School Board Candidates Can File Now

The Election Board began accepting the paperwork for School Board Candidates on July 23.  These forms must be received by noon, Friday, August 22.

This is the first year that school board elections will take place in the general election, where turnout is much greater than in the spring's primary election.

Here is what the Election Board website has to say about school board offices:

School Board candidates follow a different process to run for office. The do not run in a primary election as their offices are considered non-partisan. These offices appear on the ballot in November’s general election. Candidates also file petitions with their local Election Board in order for their name to appear on the ballot. Before downloading the resource packet below, candidates are encouraged to contact their local school corporation to understand their residency and other office requirements adopted by their School Board as required by state law.

If you are interested, the Marion County Election Board has put together a somewhat intimidating School Board Candidate Resource Packet.  The first page contains an excellent summary of the high points and you should read that thoroughly.  The packet includes all the forms you might have to use (some usually aren't needed as most school board candidates don't raise or spend over $500).  Most of the rest of the information is from the State and includes information for everything from a political party to candidates running for statewide office to those running for local offices.  So look for those items relevant to school board candidates.

In order to get your name on the ballot, there are two forms that must be completed, notarized, and turned in together.  Both are included in the packet.  Again, the deadline for filing these is noon, Friday, August 22.

Of particular interest is the information regarding required disclaimers that must appear on any literature or goodie you would hand out.  There is a nice summary on page 35 of the pdf and a thorough discussion on pages 200-202.

The Election Board website lists the following as school board seats up for election in November:

IPS (1 At-Large Seat and Districts 3 and 5)

Beech Grove Schools (3 At-Large Seats)

MSD Decatur Twp (3 Seats)

CSC Franklin Twp (1 At-Large Seat, NE District, SE District)

MSD Lawrence Twp (1 At-Large Seat, District 2)

MSD Perry Twp (District 1 - 3 Seats)

MSD Pike Twp (3 At-Large Seats)

MSD Warren Twp (3 At-Large Seats)

MSD Washington Twp (2 Seats)

MSD Wayne Twp (4 At-Large Seats) 

You'll have to scroll down the page for the school districts, but here is a link to the various school board districts:  http://www.indy.gov/eGov/County/Clerk/Election/Voter_Info/Pages/Precinct%20Maps%20and%20Information.aspx

If you have questions, the Election office is very helpful.  327-5100 is their number.

Decatur Referendum - There Are Strings Attached

Now that Decatur Township voters approved a property tax increase to bail out the School District from its own flagrant fiscal mismanagement, there are a few things the District needs to do for the Community in return.

First, recognize that this tax increase will harm some very real people; maybe even, one of your neighbors.  We have a community of modest means.  Some of our elders already decide between spending on food and spending on medication.   The home they live in was purchased at a price far lower than the assessed value upon which the tax rate is applied.  We have families, with and without kids in school, that just make ends meet and have struggled to keep their home through the Great Recession.  We have renters in similar situations, whose rent will rise to accommodate the tax hike.

Remember their very real sacrifice each time you spend a penny of that new money.

Second, spend the new money only on the new circuit breaker impact coming next year.  That is what the community was told it was for.  Not raises, not all expense paid trips to extra conferences, not new carpeting - just the upcoming fiscal shortfall.  It would not be honorable to spend it in any other fashion than for the reason broadcast to the voters.

Third, counter the ill effect of our tax rate compared with our neighboring communities, by actually improving the education delivered to Decatur's children.  A "D" school system in a Township with a high tax rate will not attract the move up homes and the basic retail that we desperately need.  The least you can do is improve the education to a "B" District level, if not an "A".  The community deserves it.  More importantly, every child deserves it.  Even a child who earns all As is more challenged and learns more in an "A" district than in a "D" district.

I am impressed with Dr. Matt Prusiecki, the new Superintendent, and like some of the ideas he has shared with me; they are forward thinking and worth a try.   I trust Decatur school's CFO, Kirk Farmer, to be a good steward of our tax dollars.   So, it is possible, if these two are given the chance, to provide children with the education they deserve while keeping our fiscal house in order.

