Schools

Urbandale Community School District: Get To Know Our UCSD School Board Candidates: School Board Election Day 11/02/21

Every two years we hold School Board Elections and this year UCSD has three (3) open seats on the ballot. All three seats are four-year ...

Press Release Desk's profile picture
Press Release Desk, News Partner

Press release from the Urbandale Community School District:

October 29th, 2021

Every two years we hold School Board Elections and this year UCSD has three (3) open seats on the ballot. All three seats are four-year terms. Please find below information about the candidate forum hosted by the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce and information about voting in the election. Plus, we requested our eight (8) school board candidates respond to the following three questions:

Find out what's happening in Urbandalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Enjoy learning more about each candidate and save the date to VOTE in the upcoming School Board Election on November 2!

Urbandale Chamber School Board Candidate Forum

Find out what's happening in Urbandalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Thank you to the Urbandale Chamber for hosting the School Board Candidate Forum on Friday, October 29, 2021. Please find the archived recording below.

 

Vote! School Board Election: November 2, 2021

Get To Know Our UCSD School Board Candidates

In an effort for the community to learn more about those running for school board, UCSD has asked the various candidates three questions. Their individual responses are posted below exactly as provided to the District. The District, by sharing these responses, does not endorse any candidate, nor does it attest to the accuracy, or inaccuracy, of any of the statements made. These are solely provided as information into the opinions and perspectives of those candidates who responded.

In an effort for the community to learn more about those running for school board, UCSD has asked the various candidates three questions. Their individual responses are posted below exactly as provided to the District. The District, by sharing these responses, does not endorse any candidate, nor does it attest to the accuracy, or inaccuracy, of any of the statements made. These are solely provided as information into the opinions and perspectives of those candidates who responded.

Translations:

 

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
From my early leadership experience as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force through my 23 years of experience as a licensed Certified Public Accountant, I have had to guide and lead others through both difficult and positive experiences.  While the difficult experiences are the most challenging to navigate, maintaining a “can-do” attitude throughout has served my co-workers, clientele, and myself very well in the end.  Maintaining positive interactions with all stakeholders eventually provides results everyone can be satisfied with.

What You Can Expect From Me:
The Golden Rule.  Consider me old-fashioned – but I always try to treat others the way I would expect to be treated.  It’s my theory that if all of us could just follow this one rule, we could be much happier and find consensus much faster.  As such, I will conduct myself professionally and respectfully with those in the Administration, other Board Directors, and especially with those for whom we serve – the parents and children of the UCSD.

The Golden Rule.

I will ask questions – and lots of them.  It’s in my nature.  If information provided prior to each Board meeting is missing or requires further clarification, it is incumbent upon myself and any other Board member to ask “Why?”  For example, if the purpose of a particular expense item is not clear from expense reports, as stewards of the public trust, we must be comfortable with how resources are allocated. 

I will ask questions – and lots of them.  

Transparency is the hallmark of a great leader.  Upon giving full consideration to all sides of an argument, I will provide the reasoning for my vote.  The voters deserve nothing less than to know the basis for our votes.  Full and open deliberations during Board meetings must take place to provide the public the reasoning for the Board’s decisions.  Although Board Directors serve in a volunteer capacity, we are accountable to the voters of the UCSD.

Transparency is the hallmark of a great leader. 

Voting abstentions do not indicate strength in leadership.  Unless due to conflicts of interest, or unforeseen emergencies, myself including all Board members should attend meetings well-prepared to vote.  To do so otherwise is to disrespect the Administration and Board members that have done the preparation required for meetings.

Voting abstentions do not indicate strength in leadership.

Solid work ethic.  It has been stated that the typical School Board Director can expect to work anywhere from 10-15 hours per week on Board business.  During different stages of my career, I’ve had to work anywhere from 60-70 hours per week due to the seasonal states of my business.  You can be assured that I will devote the preparation time necessary to prepare for the Board’s meetings.

