Republican: Push more money into academics

he result was an operation that he says pushed more dollars into academics, brought the deficit under control and created a more efficient, collaborative administration -- the same things the Republican said he wants to focus on if elected Indiana superintendent of public instruction.

Bennett said Indiana's schools aren't doing well enough and thinks greater efficiency at the top of school districts is key to freeing up money to offer more resources to students and teachers.

Bennett, 47, said he would reshape the Indiana Department of Education by freeing school districts of regulations he said have been foisted on them over the years.

Once in office, Bennett said, he would have staff go through the regulations and identify ones that might be burdening schools. He would meet with superintendents and principals to find the regulations that frustrate them.

"We have not achieved at the levels we need to achieve in Indiana," he said. "We need to deliver the best education to kids in the United States. When it comes to schools, there should be local control, but it should be local control on how you hit the highest educational standards."

Bennett and his opponent, retired Tippecanoe Schools Superintendent Richard D. Wood, agree on many things but have sharp differences on issues such as local control and how to put more money into classrooms.

Bennett has served as superintendent of Greater Clark County Schools since July 2007, when the district had about 11,000 students, and was an assistant superintendent in New Albany-Floyd County Schools before that, overseeing human resources and administration.

His short tenure as a superintendent leaves little record of his decisions or accomplishments, but he cites hard bargains he has driven with teachers unions at both districts among his accomplishments. The unions did not return calls seeking comment.

And he points to the statistic that his district spends more than 65 percent of its money on direct classroom expenses under a state formula.

Although consistent statewide numbers are unavailable, many districts acknowledge much lower percentages, and many educators reject the idea of a goal of putting 65 percent of school funding into direct classroom expenditures because each district has different needs.

Bill Halter, a retired teacher and former Greater Clark County School Board member, said he expects Bennett would try to do the same things at the state level as he did at the local level, especially looking for places to trim costs.

"My impression is he would probably do a good job; I know he's got the energy for it," Halter said. "He was a fair person."

But Bennett also has a reputation as a tough negotiator and says that when he makes a decision, he knows he's the final word.