Election Day is fast approaching.
In Knox County, the local races center around seats on local school boards.
Two candidates are vying for the District C seat on the South Knox School Board: incumbent Michael Edwards and challenger John Carnahan.
Edwards, who has served on the board for eight years, says he is running to continue his efforts in hiring quality staff and expanding academic programs. He highlighted his past advocacy for hiring a permanent foreign language teacher and for introducing Advanced Placement courses and computer programming opportunities, which he sees as crucial for students’ college and career readiness. “We have to constantly improve,” said Edwards, emphasizing the importance of retaining students, which keeps vital state funding in place.
John Carnahan, a South Knox graduate and local farmer, cited his family’s long-standing involvement in the community and his experience on other boards as key motivations for his candidacy. Carnahan sees staffing challenges as a primary issue facing the board in the coming years, noting that attracting teachers, bus drivers, and other staff will require competitive salaries and an inviting work environment. “It’s about making sure people want to be here,” he said. Carnahan also plans to pursue board training through the Indiana School Boards Association if elected.
Watch the full interviews at the link below.