Vigo County Commissioners introduced the five-member oversight board that will help guide the next phase of the Vigo County School Corporation’s facility planning Friday.

This newly formed board was established by legislation drafted by state Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, and supported by the Vigo County Council. The committee will provide an added layer of community involvement, financial review and shared decision making as plans for future school facilities move forward.

Per statute, the appointing entities include one member appointed by the Vigo County Council, two appointed by the Vigo County Commissioners including a business representative recommended by the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, one member appointed by the mayor of Terre Haute, and the president of the Vigo County School Corp. Board of Directors.

The Vigo County Oversight Board will begin its work on Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Conference Room at the Vigo County Annex. The meeting is open to the public.

The appointees, who were named following reviewing applications from 21 people, are:

• Mark Elliott, vice president of Finance and Accounting, Thompson Thrift, who was appointed by the Commissioners.

• Heather Pickens, vice chancellor for Finance, Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute and Greencastle, who was appointed by the County Council.

• Mark Metheny, financial advisor, Edward Jones, who was appointed by the Commissioners and recommended by the Chamber of Commerce.

• James Bramble, CPA and former Vigo County auditor, who was appointed by Mayor Brandon Sakbun.

• Stacy Killion, VCSC Board of Directors president.

Representatives from each nominating entity met together this past Monday to review the applications as a group and unanimously agreed on the four appointed members.

Goode was repeatedly thanked for his perseverance in getting his legislation passed. “I still can’t believe this happened in one session — it just shows how good Goode is at his job,” said Vigo County Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard. Rachel Leslie, whose firm RJL Solutions is a consultant for both the city and the county, said, “We wouldn’t be here today without Sen. Greg Goode,” adding, “Other counties are interested in this legislation — this board gives hope to other counties.”

The committee is anticipating the work ahead of them.

Metheny said, “This is a focal point in Vigo County history, and we need to make sure that my kids and future generations have an ideal place to learn and grow. Money will help us get to where we need to go.”

“Deciding the fate of high schools is premature, but it’s one of our first priorities, to come to a quick consensus on that and then start working out the remaining pieces,” Elliott said.

Bramble compared the job the committee is undertaking to working with the County Council to get the new jail built.

“That was a drawn out and painful process but we got it done,” he said. “This, I think, will be a more rewarding process. You’ll wind up with something that’s a more productive product than a jail — educating children for our future.”

VCSC Superintendent Chris Himsel said he is looking forward to hearing the conclusions the oversight board will reach.

“The oversight is over the entire process,” he said.

“They’re going to have to answer the question, does the county really have money to finance this? That’s going to be one of their questions. They’re going to take a look at our plan and (if) it meets goals for the community.”

He added, “ At the end of the day, the school board owns its plan. But this is about, is this plan, partnering with the finances that may or may not be available from the county, does it make for a good partnership? Their job is to determine whether or not the two things married together are good for our community, worthy of the investment from the county if the county does indeed have the financing to do it.”

Approving the creation of the oversight committee, Clinkenbeard said, was “a difficult process with some ugliness at times.”

Vociferous debate filled the County Council’s Nov. 12 meeting over the issue, and the final vote was in part based on the testimony of students wanting to see their schools improved.

“To see students get involved with the process — it’s one of the best accomplishments of my career,” Clinkenbeard said.

The board will begin its work on Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Conference Room at the Vigo County Annex. The meeting is open to the public.
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