By John Estridge
Brookville resident Justin Moore is running for the Franklin County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees from District Three.
District Three entails the Brookville One, Brookville Two, Brookville Three, Highland One and a small portion of Butler precincts.
Moore said he was asked by others to run for school board, and he does not have an axe to grind.
“I want to make it known that absolutely no events, decisions, or actions by the administration or school board led me to the decision of running for school board,” Moore said. “However, what did was the fact several teachers, parents, some custodians, and a corporation maintenance man asking me if I would consider running again. Also, this is the perfect position for me to give back to my native county and the school corporation, which educated and molded me into who I am.”
One of the major problems facing each school board candidate and member is the continued decline in enrollment. State money to the school corporation is based on enrollment so falling enrollment means less money for education in the school corporation.
“That is a difficult one for any school corporation at anytime; however, with our entire country suffering from the effects of COVID-19, this is extremely hard to answer,” Moore said. “In my opinion, we, as a county, need to attract young families with school-age children to move into the Franklin County School Corporation’s area. Rather it be to be closer to family members who are current residents here, for employment reasons or whatever the case may be.”
But there are other problems and issues Moore wants to tackle. One of them is bullying. He also is concerned about the need for more emphasis on skilled trades education and also on special needs students.
“One is bullying and how it’s never going to stop,” Moore said. “I want to make students, parents and school staff aware of the repercussions and consequences for bullying. Guidelines are set up for a reason and should be aggressively enforced.
“Two, the school’s staff, students, and parents need to be made more aware of special needs and the programs that are offered to help the students that need it,” he said. “I want to make board members, school staff, and parents more aware and knowledgeable of Special Needs programs and options such as Individual Education Plans, 504 plans and other forms of helping the students.
“Three, the schools need to emphasize skilled trades as our country has a decreasing number of skilled laborers such as electricians, carpenters, plumbers, machine operators, etc.,” Moore said. “Some students do not feel like college would be for them so this could be an avenue to take. Whitewater Technical Career Center is a vocational school in Connersville that students can take while they are in high school. Ivy Tech and I.U. East are a couple of nearby education facilities that offer courses in skilled labor trades that may be something children want to pursue opposed to a big university setting.”
Due to the declining enrollment, it has been mentioned the possibility of consolidating Mt. Carmel and Laurel students into one elementary school in Brookville.
Moore said the teachers and parents of those affected students should have a say in the final decision.
“I think this needs to be talked about with the Mt. Carmel school staff, Laurel Elementary school staff, parents and students that will be affected,” Moore said. “We need to do what is best for the children and their education.”
Moore talked about the re-entry plan.
“I think the school re-entry plan has been handled as well as the current board thinks that it could be handled due to the COVID-19 era we are in,” Moore said.
Moore said those who know him know he lives by the saying: “Right is right and wrong is wrong.”
“And I’m a talker,” Moore said. “If you want your voice heard with strength and compassion, I’m your candidate. If you want a Franklin County native that’s been rooted here for generations that went to and graduated from The Franklin County School Corporation that wants to give back to the community and schools that made me, I’m your vote.”
If elected, Moore plans on communicating with his constituents via social media, text and phone calls.