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The Jessamine County Schools (JCS) Board of Education has several districts up for reelection: districts one, two, and three. For District One, incumbent Bobby Welch is running against Rosanna Crusott.  Incumbent Amy Day is running against Sandi Corma for the District two seat . And in District Three, incumbent Debra Hood is running against Rachel Baker and Anthony Turner. Turner did not submit his answers to the Journal in time to be published. The Journal will edit and add to his answers if received later. 

Bobby Welch, District One 

Welch has been on the School board for 8 years and has been a youth sports coach in Jessamine County for over ten years. 

If re-elected, Welch said his priorities would include using his experience and that of the other board members to help the new Superintendent, Sara Crum, and the new Director of Operations, Matt Simpson, get acclimated to their new positions. 

What are your thoughts on Amendment 2?

“My opinion is anytime you take public tax dollars and leave it up to elected officials that aren’t necessarily specialized in education who can then decide how to use those tax dollars, I don’t know if that’s a good thing. That’s my drawback to it. I could probably effectively answer this question in a couple of weeks. Steven Scrivner, [the School Board Chair], and I have asked our Finance Director Jason U’Wren to look at what’s possible, the legislators are not really giving… details on what they’re going to do with it. So, I don’t want to hand the keys to my car over to someone if I don’t know where they’re going. That’s kind of where I am at right now. I think we always have room for improvement, and I’m not against a total reform of public education. We’re the largest employer in the county; when you start cutting funding for that, what does that mean for those people’s jobs? I’m currently undecided because it has huge implications, and I think when you start doing things like this, it hurts the socioeconomic class that’s already underrepresented,” Welch said.

What particular experiences have prepared you to serve as a board member?

“I’ve spent sixteen to seventeen years coaching in youth organizations, such as Jessamine youth baseball, softball, andbasketball. I ran the Jessamine County football league for 12 years. So I have hundreds of kids from those organizations, and I feel like I’ve enriched their lives coaching and mentoring them. Probably the greatest part of being on the board is seeing those kids walk across the stage. Last year, I had a kid walk across the stage at East Jessamine, and I was his coach when he was 4-years-old. That’s pretty awesome,” Welch said. He also has over 100 hours in certified training in school safety, superintendent evaluations, school finance, and school board ethics. “So, that’s something that’s hard to come by, getting that many training hours. Obviously, I think that gives me a leg up for experience,” he said.

Welch believes a major issue facing the school district is secondary language English speakers, including students who also have special needs, and ensuring they have the resources they need.

What are your areas of concern regarding student achievement in your district? 

“We’re making a lot of progress. We’re making a huge gap recovery from the COVID years,” Welch said. “It’s specifically in those kids that during COVID were between the kindergarten and second-grade range. Those kids are now fifth and sixth-graders, and reading and math [are] priority, and getting them over that hump left during COVID while not having in-person instruction [was difficult]. That’s also one of the more rewarding things is closing that gap and getting back to where we’re meeting the requirements and we have no schools in the district that are failing on the state level. We’ve got a couple who are in the deep green on the state level for a couple different categories. Almost all schools [in Jessamine County] have at least one category in the deep green.”

Rosanna Crusott, District One

Crusott said the children and their education would be her priority if elected. “I’ve seen people at restaurants and drive-thrus [who] don’t know how to count change back. My grandchildren lived with us for four years. It was during COVID, and they were learning all their lessons on chromebooks and I saw the lack of education. I have grandchildren that do not know how to write in cursive, read cursive, [or] read an analogue clock. I know these things aren’t major but the spelling, the writing, the people that don’t know how to count change back to you…that’s ridiculous,” she said.

What are your thoughts on Amendment 2?

“I’m running for public schools. I went to public school all of my life. All of my grandchildren went to public school. 17 of them. I’m all for public schools 100 percent, but…you’ve got all these organizations dictating what they can and cannot do, so in my opinion, it’s like there’s a monopoly on the schools. There is zero choice for the children and I’m voting for it. I’m voting yes for school choice because I believe that our children are worth it, that their education is worth it. If the teachers would just think about it… they can start their own schools, have ten kids, 20 kids in their classroom, and make more money and less stress and be able to probably discipline the kids like they need to be.”

Crusott said the fact that she is fiscal with money prepares her well to be a board member. 

She also sees bullying as one of the major issues facing the school district. “I am there to make sure that their children have a good education, and I’m there to protect them,” Crusott said. “The big issue in Lexington [is] with the bathrooms, the boys and girls sharing bathrooms. I think that is terrible. This is just education and protection. If I walk into the restaurant and there’s a urinal in a stall, I’m not [going to] go there. I’m not using the bathroom with a strange man. I’mnot [going to] do it, and I don’t think we should subject our children to this. We’re mentally perverting our kids.”

