Nine of the ten individuals running for the Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners and four of the five running for the Wayne Township School Board appeared live on Afternoons with Amos to discuss the issues in their respective school districts. This month, WTLC-AM and Afternoons with Amos have been interviewing live candidates in six of the largest school districts in Indianapolis/Marion County. Previously candidates from Lawrence, Washington and Warren Townships were interviewed.
IPS SCHOOL BOARD – Nine of the ten candidates running for the IPS School Board appeared live to discuss the problems facing what was once the largest school district in the state.
In District 1, which comprises the east and southeast sides of IPS, all three candidates are newcomers as incumbent IPS Board member Marianna Zaphirou isn’t seeking re-election. Caitlin Hannon, Larry Whiteman and James (Jim) Nixon gave their views on improving IPS, dealing with funding, improving students achievement and whether they’d support current IPS Supt. Dr. Eugene White. IPS
District 2 stretches across the eastside of Indianapolis from near downtown to the far eastside. The district was represented on the IPS Board for 36 years by Dr. Mary Busch who is retiring from the Board. Incumbent Board Member Eliabeth Gore, who ran At Large four years ago is running in District 2. Gore and newcomers Gayle Cosby and Alvin Esper talked about special education, charter schools, preventing bullying, and whether Dr. White should be replaced. Sharon Dunston is also running in District 2, but couldn’t get off work to appear. In District 4 on the south and southwest sides of the IPS District, incumbent Diane Arnold is unopposed. She joined at large candidates Larry Vaughn and Sam Odle in a wide ranging discussion about IPS. The three discussed putting IPS on a firm financial footing, the role of vocational education, the role of the Board vs the Superintendent and the importance of the IPS Board creating a vision and plan for the system and its Superintendent to follow.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP – Incumbent Board members Shirley Deckard, Phyllis Lewis and Patricia (Trish) Logan were joined by newcomer William (Bill) Miller is a wide ranging discussion about Wayne Township Schools. The candidates discussed funding, the districts efforts at diversity, including racial diversity on the school board, vocational education. They also talked about a potential crisis in reduced home values in Wayne which could negatively impact school funding in the next few years.
Click the Arrow to Hear the IPS Dist 1 candidates. Runs 48 Minutes. Click the Arrow to Hear the IPS Dist 2 Candidates. Runs 56 Minutes. Click the Arrow to Hear the IPS At Large & Dist 4 Candidates. Runs 44 Minutes. Click the Arrow to Hear the Wayne Twn Board Candidates. Runs 49 Minutes. ©2012 WTLC/Radio One.
