See what Dan Conway, Don Lipps had to say about challenges MSD will face in coming years
With their roles in managing taxpayer dollars and making policy decisions that have a direct impact on local children, school board elections play a key role in the future of districts across the state of Indiana.
For the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, there are two open seats for the school board in Tuesday's election.
Voting early?Early voting begins Wednesday in Morgan County
Luke Jackson is running unopposed for the board's District 5 seat, currently held by Michelle Baugh.
The other open seat, District 2, includes challenger Dan Conway and incumbent Don Lipps.
Both men feel there are some major challenges the MSD of Martinsville will face in the coming years.
For Conway, one challenge the schools will face in the coming years is bullying.
"I also feel that bullying is an issue ... I've heard a lot of concerns from different folks about the bullying, about how we report it and then what are we doing to correct it," Conway said.
Conway said he was meeting with a district to see the process of dealing with and reporting bullying, and what the schools do to correct the issue.
Lipps said retaining and hiring teachers will be a challenge for the MSD over the next few years.
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"It's becoming competitive," Lipps said. "There are neighboring districts that are paying teachers a $10,000 bonus if they come, a $15,000 signing bonus."
He added that some of those districts are working on ballot referendums so that those schools can increase their teachers' salaries.
Attracting students to Martinsville schools
In recent years, a lot has changed about where children across the state can attend schools.
With the development of open enrollment, which allows students to attend any public school in the state, to online schools and charter schools, charter schools and private school voucher program — families have more options on where to send students.
Conway said one way to help lure students to the district, especially those who live in the MSD but attend another school system, is to find out why families send their children to other institutions.
More:See who is on the ballot in Morgan County.
"I've talked to a few parents from Tabernacle, or different schools around here, to where 'What is your negative to Martinsville? What are some of the concerns they have? Why aren't they coming to our school?'" Conway said. "And, address those with more of an action plan or say 'This is what we are doing to make it better by listening the folks that don't send their kids here.'"
According to Conway, families he has talked to are frustrated with the MSD of Martinsville.
"You need to know what the reasons are (that families send children to other schools) behind the scenes," Conway said.
Lipps said the district needs to plan for potential future growth with its current infrastructure, while also looking to the future.
"South Elementary School is already, pretty much, at the max," Lipps said. "We are going to have to address that with an add-on to South or an additional elementary school out there. That is one thing we have to look at within our strategic planning."
Lipps believes another area of population will be in Green Township and families in that area will have several options to send their children from that area.
"Can you (compete) with an 83-year-old building?" Lipps said. "How soon are you going to get maxed out in that building? So, it is strategic planning. Is that something we are going to have to look at as a possibility for a different building or add-on in that area to accommodate that growth."
Morgan County Vote Centers
In Morgan County, there are 13 vote centers for registered voters to cast their ballots on election day.
The locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Any registered voter can cast their ballot at any one of the following locations.
The 13 vote centers include:
Zion Baptist Church — 7520 State Road 142, Martinsville
Paragon Fire Department — 101 E. Union St., Paragon
Monrovia Christian Church — 710 Gordon Rd., Monrovia
Spring Hill Church — 12150 N. Rooker Rd, Mooresville
Mooresville First Christian Church — 525 N. Indiana St., Mooresville
Mt. Gilead Church — 6019 E. State Road 144, Mooresville
Life Line Baptist Church — 13387 N. Slideoff Rd., Camby
Abounding Grace Church — 1795 Centerton Rd., Martinsville
River Valley Christian Church — 4295 Egbert Rd., Martinsville
Morgantown Fire Department — 269 N. Highland St., Morgantown
Morgan County Administration Building — 180 S. Main St., Martinsville
Hoosier Harvest Church — 4085 Leonard Rd., Martinsville
Martinsville Senior Center — 1369 Blue Bluff Rd., Martinsville
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Dan Conway, Don Lipps discuss challenges at MSD of Martinsville schools