Fourth, don't expect this tax increase will be renewed in seven years.  Use every tool available to bring down the debt payment as quickly as possible.   State law allows refinancing for an extra 10 years, which will lower the principle and likely the rate as well.  It's not perfect, but the debt is overwhelming for a community our size.  Sell the extra real estate.   New state law demands that in 2015, our TIF district must get a sunset date applied to it.  It is possible the TIF could be gone before these seven years are up; in any case, the timing will be close.

Fifth, it is time to seat a new school board.  Three of the five seats are up for election in November.  It is time to sweep out those who voted for every debt increase and tax increase our community could not afford, who voted for every golden parachute, ungodly raise, and purchase of  unnecessary property.  It is high time to seat a new board who will honor the community's sacrifices.  It is time to seat a board who will stop the excuses and improve our school system

Three Monday Morning Meetings for Decatur School Board

A public notice has been posted on the MSD Decatur Township website, announcing three meetings Monday morning, January 31.

Beginning at 11 am, the Board will meet as a 'Board of Finance' - no topic or agenda item is mentioned in the notice. This continues the district's policy of letting the public know as little as possible about what the Superintendent and Board are up to.

Immediately following that meeting, the Board will take public testimony on the probationary status of the Gold Academy. The notice states:

In accordance with I.C.20-31-9-2 “The school corporation will hold a public hearing in which public testimony is received concerning the lack of improvement.”

And, finally, the Board will go into executive session to supposedly discuss

In accordance with I.C.5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(9) “To discuss a job performance evaluation of an individual employee.”

Another Lie From Decatur School District - This Time its a Whopper !

Faithful readers of this blog will remember the ''fiscal restructuring" that MSD Decatur Township went through this past spring. Teachers laid off, one elementary school closed entirely, other employees let go, hours cut back, and health insurance benefits cut. You will remember the back and forth between Superintendent Don Stinson and his ever faithful rubber stamping Board of Education. Stinson said, 'please cut my salary by 20% as a sign of solidarity with our new fiscal reality'. The ever faithful Board replied, 'but, Don, its just too much of a reduction. Can you live with a 15% cut?' And Stinson thought about it for a second and said, 'why, yes. Yes, I think I can.'

Now if you'd like to guess what Stinson's salary reduction was and what his new base salary weighs in on, don't scroll down yet. His base for the last school year was $189,287. So, a 15% cut would amount to $28,393 for a final base salary of $160,894. When you are ready with your guess at his new base salary, scroll down.







Superintendent Don Stinson's new base salary for the 2010-2011 school year is (drum roll, please), $275,539. He didn't get any 15% pay cut. He enjoyed a whopping $86,252 INCREASE. That amounts to a 45.6% RAISE.

I have posted his old contract and new contract on GoogleDocs. If you can't access them and would like me to email you copies, please contact me at hadenoughindy@gmail.com

You can fool all of the people some of the time - some of the people all of the time - but, you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

[edited to add: For those of you who are interested, Stinson's base salary alone translates into $1331 per day actually worked. That is a 260 day contract minus the holidays, personal days, vacation, etc. Its far more money in pocket when you add in the rest of the perks, like $19,812 cash instead of health insurance, a $27,106 contributed to an annuity, $12,000 vehicle allowance, $6500 incentives, and $20,000 bonus. These items alone add another $85,418 a year or $412 a day.]

Decatur School Board Meets Tomorrow

The MSD Decatur School Board holds is regular meeting tomorrow evening, beginning at 7:00 pm. Prior to that will be an executive session beginning at 5:30 pm.

They will hold a public hearing on the budget at the very beginning of their regular meeting. Any member of the public may comment upon any aspect of the budget.

The outrageously inadequate agenda is posted here.

To see what a real agenda looks like, I will send you to Perry Township School Board's website posting - just click here.

