Vigo County officials on Friday announced a five-member Oversight Board created to review and guide the Vigo County School Corporation’s facilities planning and possible construction partnerships.

The county named four appointed members — Mark Elliott, vice president of finance and accounting at Thompson Thrift; Heather Pickens, vice chancellor for finance at Ivy Tech; Mark Matheny, a financial advisor with Edward Jones; and James Bramble, a certified public accountant and former Vigo County auditor — and confirmed that Stacy Killian, president of the Vigo County School Corporation board of directors, will serve as the statutory fifth member.

“Your willingness to step forward is greatly appreciated,” the county official introducing the board said, describing a competitive process that produced 21 applications and a unanimous agreement among nominating entities on the four appointees.

Why it matters: County and school leaders said the oversight board is intended to provide transparent financial and planning oversight as the school corporation advances a consolidation and construction plan. School leadership framed the issue as a choice between raising taxes or pursuing a partnership that could reduce the need for a tax increase.

“We either have to raise taxes or form a partnership,” said Dr. Hamzol, describing a yearlong demographic and financial review. “We’re excited about the possibility of forming a partnership so that we can avoid raising taxes as we try to meet the needs of every single high school kid in our community.”

Board members and appointing officials described their priorities for the board’s first weeks: organize the group, adopt bylaws or rules to define purpose, review existing facility studies and the consolidation/construction plan, and avoid duplicating prior work. Several appointees emphasized financial experience and community service as reasons they applied.

The county said the oversight board will complete conflict-of-interest disclosures and that representatives from nominating entities used a shared scoring rubric to evaluate applicants. Officials said the process was open and intended to encourage broad public participation.

Next steps: The county scheduled the Oversight Board’s first organizational meeting for Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room; the meeting will be live-streamed and open to the public. Officials said the first meeting will likely be organizational and focused on setting rules and reviewing prior materials.

No formal votes on policy or construction were recorded at the announcement. County leaders said the board’s work will be deliberative and that any formal recommendations or actions would be made in future meetings.

Reporting note: Quotes and descriptions are drawn from the public announcement and question-and-answer session with county and school leaders.