Solid work ethic.

Unwavering resolve.  I will not be intimidated by any individual, political party, or groups of individuals.  I will base my votes upon input from the Administration, other Board Directors, parents and children of the UCSD, and my own value system.  Although my vote might may not align with others on the Board from time to time, I will still be open, respectful, and collaborative with those having opposing viewpoints.

Unwavering resolve. 

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?
Proficiency Scores.  The 2019 UHS English Proficiency scores in listening, reading, and writing are well below state averages.  In addition, it’s disappointing that Annual Improvement Goals have not been updated since 2017, according to the UCSD’s “Annual Progress Reports” website.  It is time that a Board of Directors with fresh faces holds the Administration responsible for setting new goals and adhering to a performance plan to attain those goals.  Accordingly, the Board must also be open to supporting the Administration and allocating resources to improving these scores as well.  We must find ways to meet or exceed these averages to ensure we’ve adequately prepared our children to flourish in a post-high school environment.

Vaccine and Mask Mandates.  Decisions as to whether or not any individual be masked or vaccinated in a school setting is a choice for the individual and their family medical professional to decide upon.  Students under IEPs and 504 Plans can be accommodated to ensure equal treatment.  School Board Directors do not typically hold a license to practice medicine, so they are clearly not qualified to make decisions regarding masking and/or vaccinations.  I will remain firm in my position that vaccine and mask mandates must not imposed by the UCSD Board of Directors.  Regardless, if federal, state, or local laws override the Board’s policies in this area, they must be respected.

Divisiveness.  Public schools, once a place for “the three Rs” (“reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic”) have now become a petri dish for social experimentation.  UCSD is no stranger to this controversy.  Despite House File 802, enacted June 8, 2021, barring school districts from engaging in teaching such divisive concepts such as Critical Race Theory, the UCSD Equity and Inclusion Coordinator is on record instructing the teaching staff how they can bypass the letter of the law by “using different language”.  The Board needs to examine this issue and decide whether or not it is proper to allow an employee to promote a violation of both the letter and spirit of the state law banning these activities.  It’s time the Board stand firm and take action to discontinue any of these activities violating state law.  It is time for all UCSD stakeholders to unite – and to repel those forces that have chosen to divide.

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?
The UCSD’s Vision statement includes that “Urbandale will be a school district that brings learning to life for everyone.”  In my opinion, “learning to life” enunciates less reliance on computers and more reliance on teachers in bringing the learning experience front and center between teacher and student.  In a time when so much of a child’s time is spent on a computer, some children lack the personal communication skills so vital in today’s workforce.  It is my opinion that providing more focus on teacher-student interactions and less reliance on computers should be stressed by our District.

The UCSD’s Mission statement describes that “The District shall strive to meet its overall mission as stated by “Teaching All-Reaching All.”  But what about those students considering careers in welding, auto and diesel mechanics, plumbing, or electrical work?  In order to get an idea of whether one or more of these careers might interest them, a UHS student must jointly enroll in a DMACC course – just to get an idea of whether or not that trade might be a good fit.  Thus, the student needs to incur the commuting time and costs only to find out in some cases that it was simply not a good fit for them.  UHS should consider adding a general shop class to their curriculum including these trades so that students can get a better idea of a specific trade that might interest them.  The District should also consider whether adding a Quality Pre-Apprenticeship to its curriculum might help to prepare students for later entry into a Registered Apprenticeship program post-high school.  These are just a few examples of how the school can do much better to “reach all”.

Contact Information:
steveaviscpa@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/SteveAvisUrbandale

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
I have a well-rounded background in budgeting, running a successful business and volunteer committee work. All those skills translate to the business side of School Board duties. My most important experiences during my entire adult life have been in guiding and teaching youth to excel. My passion has always been about supporting students to learn, grow and discover their unique talents in order to become responsible, contributing adults.

