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LARWILL - Five Whitko school board candidates shared their views and opinions Thursday with the public.
Michael Braddock, Richard Deckena, Mark Mynhier, David Tranter and Hal Trump answered three prepared questions, then took two questions from the audience.
Deckena is the only candidate who is running for re-election; he has been on the school board for four years and is the board president.
The other candidates were asked for their credentials as board members. Braddock, who works at Builder's Mart in Warsaw, said he has served on various community boards, works with kids and has business experience.
Tranter is the publisher of a weekly newspaper, is aware of problems and knows the community. "I probably can tell you exactly how the people feel about most any particular issue," he said.
Trump is retired after 40 years at International Harvester and said he can use his management experience in business to keep the school corporation functioning smoothly.
Mynhier is an architect and Ball State University graduate who said he deals with large budgets every day and has served on local boards. "More than anything I have the willingness to serve," he said.
When asked what important issues are facing Whitko schools, Tranter said, "There's nothing really that's controversial or of major importance going on in the school system at the present time." Because of that, he said, it's time to concentrate on education that prepares kids for the "real world."
Braddock's concern is that public schools are losing students to home schooling, and he wants to know why.
"I want to get involved to find out the issues," he said. "I go to board meetings and I get a piece of paper but it doesn't tell me how things are discussed, only how they vote."
Trump said he thought the board should concentrate on education and safety: "We really need to put a foot forward and make sure our schools are as safe as they can be."
Trump said if the ISTEPs show students in higher grades are lacking in a specific skill, the schools should start emphasizing that skill as early as second grade.
Mynhier said the board's job would be to allow teachers and administrators to teach, and "allow them to do those things that can benefit students."
He said technology is important and schools should get more involved in introducing students to various technologies.
Mynhier also said, "We need sports and extracurricular programs to enhance the educational process for the students, but those things need to be kept in perspective."
Deckena said Whitko schools as public schools rank in the top in the state, and "we need to provide every opportunity for our children that we can, whether it is FFA, art. ..."
He also said it's important for the board to maintain school buildings.
All of the candidates believe school safety is important, but most think Whitko schools are safe now.
Tranter, Mynhier and Braddock stressed the importance of using school counselors and early intervention to identify and help troubled students.
Mynhier said he believes cameras and metal detectors in the schools would be an invasion of the students' privacy, and Braddock said the schools should be more respectful of students and parents.
Trump said, "I think discipline's probably one of the major items in the school today," and thinks drills, like those for fires, should be used for safety procedures.
Deckena said procedures are set up for safety in all the schools, but the issue also concerns sporting events, field trips, etc. He said the board is always open to suggestions from the community.
Asked for their opinions on year-round schooling, Trump and Mynhier said it could enhance students' education, Deckena and Braddock opposed it, and Tranter said it's something schools should "evolve into, not jump into."
Of the five candidates, patrons may vote for only three on Tuesday.