What are your areas of concern regarding student achievement in your district? 

“We need to get back to the basics. We need to make sure our children know how to read and write and [perform] life skills and [utilize] checking accounts. Because there’s a lot of kids suffering at home. There’s homeless people, homeless children. It makes me want to adopt. Parents who may be addicted to drugs…are the parents they’re coming home to. Also, I think it’s very concerning how many administrators we have. So what are all those people doing besides making more laws and more rules? I don’t know, and I’m not gonna know unless I get in there and I get elected and I get in there, and I see. I’m there to make things better. I want to make things better for the kids. I want them to be kids.” Crusott said.

Sandi Corman, District Two

If elected, Corman’s major priority would be improving reading scores and school discipline.

What are your thoughts on Amendment 2?

“Amendment 2 is not going to be policy and it is not [a] voucher. It is an ability to talk about it because right now [the State Congress] can’t. So they need to have this amendment to just discuss the logistics of it…You want equality? You want everybody to be the same? Vote yes.”

Corman said that the school of life has prepared her for this position. She said she was a homemaker, volunteered at her children’s school, was on the PTA, and was a den mother. She raised three children and homeschooled them for a time. She also received her degree in nursing at 48, which she used to care for dialysis patients. Corman also teaches Sunday school.

Corman sees high school teacher retention as a major issue facing the district. “I spoke with a teacher and she said she could make $8,000 more in Fayette County. So she’s waiting for Fayette County; in the meantime, she has to work. So, we’re not up with Fayette County. Well, we don’t have the budget they do, and I don’t want to be with Fayette County, quite frankly… I want [Jessamine County] to be a light on a hill. Are we attracting the best? Are they only looking for a paycheck? Also, are we hiring people who just moved to Kentucky? They’re outside teachers; they’re not locally born and raised [here]. They’re from the north or from the west, that’s a different culture out there,” she said. 

What are your areas of concern regarding student achievement in your district? 

“I’m wondering how much home support [kids] get. 2020 COVID was an eye-opener for parents. COVID opened a lot of parents’ eyes to what was actually being taught in the schools and they were very unhappy. I think that COVID had some positive things and I think parents have wanted to be more involved now that they know kind of what’s going on. Are we really teaching at schools, or are they just on Chromebooks? How much is being taught, and how much are they teaching themselves? Something’s got to change because our product is inferior. Not all.”

Amy Day, District Two

Amy Day has been on the school board since 2008.

If reelected, Day’s priorities include increasing academic achievement, improving teacher support, reducing behavioral issues, and addressing chronic absenteeism and mental health issues. She also wants to ensure the district supports the needs of all students.

What are your thoughts on Amendment 2?

“As a board member, I’m elected to serve the Jessamine County Public Schools. I can see in this amendment, the language is way too broad. I think it would pose unprecedented consequences to our local district, being that we are the largest employer of Jessamine County. If the student population is reduced, then we have to let go of teachers and staff, which would impact families as well. But I also recognize that we’ve got to do better in public education, and I think our iReady data shows that, even though there’s so much to celebrate. As a taxpayer, I also see the other side as well [which is] that my school taxes should go where my student goes. But I don’t see that money, that SEEK funding, going to offset for lower-income families to do that. It’ll give a tax break to the kids already going to private schools.”

Day has completed over 233 training hours in superintendent evaluation, ethics training, school finance, charter school training, and school training. 

Day sees social and emotional behaviors, mental health concerns, and chronic absenteeism as major issues facing the school district. “If our kids aren’t there, they can’t learn. For those who aren’t there I think we still need to provide the learning resources. Teacher retention is a big thing. I think making our students and families aware of the resources available to them, because we don’t always do that well.”

What are your areas of concern regarding student achievement in your district? 

“As far as academic achievement, the Kentucky Department of Education changed to iReady a few years ago. And there was a learning curve there. I think one of the biggest factors is absenteeism and why they’re absent, and if that’s the case, what can we do a better job at getting that instruction to them outside of school that will improve academic achievement?We’re gonna have to listen to the people who are teaching, and the head of departments. My concern is we’re not providing the resources that are needed for academic achievement. I’m not in the classroom every day, so we need to listen to the people who are.”

Debra Hood, District 3

Debra Hood has been on the school board for 12 years.

Hood’s greatest priority is mental health and to help children with counselors and other resources to ensure they have a more positive life.

What are your thoughts on Amendment 2?