I know what it takes to meet fiscal responsibilities and prioritize the most important decisions in running a top-level school.

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?
It has perhaps never been more important to ask: “What kind of school district, city and country do I want to live in, work in, and raise my family in?”

Specifically, these are the top issues facing our students and district today.
Achievement vs. Aggrievement
I believe in the traditional American ethic of achievement. I believe we should always be asking: “What can I do for my community, and my fellow citizens to make all of us successful?”

Parental and Student Choice vs Mandates
I believe people should be free to live as they choose, no one should be forced to endorse or celebrate choices that conflict, or cause harm within their beliefs and personal situations. Meet students and families where they are, with fair and equitable policies for all.

Unity of Community vs Ethnic Identity
I believe we are a variety of individuals making up one Urbandale community. We need to strive to be the best community we can, celebrating and respecting each person’s differences, while lifting up all people as individuals, with their unique skills and talents based on the content of their character.

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?
Mission: “Teaching All–Reaching All”
Vision: “To bring learning to life for everyone.”

It starts with the students. My goal is for every student to be successful. I will work to help create the learning environment where students can become good citizens, who embrace lifelong learning and who have the skills necessary to make informed decisions and good choices.

As a member of the board of directors, I will make choices that reflect honesty and integrity. I will work to make sure we remain a district in which people want to live, raise their children, and retire.

Teaching all includes community education programming offering life-long learning opportunities, as well as Adventure Time and Youth programs. These programs offer the opportunity to build our community within the neighborhoods of each school building.

We have new, state of the art facilities in our neighborhoods, which can be used to house community education programs, reaching out to all members of our communities within our district.

Contact Information:
tami4ucsdboard@gmail.com
Facebook

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
I’m an elementary special education teacher. Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked in the children’s mental health field. In 2020 I founded Drive for Lives, a public education advocacy group. I recently joined the board of directors for Iowa Safe Schools. My experience as an educator and advocate for public education ensures that my decisions will be rooted in current research and best practices to support all students, families, and staff within our district. I commit to conducting myself in a manner consistent with my behavior in the classroom and my core values of compassion, inclusion, and truth.

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?
We need a more efficient organizational structure within our district administrative team to be more responsive to student and staff needs. Teachers and administrators have described our district as a “house added onto over the years without a clear plan and organized inefficiently.” We need individuals with clearly defined areas of responsibility to be held accountable for both successes and challenges facing our students.

To truly become a leading school district in our state, we need to do better in meeting the individual needs of our students and families. The data and experiences of students and families highlight discrepancies in student outcomes between different student groups in both academic and social emotional domains. This is true for marginalized communities, special education, as well as students in talented and gifted programming. There are evidence-based educational systems and curriculum that can support optimizing instruction for all students. We can lift all students without tearing anyone down. Supporting all students is for the benefit of everyone and detriment to none.

The current polarization in the Urbandale Schools community is disheartening and if not mitigated will impede district growth and progress. We need to find areas of common ground. We must listen to each other. The school board’s decision-making processes must be transparent and inclusive of all stakeholder and expert voices. We need to remember we’re all on the same team, even when disagreeing about specific issues.

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?
My priorities for future service on the board of directors and experience as an educator and public education advocate are consistent with our district mission, “Teaching all-reaching all” and vision, “To bring learning to life for everyone,” I believe the district mission and vision should be the foundation for all discussions and decisions at the school board, administrative, school, and classroom levels.

