Valparaiso School Board: Appoint or Elect?

Although almost all of the coverage on this site for the next 10 days will be about campaigns, both national and local, this issue will eventually be important to residents of Valparaiso. The question continues to work its way to the surface: Is the all-appointed school board working in Valparaiso Schools?

If you recall, one school board member spoke out last month suggesting that the superintendent had too much authority and the board members were providing little oversight in the current arrangement.


Today Ed Soliday (R) State Rep from Indiana tells the media that he's willing to wade into this complicated issue and work to draft a bill that will highlight a possible hybrid. Ed's challenger for the seat in 10 days response? "uh ... uh ... should talk to city and school first" or something like that. Typical.

This issue may not be all important to you today, with Iraq and Taxes and Stock Markets taking front and center, but keep it in mind when choosing your State Rep in 10 days ... and know that next year it will matter.

Update: A possible proposal - 4 elected members (at least one from outside city limits but inside school system limits) ... 3 appointed (1 by Mayor ... 1 by City Council ... 1 by County Council) with County Council appointment to be relinquished to County Administrator if and when county government is totally reorganized to an elected administrator.

Elected or appointed, or both?

VALPARAISO | Should the School Board of Valparaiso Community Schools become an elected board or remain appointed?

Because of much recent discussion over that question, state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, wants to give residents a chance to weigh in.

Shortly after next month's election, Soliday plans to hold public meetings to gauge public sentiment on the issue.

In the meantime, he is drafting a bill to introduce in the next General Assembly that would create a part-elected, part-appointed board.