Many people believe the public education system is broken because of governmental interference in our curriculum decision-making. We must advocate and fight for a local curriculum that benefits our children’s education in order to provide them with the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness they deserve. We begin this at the local level as a community, as a team with our educators, our parents and our community. I will help make this goal a reality.
Wawasee School Corporation is blessed with amazing staff, educators and administrators. When we all come together with our parents, we pave a bright road for the future.
Likens: I believe parents' comments and concerns should be heard by the school board and the school administration, because it affects what information their children are leaning and obtaining from school.
