School Board Elects Two New Faces and Keeps A Third

Iowa City Community School District has two new faces in Sarah Swisher and Tuyet Dorau and incumbent Mike Cooper hung on to his seat as 4932 voters turned out for the hottest contested school board race in recent memory. With only 400 votes separating the top finisher (Swisher) from the 3rd place finisher (Cooper), the equally strong east versus west side turnout proved to be the deciding factor as Cooper, Anne Johnson and Dorau did well on the west side, while, Swisher, Dorau, and Jean Jordison did well on the east side. As it now stands, there are three west side members on the school board and four east side members. This should prove to be interesting in dealing with the third high school option and the boundary issues in front of the board.

Best of luck to the new members, the challenges ahead to all are daunting. John Deeth has some good information in breaking down the numbers.

Endorsing Informed Communication

After attending last evenings District Parent Organization/Gazette School Board candidate forum, two impressions were lasting. One: candidates felt that communication from the district and School Board to the public were generally lacking and two: trust with the public has been broken regarding the processes that allow the district to function. What was generally absent in the conversation is their priorities for how the board would communicate priorities and the financial constraints that will hamstring them for the foreseeable future in making decisions.

I felt that two candidates really understood the financial constraints better than the others, Mike Cooper and Sarah Swisher. A dialogue between the two of them was particularly telling as to how funding streams affect what can be done regarding busing students. This is not to say that other candidates didn't talk about "fiscal responsibility", but there was no particular context given for their statements.

With regard to creative/pragmatic solutions to the issues of student achievement, school overcrowding, and boundary issues, Jean Jordison highlighted the successes of the Davenport schools in using their school bond referendum monies in an accountable way. She also highlighted the need to look at best practices. Sarah Swisher also promoted the idea of targeted year-round schooling at Kirkwood and Grant Wood elementaries. Mike Cooper expressed an interest in exploring whether expanding junior highs to grade 9 or opening a separate 9th grade academy could be considered.

With respect to communication, April Armstrong and Tuyet Dorau were clear about ways to communicate the business of the board to the public in transparent ways using technology, board members being responsible to visit schools multiple times a year, and attending school events where they could communicate with parents. What was lacking in their presentation was how they intended to be effective in doing this given their own careers and family obligations. A discussion with Jan Leff and Tim Krumm may convince them that the time commitment to hold public meetings is considerable, particularly over a four year term.

Anne Johnson's contributions were not negligible, but were often agreements with others on the panel. Her most significant contribution was bringing up teacher salaries and her desire to keep district cuts away from the classroom, with the understanding that teachers would need to be open to a less than 5 to 6% pay hike annually when the allowable growth formula maxes out at 4%. Both Swisher and Dorau expressed a need to work to increase the state formula.

I was sitting next to former Iowa City council member Bob Elliott and he was supportive of candidates Armstrong, Cooper, Dorau, and Johnson. A former school administration professor on my other side, Arnold Lindeman liked candidates Cooper, Dorau, and Swisher.

At this time, I will limit my endorsement to only one of the candidates. I feel that over a four year term a lot of things can and will change. What I hang my endorsement on is what has a person done in the past, how successful have they been in pushing for change, and their willingness to stand in the face of adversity. In my estimation, only Sarah Swisher has demonstrated the experience, pragmatism, and toughness to work well with this board to really prioritize needs and creatively support equity in all the schools which is crucial to the long-term success of all students in the district. I also know that she can arm herself to the teeth with information when needed, as she did when she pushed for "Yes, for Kids."

I note that Mike Cooper has often been a refreshing voice on the current board, e.g., when it has been stalled or when district financials are presented. I wonder if he will hold up for a 4 year term like the last two years, particularly, as he noted candidly "at some point the board has to do it's work." Unfortunately, to do its work, there is some significant fence mending needed with public trust.

With regard to April Armstrong, Tuyet Dorau, Anne Johnson, and Jean Jordison, each has strengths, but each has a different learning curve. Dorau, clearly eloquent and intelligent, will need to bone up on the functions of the board and the process of this type of governance--I suspect reegardless of the outcome, we will see her in the political arena in the future. Armstrong, while clearly a leader in her particular school's PTO and a solid communicator, did not impress with her knowledge of the financial aspect of the job. Jordison often the most eloquent about neighborhood schools was also the most noncommittal about her function the board other than to move actions forward. Lastly, Anne Johnson was knowledgeable about achievement, as one would expect from an employee of Pearson Education. If Mike Cooper were not running, I would likely be more supportive as they have similar backgrounds and he has the experience.