“Well, I thought about nothing but (Amendment 2) since I got home from vacation. My very first thought about it is I was voted on this board to help build the whole child for Jessamine County. Now, if those monies are put into a voucher and go to the parents, and they go to a private school, Jessamine County has no private school, so that money does leave our county. That’s my first thought. My other thought is I can see where it possibly might benefit some kids. My concern is the whole child here. And we have lots of children here who struggle. We do backpack lunches. Even during COVID, we fed those kids. I actually went and volunteered and helped fix their lunches.”

What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?

“I think the 12 years of experience makes it possible for me to carry on. I’ve educated myself to the best of my knowledge. Every year, [board members] have to do continuing education. We have to go to the Kentucky School Board Association (KSBA) in Louisville. I have a lot of hours for education under my belt. At KSBA, the first four years you serve, you have to get 12 hours. The second four years you serve, you have to get eight hours of education. After 8 years, from 8-12 years you have to do 4 hours of education. The standing board members [have] been pretty educated throughout the years.”

Hood sees Amendment 2 as a major issue facing the school district. “How’s it gonna change the fates of our kids, and how’s it gonna change the fates of our tiny counties around us that don’t have enough tax revenue already? Jessamine County will be fine. Jason U’Wren is a great steward of our money and I feel like regardless of how it goes, our county will be okay, but what about the eastern counties or the small counties. I don’t want any child to be left out because of changes of money.” she said. 

What are your areas of concern regarding student achievement in your district? 

“I think the little kids that are coming into grade school right now who were very young during COVID. I think that COVID hurt us as a nation and as a society and Jessamine County children. If you can’t go anywhere, how do you socialize your child? So we were stuck at home for so long and I think that hurt the fates of our young people. In Jessamine County, our school grades and our statistics are a little bit above average. But I’d like them to go over the roof. I’d like it to be the top in the state. Also I feel like our Providence School is amazing. There’s people who come from other districts to look at how the Providence School is run.”

Rachel Baker, District 3 

From 1996 to 2004, Baker served as a teacher and then a guidance counselor at Jessamine County Schools. She also worked at Fayette County Public Schools from 2005 to 2022. Positions she held there are Achievement and Compliance Coach, Associate Director of Special Education, and Principal at The Stables school in Lexington. 

Baker said if elected, her priorities would be to foster family engagement and align the goals of the community with those of the school district. She also firmly advocates for inclusion. “I just believe it’s essential for individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and ability, that [we must advocate for them], and I think that should be the priority of the board.”

What are your thoughts on Amendment 2?

“I’m [going to] consistently advocate for public education and prioritize the needs of the students. My knowledge of Amendment 2 is certainly both as a citizen but also as an educator, and I always felt like the discussions should remain on how to enhance the existing systems rather than exploring alternative options that may distract from [the] core issue of improving public education. There’s a lot of material out there. There are two sides to the issue. I just hope people are well-informed…I do support parental choice within the public school framework. In Fayette County, having worked with private school systems, I recognize the equity challenge that relates to that system if public education funding is [going to] go that route as far as Amendment 2. There’s no real credentialing required of those private schools. You can see states where it’s not working, and the [impact] is [going to] depend. For a rural county, [the impact will be much worse]. So I’m just a strong proponent of saying no to Amendment 2. I come from a rural county, and I think we should all band together because every kid should get a worthy public education no matter where they come from.”

What particular experiences have prepared you to serve as a board member?

“I think my personal experience at school has definitely equipped me to advocate effectively for students. I have education credentials. With all of those things in place, what truly matters is the extent of knowledge I’ve gained working alongside my students and families. I’ve been a teacher, guidance counselor, principal, and district administrator, but Ireally believe that my credentials just reflect my commitment to education, [including] my hands-on experience in the classroom or as a principal, which demonstrates my dedication to making sure I support students and their families as they pursue their careers or further their educational path.”

Baker said that [regarding] issues facing the school district, she believes it is essential to utilize local businesses and nonprofits, and find ways to add to the culture and climate of the school system and ensure it is welcoming to all. “I guess that goes back to my background on inclusion and making sure people feel included but they also feel that they have a voice. Because there is a difference in that invitation and then truly being able to engage and have a voice about what the school system looks like for [the parent and the child],” she said.

Regarding her concerns for student academic achievement in the district, Baker seeks to reduce the number of students scoring at a novice level in reading and math. “For some students, reading and math is a journey for them, and once they get there, it just takes them a little longer. Having been in the classroom, I certainly know that. But I think we must set a higher goal,” she said. She also sees science and social studies and scores [in] special education as areas for growth. “And then,, of course, post-secondary readiness, students being employable; what are our employers looking for as our students are graduating? That’s been a lot of work that I’ve been doing, but I also apply that to kindergartners, a first-grader, [or] a second-grader. What makes them employable? We teach such essential things at those levels so how can we promote that leadership among every age and not wait until we get to high school.”