Is anyone interested in the school board?

The County Line

With only two weeks left in the filing period for candidates to be placed on the November ballot for school board, there are still a total of only 12 candidates for 18 seats on Hamilton County’s six school boards. Why so few for such important positions?

There is more money spent on public education than in any other portion of local government. School elections are non-partisan, so candidates need not align with a political party.

Is it apathy, the low pay, or satisfaction with current operations of the schools that keeps more folks from wanting to run for school board? It’s got to be one of the three.

With some of the recent issues, especially in Noblesville and Carmel, it is really hard to understand.

There are more well-qualified folks in this county than in most areas of the state, yet few seem to want to take the time to serve. It’s really a rather poor reflection on our general public.

As of noon Thursday, Noblesville had yet to see a single candidate for the two seats at stake on the school board this year. Of course there is still time, and perhaps there will be more interest as the August 24 deadline approaches. Let’s hope so.

In other schools districts, a contest shapes up in Carmel Clay District 3 where Eric Morris is challenging Michael Kerschner. Layla Spanenberg is so far unopposed in District 1, and in District 2, Pam Knowles has filed.

At Hamilton Heights there is but one candidate for each district seat at stake. Arnett Cooper is running at-large, Julie Davis is running in the Jackson Township district, and Doug Ozolins is unopposed in White River Township.

At Sheridan, the only candidate is Steven Dollahan in the Adams Township district.

In Westfield there are only two candidates: Thomas Lunsford in District 2 and Dan Degnan in District 4.

Southeastern has one contest. In District 2 Janet Pritchett and Frank Whelan have filed. In District 3 Michelle Fulhart is unopposed while in District 4 Bradley Banks is the lone candidate.