The most recent meeting was a special session to ratify the teacher contract. If you click on 'Aug 16 special meeting' you will get access to a review of that contract and everything.

The last regular meeting of the Perry School Board was on August 9. To access it, click on the "2010" bar under Active Meetings. All topics will appear in the left panel. Clicking on any topic will display more information than you'll ever get from Decatur's Board.

Take, for instance, 'personnel report'. You can actually view that entire report. I requested the 'staff report' from the Decatur School Board's July 23 meeting on July 30 and still haven't received it. They don't want you to know what is going on and what is being decided at the Decatur meetings. And, even after the fact, they do their darnedest to keep the information away from the public. Meanwhile, other School Boards are operating with all due respect for their communities.

Alert Poster Notes - Decatur School Board Meets Tonight

Again, our ever alert posters caught an important event. The MSD Decatur School Board will be holding a regularly scheduled meeting at 7:00 pm tonight, in the Board Room of the Central Office. This is following an Executive Session.

The agenda, such as it is, is posted online here.

Of particular interest to me is item 6.03 "Tax Anticipation Warrant Resolutions". I was told that the transfer of $6.2 million from debt service to the rainy day fund (last month) and from the rainy day fund to operating expenses (also last month), was so that a tax anticipation warrant would not have to be issued. Hmmm....

Decatur School Board to Meet Tomorrow (Tuesday) Night

The MSD Decatur Township School Board will meet tomorrow, May 12, in Executive Session at 5:00 pm and at its Regular Meeting beginning at 7:00 pm in the Board Room of the Central Office.

The meeting page of the district website has been revamped. To get to an agenda you click on the date in the right hand panel. Or just click here for tomorrow's agenda.

Included on the agenda are:

Fiscal Restructuring/Enrollment Management – Mr. Stinson
A. Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement with Decatur Education Association
B. Recall of Teachers
C. Elementary Attendance Areas
D. Armstrong Pavilion Recommendation
E. Location of DDA and DEC
F. Reduction of Other Staff
G. Mitchell Building Update
H. Savings to Date

It is not clear how many are action items, except A. The DEA, the Teachers Union, is presenting the new contract to its members this afternoon. I'll post the changes from the old contract here as soon as I can. As for the recall of teachers, it isn't clear if this is the official notice of the previous recall of the 13 teachers, which has not yet been voted on by the Board, or word of additional recalls afforded by any agreement with the DEA and the potential savings from subletting space in the Mitchell Building to the new Charter school revolving around aviation.

Decatur Township Civic Council To Host Candidates Night

The Decatur Township Civic Council will host Candidates Night for School Board Candidates this Monday, April 26, beginning at 7:00 pm in the Large Group Instruction Room of the Decatur Middle School.

All District 2 candidates have accepted the invitation - incumbents Judy Collins and Dale Henson and challengers Natalie Coffey and Bobby Hire.

Questions are taken from the floor on 3 x 5 cards and a moderator will ask the questions of the candidates.

This is your opportunity to ask the questions you have been wanting to ask. So, take an hour of your evening and come listen to the answers.

Let's Turn the Focus on the Election

Let's begin looking forward to May 4th, Election Day throughout Marion County and the day Decaturites can send a loud message about which direction we want our school district to travel. But, while it will benefit all of us, it will take a little effort from each of us. Add to this list, please, but this is my to-do list for Decaturites over the next 15 days.

1) If you are registered to vote, but will not be in town on May 4, you can vote by mail (aka absentee voting) or in person at the City-County Building (aka early voting). To vote by mail you must fill out and send in an absentee voting application form and you will need to state a reason - like you will be out of town, you can't get off work the full 12 hours the polls are open, you are 65 or older, etc, etc, etc. The official reasons are listed on the application and you check the correct one. The application is due by April 26 - so not much more time to get that in. Voting in person at the City-County Building has been made easier - in that the entrance to the building from Pennsylvania Street is straight to Election Board office (inside the Clerks office), and you do not have to go through security screening - and there are some weekend hours available in addition to ample hours to vote during the week.
click here for the Election Board description of voting by mail and for the application and for the Election Board hours for voting in person at the City-County Building

2) If you live on a busy street or the corner lot of a busy intersection, put a sign in your yard. Call or email Natalie Coffey (455-9886 necoffey@comcast.net) and Bobby Hire (856-7015 bobbyhire@yahoo.com) for a sign.

