JACKSON SCHOOL HOPEFULS AGREE ON MOST ISSUES

JACKSON -- Although they expressed some strong opinions, the four Jackson School Board candidates largely agreed on issues Monday night at the 12th annual American Business Women's Association's candidate forum.

Incumbent David Ludwig is being challenged by Mark Baker, Mack Illers and Brent Wills. Candidates responded to eight prepared questions -- asked by moderator Dave Courvoisier of KFVS-12 TV, then answered a handful of impromptu questions from the audience.

Baker was the only candidate who did not express support for the April 4 bond and levy issue.

"I support expansion," Baker said, "but I have some concerns about the capacity we're able to bond at. I understand we have a $30 million bonding capacity and that we're at $10 million to $11 million right now. That leaves us at $8 million to $10 million to bond, should the need arise in the future. I don't want to be down to $8 million if we need to spend $10 million or $11 million."

Another question dealt with possible changes in school discipline policies.

The candidates agreed discipline must start at home, but discipline also must be fairly and consistently applied at the school.

Candidates were then asked how they would change the perception the school board is "unopen" to public opinion.

Each candidate encouraged the public to attend board meetings and voice concerns. Such ideas as an interactive Internet site was also brought up, as well as more participation in groups like PTA.

"The board is not going to go to your house and ask you your opinion on things," Illers said.

The fifth question was a bit loaded. It mentioned surprise "drug dog" searches of student lockers and asked whether "the rights of students involved in drugs outweigh the rights of students not involved in drugs."

The candidates vehemently supported the search policy.

"Students' rights are obviously important," said Ludwig, an attorney for 23 years, "but they're using your locker not their locker. Expectations of the school of (students) not bringing in drugs is not unreasonable."

"You bring drugs into our district, you don't deserve any rights," Baker said. "There's no need for them in the school district."

"Whenever you have children disrupting children wanting to learn, (it's needed)," Illers said. "The parents that teach discipline to their children don't have to worry about that."

"There's no place for drugs in school," Wills said. "We do not need that environment in our schools. I have no problem with it."

Asked to identify problems they foresee and what solutions they recommend, each candidate went his own direction.

"Safety is a primary factor," Wills said. "How many (students) in a certain area do you want to have?" He called the continued growth "a major, major situation" to deal with.

"This was a very cohesive town when I first ran for the board," Ludwig said. "I'm very concerned about problems in the classrooms. Parents don't support teachers today. We're starting to see ourselves become like bigger city districts."

"I've heard the option of buying land for a new high school and moving the junior high to the current high school campus," Baker said. "I'd say that's an option until somebody tells me we can't do it."

"Discipline is needed in schools," Illers said. "Children crave direction, children crave discipline and children crave attention especially from their parents."