Why are you running for the school board?
Education is very important to me. I see education as a way to help society and make individuals more productive and have better lives.
What is your vision for the future of our school district?
Hamilton Heights School District is very vibrant. Between the rich agricultural heritage of the area, Morse Reservoir for recreational activities and the inviting small communities, Hamilton Heights is poised for growth and success. As the District grows, offering additional educational opportunities for students is my number one priority.
What do you believe are the most critical issues facing our schools today?
Attracting and retaining high performing teachers. Hamilton Heights is a great school to have a teaching career but Heights needs to remain competitive with salaries and benefits to ensure high levels of talent in the classroom. Afterall, the most important asset we can provide to our students are the teachers to inspire and teach them.
What experience do you have that prepares you for this role?
I have a M.S. and Ph.D. from Purdue University. I have served in leadership roles in very large organizations and currently am President at a smaller company. I have held leadership roles in many business organizations in my career field. I have also served two terms on the School Board at Hamilton Heights and have been President of the Board and held several other offices during my tenure.
How will you ensure that the voices of parents, teachers, and students are heard in board decisions?
One of the biggest functions of a School Board member is listening. You must constantly be engaged with administration, teachers, parents, and students. You must also have a balance to critically understand the issues and then do what is best for the students. That doesn’t mean you will please everyone, but if you keep the best interests of the students in mind, it is a very defensible position.
What are your priorities for the school district’s budget?
There are several funds that are available that have very specific purposes. Certainly having competitive teacher compensation is one of the main functions of the Education Fund. That is the area of high interest during this upcoming term because as I stated earlier, having highly talented teachers in front of our students is the best way to inspire and teach our students to become productive citizens long term. The Operation Fund is used for buildings and non-teaching facets of the district. We have installed soar fields and highly efficient systems into our schools to stretch the Operation Fund as far as possible.
How would you ensure that the district is prepared for future challenges, such as growth or changes in educational standards?
The current School Board which I am a member thinks about this all the time. We hire professionals to predict future growth so that we can be prepared for growth. We have expansion capability currently and have land available if we would experience incredible growth where an additional building may be needed in the future. Educational standards seemed to be tweaked annually and our team of teachers and administrators are poised for change in this area to make sure that as standards change, we can equip our students with the latest tools to make them successful.
What else would you like voters to know about your candidacy?
The function of the School Board is to provide guidance and set policy. Running for a third term election, I feel I have a deep understanding of the interworkings of the school budget, ways to maximize funds to provide the students with the most tools for success, and yet have a very balanced understanding of helping the teachers, community and students thrive.
How can voters contact you or learn more about your campaign?
I am always happy to hear from constituents. They can contact me at my cell number 317.727.5599 or email me at KevinC@PCGcorn.com.