Mike Wolanin | The Republic Billie Whitted, left, and Leigh Britt campaign for school board candidates outside the vote center at St. John’s Masonic Lodge during the midterm elections in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
A Columbus resident with a long career in education has announced her intention to run for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. board next year.
Leigh Britt, a lecturer of mathematics at Indiana University Columbus, shared the news during the time for public comment at Monday’s school board meeting. She plans to run for the District 5 seat currently held by Pat Bryant.
Bryant, 70, is a former Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy and now serves as a resource officer at the Bartholomew County Public Library. He told The Republic that while he has enjoyed his time on the board, he does not plan to seek re-election.
During her announcement, Britt shared that she and her husband moved to Columbus 31 years ago and raised two daughters who went through the BCSC school system.
“This is a great corporation,” she said. “I’m proud of it. You all have had a tough job these last few months. You’ve tackled issues that are important to the parents of the children in the corporation. You’ve examined opportunities to expand and renovate our facilities as well as the means to make it happen.”
She also commended BCSC for already having guidelines in place for selection of library materials, as well as policies in place for “parents who do not feel certain aspects of curriculum suit the needs of their children” or wish for library materials to be reviewed.
“It’s my wish this continues,” Britt said. “It’s a matter of common sense. As the corporation explores options to renovate our facilities to meet the needs of our future and explores options to fund building a new elementary school, I’m hopeful the board will continue to examine all sides of the issues and find creative solutions. This is how we move forward; it’s a matter of common sense.”
Britt has been with IU Columbus since 1994. Prior to that, she taught math at Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va. from 1990 to 1992 and Columbus North High School from 1992 to 1994. Her community service includes serving as an adult mentor for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services’ Dance Marathon/After Prom and coordinating the Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics State Math Contest from 2016 to 2023.
The BCSC school board’s District 3, District 5 and District 7 seats will be on the ballot next year, said Bartholomew County Election Administrator Taylor Seegraves. District 3 is currently represented by Todd Grimes, and school board president Nicole Wheeldon represents District 7.
Bryant cited his age as one of the factors in his decision not to run again.
“I’ve been on the board for almost 13, 14 years,” he added. “So it’s time for me to relinquish my space and let someone else get in there and do the right thing.”