3) Volunteer to work the polls for Natalie and Bobby. This can be as little as one hour at your own polling place. There are 10 voting locations in Decatur Township. The polls will be open from 6 am to 6 pm. Perhaps there is an hour or two before or after work where you could ask folks to vote for the challengers. Before and after work are the busiest times at the polls, as common sense would suggest. So, even if it seems like a small bit of time to help, it can be the most effective time to help. Again, call or email Natalie Coffey (455-9886 necoffey@comcast.net) and Bobby Hire (856-7015 bobbyhire@yahoo.com) to volunteer a small bit of time to push for a change.

4) Talk to your friends and family members about voting for the challengers and why it is so important. This is a powerful way to help.

5) On May 4, if you haven't already done so, VOTE. Vote only for Natalie Coffey and Bobby Hire. The ballot will allow you to also vote for Cathy Wiseman in District 1. But, unfortunately, she is unopposed and should she remember to vote for herself, she will be reelected. The larger the difference between the votes Natalie and Bobby get over the votes of the incumbents, the louder the message that we're not going to take it any more. So, don't just vote to help the challengers win, vote to help them win by the widest margin possible.

In all of this, you must be registered to vote, in order to vote. The polling place locator is now up and working, and it checks your registration if you want to enter your birth date along with your address. You can also view sample ballots, check who your elected officials are, get directions and a map to the polling location, and much more. It's pretty neat, really. click here for Voter Information Portal Please note that you must click the button that says 'verify address' before the 'search' button becomes available.

When you vote, if you ask for a Democrat or Republican ballot - you will have to turn the ballot over to vote on the School Board race. So, silly as it sounds, remember to turn the ballot over. If you ask for the School Board ballot only, which you can do if you don't want to declare a party affiliation, it has only one printed side, so you're all set.

Two years ago, the Election Board website had a real time vote tabulation page. After the polls close, the election workers will do all their closing paperwork, count the paper ballots, and pull the smart cards from the voting machines. Then two of the workers bring the smart cards and all the other materials to the County Election officials. The smart cards are used to quickly transmit the info to the Election computers. It is really this data dump that is being shown on the tabulation page. I'll inquire if this feature will be available again this year, as it was kind of fun to use.

So, please add your suggestions now, as I know you'll come up with some great ones.

What Would You Do Differently?

Communication is not only the exchange of information, but also connotes a respect for the other person and a value placed on the information they can convey.

Until major personnel changes are made, we will not be able to change the attitude that 'outside' input has little to no value. But, we can make suggestions to at least open the communications so that SOMETHING can flow both ways. We can also make suggestions to modernize District communications to best fit today's family and community lives.

To that end, I propose we jot down ways to improve communication in local school districts - including, of course, MSD Decatur Township - but also input from anyone around here for their district.

I'll start off. On school board meetings alone, I can think of a number of improvements.

Allow citizens to sign up to receive email, tweets, facebook posts, whatever - to get notice of upcoming school board meetings, including special sessions.

Post on line a detailed agenda with items that will come up for a vote clearly noted and described.

Allow public comments after board/administration discussion of the issues involved and before the vote - not at the beginning of the meeting.

The board members should respond to the public input, unless to do so would take an enormous amount of time (highly unlikely) or would involve private matters of employees (somewhat likely).

The minutes of the meetings should be more detailed so that when somebody reads them, they actually know what was being voted on, how much it cost, or who was newly hired or fired.

