In the Vigo County School Board District 1 race, incumbents Mel Burks and Jackie Lower face one challenger, Larry Faulkner.
Two seats are up for election in District 1 (Harrison Township). School Board members are elected at-large by voters throughout the county.
Burks, 56, who is seeking his fourth term, said he has long had a strong interest in young people. “Youth in this community are my passion,” he said, and he wants to be an effective advocate for them.
He believes he is a voice for students who are less fortunate and may come from difficult or needy backgrounds.
In seeking his fourth term, he wants to build on the school district’s many accomplishments in recent years, he said.
Burks is executive director of administrative services at Hamilton Center, where he has worked since 1979.
His priorities would include working to eliminate the ISTEP-Plus test.
He believes it’s “bad business,” particularly for special education students, who have special needs “but still have to pass the same test as everyone else.”
He’d like to see the federal No Child Left Behind law eliminated and hopes to advocate for that outcome. Under the law, “Children are being left behind,” he said.
He supports full-day kindergarten for all Vigo County elementary schools; currently, it is offered in 11 Title 1 elementary schools.
He believes the district probably should wait until the state fully funds it, “but if there is some kind of way we can muster up some money to do that without state backing, then we should,” he said. A committee he co-chairs is exploring the options.
Burks said some people believe the board just “rubber stamps” what Superintendent Dan Tanoos wants.
“That’s not true,” Burks said. “We do a lot of fact-finding and questioning behind the scenes to ensure that the corporation is being held responsible” for actions and decisions that affect the community and students.
Burks said he is concerned about the future of school funding, but at the same time, the school district is fiscally sound with a substantial cash balance.
“We as a corporation are being fiscally conservative to ensure what money we do spend is appropriate for improving education within our school system,” Burks said.
Faulkner, 26, said he’s running “to bring out a few points I think are neglected in education today.” He also feels strongly about some moral issues, he said.
A street evangelist, Faulkner would like to see the Bible taught as an educational class elective, and he believes creationism should be taught “as one theory of how we got here.”
He said he feels strongly about charter schools and vouchers that would enable parents to send children to private schools.
Faulkner previously has run for Terre Haute City Council District 6 and Harrison Township assessor. He has worked in telemarketing but is presently unemployed.
Among other things, Faulkner believes there may be a need to review science textbooks used in Vigo County “because there may be lies … concerning the theory of evolution.”
When asked what he believed are his qualifications to serve on the board, he said, “My focus on the Bible and reading and literature would enable me to bring a moral aspect to the board.”
He expressed concerns about teacher unions, “which represent a lot of big money for bureaucrats.” Teacher union dues can be used for “bureaucrats or politicians who keep schools the same way,” he said.
Faulkner, who said he attended Vigo County schools for many years, believes that if school staff are aware of “underage sexual activities” on the part of students, those staff members need to inform parents.
“There is sexual promiscuity among youth, and we must protect the youth, because they are their parents’ property,” Faulkner said. “Their parents need to know what is going on.”
He doesn’t believe it’s appropriate “for them [school staff] to withhold that information,” Faulkner said.
n In May 2005, Lower was nominated by the School Board to finish the term of her late husband, Jack Lower, who died after serving only 4½ months on the board.
She is a retired educator and spent 20 years as a dean at Terre Haute North Vigo High School. “I just really enjoy working with all aspects of the educational process,” she said.
Lower, 62, said parents and teachers can trust her to take their concerns to the board and administration. “I’m one who asks a lot of questions. I’m not intimidated by any group or person,” she said.
Having spent many years in the classroom, she also believes she brings both the student and teacher perspective to the table.
Lower said she’s proud of the school district, but concerned about recent changes in how public schools are funded.
In the future, “I think there are going to be some tough decisions that have to be made,” she said.
Currently, the school district is in good financial shape, she said. “We are so fortunate in this community because we are fiscally stable,” she said. “There are so many corporations throughout the state and nation that are having to cut programs and teachers” as well as freeze employee wages.
Lower said she enjoys serving on the School Board. “I enjoy meeting the families and talking with students,” she said. “My whole life has been education. I think it is extremely vital to any community’s growth.”
On other issues, Lower says:
n She’d like to see some major revisions to the federal No Child Left Behind law. “It definitely has left more children behind than ever were left behind” prior to the law, she said.
n Regarding ISTEP-Plus, she doesn’t believe students with mild disabilities should have to take it.
n She would like to see mandated, all-day kindergarten that is fully funded by the state, although she recognizes full state funding probably won’t happen anytime soon.
Lower has been involved with a school district wellness committee that emphasizes healthy food choices and exercise opportunities in schools.
She also places a high priority on career-technical education and believes the school district is doing a good job in that area.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Election 2008
October 6, 2008
Election '08: Vigo School Board District 1
- Election 2008
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Vigo County election results
More than 44,000 ballots were cast Tuesday of the nearly 80,000 registered voters, giving Vigo County a 55.76 percent voter turnout. Voters who cast provisional ballots have until noon Nov. 14 to show proper identification in the clerk’s office. Members of the Election Board will certify the results by the end of Nov. 14.
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Obama triumphs, will be first black U.S. president
Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation’s first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. “Change has come,” he told a huge throng of jubilant supporters.
- Ellsworth downs Goode in District 8 In a strong Democratic election year, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth was re-elected Tuesday to a second term as the 8th District congressman representing southwestern and western Indiana.
