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By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

A new outdoor stadium replacing Curry Field has the support of all but one of the seven local school board candidates who attended a public forum Tuesday evening. About 40 people attended.

The proposed $5.9 million stadium is part of a $32 million school facilities renovation plan unveiled earlier this week. All candidates at the forum said they supported renovation of Ark City's aging school facilities, but one offered a different view on the stadium.

"I'm a visionary as much as anybody, but let's put the money into classrooms," said Bryan Faber, a candidate for a four-year term. "Let's preserve the Curry Field tradition for awhile and address this issue later. I would use some money to upgrade the current football field temporarily then come back to the new stadium issue later."

Faber is a vocational instructor at the Winfield Correctional Facility who would like to see an expansion of vocational education for high school students.

In his introductory comments, he said he would bring a "responsible spending agenda" to the schools and would upgrade and replace existing athletic facilities. There are safety issues at Curry Field that need to be remedied, he said, but he would favor initially renovating Curry Field rather than building a new stadium.

Besides Faber, the other candidates who attended the Traveler-sponsored forum, held at the Arkansas City Middle School, were: Tim Harmon, Mike Walker, Joelyn Squires, Sharon Ellis, Nathan Niles and Amanda Iverson.

They are among 10 candidates running for five openings on the school board in next Tuesday's election. Voters also will choose three city commissioners among six candidates on the ballot for City Commission.

* Harmon, a retired teacher who has 32 years of classroom experience, said he "wholeheartedly support(s)" the facilities committee report that was unveiled at a special school board meeting Monday night. Responding to a question on whether or not to replace Curry Field, he said the current dressing room facility at Curry Field is "a disgrace to our kids," and that he supports building a new facility.

"My understanding is that Curry Field actually belongs to the city not the school district," Harmon said. "So we wouldn't get as much state support as we would on the plan to build (a new stadium) next to the high school. So the plan has financial benefits."

* Walker noted that the facilities committee report is "a starting point only." It has not yet been adopted by the school board and would require a bond issue to become a reality.

"The $32 million bond issue is a mixed blessing," Walker said. "But half of the project would be picked up by the state."

Walker has served on the current school board for the past two years, as an appointee to fill a vacancy. He said one of the reasons he is running for a four-year term is to be involved in upgrading school facilities, including expanding early childhood facilities, improving athletic facilities, and improving technology.

He said board members are needed to ask hard questions about the facilities committee plan, and to distinguish between wants and needs.

* Squires said she would support a tax increase that would be needed to fund a $32 million bond issue. She said she realizes it would be a burden on some, but it is needed for students and everyone involved with the school district.

She also supports the plan to build a new athletic facility next to the high school.

"There is a liability issue of parents driving back and forth to Curry Field," Squires said. "I think it would be a better campus area if (the stadium) were at the high school."

Squires is an incumbent school board member who has served for eight years on the board.

* Ellis said she also would support a bond issue to build a new football field next to the high school.

"We do run risks busing kids from the high school to (Curry Field)," she said. "Just look at the traffic at 3 o'clock at the high school and you can see the danger."

She said the marching band with musical instruments also are bused back and forth from Curry Field.

"Thirty million dollars is a lot of money," said Ellis, leader of shipping and receiving at GE Engine Services. "We need a board to be fiscally responsible and get the best, but students are the ones we need to look out for."

* Niles said renovating Curry Field would be problematic because the district's transportation facility adjacent to the field would have to be moved. A track would have to be put around Curry if it were to be upgraded to be a multi-purpose facility.

"The city owns (Curry), so this (new stadium project) is something we just need to do," said Niles, an Ark City native who has a dental practice here. "We also have a chance to bring in people to the new stadium for regional tournaments, and that brings in money."

Niles added that he would support renovating other school facilities such as the high school -- now 25 years old -- has an aging heat and air unit that needs to be replaced.

"We're going to have to do something," he said. "We have to step up an do something for our children."

* Iverson said that the Ark City school district lags behind other communities that have made an effort to upgrade their facilities.

"The football stadium in the report I think is a need," said Iverson, human resource officer for Cowley County. "It would bring back camaraderie.

"Curry Field has serve its purpose and it's time to do something new."

The candidates summed up their thoughts in a closing statement.

* Harmon: "One of the areas lacking on the current school board is lack of experience on the teaching side. With my years of classroom experience and dealing with secretaries, transportation personnel and others, I could add a perspective to the decision-making process of the board."

* Walker: "You need a diversity of opinions on the board, but you also need a common bond."

The effect of one person who votes "no, no, no" could have a less than positive effect on the board, he added. "You need experience and people who have the ability to get along with their fellow board members to get things done."

* Squires: "Experience is important. I urge all of you to get out and vote on Tuesday."

* Ellis: "I hope you all realize we (candidates) are very driven to be in this (race). I'm one who looks at data and makes decisions."

* Niles: "All of us want what's best for this community. I don't sugarcoat well. I want you guys to go out and vote."

* Faber: "I like to see diversity on the board and that's one of the reasons I ran. Once you (as a board member) make a decision, pass on to the next issue."

* Iverson: "I do have an interest in my kids in school. I also feel our school district is important to our community. We cannot change our community unless we participate."

Above: School board candidates, from left, Tim Harmon, Mike Walker, Joelyn Squires, Sharon Ellis, Nathan Niles, Bryan Faber and Amanda Iverson answer questions at the Traveler's forum Tuesday.