That's my quick list. What would you change or add that would improve communications? Don't limit it to school board, but also parent-teacher, school-community communications are fair game here.

Recommending - "Welcome to My Tea Party"

Dana Vice has been chronicling the escapades of the Washington Township School District on her blog - Welcome to My Tea Party. I suggest that weary Decaturites take a look-see, if only to feel that we are not alone. I have added this blog to my blog list in the left side panel for your future quick-link.

Decatur School Board Meeting Tomorrow - February 24

The Decatur Township School Board is meeting in Special Session tomorrow night, Wednesday, February 24, 2010, beginning at 6:00 pm in the Board Room. The agenda is posted on the District website.

It appears that the closing of Lynwood as an elementary school is on the agenda. This should be of concern to all parents and teachers as this will directly cause class size to rise for all grades 1 through 6, and will generate about two dozen teachers who cannot be accomodated with a classroom elsewhere in the district - which will necessitate layoffs.

It is simple to redistrict and to sell of the Southwest Pavilion Office Building (former Concentra Building) to buy a couple more years to keep Lynwood open.

I discussed this very issue in more depth in "Lynwood State Takeover Fable", "Will Teachers Union Try to Save Lynwood Elementary?" and especially "What's Behind Closing Lynwood Elementary".

Meet Natalie Coffey

I have asked the two Decatur School Board challengers to introduce themselves. Here is what Natalie Coffey provided to me:

The voters have asked who I am and quite simply put, I am one of the many voices of our community. I am no different from the majority of you reading this. A wife, mother of three, Girl Scout leader, Graphic Designer, first time stay-at-home mother and most recently a candidate for the Decatur School Board. How did I get here? Honestly, I was told by one of the mother's in my troop, "You should run!" Here I am. It was a whirlwind of a week getting the nomination form completed but in those few short days I spoke to many neighbors and parents who conveyed their frustration regarding our situation that we have been placed in by the current board.

"If there's something wrong, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action." This is one of my favorite movie quotes from National Treasure and it seems very appropriate at this moment. This is me taking on the responsibility to take action in order to make a difference for all of us in Decatur Township. I will listen, I will respond, I will fight for change and most importantly follow the law. I don't know about you but in our household not following the rules constitutes a reason for grounding. Not following the law while doing your job means you should no longer hold that position. It is time for change.

Frustrated by excessive spending, bad budgeting and a board that refuses to listen to the very people that elected them to their positions has everyone in an uproar. The parents I speak with at functions, in the neighborhood, that I run into while shopping or eating out are outraged by the deep hole that our school district has been placed in and how our children are paying the the ultimate price. We entrusted this board and administration with structuring our school system properly and the results speak for themselves. Things can be turned around but it has become apparent that the current board is unable to do so. Our board and administration has become notorious for improper planning and not following the laws placed before them. I have no personal agenda for being a board member. My goal is simply to make sure that my children - that all children of Decatur Township - are given the best education and opportunity for success that is available. They are, after all, our future and future board members themselves. What example do we set if we allow the current board and administration to continue on this downward spiral?

Natalie Coffey

Many School Board Offices Still Await Candidates

I know that there have been comments about folks not running, as of yet, for Decatur's School Board. Well, for good or evil, that is not unusual in Marion County. According to information on the County Clerk's Election Board web pages regarding offices on the ballot and who had filed to be a candidate as of yesterday, Thursday, February 11, 2010, I report the following races:

Beech Grove City Schools -- 3 At-Large positions open -- no candidates
Decatur Township School Board -- 3 district positions open -- no candidates
Franklin Township School Board -- 2 district, 1 at-large positions open -- no candidates
IPS -- 1 district 1 position open -- no candidates
/// 1 district 5 position open -- 1 candidate
/// 1 at-large position open -- 1 candidate
/// 0 district 3 position open -- 1 candidate (? oops)
Lawrence Township School Board -- 1 district 2 position open -- 1 candidate
/// 1 at-large position open -- 4 candidates
Perry Township School Board -- 3 district 1 positions open -- 2 candidates
Pike Township School Board -- 3 at-large positions open -- 4 candidates
Warren Township School Board -- 3 district 1 positions open -- 3 candidates
Washington Township School Board -- 2 district seats open -- 2 candidates
Wayne Township School Board -- 4 at-large positions open -- 1 candidate

