[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Jeff Caldwell” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What are your concerns about the BCSC school system that need to be addressed within the next four years?
Planning for anticipated student population growth over the next decade must occur before 2020. Funding for new schools, realigning school districts, and addressing pre-k access for all families are all tough work ahead of us. Strengthening teacher compensation is key to securing a strong staff.
What are the academic areas where BCSC schools could improve or expand current offerings?
Our Universal Design for Learning principles allow flexibility for our education professionals to meet new needs that arise and adopt new approaches as they emerge. I have strong confidence in our administrators and faculty on this front, whether the area be STEM, or the arts, or evolving information technologies.
What facility improvements, such as remodeling, outdoor labs, expansions or new buildings, does BCSC need? How do you propose that BCSC should pay for them?
Safety, security and educational presentation at each school drives our prioritization; most of those needs can be met through cycling our current debt/bond obligations and redirecting funds. A new elementary school would require a unique referendum to ensure the community is engaged in dialogue on the need and the funding.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Jeff Caldwell” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Jeff Caldwell
Age: 58
City of residence: Columbus
Occupation: Executive director, Cummins Inc.
Education: Bachelor’s of Science in political science, Murray State University, 1980; Master of Business Administration, Indiana University, 1982
Previous offices held: BCSC Board of Trustees, 2011-16.
Previous elected offices sought: Bartholomew County Council at-large, 2000.
Community involvement: First Baptist, Columbus, current; Otter Creek board of directors, current; Ceraland Board of Directors, 1986-94; Pre-K 4 All, 2014.
Family: Wife, Beth Caldwell
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Dennis White” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Dennis White
Age: 67 years
City of residence: Elizabethtown
Occupation: Retired from Indiana University, director of administration IUPUC
Education: Bachelor of Science in accounting, Brigham Young University
Previous offices held: None
Previous offices sought: Ran for school board in 2004
Community involvement: United Way Allocations Committee Chair, Leadership Bartholomew County graduate and treasurer, Family Services Board, Eastside Community Board, member of East High School team to study small learning communities, active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Family: Six children.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Dennis White grid” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
What are your concerns about the BCSC school system that need to be addressed within the next four years?
The school is an asset for the whole community. The challenge is to obtain buy-in from all of the vested parties through better communications. The vested parties include students, parents, school administration and teachers, businesses and taxpayers old and young.
What are the academic areas where BCSC schools could improve or expand current offerings?
Encourage more efficient and creative use of technology. We could better tie in with national resources and programs. Local talent could be utilized.
What facility improvements, such as remodeling, outdoor labs, expansions or new buildings, does BCSC need? How do you propose that BCSC should pay for them?
It appears the elementary schools need updating. Funding can be done in two ways, debt and spending of current and saved funds and both require taxes. I think it would be best to allocate capital funds in order to save for expansion and remodeling.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
