The Independent-News, Volume 117, Number 40, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 27 February 1992 — Page 4

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_ THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - FEBRUARY 27. 1992

I EDITORIALS

THE FIELD IS SET The field is set for the upcoming John Glenn School Board election for four trustee posts, one in each of the four townships. Unofficially, we have a list of 12 candidates to fill the four positions with a contest guaranteed in each of the four races. The election will be held at the May Primary Election on Tuesday, May 5 when voters will have the opportunity to select representatives to serve for the next four years on the John Glenn School Corporation Board of Trustees, in addition to the normal primary listings. However, a person can vote for in the school board election alone if they so desire. The names we have received, not officially from the three townships, but almost assuredly accurate, is: From Lincoln Township, St. Joseph County. Donald Ludwig is the incumbent and is not seeking re-election. Filing for this seat are John McGee, Lori Jacob and William Millar. Mr. Millar has served on the board in the past, being defeated two years ago by Gene Knowlton. In Polk Township, David Hostetler is the incumbent, Hostetler is running for re-election, along with Robby Keck, Kurt Pletcher and Annette Heffelfinger. In Johnson Township, Jean Ann Beem is the incumbent and she also is running for re-election. Also on the ballot will be Shirley Anderson and Michael Daube. Liberty Township, Mary Kay (Stedman) Millar is the incumbent but is not in the 1992 race. Running are Tom Bradford and Tom McCormick. The way the school board election is held, all four townships vote for all four seats, not just the township in which you reside. For this reason it makes it very important for everyone to know what they can know about the candidates. These people have all been associated with or in this school district for quite some time. Their idenities are basically known in their own areas, but they will be on the ballots for all of the school corporation area. The Independent-News will be offering each candidate space to give a little of their background and their views on the school corporation and the upcoming election. This will be offered for later in April, giving time for all to read and digest the information and we urge the public to try and find out as much as they can on their own. The John Glenn School Corporation is a very good school district for smaller communities. They, as do most school corporations, have controversaries and problems from time to time and the running of such an operation of multi-mi Dion dollar proportions and the important issue of the type of education that can be offered, is a big and important job. It is a sign of interest among the people that so many are interested in accepting this challenge. Now the voters can do their part, express their opinions as to who they would like to represent them for four years beginning in July of this year. You must be registered to vote so first of all, to fulfill your obligation, you should be assured you are a registered voter and then take it from there. It promises to be a very interesting and important election.

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“Observe And Record" This editorial titled “Patrons should remain silent during school board meeting” was in the Plymouth Pilot-News Saturday, February 15,1992, four days after a John Glenn School Board meeting. It is being reprinted with the permission of that newspaper. “Most citizens never attend a school board meeting. But when controversial decisions are pending, patron seats fill up like church pews at Christmas and Easter. Some well-intended newcomers are unfamiliar with laws governing school board meetings, and think it’s like an old-fashioned town meeting where the chairman recognizes anybody anytime. When Board decisions threaten our wallets, we become indignant and demand to be heard now. Isn’t that the American way? Not in Indiana. “What’s the point of going to school board meetings if 1 can’t give them a piece of my mind?” we ask. “Somebody has to set those idiots straight”. That may be true, but we have no legal right to stand up and vent our anger at will. We have no right to interrupt legal proceeddings with our questions, however pertinent these questions may be. We don’t even have a legal right to moan in horror or his displeasure when the

Board votes against our wishes. But we do have some rights. Our legal rights at school board meetings are defined in Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-3, under the heading “open meetings”. “All meetings of governing bodies of public agencies must be open at all times for the purpose of permitting members of the public to observe and record them." Isn’t there any way we can say what we think at school board meetings? Attorneys at the Indiana School Board Association say “yes”. We might contact the superintendent before a meeting and have our name placed on the agenda. And that’s not all. As a courtesy to the public, many school boards routinely include an agenda item called “auddience response” or "patron concerns”. At this time, anyone in the audience is welcome to stand and speak his or her mind. Boards which extend this courtesy to patrons expect that, during the rest of the meeting, patrons will exercise their legal right to "observe and record” and not interrupt the proceedings with legal-sounding demands to speak now or interrogate consultants immediately. Irate patrons may sometimes find it nearly impossible to remain silent, merely observing and recording as the law requires. But when tempers flare, insults fly, sometimes both ways, and time is worse than wasted. Now more than ever, let’s all remember. school board meetings

