Petition for elected Valpo school board starting

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Updated: February 19, 2012 8:19AM

VALPARAISO — A petition drive is beginning Monday that could lead to the creation of an elected school board.

The Center Township Democratic Committee is launching the petition drive, but it’s intended as a bipartisanship effort, said Kevin Cornett, chairman of the CTDC.

He said about 2,000 signatures, or 10 percent of the township’s registered voters, are required to place the issue on the Nov. 6 ballot as a referendum.

The Valparaiso School Board is one of a handful in the state with an appointed school board. Four members are named by the City Council and one, who represents unincorporated Center Township, is appointed by the Center Township Board.

“We believe it’s time to move past an appointed board, now especially with all the trouble they’re having,” said Cornett in reference to a $3 million budget deficit. “There seems to be a lack of accountability, there are no repercussions because they’re appointed.”

Cornett said he expects to reach the 2,000-name threshold to hold the referendum. “I don’t think it would be too difficult to get 2,000... We’ve never lost $3 million before.”

The appointed school board has faced controversy in the past. State Rep. Ed Soliday examined the issue in 2009 and considered authoring a bill establishing an elected board.

Only registered voters within the Valparaiso school district in Center Township can sign the petition. For information, contact Cornett at 548-8891.