Published: May 07, 2008 12:10 pm         

Challenger wins school board race

Board president says he's proud of time he served

Logansport School Board President Mark Hetz lost his bid for re-election Tuesday.

Challenger David McClure will join the board on July 1 along with two other new members, G. Cyle Dibble and Mike McCord. Dibble and McCord were unopposed in their bids to replace board members Daniel Slusser and Patrick McNarny, who did not seek re-election.

The election will leave the five-member board with two incumbents, Lynne Ness and Mike Fiscel.

McClure said he felt honored to be elected.

“It’s a humbling experience,” he said. “I’m anxious to get started.”

He said he had been elected because people were ready for a change. His primary reason for running, he said, were his four young children, 11-year-old Kenna, 10-year-old Cass, 7-year-old Allie and 5-year-old Mayce in the Logansport school system.

McClure said he would begin learning the “inner-workings” of the school board. He said he’d like to get up to speed on school procedures and policies, as well as the corporation’s agenda and current plans.

“My first goal is to really learn and understand everything,” he said.

McClure said his focus as a member of the school board would be “the kids.”

“I want the best education for my kids, and for every other child in this community,” he said. “Education needs to be a priority in their lives.”

He said another goal was to get more parents involved in their children’s educations.

Hetz said he would miss his work on the school board.

“I’ve always been interested in the kids in the community,” he said.

One thing he said he wouldn’t miss, though, was the “grind” of it.

“It’s tough work,” he said.

Hetz said he believed he had helped to lead the school district out of financial difficulties, and he cited the Century Career Center as a “nice accomplishment.”

“I’m proud of the time I served,” Hetz said. “I’m glad that I did it.”

McClure was born and raised in Logansport, graduating from Logansport High School in 1988. His wife, Shantel, is a teacher at Columbia Elementary School.

He works for Chrysler in Kokomo as a process engineering manager.

McClure has worked with the Purdue University Advisory Board, and he was on the advisory board at Indiana University at Kokomo as well as Purdue Extension of Kokomo’s advisory board.

McClure said he planned on listening to individuals with an open mind.

“Everyone deserves to be heard,” he said.

McClure also hopes to build a solid relationship with board members.

“Hopefully, we’ll make positive improvements in the corporation,” he said.

Hetz said this is the first time since he had been on the board that so many new members had been elected.

Previously, members had a total of 40 years of experience, said Hetz.

He said the school board would have some tough times ahead, and he recommended the new members vote their conscience and study all the material they could find on the issue.

“It’s hard to do sometimes,” he said. “You get a lot of pressure. Do what you think is right and live with it.”

Melissa Soria may be reached at (574) 732-5143 or via e-mail at melissa.soria@pharostribune.com