Candidates for Blue River Valley School Board answer student questions at forum

Superintendent Laurie Dickerson opened the forum at Blue River Valley Schools and introduced Amanda Dillon, the district’s new speech-and-debate coach, saying she invited the candidates to attend and that the evening would showcase students as well as the candidates. "I love this place," Dickerson said, thanking students and the community for their support.

The event combined a short showcase — Dillon’s speech-and-debate students will compete next week "on the thirtieth at Newcastle" — with a student-led question-and-answer session for the candidates on the ballot. An event speaker announced the two candidates on the ballot as Carla Bryant and Maya Brown.

Both candidates emphasized the district’s educators, small-school environment and the administration’s efforts as core strengths. They said Blue River’s small size makes it easier for staff and students to form close connections and allows students to access a wider range of extracurriculars than might be expected for a small district. One candidate described being a Blue River graduate and credited teachers and administrators for programming that supports college-bound students and those entering the workforce.

On school safety, candidates pointed to the district’s current measures — locked and buzzed entry points, drills and participation in countywide safety planning — and said the school board’s role is to listen to experts and back administration-led safety protocols rather than micromanage operations. "We have to be willing to listen to the experts and stay current on protocols," one candidate said when asked about improvements.

Asked what makes an effective school board, candidates said listening, respect for different opinions and avoiding micromanagement are essential. Several answers stressed that an individual board member is one of five votes and that many changes require consensus or action at the state level, so the board often focuses on oversight, advocacy and supporting administrators rather than day-to-day operations.

Candidates also highlighted program support as a priority: they praised recent grants and programs in robotics, FFA, choir, theater and esports and said promoting those offerings helps with enrollment and community engagement. For student achievement, they deferred to administrators on specific instructional plans but pledged board support for dual-credit opportunities, AP pathways and professional development designed to raise classroom instruction.

On teacher retention, candidates acknowledged financial and policy constraints driven by state funding and said the board can advocate to legislators while creating local conditions that make Blue River a place teachers want to work and stay. Throughout the forum, they framed their practical role as listening, supporting staff and helping secure resources rather than unilaterally changing operations.

Coach Amanda Dillon praised the students for handling difficult, unscripted questions and said she was excited about the new speech-and-debate team’s opportunities. Superintendent Dickerson closed by reiterating that the district does not endorse candidates, expressing pride in the students and asking the audience to support the program and the schools as the campaign continues ahead of the November election.

The forum featured five people running for three open board seats and provided voters a chance to hear candidates’ priorities on safety, staffing and student programs in a format run largely by students.