Independence school board candidates debate new school build, funding and student safety at student‑moderated forum

A student‑moderated forum at the Independence Civic Center brought candidates for the Independence Board of Education together to explain their backgrounds and answer questions about the district’s finances, aging facilities and student safety ahead of the Nov. 4 school election.

The forum, introduced by Independence High School Principal Mike Janitovich and opened briefly by Mayor Kurtz, gave each candidate timed responses to questions written by community members and vetted by students. Candidates who introduced themselves included Joseph Moller, Scott Peters, Jennifer Bridal Shedron, Carrie Sears (incumbent board member), Kathleen Biju Bergia, Rege Sheridan and others. Students moderated the event and asked follow‑ups after the timed answers.

Why it matters: District leaders and candidates told the audience that decisions about facility repair or replacement and how to fund it will be central to the coming term. Multiple candidates said facilities are old and that the district must weigh renovation against replacement; one candidate said some options show that building new could be cheaper than extensive renovation.

Candidates’ backgrounds and priorities Joseph Moller, a 2005 Independence High School graduate and city planning commission member, said he is running "because I deeply care about our schools and our community," and emphasized fiscal responsibility, modern facilities and student readiness. Scott Peters, an Independence alumnus and managing partner with a background in financial systems, described his experience as a volunteer treasurer and youth coach and said he is studying district financial trends.

Incumbent board member Carrie Sears pointed to the board’s recent hiring decisions and to a failed levy campaign in 2019, saying that those results informed the district’s current planning. Candidate Kathleen Biju Bergia, who said she worked on capital projects professionally, told the audience, "We are dangerously close to that point," when describing the district’s capital‑maintenance needs.

Facilities and funding Several candidates said two district buildings are more than six decades old and that the district faces a facilities challenge. Candidates said a past levy failed and that proposals under consideration include new construction and renovations. Kathleen Biju Bergia and others said deferred major maintenance over 10–15 years has left the district with limited options; candidates urged careful analysis of how to spend taxpayer dollars and how to minimize the burden on families.

On funding more broadly, candidates noted state funding remains a long‑running issue in Ohio public education. One candidate said the state funding system was declared unconstitutional years ago and that local budgeting and scheduling changes are ongoing; candidates praised the new superintendent and treasurer for work on current budgets.

Student services, safety and policy Candidates discussed classroom policy and student support. Several endorsed the district’s age‑specific cell phone rules as an appropriate approach while acknowledging policy will need periodic updates as devices and social media evolve. Busing and traffic congestion at the primary school drew repeated attention: candidates described current drop‑off and pick‑up patterns as unsafe and said the building’s single access road and heavy traffic on Hillside create hazards for students and staff.

Multiple candidates said career and technical offerings such as the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC) are valuable alternatives to a four‑year college path and highlighted internships and hands‑on learning. On student retention, candidates suggested early interventions and exit surveys to learn why families leave the district.

Volunteers, background checks and in‑building security Candidates raised volunteer screening and building security. One candidate noted many volunteers receive little background screening and recommended more stringent checks for adults who work regularly with students. Another candidate said the primary school lacks a secure vestibule and called it "probably our least secure building," urging an interim safety fix even if a bond for new construction is pursued.

Quotes from the forum "I deeply care about our schools and our community," Joseph Moller said in his opening remarks. "We are dangerously close to that point," Kathleen Biju Bergia said of the district’s facilities after reviewing past proposals and deferred maintenance. "Our buildings are 65, 70 years old," Carrie Sears said while urging voters to keep an open mind as the board prepares information about potential bond proposals.

Ending: next steps Candidates asked voters to study details the district will release about any proposed bond or levy and to participate in the Nov. 4 election. The student moderators closed the session by thanking candidates; the program then transitioned to a city council candidates forum later the same evening.