Abrams not seeking re-election to BCSC board

The Bartholomew Consolidated School board will have at least one new member after the next election.

Bob Abrams said last night that he will not be seeking re-election to his seat on the board. Abrams has served for 11 years and now that his children and grandchildren have moved from the area, he said it is time to scale back on his work and to move closer to the family.

Abrams represents District 4 on the board, which covers the former East Columbus and a strip to the west. He said that in his memory, all of the school board members to hold that seat have been from that westward strip, and he hoped his replacement would finally come from the East Columbus area.

Julie Bilz, a resident of the former East Columbus, head of the State Street Area Association and active with the Robie and America Anderson Community Center, said at last night’s school board meeting that she plans to run for that seat. Bilz is a faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College.

Other incumbents announcing their re-election intentions last night were Jill Shedd, Kathy Dayhoff-Dwer and Rich Stenner, all of whom said they would seek re-election.

Shedd represents District 1, Stenner is in District 2 and Dayhoff-Dwyer represents District 6.

All four of the districts were uncontested in the 2014 election, with only one candidate.

Jay Phelps, Bartholomew County clerk, says that school board filing starts on July 25th and runs through Aug. 24th at noon.