Contact Information:
515-988-7145
Dgutmannia@gmail.com

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
I have served on non-profit boards and served as a volunteer in the community for the majority of the 18 years that I’ve lived in Urbandale, and I have a servant leader mindset that is supported by my genuine love for the community of Urbandale. During that time I’ve been able to have a tangible impact through my service with UCAN, uFit, Urbandale Parks & Recreation Commission, Friends of the Parks, Valerius Elementary PTO, and co-chairing (with my wife) the campaign to pass the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) in Urbandale that provided the financing for the Urbandale High School fitness center, new Olmsted and Valerius Elementary building projects, and many future improvements in the district. In my professional career I have led teams and projects of all sizes and scopes, which has prepared me to be decisive and focused on results. I have worked in roles where I’ve had to build consensus in situations where competing or conflicting priorities must be considered. I’ve worked closely with finance, risk management, operations, legal, compliance, data and analytics, HR, and a multitude of other functions that have a direct correlation to the work expected of the board. I believe that I bring a compelling list of skills, an open mind, a desire to tackle the difficult problems that our district faces, and I am ready to lead on our school board and serve the community that I love.

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?
I crafted my five priorities specifically to address the issues that I believe are most pressing in our district:

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?
I love Urbandale’s mission and vision and I believe those powerful statements serve as an aspirational guide for students, parents, teachers, staff, school board, and the community to not only direct our activities but also measure our progress. We understand through “teaching all, reaching all” that we must meet students where they are at, regardless of their unique situation and put them on the path to adult success. By “bringing learning to life” we can and should create a joy of lifelong learning in students. I’m excited to live the mission and vision in my leadership on the Urbandale School Board and I can’t wait to get to work for the community.

Contact Information:
hh4urb@gmail.com

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
I spent 4 years on the UGRA board, 1 year as president. That year as president taught me many things when it comes to being a leader. It taught me to be thorough when learning about issues that I may not have had experience with. It taught me how to be a good listener. We had softball, basketball and volleyball under our umbrella at UGRA, and dealt with parents, kids, coaches…etc. You have so many different opinions on how things should or could be done. It taught me to compromise in certain situations. In my current job, I help manage 12 people, all with varying backgrounds and needs. We have people in our work that are in grocery stores everyday, and the last 18 months (due to the pandemic) I’ve had to learn about different local and state (we cover 8 states in the midwest) regulations when it comes to compliance for COVID to ensure our people are safe in everything they do. I have proven that I can work with varying personalities, potential conflicts and help settle issues that require input from more than just me.

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?
I want to bring some “normalcy” back to the function of the board, which is to help support and implement the vision of the administration. I know that none of the current members expected to be doing this job during a global pandemic, I don’t envy that they’ve had to do this during unprecedented times. Having said that, I feel some of the members have been overly adversarial with the administration the past 18 months and not necessarily working with them to help solve problems. If elected, I would work to become a partner with the administration and help implement their vision.

Contact Information:
Cell phone: 515-314-0913
Email: kjugrasoftball@gmail.com

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
I am a parent of five children, four of who are students in the district and one who is a proud 2021 UHS graduate. Decisions that I make as a board member will directly affect my own children and family. We have had children in the district for fourteen years and have many more years ahead as our youngest is currently in third grade.
I am a preschool teacher, so I know how hard our teachers, staff, and administration work to help students succeed. I also know the importance of parent/teacher teamwork from both sides of the team.

I have been an advocate of education through Save the Children Action Network (S.C.A.N.) and have met with Iowa Representatives and Senators at the State Capitol as well as in D.C. about the importance that early childhood education has on students and their families.

I have coached and lead several activities and clubs that the Kent children have participated in; many with no previous knowledge or experience of the activity prior to jumping all in. I was a Den Leader and Committee Chair for a Cub Scout Pack for five years, a middle school mock trial coach, S.C.A.N. advocate, and academic decathlon volunteer and chaperone.

I volunteer any time I can in our classrooms and schools and help our elementary PTO as much as I can. Supporting all our teachers and students and showing my own kids that this is a priority for me has always been important to me.

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?