- House District 44: Former Greencastle major wins A former Greencastle mayor will head off to the Statehouse come January, and she said Tuesday night she’s ready to go.
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YOUTH VOTE: Sarah Scott students elect Obama, Daniels
Tribune-Star
Students and staff at Sarah Scott Middle School voted to make Barack Obama president and Mitch Daniels governor during a mock election Tuesday. - Vigo picks presidential winner again Vigo County voters chose Democrat Sen. Barack Obama as president, maintaining its status as a “bellwether” county, picking the winner in every presidential election since 1892 with only two exceptions.
- Harrison Township opts to keep assessor Voters in eight precincts in Harrison Township opted to retain a township assessor under a referendum vote on Tuesday’s election ballot. That’s was good news to Mick Love, who will retain his elected seat as Harrison Township assessor. The final tally on Public Question No. 1 was 6,587 for a “yes,” which would remove the office, to 9,506 for “no” which would retain the office.
- House District 46: Tincher pulls out win The race between Democrat incumbent Rep. Vern Tincher and Republican challenger Bob Heaton for the Indiana House District 46 seat went down to the wire Tuesday night, with Tincher pulling out a win.
- Republican Daniels wins 2nd term as Indiana governor Republican Mitch Daniels defeated former Democratic congresswoman Jill Long Thompson on Tuesday to win a second term as governor, but he may need a supply of olive branches to advance his agenda if Democrats retain control of the Indiana House.
- House District 45: Borders wins close race The Indiana House District 45 race between incumbent Republican Bruce Borders and Democrat Rick Marshall was too close to call for much of the evening Tuesday, with the final outcome apparent near midnight.
- House District 43: Kersey remains in seat Rep. Clyde Kersey, D-Terre Haute, will remain in the Indiana General Assembly for another two years, as the 12-year incumbent defeated Republican challenger Ryan Cummins for the House District 43 seat.
- Clay County's turnout one for record books Clay County’s voter turnout was one for the record books, officials said Tuesday evening.
- Parke County incumbents retain their seats Parke County incumbents retained their seats in Tuesday’s election. Republican County At-large Councilmen Dale Gerrish and John Pratt will be joined by fellow Republican J.B. Butler, a newcomer who received more votes than Gerrish and Pratt. The three GOP candidates won over the three Democrats in that race.
- Nearly 64 percent of registered Vermillion voters cast ballots Vermillion County voters turned out in big numbers Tuesday to hand victories to Democrats up and down the ballot. Nearly 64 percent of registered voters turned out in the mostly rural county, which includes the towns of Clinton and Newport.
- Sullivan County votes Repbulican in national election For the second time in its traditionally Democratic history, Sullivan County voted Republican in the national election. Overall, Democrats saw unexpected upsets, incumbent Republicans lost a few offices, and voter turnout here was exceptionally high, as expected.
- Indiana State students await impact of their votes Ashley Roce sat in the Cunningham Memorial Library eating pizza with her friends, waiting to see the impact of her first vote in a presidential election.
- Indiana transplants watch from east coast Indiana has done what couldn’t have been predicted in 2004: It has gone Blue — and by so doing, the Hoosier state has broken its 44-year tradition of being a Red state, and helped put a Democrat in the White House.
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Voter turnout in Clark County, Ill., highest it's ever been
Voter turnout in Clark County, Ill., was the largest it has ever been, but it wasn’t as high as County Clerk Bill Downey had hoped for.
- Presidential election turnout down in Edgar County Despite an increase in registered voters for Tuesday’s election, turnout was lower than the last presidential election in Edgar County, Ill.
- Incumbents easily win school board seats Three Vigo County School Board incumbents readily won re-election Tuesday. In District 1, Mel Burks and Jackie Lower retained their seats, defeating Larry Faulkner. In unofficial results, Lower had 24,321 votes, Burks, 19,253, and Faulkner, 11,383.
- Democratic Commissioner Mason gets another four years Vigo County voters on Tuesday returned Democratic Commissioner Paul Mason for an additional four-year term as one of the county’s top executive officials.
- Rader wins Vigo judge Superior Court Divisioin 5 The winner of Vigo County judge for Superior Court Division 5 is Dr. Michael Rader. With 23,636 votes, or 56 percent, Rader defeated Republican challenger Dan Kelly, who earned 18,216 votes, or 44 percent. Totals are unofficial results from the Vigo County Election office.
- Allsup defeats Royer in Vigo Recorder race In a night that was friendly to Democrats, Nancy Allsup won the office of Vigo County Recorder, defeating Republican Bruce Royer. Allsup, with 26,486 votes, or 65 percent, celebrated her victory Tuesday night with friends and family at the Paradise Pavilion in West Terre Haute.
- Mansard wins another term as Vigo County clerk Democrat Patricia “Pat” Mansard has won another term as Vigo County clerk. Mansard, who has served as county clerk for 20 years, was busily working Tuesday night to finish up election results, but she took a minute to savor her win.
- FINAL: VIGO COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Final election night results from Vigo County
- FINAL: VERMILLION COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS 2008 Election results from Vermillion County
- FINAL: CLAY COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Election results from across Clay County
- FINAL: PARKE COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Election results from Parke County
- FINAL: SULLIVAN COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS 2008 Results from Sullivan County
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NEW: Vigo County’s election record cited by Karl Rove
Karl Rove, the man credited with orchestrating President George W. Bush’s two successful campaigns for the presidency, reportedly singled out Vigo County as a place to watch tonight when election returns start coming in.
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