Garrison Steve Myer will challenge incumbent Jim Garrison in the Delphi Community School Board race in District 1 (Deer Creek Township 1). Both candidates answered questions about the following seven issues: Good candidates

Myer said he would be a good candidate for school board trustee because he has two kids in school now and a third who will attend soon.

"I care about our children's education and athletics and facilities," said Myer. "Delphi can improve in several areas. In my job, I've been dealing with the public for 14 years, and dealing with Little League, which is a smaller scale (than school board), but dealing with the same issues."

He said money is always an issue and he has ideas about how to raise revenue for the corporation without raising taxes.

Garrison said he'd be a good candidate for the office because he has already served for four years. "I bring experience to the position and I'd bring the financial background needed to help evaluate budget problems. I've had 28 years in agriculture, and you must know about finances to succeed."

He said he loves kids and wants to see the corporation do what's best for them in education and in sports. Desire to serve

Myer Myer said he wishes to serve on the board because he wants to be involved in pursuing grants and keeping the athletic facilities in good condition. He also noted, "The board needs to do more to be more involved in the hiring process and seek out qualified candidates in all positions: people with good credentials, drive and ambition."

Garrison said he serves on the board for his own and for all the kids in the community, "and to protect the taxpayers," he said.

He noted that there were two reasons in particular for serving. First, he said he wants to give students what they need to get the best education they can have. Secondly, he wants to make sure the board does not over spend or "spend money on elaborate things." He remarked that new buildings don't necessarily give students a better education. Voting

Myer said he will examine the issues himself and vote according to what he feels is best. He said he will also seek the public's opinion; not just the opinions of his constituents, but the opinions of all the people in the school district. He concluded, "In the end, it's my decision."

Garrison said he votes according to what his constituents want, but mainly what he feels is in the best interests of the students. He said hiring principals Keith Brakel and Bill Shidler were two decisions he made in which he first considered what was best for the students. Needs of the corporation

Myer talked about the shortterm and long-term needs of the corporation. He said there is an immediate need to increase revenue without raising taxes. He said he also wants to keep a close watch on the PL221 plan to be sure the schools are doing well, and he wants to improve the English as a Second Language program. He said he wants students to be prepared for the rigorous track that will be required for the Core 40 diploma.

Myer said he'd like to see Delphi host more sporting events and would like to see an eight-lane track built for athletics.

"You can't host conference and sectional meets with a six-lane track." He said other schools would not be attracted to Delphi's facilities.

"If we're aggressive and host a sectional meet, you can make up the cost after a few big events."

Alonger-term goal, said Myer, is to reassess the buildings.

"The Camden building isn't going to be there forever. That's going to have to be addressed."

The old middle school gym, the high school and Hillcrest are all getting older and will need to be addressed as well, said Myer.

Garrison said that as far as shortterm needs, the science labs and the track need to be updated.

In the long term, the corporation needs to set higher education goals. He said he'd like to hire the best staff (in all areas) the board can find, and he wants to keep the building maintenance program on track.

Garrison said he'd like to reduce the debt and be nearly debt-free by 2012. He would like to repair the six-lane track instead of build an eight-lane track so that a science lab can be renovated, he said. Public participation

Garrison said that at board meetings, he believes the public should be able to ask questions and comment on the agenda items. He said that after the board members discuss an issue, they could ask the public if they have any questions. He would like to see the consent items (bills that have been paid) posted on the school's Web site, so that the public may call the administration office to get answers to their questions.

Regarding public participation, Myer said that there could be a time set aside during the meetings in which the public could discuss items on the agenda. He commented that there could be a certain time limit on the discussions.

"I don't see how you can keep the public out of it, but you can't let the public abuse the time," he said. Board communications

Garrison talked about how the board discusses an issue before they take the vote. He said that as a group, the board is not allowed to discuss items before the board meeting, but that individuals are allowed to e-mail back and forth and get a feel for how other members feel about an issue.

"I like discussion," said Myer, "so that I can get my point across. If it's controversial or sensitive, I think discussion (before the vote) would be good. I think a workshop or work session prior to the public meeting would be a good idea. On a lot of things, there probably is no need to discuss and some things, there probably is," he said. Accomplishments and goals

Garrison said during his term, the board has freed the capital projects account from the Siemen's contract, allowing the board to pay cash for smaller repair/replacement jobs instead of borrowing for everything. He said something like repairing or replacing the sixlane track, for instance, could be paid with cash.

He noted that the Rainy Day account has gone from zero to a balance of $775,00 during the past three years. He said his goal is to use it to remodel the science labs, in part. He also wants to use the account for emergencies.

Myer said he would like to meet with the superintendent, principals, the athletic director, academic department heads, coaches, janitors and bus drivers so that they can inform him of the strengths and weaknesses that they are seeing. He said he would like to go to work on those weaknesses.