  • Equity and inclusion on many levels will always be an area where change is needed for growth and improvement. This is not limited to race, socioeconomic status, religion, etc. It includes equal class sizes at the elementary level, whole-hearted consideration of obstacles that are present for students and families, support of extracurricular activities, and opportunities inside and outside of classrooms for everyone that provide experiences that allow everyone in the district to feel valued and important.
  • Communication and transparency between the district and families. Clear, concise explanations, following through with plans, and inclusion of all parties that will be affected by decisions.
  • Attracting and retaining teachers and staff. A pay scale structure that is comparable to the scales that our neighboring districts use and full-time positions with benefits for staff. Supporting our educators by actively listening to them; fostering and building relationships between administration, teachers, and staff; and establishing a team where everyone is empowered and vital to the success of the district and students.

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?

District Mission: Teach all/Reach all.
If our teachers, administration, and staff are truly reaching ALL they are, by default, teaching all. Public schools are institutions that provide much more to their students and families than academics. The Urbandale School District does a wonderful job of providing excellent academics and uses resources wisely so that their impact is as great as it can be. Policies that support and trust our educators are the foundation to our district’s, teachers’, and students’ success and bright future. There will always be room for improving the ALL aspect in our schools and that will be at the forefront of all my actions as a board member.

District Vision: Urbandale will be a school district that brings learning to life for everyone.
I know from personal experience, as a parent and teacher, that students that are engaged and active learners retain “lessons” easier and without realizing it, and they have fun and want more. Every student deserves to enjoy school and feel that their personal experiences bring value and depth to not only their class but what is being taught. Our students are our greatest asset in every classroom and each of them should know and feel that.

Contact Information:
rkentforurbandale@gmail.com
515-337-3723
Rachel Kent for Urbandale School Board, P.O. Box 3552, Urbandale, IA 50323
rachelkentforurbandale.com
Rachel Kent for Urbandale School Board on Facebook

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
Leadership is a process through which a person influences and motivates others to get involved to accomplish a particular task. There are many characteristics of a quality leader, including listening, integrity, an ability to delegate, communication, self-awareness, gratitude, empathy, courage and respect.

In my professional career, I have had many opportunities to serve as a leader.  As a classroom teacher for fifteen years, I was faced with daily challenges to meet the needs of all my students.  This included differentiating instruction, communicating with parents, collaborating with colleagues, conflict resolution, and special committee work.  The ultimate reward of being a classroom leader is seeing former students as successful adults which has brought me much joy.

As a volunteer, I have had a leadership role with many organizations. Most recently, working with the Urbandale Show Choir Invitational.  Putting on this event takes hundreds of volunteers and many great leaders. For the past six years, I have taken on the role of stage manager.  In this role, I have a small crew of volunteers that works with me to get each performing group on and off the stage on time.  Delegating tasks within this group is vital, and I am very grateful for the incredible parents that help ensure everything runs smoothly. To prepare for the invitational, I have to coordinate and communicate with an average of 32 different show choir groups, gathering information about what props they are bringing, how many students are in the group, how long their show is, and many other details. During the entire event, I work with other volunteers, choir directors, and thousands of students to ensure we stay on time. We continually hear from other schools how much they appreciate the efficiency of our invitational.

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?
One issue facing many school districts in the state, including Urbandale, is a shortage of substitute teachers and the need to retain and attract the best teachers. As a district, we need to ensure that we have competitive compensation and benefits. With the challenges that every teacher has faced over the past two years, how is the district supporting our teachers?  As parents in the district, what are we doing to encourage and empower our teachers?  I do not claim to have all of the answers, but I promise to collaborate with other members of the board to determine the best solutions.

Most people would agree that our world has become increasingly divided.  Politics are polarizing and they have found their way onto the board and in our schools.  Schools need to be a safe place for all students that are free from political bias and social agendas.  Instead, our district needs to reinvest in the character counts program.  Respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship – we all need to reexamine how we are doing with these pillars.  Even on polarizing issues, we don’t have to all agree or believe the same things, but we do have to treat others with respect.

Another issue facing the district that the next board will have to solve is how to utilize the soon to be empty elementary buildings.  When Valerius is complete in 2023, we will have two empty buildings.  How will we use those spaces?  Included in this challenge will be reexamining the elementary boundaries to make sure they are balanced.

