Wawasee Community Education Association Sponsors 'Meet The Candidates' Night
Posted
John DeGroff-
SYRACUSE - Monday, the Wawasee Community Education Association sponsored a Meet The Candidates Night at Wawasee Middle School.
Moderated by Association member Cindy Brady, four candidates were on hand to express their views and take public questions. A fifth candidate, Rebecca Linnemeier, District 3, is running unopposed and was not present.
From District 1, Rob Fisher of North Webster is running against incumbent first-term board member Mike Wilson, also of North Webster.
District 2 resident Curtis Hursey, Syracuse, is challenging two-term incumbent Mary Louise Dixon, also of Syracuse.
Fisher, who works for Cellular 911 Routing Network out of Fort Wayne, was the first to speak.
After introducing his family, he said, "We moved to this area 15 years ago. The number one reason I'm running for school board is because of family. I'm going to be around the school because my girls will be here for several years."
He went on to say that his job has enabled him to develop the ability to listen to people and gather information, and this quality would be an asset to the board.
Wilson introduced himself by mentioning that his four children, now adults, all attended Wawasee. Wilson is general manager of Bart's Water Sports. He has a degree in elementary education and taught fifth grade at Waukarusa before moving to the area.
"The reason I'm running for school board is obviously an interest in education," he said. "I believe our public school system is one of the things that makes our country great. I appreciate what my children have gained here ... and I hope to use some of what I've learned on the board to do even better the next four years."
Dixon is a two-term incumbent and a retired teacher. She taught social studies and English for 23 years in the Wawasee School Corporation. She is the social studies coach for the Academic Super Bowl Team, continues to assist in classrooms throughout the corporation, and is a past PTO president. Her two sons are WHS graduates and her grandson attends sixth grade at WMS.
"I came to this area in 1964," she said. "My life has revolved around this school system since then. I would like to continue serving on the board."
Hursey has lived in the area his entire life, and is a 1999 graduate of WHS. He attended Tri-State University in Angola and ITT Tech. Along with his wife, he recently purchased his family's business, Hursey's Inc., which has been in the community for 33 years. He is active on the Wawasee Building Trades Board, serving as its president the last three years.
"I feel with my background in business ... I could help make Wawasee Community Schools one of the best places to receive an education," he said.
Each candidate answered questions put to them by the Education Association which dealt with their priorities, views on main issues, how to improve the quality of education, and how to handle concerned corporation patrons.
While answers varied little regarding areas such as budget uncertainty, Fisher felt that class size is a priority, and Dixon felt that the state is encroaching on local districts with legislative mandates which ultimately take away from local parent-teacher input.
Both Hursey and Wilson felt that declining enrollment is an area of concern. All candidates felt that better communication between board members, administration, teachers and parents should be a key concern when it comes to addressing any problems.
Dixon said, in regard to communication, "Know the source of the concern. Refer back to the source. If concerns can't be addressed, then go up to the superintendent."Fisher expressed this same sentiment by emphasizing the usefulness of taking concerns up a specific chain of command.
There was only one public question, which raised the issue of certain instances of teacher behavior. However, this was regarded as more of a policy matter, and couldn't be addressed in this forum.
Closing remarks were brief, with challengers both expressing their concerns for the kids as well as their fellow corporation patrons; and the incumbents thanking everyone for their support and expressing their desire to continue serving the community, the corporation, and their fellow board members.
