At-Large candidates for EVSC school board talk budgets, transparency with public

EVANSVILLE − Members of the public have stood at a microphone and addressed the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. board on a variety of topics at every meeting since July 1.

That is when a state law took effect requiring all Indiana school boards to allow public comments in meetings. The ability to address the school board in person has not always been allowed at EVSC board meetings. A perceived tendency for executive sessions and limits on how board members responded to the public in the past have led to criticisms that the board has not been transparent about school business with the public.

With about 22,000 students, over 3,000 employees and a $289 million annual budget this year, EVSC is one of the largest school systems in the state.

While some information about EVSC's budget has been available on its website, in the past it has been difficult to locate and even then the complete budget had to be accessed through the state's local government information portal, Indiana Gateway.

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That is no longer the case since the Courier & Press recently questioned EVSC administrators about it and asked school board candidates for their opinions. A link to the school corporation's budget information, including a link to the actual budget, is now the first choice under the "about us" tab on EVSC's website and easier for the public to find.

However, across the nation questions about how school boards conduct their business continue to raise concerns.

The Courier & Press has asked school board candidates to share their responses to questions about education and public schools in a series of articles leading up to the Nov. 8 election. This round of questions discusses issues such as budgeting, open meetings, transparency and communication with the public.

The answers will appear in separate articles for District 1, District 2 and At-Large candidates unless they did not respond.

Four seats are open on the seven-member school board. They include one from District 1, two in District 2 and one At-Large seat.

There are no incumbent candidates running for the At-Large seat. The candidates are Jeff Worthington, Melissa Moore, John Geary II, Carolyn Gallagher and Ken Colbert.

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Evansville City Council and Vanderburgh County Council hold public working sessions during their annual budget process and have a chance to review a detailed final budget before approval, but not EVSC school board. What process do you think school board should follow?

Jeff Worthington: "The elected school board tasks the superintendent and his staff with crafting a budget for the EVSC. The state's fiscal year runs from July through June where the EVSC’s runs January to December, further complicating the process. The budget is presented at a public meeting where tax payers can attend and ask questions or give comments. The following meeting the budget is voted on, that gives the board time to take into consideration comments and requests on the proposed budget."

Melissa Moore: "With EVSC not being a government entity, you cannot make a comparison as such. However, adhering to stages of school budgeting would ensure that you have a fiscally sound budget that your stakeholders-community can trust. Any board should have the following, review, planning, forecast, implementation, and evaluation which are the “key ingredients” that are vital to a fiscally sound budget."

John Geary II: " I believe the example of what the City Council does could be a good route to take."

Carolyn Gallagher: "Since the citizens of Evansville/Vanderburgh County who pay property taxes are stakeholders in how each dollar is used to educate our children, public budget working sessions should be scheduled. The community should have a say about whether Federal Grants are accepted, (i.e., ESSR). In such, the community should be informed on what governmental guidelines would have to be accepted if Federal Grants are consented. Further, there needs to be more transparency into a breakdown of salaries for tenured teachers, non-tenured teachers, principals, etc., along with those for supportive staff such as school nurses. Another area of transparency is for capital projects, equipment, and technology."

Ken Colbert: "I.C. 6-1.1-17-5-6 outlines school corporation resolutions to adopt fiscal year budgets. Superintendent (David) Smith knowingly violates Indiana Code to circumvent the public's input. There must be complete transparency with taxpayer's money. The shield of secrecy allows for doubt in the mind of the public and encourages appropriations of frivolous purchases such as a golf course. The public should take a closer look at the Evansville Foundation and the unreported transfer of EVSC real estate."

Before 2019, EVSC school board regularly held non-public executive sessions immediately before board meetings. In what circumstances would you support meeting without the public?

Worthington: "Executive sessions are held to discuss only matters allowed by law, which encompasses issues concerning personnel, contract negotiations, real estate matters and legal issues. These matters should not be discussed in public due to the nature of the topics and privacy issues."

Moore: "One needs to know a clear definition of what an “executive session” is. Executive sessions are a special meeting that provides an opportunity for the board to meet privately to handle sensitive and confidential issues. The only time that a meeting needs to be held without the public are issues of an “emergency” nature."

Geary II: " For the most part I believe we should always meet in the eye of the public. We have nothing to hide and everything to share. However, if it was something that just was internal and involved board members personal issues, I could understand not having the public there."

Gallagher: "Orientation for new school board members. Vetting new superintendent candidates. Review personnel records for consideration of disciplinary measures or promotion. The more work that is done in public, the more respect, collaboration, and cooperation the school board will receive from the community."

Colbert: "The Indiana Code is very specific about "open door law." The only exception is personnel and legal matters. The EVSC has blatantly manipulated "executive sessions" to deny access to public comment and public record. The current EVSC administration justifies their lack of transparency under the guise of privileged executive session exclusion. This illegal shield of secrecy allows for doubt in the mind of the public."

Once the city and county budgets are adopted detailed copies are posted online for the public to see.What steps do you think EVSC should take to be open with the public about finances?

Worthington: "The EVSC posts the proposed budget online prior to the first public meeting to discuss it. Every meetings finance matters are posted on Board Docs for the public to access."

Moore: "Open communication between board members, the school financial officer, and community are extremely vital to the financial success of a school district."

Geary II: "I believe we should continue to always have every avenue of communication open before and after budgets are posted. And within the guidelines and security structure of the EVSC, we should open lines of communication when questions come up. We should be able to share information with confidence and honesty."

Gallagher: "This question is much like the first question. Again, there should be scheduled public working sessions in which the public can ask questions of any portion of the budget. Post these budgets online for the public to peruse between each public working session, and then post the final detailed budget online and have print copies available at the EVSC."

Colbert: "The proposed 2023 budget is approximately $389 million and prepared by the administration with limited consultation from the teachers, parents or taxpayers. The EVSC administration provides zero transparency in accessing financial data and blocks FOIA requests for such data. The Indiana State Board of Accounts audits the financial records approximately a year after the expenditures. The public should be aware Superintendent Smith is rewarded $266,000/year for abysmal ISTEP scores. The account records should be made public through online access to eliminate the perception of lack of transparency."

Board members recently acknowledged the future need for a new school in Scott Township is being considered. What are your thoughts about this?

Worthington: "With the population growth shifting to the north side of Vanderburgh County, the need for an additional middle school could be coming. With the previous land purchase the EVSC made, the property is already in place for such a school. The EVSC can carve out what they need and sell the remain land for further residential development, recouping most of the original land purchase cost."

Moore: "There are many facets to be considered. Questions that community can and should be involved in. One question being, what is the deciding factor for the future need for a new school?"

Geary II: "If the need possibly could be there for educational growth then I'm definitely on board. However, we must consider all aspects of this potential plan. We cannot sacrifice the financial needs of our other schools to develop a new school that will require other finances we could use for current situations at our current schools. If everything aligned correctly and the finances were there and the education needs were there, then I would be on board with it."

Gallagher: "I would require more information on why there is a need for another school in Scott Township."

Colbert: "Population trends are affirming the need for expansion. However, the current EVSC administration correlates new construction with increased taxes. It is possible for expansion without affecting the tax rate. It is absurd the amount of EVSC owned real estate being under utilized, or vacant, and paid by the taxpayer including the "money pit" golf course. Liquidation of the unused properties should be used to fund an expansion."

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: EVSC's school board: At-large candidates talk budgets, open meetings