It has been in the news recently that Detroit Public Schools Community District is launching for the second year their "Perfect Attendance Pays" initiative for students in their middle and high schools. They have noticed that attendance in the winter months falls off dramatically compared to first semester and the spring months. For every week...
Category: QUESTION ANSWERS
Who Is Endorsing You?
That is a great question, which leads me to my philosophy on school boards being partisan. I don't want, and will not accept endorsements from organizations. I will not actively ask people to endorse me. I have been asked to endorse candidates in previous elections. I have always been uncomfortable when asked to endorse...
Should Students Be Denied A Meal Try For Not Having Lunch Money?
Punishing children because they have unpaid school balances has always been a burning issue for me. If you remember back to 2020 and before, it was the policy of TCSC to not allow students to walk during graduation if they had unpaid balances. That made my blood boil. There was a treasured community member who...
As A Candidate, What Are Your Thoughts Regarding The TCSC Referendum Proposal? (lengthy response)
NOTE: This is my answer as of 8/8/2026. I likely will have additional thoughts and my opinion will evolve. My first thought: HOW DARE the Indiana State Legislature put the burden of having local school corporations be the "bad guys", having to ask their community or communities for additional revenue through an operating referendum...
What Are Your Thoughts As A Candidate About School Choice?
Most people think that "school choice" means that you as a parent can pick from whatever school you would like your child to attend, and that's "it". That's not "it", not at all. If you want to send your child to another PUBLIC SCHOOL besides the one in your home district, you have to...
What Do You View As The Role Of The School Board?
The Board has two primary purposes. One, to hire, evaluate, fire and replace a superintendent. Two, to ask questions and approve the budget. However, in general terms, the Board is the chief governing body within the school corporation. The Board represents the citizens, which includes parents, grandparents, staff, students and those citizens who don't have...
Understanding School Funds
This can be complicated, but I will try to break down the different funds schools have and what they are used for. EDUCATION FUND: This is the fund that is covers anything considered student instruction. Teachers, counselors, coaches/AD and principals salaries, the school covered portion of health insurance for any staff, teaching assistants, principal's...
4 Day School Week
There have been articles and news stories about an elementary school in Lafayette (Vinton Elementary) that has been operating on a 4 day school week for two academic years. 2026-27 will be the third year. A couple of people have asked me my thoughts about this kind of schedule. First, this is a pilot...
If The Referendum Doesn’t Pass, What Programs Would You Want To Cut?
What programs do I want to cut? I don't want to cut ANY programs at all, including athletic and co-curricular/extra-curricular activities. Our school system offers core courses as well as meaningful electives. (and offer them WELL!) The arts are CRITICALLY important to me. My children participated in music, band and art at the high school...
Why Can’t We Have a Labor Day until Memorial Day Student Calendar?
First off, if we didn't have to consider ANYTHING else, in theory we could. However, let me tell you what that would look like... and why we can't. Indiana requires 180 student days of attendance in a calendar year. The state will grant a waiver for a few days to be used at the discretion...