Five candidates are running for seats on the Vincennes Community School Board, with three incumbents seeking re-election and two challengers.

Aaron Bauer, a board member for 16 years, aims to continue his focus on teacher recruitment and curriculum expansion. He is proud of the district’s success in filling teaching vacancies, saying, “We’ve improved salaries, and our school system is strong in morale and teamwork.” Bauer is also focused on enhancing opportunities in trades and technical education.

Barbara Toole, who has served for 10 years, highlights her work in establishing programs like the Little Alice Learning Center and Washington Learning Academy. She believes community involvement is key, saying, “We need to motivate families and guardians to support their children’s education.”

Karla Smith, another incumbent, is focusing on school safety in her re-election bid. She has worked on upgrading security features in the schools and said, “There’s more to do to keep our schools secure, and I want to continue that work.”

Mackenzie Young, one of the challengers, is pushing for increased transparency and efforts to address the teacher shortage. “We need to focus on retaining our current educators and attracting new ones,” Young said. She advocates for additional support for teachers on emergency permits to improve long-term retention.

Kolby Kerzan, a local business owner and parent, is seeking to bring a fresh perspective to the board. “We need someone who understands the challenges firsthand,” Kerzan said. He supports raising teacher pay, expanding student programs, and making  board meeting times more accessible to all.

Early voting continues through Monday November 4th.   The election is November 5th.

View the full interviews at the link below.