are open to the public, but they are not “public meetings". 1 strongly suspect this editorial was directed towards the John Glenn School Corp. The poor behavior exhibited at their meetings has apparently gained the attention of the Pilot reporter. It is regrettable that lack of self-control and just plain rudeness on the part of many has projected such an unfavorable image of the patrons of this corporation. In addition, the hostile environment created at these meetings is unproductive. I hope those involved will use better judgement at future meetings, and redirect their energies towards more consctuctive contributions. JGSC Patron “Response To Letter" After reading last week’s Voice of the People, I wanted to first thank Lynn Schmidt for her comments. Having served as a board member for almost eight years, I have been part of a movement that has made the John Glenn School Corporation the envy of the area school systems. This could not have been done without the support and efforts of the best teaching, administrative, and support staffs. I caution all those who are running for a seat on this board to investigate their reasons for seeking the position. If it is because you really care about children and are able to keep that in perspective when asked to make decisions, then 1 commend you for your desire to be a board member. If you enjoy controversary, frustration, the lack of recognition, and attending many meetings until late at night, you may be qualified. If you like to raise hell about single issues when you already know the reasons why and can only offer vague solutions in return or you think the position will give you the power to change the system overnight, I recommend you do us all a favor and stay at home. The community, this state, this nation already has enough of your kind in office or seeking a position. Now let’s talk to the "Taxpayers For Education". Since 1 know who wrote that letter, I hope you take my comments seriously and did think about them before you decided to run for the school board. As to answering your questions you listed in that letter, you know as well as I do that we have answered your concerns on numerous occasions. If you are looking for something in writing, you need to check the board minutes which The In-dependent-News prints in their paper. We held a meeting recently in which a part of the agenda was to address those questions. As to your comments about meeting with you separately, you know that it is against the law for us to meet as a group to discuss school issues without advertising and inviting all the public. For us to meet with you in small groups would be just circumventing the law and not abiding by the laws intent. I repeat my concern from last week. I am willing to hear your ideas but in turn you need to be willing to listen to my reasons and don’t ask me to break the law. Is it possible you don't want to go public with your ideas because your suggestions include using North Liberty as the site for a middle school? May be you think we should do some remodeling to the existing L’rey building with a new addtion without bringing the entire building up to the current code requirements. We have to make the building handicap accessible. Those opposing this project need to look at our current elementary enrollment before thinking nothing needs to be done. David W. Hostetler (Editor’s note: The person submitting the letter referred to last week was a member of the Taxpayers For Education group but not a

candidate in the school board election.) “It’s Getting Closer" Election time is getting closer and with the school board members elected, I’m sure that all of you will be voting. To vote you must first be registered. Irma Daube, 586-2063, and Nedra Williams, phone 586-3627 can register people in Johnson Township, which is a very important part of your school corporation. Few students, large assessed valuation. Elsie Heimer can register voters in Lincoln Township. Contact your precinct people in your voting areas. If you people want your names and numbers printed, call me. It is very important that you are registered and that you vote this spring election. On Saturday, February 29th, the Grovertown Conservation Club is having a Fish Fry. This would be a great way to observe the last day of February. They will be serving from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Remember that Starke County is on Eastern Standard Time. These people serve some of the best fish around. -wround. Walkerton keeps on changing. First we had Wilcox, then Five Star and now First Choice. Hopefully the people who own and manage this business are or will become residents of the local area. It makes for a closer community when both the business and managers are in the area. We and they can learn from each other. Loyalty is a very important item in these rough and tumble times. Shucks, everyone might as well get in on the “to build or not to build a new school" battle that is in full steam. The Blue Lagoon is the name that Mary and Fred Newland have chosen for their tropical fish business. If you have a chance, check them out. Well, I’ve tried to stir up enough trouble to get me run out of town. Sincerely, Nedra Williams FIREFLY FESTIVAL WELCOMES BACK NEWTON WAYLAND The Firefly Festival for the Performing Arts and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra Association are pleased to announce that Newton Wayland and the South Bend Symphony Pops Orchestra will be opening Firefly’s summer season on Saturday, June 20, 1992. The opening concert will celebrate the Quincentenary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Wayland’s program will celebrate the ethnic diversity of our community and the music that has resulted from the blend of many cultures. Wayland has expressed his pleasure in returning to a community with which he has had such a long-standing, fruitful relationship, and told Festival planners that he is always proud to work with musicians of the South Bend Symphony Pops. The program he is developing will reflect the “discovery" theme; he is considering Italian, Spanish, Cuban and Mexican selections, and some big band numbers which exhibit the Latin American influence.

LIBERTY LANES North Liberty 656-3200 FRIDAY & SATURDAY SPECIALS Prime Rib .. $ 9 95 - S IO BS Walleye Basket 5 4 95 FRIDAY NIGHT . Fish All You Can Eat .... SSOO

“After all," says Maestro Wayland, “big band music is what the local arrangers, composers, and musicians and I are famous for." The 8:00 p.m. concert will follow the annual Firefly Festival patron party, which will take its theme from the occasion: “Discover a New World at Firefly." AUTHORITY ON GIFTED CHILDREN WILL SPEAK Internationally recognized education expert Dr. Linda Kreger Silverman will be in Plymouth to discuss "Understand Our Gifted" Monday, March 2. Silverman will present a program to teachers before sharing her expertise with parents at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will be at the Jefferson Elementary School, 401 E. Klinger Avenue, Plymouth. Eight area school corporations, including John Glenn School Corporation, are sharing expenses to bring Silverman to this area. All parents are welcome to attend. There is no admission fee. Silverman is director of the Gifted Child Development Center in Denver. Colorado. Her vast experience includes stints as an elementary school teacher, assistant professor of Gifted Education andd Counselling Psychology at the University of Denver, co-director of the University of Colorado’s Special Education Program, and a psychologist in private practice. Silverman has been serving and studying children in various capacities for 30 years. She has authored or co-authored 17 books, written dozens of magazine articles, journals and newsletters, anddd delivered more than 50 dresses at meetings, conventions and conferences. Her program in Plymouth will and delivered more than 50 adunderachievers, motivating gifted students, how a parent can challenge the gifted child, birth order effects on giftedness, and more. SERVICE NOTES Fleet Home Town News Center —Marine Staff Sgt. Timothy M. Ross, son of Mary R. Bunch of 17805 Osborne Road. North Liberty, was recently promoted to his present rank while serving with 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, Gary. Ross joined the Marine Corps Reserves in September 1983. The Mason-Dixon line is the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland. DUANE DRAKE’S TREE SERVICE FREE ESTIMATES FULLY INSURED Tree Removal Tree Trimming Stump Removal Wood For Sale Phone 936-6546 Plymouth m 2 92