Mishawaka, Indiana group want elected school board
A group of about 50 citizens in Mishawaka, Indiana, known as Mishawaka Education Focus (MEF), wants an elected school board, rather than an appointed one. Karen Mowery, spokeswoman for MEF, says the group has been meeting since September making plans. Current appointed board member Michael Wojtysiak plans to offer a resolution to make the change during the board's next meeting. MEF has prepared petitions in case the resolution is rejected and will need to secure signatures from 20% of the registered voters, about 4,100. Lisa Tanselle, an attorney for the Indiana School Boards Association, notes that if the current appointed school board approves the change, those opposing such a resolution will have 120 days to file petitions asking for no change or for a different sort of board. MEF plans to ask for a seven-member nonpartisan board whose members will run citywide. Ms. Mowrey says she and all her relatives have had wonderful experience with the district. "But it's time to make a change," she says. "This is just a desire to get politics out of our schools." The group’s literature points out that somebody who is a political independent won't get on the school board under the current system. Lloyd "Chuck" Wayne, president of the current board, is opposed. He argues that a hotly contested school board race could cost candidates as much as $5,000. He is afraid that and the energy needed to run a campaign will keep some good people from seeking a place on the board. "If you have an elected board, special-interest groups get involved and can work for some candidates," he says. He doesn’t think enough residents will support the change and predicts that if they do, at some point they’ll say, "We made a mistake."
South Bend (Ind.) Tribune
By Sue Lowe
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