4 candidates vie for 3 spots on Ball-Chatham
Board of Education
There are four candidates competing for three positions on the Ball-Chatham Board of Education
in the upcoming election April 5.
Each position carries a four-year term. The candidates are Steve Copp, Ethan Manning, Jim
Neuses and Rick Petermeyer.
Copp, Manning and Neuses are from Ball Township, while Petermeyer is from Curran Township.
And due to current board membership and restrictions that allow for no more than three school board
members from the same township being on the board at the same time, only two candidates from
Ball can be elected.
Essentially, the election will consist of Copp, Manning and Neuses competing for two positions,
while Petermeyer is running unopposed. Neuses is the current board president, and he is the only
incumbent running for re-election. Mike Falter and Mark Bartolozzi did not seek re-election.
The Clarion contacted each of the candidates, seeking basic information and asking several
questions. Following is a profile of each candidate, including why they are running for school board
(in their own words). Next week, the Clarion will publish photos and statements from each candidate:
•Steve Copp, 44, is from Glenarm. He is self-employed in Production Agriculture. He has a wife,
Debbie, and two children - Taylor and Kendal.
Copp is a Glenwood High School and SIU-Carbondale graduate. When asked to list issues
facing the district, he cited lack of state funding, continued growth in the district, and the upcoming
hiring of a new superintendent.
When asked why he was running for school board, Copp stated, "I have a vested interest in the
school district and the community of Chatham. I graduated from Glenwood, my children attend school
in the district and my profession will keep me rooted in the community well into the future. I feel I
could offer a unique perspective to the Board of Education."
•Ethan Manning, 30, is from Chatham. He is currently employed by both the Ball-Chatham School
District and Springfield District 186 as a substitute teacher. Manning graduated from Glenwood High
School and Benedictine University.
When asked to list issues facing the district, Manning was succinct - funding, funding and funding.
"I have a vested interest in Chatham schools," Manning stated. "I know most of the faculty and
staff on a first-name basis. I have no self-interest for running and no children in the school; I just have
a love for the district. I see the issues facing the board as funding issues, in the sense that the district
is too fat and spending too much money. I am a fiscal conservative and look to cut spending and cut
down the bloated hierarchy in the schools."
•Jim Neuses, 61, is from Springfield. He retired several years ago from Ameritech. He and his
wife, Becky, have a daughter, Darcy, a 2007 GHS grad. Becky graduated from GHS in 1976.
Jim Neuses graduated from Maine South High School, Chicago City College and DePaul
Unversity. He served in the United States Navy and is a Vietnam veteran.
Neuses previously served on the board from 1995-2003, when he was the board president from
1999-2003. He came back to the board in January 2009, earning an appointment to take Matt
Keppler's vacated position. Neuses has been the current board president since April 2010.
He listed issues facing the district as financial stability, student growth and the literacy initiative.
"Maintaining our financial stability is our biggest challenge, especially with the state not paying its
bills," Neuses said. "I have a lot of experience dealing with our building construction projects, and I
think my financial experience will continue to be a valuable asset for the district."
•Rick Petermeyer, 49, is from Springfield. He is currently employed as a sales manager for Blue
Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. Petermeyer and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Lauren and Zach.
Petermeyer is a graduate of Illinois College in Jacksonville. He has lived in the Ball-Chatham
School District for 14 years.
When asked to list issues facing the district, Petermeyer cited administration, finances and
growth.
And when asked why he is running for school board, Petermeyer stated, "To represent our
community in an informed manner, helping us to build upon our identity, direction and purpose."
Board of Education
There are four candidates competing for three positions on the Ball-Chatham Board of Education
in the upcoming election April 5.
Each position carries a four-year term. The candidates are Steve Copp, Ethan Manning, Jim
Neuses and Rick Petermeyer.
Copp, Manning and Neuses are from Ball Township, while Petermeyer is from Curran Township.
And due to current board membership and restrictions that allow for no more than three school board
members from the same township being on the board at the same time, only two candidates from
Ball can be elected.
Essentially, the election will consist of Copp, Manning and Neuses competing for two positions,
while Petermeyer is running unopposed. Neuses is the current board president, and he is the only
incumbent running for re-election. Mike Falter and Mark Bartolozzi did not seek re-election.
The Clarion contacted each of the candidates, seeking basic information and asking several
questions. Following is a profile of each candidate, including why they are running for school board
(in their own words). Next week, the Clarion will publish photos and statements from each candidate:
•Steve Copp, 44, is from Glenarm. He is self-employed in Production Agriculture. He has a wife,
Debbie, and two children - Taylor and Kendal.
Copp is a Glenwood High School and SIU-Carbondale graduate. When asked to list issues
facing the district, he cited lack of state funding, continued growth in the district, and the upcoming
hiring of a new superintendent.
When asked why he was running for school board, Copp stated, "I have a vested interest in the
school district and the community of Chatham. I graduated from Glenwood, my children attend school
in the district and my profession will keep me rooted in the community well into the future. I feel I
could offer a unique perspective to the Board of Education."
•Ethan Manning, 30, is from Chatham. He is currently employed by both the Ball-Chatham School
District and Springfield District 186 as a substitute teacher. Manning graduated from Glenwood High
School and Benedictine University.
When asked to list issues facing the district, Manning was succinct - funding, funding and funding.
"I have a vested interest in Chatham schools," Manning stated. "I know most of the faculty and
staff on a first-name basis. I have no self-interest for running and no children in the school; I just have
a love for the district. I see the issues facing the board as funding issues, in the sense that the district
is too fat and spending too much money. I am a fiscal conservative and look to cut spending and cut
down the bloated hierarchy in the schools."
•Jim Neuses, 61, is from Springfield. He retired several years ago from Ameritech. He and his
wife, Becky, have a daughter, Darcy, a 2007 GHS grad. Becky graduated from GHS in 1976.
Jim Neuses graduated from Maine South High School, Chicago City College and DePaul
Unversity. He served in the United States Navy and is a Vietnam veteran.
Neuses previously served on the board from 1995-2003, when he was the board president from
1999-2003. He came back to the board in January 2009, earning an appointment to take Matt
Keppler's vacated position. Neuses has been the current board president since April 2010.
He listed issues facing the district as financial stability, student growth and the literacy initiative.
"Maintaining our financial stability is our biggest challenge, especially with the state not paying its
bills," Neuses said. "I have a lot of experience dealing with our building construction projects, and I
think my financial experience will continue to be a valuable asset for the district."
•Rick Petermeyer, 49, is from Springfield. He is currently employed as a sales manager for Blue
Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. Petermeyer and his wife, Michelle, have two children, Lauren and Zach.
Petermeyer is a graduate of Illinois College in Jacksonville. He has lived in the Ball-Chatham
School District for 14 years.
When asked to list issues facing the district, Petermeyer cited administration, finances and
growth.
And when asked why he is running for school board, Petermeyer stated, "To represent our
community in an informed manner, helping us to build upon our identity, direction and purpose."
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: March 17, 2011