Of the 293 public school systems in Indiana, there are only 12 that have fully appointed school boards. Valparaiso has the last appointed board in Northwest Indiana. The current board is made up of five members, four appointed by the Valparaiso City Council and the fifth by the Center Township Advisory Board.
The current school board is not representative of the diverse population of Valparaiso. Under the current appointed board system, all candidates must declare Democrat or Republican party membership, which eliminates all independent and third party candidates for consideration.
A petition has been created to initiate an alternative plan for the Valparaiso school system. That plan is to expand the board from 5 appointed members to 7 elected board members.
There will be an election of 4 school board members in November 2012, serving a 4 year term. When these elected members take office in January 2013, the appointed board will be reduced to 3. We will have a hybrid, appointed and elected board for two years. In 2014, there will be an election of 3 additional school board members, serving a 4 year term. When they take office in January 2015, the remaining 3 appointed board members will be removed, giving us an all elected board.
We will have school board elections every 2 years, beginning in 2016, with 4 positions open, serving a 4 year term, and again in 2018, with 3 positions open, serving a 4 year term. Elections will continue in that pattern.
There will be a forum in which candidates shall be able to state their positions on school board issues. School Board elections will be open to citizens of all political parties, or no party alike. Elected terms will be for four years. Candidates must be at least 21 years old at the time of election and a citizen of the United States. Candidates must reside within the Valparaiso school system boundaries. There are no term limits for elected board members.
Beginning January 1, 2013, Valparaiso School Board members, elected or appointed, will not be allowed to hold any other elected or appointed office or board positions with the Valparaiso city government. School Board President will be elected by the board every 2 years. You must serve on the board for 2 years to be eligible to hold the President position.
Other tenets concerning ethics, responsibility, duties, and so on will follow the existing plan.
A petition is circulating to call for an elected board. 3,500 signatures are needed. You must be a registered voter to sign.
This is a Community Voices piece with the opinion of the writer.
"For as involved as parents, and local resident of Valparaiso are, in the education of our children, they perhaps more than any other single factor are why we've been successful. With this in mind I enthusiastically support the idea of an elected board believing it will probably enhance public accountability during times such as these. I will sincerely appreciate your joining with me in this endeavor."
- Robert Cotton