I refer you back to my blog entry "How to Run for School Board" for a map of Decatur's School Board Districts, a link to the other school districts in Marion County, and where to get forms. The forms must be in by noon Friday, February 19 - one week from today. If you get them in before that time, they will call you should you end up without 10 qualifying signatures. That way you still have a chance to get the last signatures needed. The closer you press the deadline, the more you need to have a full set of qualifying signatures -- so get 20 just in case.

Nepotism Should Be Banned

The next School Board to be seated in MSD Decatur Township should immediately establish a policy that bans nepotism. Hiring relatives gives the appearance of favoritism, cronyism, and outright payback, to the community and to the employees of the school district. Banning nepotism is a small price to pay for a demonstration to the overall community that all employment decisions in the district will be above reproach - only the best qualified will be hired.

We all know about the current state of affairs in the Decatur School District. Lets start with the School Board. Dale Henson, to my knowledge, has never had a relative who was hired while Henson has been on the Board. That is good. Doug Greenwald, to my knowledge, has never had a relative who was hired while he has been a Member of the Board. That also is good. Cathy Wiseman has had at least one son on the payroll since being elected. Judy Collins has a daughter on the payroll. And, most famous of all, Don Huffman has a grandson on the payroll - which actually necessitated the ouster of an employee from his position to accomplish. Hiring relatives gives the appearance of favoritism, cronyism, and outright payback.

Now lets turn our attention to the Administration. Candice Baer was hired into a position created just after she lost her job as Superintendent of Center Grove Schools. Candice is married to Assistant Superintendent for Business, Jeff Baer. Hiring relatives gives the appearance of favoritism, cronyism, and outright payback.

Now, I will presume that all of these folks are highly qualified individuals who could have gotten a job in any School District in the land. Well, then let them. Employing relatives of highly placed individuals brings baggage with it. Unnecessary baggage. Nepotism is banned by law in other units of Government and should be banned in School Districts as well. Until State law bans nepotism in School Districts, the School Board should create a policy banning it in our District.

Here is what I would propose for a policy.

Any individual may run for and be seated on the School Board if their relative was already an employee of the District at the time of that person filing to be on the ballot.

After filing to be on the ballot or after being seated on the Board, no relative of a School Board member may be hired by the District until one year after that Member leaves the Board.

No relative of any Administrator (central office or building level) may be hired by the District while that Administrator is employed by the District and for one year after that Administrator leaves the employ of the District.

No relative of the leadership of the Teachers Union may be hired by the District while they are in positions of leadership and for one year after they leave those positions. Nobody in a leadership position of the Teachers Union may be hired into an Administrator position within the District for two years after they leave that leadership position.

No relative of a head of Security, Transportation, or any other department headed by a non-administrator, may be hired by the District while that department head is employed by the District and for one year after they leave that position.

Qualified people can find a job in a nearby District. Public trust in the system is eroded when nepotism is allowed to flourish as it has in the Decatur School District. A 'no nepotism' policy created by the new School Board would improve this District and its reputation.

How to File to Run for School Board

Getting your name on the ballot to run for School Board seems like a daunting task at first. But, if you go step by step, you will find it is rather easy. In short -- you download the form, fill out your part of it, collect at least 10 signatures of support, get the form notarized and file it with the Election Board before the filing deadline - which in Marion County is noon, Friday, February 19, 2010.

In Marion County, the election for School Board will be held May 4, 2010. Each School District has is own School Board districts. Click here to view a map of all School Board districts in the County. I have posted a cut-out of the MSD Decatur Township School Board districts below.