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?
The district mission is teaching all – reaching all and the vision is Urbandale will be a school district that brings learning to life for everyone. This should be at the forefront of every decision that we make as a board.  These statements are something I believe every candidate wants for the students of Urbandale.  As leaders in the district, the board needs to focus on an atmosphere of collaboration for the common goal.  We all have to put our differences aside and focus on education and helping all students achieve success.

teaching all – reaching all Urbandale will be a school district that brings learning to life for everyone.

Contact Information:
Facebook: Jenny Meade for Urbandale School Board
Email: jennymeade4urbandalesb@gmail.com

Q1: How will your experiences as a leader support your work on the UCSD Board?
I’ve been a professional communicator for the better part of three decades and have worked for and directly with a variety of corporate and non-profit boards during my professional career. I’ve also led and served on a variety of local boards and leadership teams (Urbandale Performing Arts Booster Club, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts).

The most effective boards establish a clear mission and direction for the organization, determine what resources are needed for leadership and staff to deliver on those commitments, and get out of the way. Obviously, the board must continue to hold the organization accountable, but if you’ve got the right people and you’ve given them what they need, you’ve got to trust their expertise and experience to get it done.

As a communications professional, I’ve been closely involved in developing organizational priorities and strategies and help identify critical issues that organizations need to address and resolve. The best communicators and best organizational leaders walk into those meetings and determine who the smartest people in the room are, and make sure their perspectives and experiences are brought forward in the discussion. They’re the people you need to listen to. As a board member, I’ll work to ensure we’re identifying those people when we’re considering an issue, and make sure they have an opportunity to provide input.

Q2: What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the District?
Continuing to Strengthen Academic Achievement
While the district and its educators worked tirelessly to keep kids learning during the last school year, parents in the district are undeniably concerned about how student achievement has been impacted by the vastly different learning model. The board needs to assess how student learning was impacted, and help administration and staff identify how negative impacts to learning and development can be resolved.

Continuing to Strengthen Academic Achievement

Jensen and Rolling Green Properties
These three board members will be tasked with determining the future of the Jensen and Rolling Green properties. While the district’s needs will be the priority, those are decisions that need to be made in with the input of the city and those neighborhoods. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform those neighborhoods, and the board must approach these decisions carefully and thoughtfully.

Jensen and Rolling Green Properties

Maintaining an Intellectually Honest and Inclusive Learning Environment
The increasing diversity in our district is one of our strengths, and we must have a board that recognizes that, embraces it, and work toward creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. The legislative and oversight environments continue to change, and we’ve seen efforts to restrict curriculum and make things more difficult for marginalized students. While the district cannot control that, the board must act (within the scope of the law) to ensure that we have an intellectually honest and inclusive learning experience for all students.

Maintaining an Intellectually Honest and Inclusive Learning Environment

Attracting Young Families to the District
We’re seeing a generational shift in the more established neighborhoods of our community. This is a huge opportunity for us to attract young couples and families to the district, but we must ensure we’re in a position of academic and cultural strength to continue to be an attractive option for these families.

Attracting Young Families to the District

Q3: How will the UCSD Mission and Vision guide your work as a leader in the District?
The Mission is absolute. “All” means ALL. The work to create a fair and equitable learning environment for all students is never ending. It also means that we have to continually look for ways to effectively engage students so they can perform at their highest level. That may involve considering new ways to support and inspire them in non-traditional learning environments.

“Bringing learning to life for everyone” is consistent with this approach. Let’s not be afraid to adopt new strategies for learning, and support teachers and administrators who bring new concepts to the district. If there are evidence-supported strategies for more effective 21st-century learning, we should be willing to explore how we can better serve students with them.

Contact Information:
jason@jasonmenke.com

 

This press release was produced by the Urbandale Community School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

More from Urbandale