My Thoughts
2020 BCSC Referendum and Envision 2030 Support
BCSC was supported by over 60% of the 2020 voting public to increase the compensation of teachers and staff and to maintain student safety. Envision 2030 allows for continued renovation of our facilities while keeping the tax rate flat.
As a school board member, a vote to support a continuation of the referendum allows voters the ability to choose and decide at the polls as they did in 2020. A vote to omit the referendum from the ballot prevents voters from making the decision. I trust voters!
To attract the best teaching candidates and to keep our quality teachers, BCSC must be competitive. The referendum has resulted in an increase in pay for teachers by 9% (on average), moving BCSC from below the state average to thousands above the state average. The referendum supports an additional school resource officer providing for our students' safety. In addition, the BCSC bus fleet is now less than 12 years old. Our teachers deserve our continued support and our children deserve the best! Continuing the support of this referendum will be a matter for vote on the 2028 ballot.
Teacher retention items are listed in the 2020 BCSC referendum budget in the form of teacher salaries and teacher benefits. See below*. According to the National Education Association (NEA) website, the average Indiana teacher pay is $57,015 (36th in the nation) while the national average teacher pay is $69,544. See below**.
I will support the continuation of the BCSC referendum in 2028 for teacher pay and school safety because I trust voters to decide!
The current school board voted in favor (5 - 2) to support Envision 2030 Facility Improvements. See Below***. BCSC will be addressing the following building projects:
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Full renovations of Schmitt Elementary, Northside Middle, and Smith Elementary Schools
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Partial renovation to the Richard L. Johnson Early Learning Center
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Final completion of the Parkside Elementary renovation
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Design for the NEW elementary school
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Improvements to McDowell and Central Middle School
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Design improvements to Mt. Healthy Elementary
ALL PROJECTS ARE ABLE TO BE COMPLETED TAX-RATE NEUTRAL!
YES! I will support Envision 2030 Facility Improvements. Our teachers and students deserve state of the art facilities to prepare for their futures!
*https://www.bcscschools.org/referendum
**https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank
***https://sites.google.com/view/operatingreferendum2024/home
Multiple Pathways to Success
BCSC excels in opportunities in the form of pathways offered to students!
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
In early June I had the opportunity to tour the C4 wings at Columbus North High School, Columbus East High School and the McDowell Education Center that houses the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Jennings and Johnson counties. Director Gene Hack highlighted potential pathways and opportunities for BCSC students following graduation. Offering insight to potential offerings to emerging young adults allows them to explore their technology related interests with hands-on learning opportunities. Discovering pathways that are of interest at a young age may ignite a spark for students that otherwise they would not have explored. The C-4 offerings support their mission statement ‘…to prepare socially engaged citizens who excel in an information and technology rich society.’
College Preparedness
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education tracks data of high school graduates by County/Corporation related to college readiness. Students requiring remediation in math, English/Language Arts, or both is reported by graduating cohort. The 2015 College-Going Scorecard* indicates that 73% of BCSC 2012 graduates were college ready. The 2024 College-Going Scorecard* indicates that 94% of BCSC 2021 graduates were college ready. This steady progression of improvement in college preparedness speaks to the diligence and response of BCSC to improve academic preparation of those students who are college bound.
Dual-Credit course offerings through Ivy Tech allow students to earn affordable college credits before entering college. In addition to dual credit course offerings, Academic College Placement (ACP) for Indiana University credit, Academic Placement (AP) course offerings, and Honors classes for students seeking a challenge before AP, ACP or Dual Credit are offered to our secondary students.
As a member of the BCSC school board I will use data in decision making to support all students in their pathway of choice.
*https://www.in.gov/che/college-readiness-reports/college-readiness-dashboard/
New Indiana High School Diploma
The 2029 graduating class (current 8th graders) will be the first to earn the currently unnamed new diploma (previous Core 40/Technical Honors/Academic Honors diplomas and formerly proposed GPS/GPS+ diploma).
As a result of participating in the Southeast Indiana Postsecondary Regional Partnership (SEIPRP) (College Readiness), I have a keen understanding of the academic expectations and preparation required of students pursuing their next academic steps. Previously, the Indiana Department of Education proposed a two-diploma system, Graduates Prepared to Succeed (GPS and GPS+). After consulting with Purdue University, Indiana University, Ball State University and others, the state is now proposing a new and unnamed diploma** with six potential seal options. The seals are categorized in three columns: Enrollment (aligned to the Academic Honors diploma), Employment (aligned to the Technical honors diploma and C-4 offerings), Enlistment (preparing graduates for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) standardized test).
**Link to: Core 40/New Diploma Comparison
My educational and professional backgrounds will be an asset in guiding BCSC through the transition of diploma requirement changes as the proposed changes come to fruition.
I was the lead author of SEIPRP mathematics rubrics identifying college preparedness by math topic using input from grant partners:
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Finite rubric - Is your student college ready for mathematics?
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College Algebra rubric - Is your student college ready for mathematics?
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Calculus rubric - Is your student college ready for mathematics?
I am excited to share my knowledge as a board member in guiding BCSC through the transition to the new diploma system.
Trusting the Professionals
Principals and teachers need to be empowered to care for students when care is needed and to discipline students when discipline is needed.
As a school board member my goal will be to empower and support teachers and administrators to do both. I trust the professionals!
The key to successful management is trust in the individuals who are hired for a job. Librarians are trained with a master’s degree in library science where they are trained to identify appropriate reading materials. Librarians have access to multiple professional, literary-trained rating systems to aid them in choosing age-appropriate materials in compliance with BCSC Policy 9130.
BCSC policies are in place for parents who feel certain aspects of the curriculum do not suit the needs of their children where alternative assignments are determined between the parents and teachers. Parents who have concerns have the option for literary materials to be reviewed for age-appropriateness. Due to the proactive BCSC policy in compliance with the state of Indiana, BCSC students are afforded alternative assignments at the request of parents.
Respecting the wishes of those with concerns while not impeding access of another individual is critical to finding common ground. Communication is critical to the success of finding common ground and finding common ground is critical to civility. I will support policy that respects common ground.