Center Grove School Board Candidates 2014

Interviewer  /  Johnette Cruz
Photos  /  Provided

On Nov. 4, the Center Grove School Corporation will hold its election for the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees are entrusted (acting upon recommendations of the superintendent) with adopting the annual budget, tax rates and policies, as well as authorizing the spending of funds. The board currently has five members and three of them are up for re-election this year. Members are elected to four-year terms, while the president, vice president and secretary are elected to a one-year term. The board determines those specific positions. We recently asked each candidate a few questions.

Jack L. Russell
Tell us about yourself:
I am 58 years old and I’m the last of five kids that came through Center Grove. My wife Brenda also graduated in 1974 and our son graduated in 2013. I spend my spare time working with the Center Grove Alumni and Friends group and the Center Grove Education Foundation as a mentor. I also try to help out with the CG Theater group and the CG Choir tech dads. When I have real down time, I enjoy watching classic movies.

Where are you currently employed?
After spending time helping to get my son through school and now in college I am going back to substitute teaching. I have a degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University.

How long have you been a resident in the Center Grove Community?
My family moved to the Center Grove area in 1958, so that would make it about 56 years that I have lived here. My dad is an Edinburgh graduate and my mom is a Franklin graduate.

Do you have any prior experience within the school system?
Before being elected to the school board in 2010, I substitute taught for the school system. I subbed at all levels. I enjoyed the troubleshooting that subbing presented. I would have kindergartners one day and seniors the next day. I have subbed for CG basically since 1987.

What are your top two objectives if elected to the school board?
My two objectives are keeping a fiscally responsible annual budget and keeping the education of the kids in the forefront of the Center Grove community.

Why is being a part of the Center Grove School Board important to you?
The Center Grove school system has been great to our family. It gave me a good base to continue my education throughout life. Educating our children these days is a challenge and I want to be a part of that challenge and keep Center Grove moving in an upward and forward direction. I want to see Center Grove be a leader and not a follower in the world of education.

In your opinion, what should be the top function of the school board?
The top function of the school board should be in helping to provide an atmosphere that will enhance a well-rounded education of the students. A school board has to be open to many ideas and thoughts in the education of the students. After gathering these ideas and thoughts, the board needs to make decisions that will give the students an education that will help them be successful in life. The school board has to keep an eye on the big picture at all times.

Adam Norman
Tell us about yourself:
I am 42 years old and I have been married 18 years to Amy Meadows Norman. I am a 1990 graduate of Center Grove, as is my wife. We have four sons ages 5 to 14: Bodie (5); Deacon (7); Eli (11); and Jackson (14). A great part my spare time is spent getting my kids to and from activities and friends’ homes, and spending time with my family. In addition, I am the leader of a Bible study group of other parents at our home plus a Shepherd for the Bible Club at CGMSC. I also enjoy traveling, reading thrillers, running, biking and an occasional round of golf.

Where are you currently employed?
I am an attorney and a Senior Manager with the State of Indiana’s Department of Child Services – Child Support Bureau. I am in charge of field staff, policy development and implementation. I was previously a deputy prosecutor for 15 years.

How long have you been a resident in the Center Grove Community?
I am a lifelong resident of Center Grove. My parents and my wife’s parents have lived in this community for over 40 years. We could not imagine raising our sons in any other community.

Do you have any prior experience within the school system?
I am currently a member of the Center Grove School Board and serve as Secretary. I am a member of the Policy Committee and I have participated with the Strategic Planning Committee. Additionally, I have represented Center Grove by presenting at both the National School Board Association and Indiana School Board Association annual conferences.

What are your top objectives if elected to the school board?
The first is that I want to push Center Grove to be a top-notch, world-class, innovative school corporation that provides the best education for all students regardless of ability or income level. I am a strong supporter of expanding CG’s academic offerings, including the area of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Center Grove should have rigorous and challenging curriculum that prepares all students for life after leaving CG. The second objective is that our schools are fiscally responsible and the effective tax rate does not increase. CG should be working to first use creative solutions with current resources before spending money on an issue.

Why is being a part of the Center Grove School Board important to you?
The purpose of a school corporation is to educate all children and my priority is to ensure all board decisions support and advance that duty. I also want to be part of solutions and oversight that holds our school corporation accountable for its actions that affect a child’s school experience in all areas, including academics, athletics, the arts, extracurricular, safety and discipline.

In your opinion, what should be the top function of the school board?
The top function of a school board is to be the decision maker for the school corporation. The Board’s decisions should always take into consideration fiscal responsibility, the welfare of the students and staff and continuing to make Center Grove a top-tier school that is a model for all other school corporations, not only in Indiana, but also on a national level.

Scott Alexander
Tell us about yourself:
I am 41 years old and my wife Dana and I have two sons: Spencer (Freshman) and Zachary (Fifth Grader). In my spare time, I enjoy playing golf.

Where are you currently employed?
I work at AIT Laboratories as the Director of Information Technology. I’m also a Firefighter/EMT at White River Township Fire Department.

How long have you been a resident in the Center Grove Community?
I’ve been a lifetime resident in the Center Grove Community.

Do you have any prior experience within the school system?
I am a 1991 graduate and have been a part of the Board of Trustees since 2010 along with being a member of the Center Grove Education Foundation for three years.

What are your top two objectives if elected to the school board?
I would like to focus on continued stability of the school district and ensuring world-class student achievement.

Why is being a part of the Center Grove School Board important to you?
Being a lifetime resident of the community, I feel a deep-rooted desire to give back to the community that has given so much to me. I also want to ensure my children continue to receive the best academics we can provide.

In your opinion, what should be the top function of the school board?
Providing fiduciary and policy oversight while ensuring the best possible education for our community’s children.

Elisa Horne
Tell us about yourself:
I am a wife and a mother of two active Center Grove students. When we are not running to robotics, Boy Scouts, CG Aquatic Club, CGMSN swim team, or any other number of school activities, we are usually outside. Our family enjoys camping, hiking, and canoeing, and I love gardening.

Where are you currently employed?
I previously worked in insurance and risk management, most recently at Baldwin and Lyons. My husband works for Ganassi Racing, and we are fortunate that I am able to dedicate my time to family, volunteering in the community, and at our schools.

How long have you been a resident in the Center Grove Community?
We moved to the Center Grove area just over 10 years ago.

Do you have any prior experience within the school system?
I first volunteered 10 years ago in my son’s kindergarten class, and never looked back. It was my honor to serve as chairperson for the Veteran’s Day program at both Sugar Grove and North Grove for 6 years as well as treasurer of the PTO. In the fall of 2007, I was nominated to serve as a public member of the school corporation’s Strategic Planning Committee for the corporation on which I remained active until spring of this year. I later served as the co-chair of the finance committee during one of the most challenging times for public education in Indiana. I also enjoyed my time as a board member for the Center Grove Education Foundation, and am immensely proud of the enrichment they provide our schools.

What are your top two objectives if elected to the school board?
Always do what is in the best interest of all our students and teachers by putting them first in every decision. I want to be part of a team that promotes fiscally responsible policies that help our corporation continue in academic excellence and create a positive learning environment for everyone.

Why is being a part of the Center Grove School Board important to you?
It would be a privilege to be part of an organization that prepares our children to be productive and outstanding citizens of our community. I am excited at the prospect of serving and contributing during a time of growth and change.

In your opinion, what should be the top function of the school board?
I believe as a board we should focus on creating policies that allow the administration, teachers and support staff to help students achieve any academic or vocational goals they wish to attain. It is also important for the board to be a reflection of what matters to our community, as the future of the Center Grove area depends on our children receiving the best possible education we can provide.