Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction

Dr. Tony Bennett (R), Greater Clark County Schools Superintendent

1. What are your top three priorities as candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?

First, I believe we need to restore a climate of discipline and order to our classrooms so that they are focused learning environments.  Nothing distracts from the true purpose of education like behavior and discipline issues, and we must ensure teachers have the tools they need to maintain the necessary learning environment.

Second, we must work to make schools more efficient so that more dollars are freed up for classroom use, where real learning and growth occur.  There are a number of ways we can do this, whether it’s through leveraging the purchasing power of larger governmental agencies, like the Department of Administration, to purchase common supplies, or partnering with local governments to create a stronger joint purchasing power on services like lawn mowing and snow removal.

Third, we must ensure we are hiring and retaining high quality teachers.  In areas such as math and science, where there is a greater demand for qualified teachers, we need to open the doors to those with advanced degrees and experience in those fields, but who lack a teaching degree.  We must also recruit, hire, train and compensate our teachers like the professionals they are, including giving them a competitive salary and offering rewards and incentives for teachers whose students continually perform at higher levels.

2. Do you have any bold ideas that you believe are necessary to improve the quality of education? Some of these might include, but are not limited to: intra-district school choice, vouchers, paying teachers for excellence, uniforms/dress codes, alternatives for “drop outs” and year-round schools.

I believe we must change the culture of education in Indiana from a one-size-fits-all approach that looks to get all kids the same diploma and prepare them for college, to one that has a variety of school types (such as vocational schools, new tech schools, charter schools, etc.) that prepares all kids to be a competitive and productive member of society in whatever their chosen field.  While I was principal of Prosser Vocational High School, for example, I made sure each of our graduates not only received a high school diploma, but also received state or national certification for their program.  Upon graduation, those students instantly became more marketable employees than if they had a diploma alone.

3.  In your opinion, should the position of SPI be elected or appointed by the Governor? Please explain your reasoning.

I believe this needs to be a position appointed by the Governor, though I do intend to fill out my term if elected.  For too long we have seen competing visions for education coming from the Governor’s office and the Department of Education.  This often hinders true education reform and overly politicizes the education of our children.  Our state—and our children—would be better served to have a Governor and Superintendent working in unison. 

4.  What effect will the recent property tax legislation have on local school budgets?

For too long, school corporations have been an island unto themselves and have isolated themselves from other taxing units.  I believe the recent property tax legislation will lead to schools reaching out to the community at large, including other municipalities and local businesses, to guarantee that all units of government are spending the tax dollars they receive wisely.  As a result, I think we will see schools that are run more efficiently and have a greater presence in the community, while the community will be more involved with the schools.  I think that’s a victory for all parties involved.

As a follow-up, what guidance would you give to school administrators to maintain operation?

My vision for the Department of Education is to make it more of a resource-based agency than a regulation-based agency.  One of the best examples of where I see this happening is in helping school administrators reach out to the community to form partnerships with other units of government, law enforcement officials, and local businesses.

5.  What role do you envision for charter schools in the overall public education system in Indiana?

I think that society and technology have evolved at a more rapid pace than our public schools, and have largely outstripped our ability to produce students who can meet the demands of society.  I see charter schools—along with homeschooling, alternative schools, vocational schools, etc.—as providing much needed options for today’s students.  If we truly want out kids to leave high school with the ability to compete with students from around the country and around the world for any job or any college scholarship, we must lessen our focus on a one-size-fits-all approach and offer these various opportunities.

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Richard Wood (D), Retired Tippecanoe School Corporation Superintendent

1. What are your top three priorities as a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?

1.     Finish what we have already started:

a.     Complete process of providing full day Kindergarten option to all Indiana school corporation patrons.

b.     Return to full funding of Project Prime Time.

c.     Provide sufficient remediation opportunities to support students who do not perform well on ISTEP.

d. Continue to foster dual credit programs with state colleges and universities.

e.     Continue to support efforts to allow Indiana schools access to highly qualified teacher candidates.

f.      Continue to develop alternative school program options.

2.     Improve Indiana's high school graduation rate through development of alternative classrooms and partnerships to better engage those students not well-suited to succeed in traditional programs.

3.     Ensure that the Indiana Department of Education serves as an effective resource and support organization to local school corporations.

2.  Do you have any bold ideas that you believe are necessary to improve the quality of education?

During my tenure at superintendent the following programs were developed:

1.     Parents provided the option to enroll their student(s) in any school in the corporation where classroom space was available.

2.        Parents provided a transfer certificate to any other public school district as long as they agreed to pay any additional tuition cost beyond that received by Tippecanoe School Corporation.

3. Inter-local transfer agreement with Lafayette School Corporation.

4.     Grade 12 students given the option to attend Ivy Tech Community College to earn 30 college credit hours (transferrable to other state universities) during their Senior year with tuition costs paid by school corporation.

5.     Grade 12 students in Academic Honors track given the option to attend Purdue University to earn 12 college credit hours during their Senior year with tuition costs paid by school corporation.

6.     Academic Honors Diploma with Distinction (54 credits with advanced placement and community service requirements).

7.     Construction of separate alternative school facilities for students in Grades 7-12 (Currently finalizing plans to construct an additional alternative school for grades 11-12 on local Ivy Tech campus).

8.     In 2010 district will complete construction and open high technology Centers for Advanced Studies at each high school.

9.      Future administrator development program.

10. Formal recognition of excellent service and contributions of staff members.

In your opinion, should the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction be elected or appointed by the Governor?

Our current system requires that the candidate elected in November 2008 is obligated to serve until January 2013. I intend to honor that obligation.

As our elected representatives continue to explore means to improve the efficiency of state government it is appropriate that they consider all options. Indiana lawmakers might discuss the benefits of having a non-partisan state superintendent appointed by and responsible to the State Board of Education.

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