Which District has open seats?

Decatur Township has three School Board districts; simply called district 1, district 2, district 3. Candidates can only run for an open Board seat in the district in which they live. And, they must have lived in the district for at least one year before Election Day. There can be no more than two Board members from any one district serving at the same time. Currently 3 seats are up for election on May 4; Cathy Wiseman's seat in district 1, Dale Henson's seat in district 3, and Judy Collins' seat in district 3. There are NO seats open in district 2 at this time. At the May 4th election, Decatur can vote for two candidates from district 1 and one from district two - or visa versa.



District 1 is the smaller area district in the northeast corner of the Township. District 2 is the one that runs south of I-456 and along the White River. District 3 is the one that takes in Troy Avenue to the north and the Hendricks County line to the west.


Who is qualified to run for School Board?

The following information is taken from the Candidates Guide posted on the Secretary of State's website. Go to page 73 for information on School Board races. You must be 21 years of age or older. You must reside in the School Board district in which you are running and must have lived there since at least May 4, 2009. You must be a registered voter in the district you wish to represent by noon, February 19, 2010; that means there is still time to register to vote so you can run for School Board. You must not have been previously convicted of a felony. You CANNOT run for a seat on the same School Board that governs the School District for which you work (you can be a teacher or custodian in Perry Township Schools and run for the Decatur Board, for example; but you cannot work for the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township and run for the Decatur School Board).

Form to file to run for School Board

The Nomination and Consent for School Board Office form is available online on the Marion County Clerk's website under the Election Board pages. Read the instructions on the form carefully. If you have any questions at all, the folks who work in the Election Board office are extremely helpful. 327-5100

Basically, you fill out your name and address type of information and you get the signatures of ten people who live in the same School Board district as you AND who are registered to vote in that district. So, someone who just moved into the district, but who has not yet switched their voter registration to their new address, would not be qualified to sign your petition. You can collect more than ten signatures (use two copies of page 1 of the form and staple those to one copy of page 2) just to be sure you get the required number of qualified signatures. Each signer must provide their name, address, and date of birth so that the Election Board can verify that they meet the requirements to sign for your candidacy.

The form must be notarized after you have all of your signatures.

The completed forms must be turned in to the Election Board no later than noon, Friday, February 19, 2010. The office is located in the City-County Building on the first floor. If you come in the Market street entrance, walk down the hallway on your right after going through security. The Clerk's Office will be on your right about half way down the hall. The Election Board office is in the far right hand corner of the Clerk's Office. Remember to leave time to get through security - noon is the absolute deadline and NO candidate can file after that time.

Campaign Finance Reporting

If you do NOT receive more than $500 in campaign contributions OR do NOT spent more than $500 for your campaign, then you do NOT have to file a Campaign Finance Report. So, keep track of all contributions and all spending so that you know if and when you cross over that $500 limit. If you do cross over the limit, you can obtain the required forms and deadlines on the Election Board web pages - click here. It is rare that a School Board candidate hits that $500 limit.

So that's it. We have three open seats up for election. The filing deadline is noon, February 19, 2010. Think about running.

Okay Folks -- Your Turn

Those of you who attended one of the MSD Decatur Township School Board public hearings -- staff or community -- what was your take on what happened?

Did you testify? If so, what points did you try to make? What points did other speakers make that resonated with you? What do you wish you, or somebody else, had said? How did the School Board and Adminstration react to the comments?

Your turn.

Are You Kidding Me ?

The front page of the Metro section of this morning's Indianapolis Star has an article by Andy Gammill "Board OKs 3% raise for IPS Chief" :

The Indianapolis Public School Board on Tuesday unanimously approved what amounts to a roughly 3 percent raise for Superintendent Eugene White.

Are you kidding me? Have they not heard about the recession? Or the 3.5% budget cutbacks for all K-12 education?

If we truly want to improve education in this state, we MUST look at the outrageous salaries of Administrators, class size, and rubber stamping school boards.