JACKSON HOPEFULS STATE VIEWS ON SCHOOLS

Jackson school board candidates squared off in preparation for the April 1 election during a forum Monday night at Jackson Middle School.

Tom Ludwig, Wendy Hayes, Gerald Adams and current board member Jack Knowlan were more alike than different in nearly all of the views they expressed during the forum, which was sponsored by the Jacksonian Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association. Two of the four candidates will be elected to fill three-year positions held by Knowlan and Larry Koenig.

"Our mission is to promote education on all levels," said Terri Tomlin, ABWA education committee chair and forum organizer. "This at least gives the public the opportunity to get to know the candidates and find out where they stand on important issues."

Eve Annunziato, news reporter for KFVS-12, was the forum moderator. She addressed questions to candidates on school safety, district growth, short- and long-term goals and other issues.

The 11 people who attended the forum learned that candidates were basically in agreement that long-term planning in the areas of district growth, student-teacher ratios and student safety will be required for the district to provide quality education to students.

"Our number one priority is how to manage our growth," said Knowlan, who has been on the board for nine years. "The better job we do in the district, the more attractive our schools are to others. It's a vicious cycle, and one that we're going to have to prepare for."

Adams, a farmer and businessman, said another important issue for the district was the need for another guidance counselor. More post-high school options are opening up for students, and counselors have the hard task of presenting these options to as many students as possible.

"One of our issues is the need for another counselor in the district, and maybe also a vo-tech counselor," Adams said. "Our kids have a lot more options than they did when I was going to school, and I think at least one additional counselor would help present more of that information to them."

All candidates expressed the fear that Jackson's developing industries and expanding population could result in the need for more elaborate discipline measures in the district. Candidates supported the use of video cameras on school buses, but shied away from more extreme measures such as metal detectors or police officers in the school.

"Fortunately, that kind of discipline and action is not a threat to our district as a whole," said Hayes, who has served as president of the Parent Teacher Organization at Orchard Drive Elementary and the Primary Annex. "If it gets to that point, then absolutely we'll have to address that, but I think those are mainly problems in schools that are more inner city."

Candidates said offering classroom technology to Jackson students was also an important issue. The new facilities being built in the district will aid this effort, but the bottom line will come down to funding.

"Anybody in education has to have a dream of a computer in every classroom, and eventually a computer at every desk," said Ludwig, a local attorney and the only candidate not to graduate from the school district. "To provide that to kids in a school district setting is an exciting dream, but it will come down to funding."

Tomlin said although attendance was low at the event, the forum still would help introduce issues into the community. "I think we have four really good candidates this year, and that everyone will just think everything over and come and vote in the April 1 election," she said.