Regardless of these observations, I wish all the candidates good luck between now and about 10 pm on election day, September 8th. Given the light turnout that often accompanies this election, the separation between winners and runner-ups may be a handful of votes. You can vote early through Friday at the County auditor's office or go to the website for the polling place nearest you on election day.

COPE Endorses Three for School Board

Ed Stone and the steering committee from the Citizen's for Outstanding Public Education (COPE) sent the following:

The School Board election on September 8 is rapidly approaching. Please vote.

In this election particularly, we need EVERY vote to elect quality School Board Members who will lead our schools, our community, and the district administration in providing the best for ALL students in our district.

Three seats are open. Six Candidates are currently running. Over the past few weeks we worked together to actively engage the candidates and elicit their positions on important matters of fiscal responsibility, educational equity, meaningful transparency, socioeconomic balance, new high school viability, and management of the district administration, just to name a few.

Three Candidates best reflect the leadership qualities we seek:

Tuyet Dorau
Jean Jordison
Sarah Swisher

Each of these Candidates brings special attributes: Jean embodies a long record of loving and tireless volunteerism for our students and our schools; Tuyet’s west side education and relationship-building acumen allow her to bridge and unify the diverse and sometimes discordant regions of our district; and Sarah provides the experience to make the hard decisions that have for too long been muddied by administrative indecision.

Please join us in supporting these three Candidates on Tuesday, September 8. For early voting instructions, please see the following link: http://www.johnson-county.com/auditor/voter/0909elec.htm

If you have any questions about our support of these candidates, please contact a member of the COPE steering committee.

Thank you.


COPE Steering Committee
www.copeiowa.org

School Board Election Coming Up: Educate Yourself

At this point Moms and Dads are happy their kids are back in school. With a little more free time this might be a great opportunity to see what candidates for the school board have to say about themselves ahead of the September 8th election. First up will be a Sept. 1 forum with candidates for Iowa City Community School District board seats.

Josh Kaine and Jeffrey Manthey removed themselves from the race leaving April Armstrong, incumbent Mike Cooper, Tuyet Dorau, Anne Johnson, Jean Jordison, and Sarah Swisher as the remaining candidates. Their contact information and websites (if known) are below.

APRIL ARMSTRONG
2511 HIGHWAY 1 SW
IOWA CITY 52240
april.armstrong3@yahoo.com

MICHAEL R COOPER
3829 STONEY POINTE LN NE
NORTH LIBERTY 52317
Employer: Pearson Education

Tuyet Dorau's website and Facebook group.

2010 WEDGEWOOD PL
CORALVILLE 52241
tuyetbcn@msn.com
621-3668
Employer: The University of Iowa

Anne Johnson’s website

75 LYNX LN
NORTH LIBERTY 52317
626-4913
annejohnson@southslope.net
Employer: Pearson Education

Jean Jordison’s website

JEAN JORDISON
2735 HICKORY TRL
IOWA CITY 52245
jeanjordison@gmail.com
Employment: Educator

And Sarah Swisher's website and you can join her Facebook group

SARAH SWISHER
917 BOWERY ST
IOWA CITY 52240
seiusarah@gmail.com
530-8364
Employer: Service Employees International Union


If you think that you won't be able to vote on Tuesday, Sept. 8th, make sure you get an absentee ballot.

Friday, August 28: Traditional voter registration deadline
Saturday, Sept 5: Postmark deadline for absentee ballots to be counted
Tuesday, Sept 8: Election Day

School Board Candidate List Now at Five, er Make That Eight

With the announcements of April Armstrong, incumbent Michael Cooper, Tuyet Dorau, Anne Johnson, Jean Jordison, Josh Kaine, Jeffrey Manthey, and Sarah Swisher running for three school board seats, the make-up of the school board could shift dramatically at a time when the boundaries of the schools are being discussed for revision, the budget is currently $4-6 million dollars in the red, and a new high school is scheduled to be built. For a non-partisan race, this one is shaping up to be anything but.

The Lineup:

April Armstrong (R) is a Weber Elementary and Northwest Junior High parent who was on the Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) that recommended the closure of Roosevelt Elementary.

Tuyet Dorau (D) is a Coralvillian who wants to focus on helping the district overcome its $6 million budget shortfall and eventually build a third high school in the North Liberty area. She also wants to also look at settling the district's boundary issues and plan further ahead than five years.

Anne Johnson (I) is a North Libertarian who recently helped lead a petition drive to encourage the school board to work toward the third high school. The mother of a Penn Elementary third-grader and a 4-year-old son, she said she has been attending school board meetings in recent weeks and offering her opinion regularly. She said along with working on the third high school and the district's budget issues, she wants to work on improving communications between the board and the public.

Jean Jordison (R) has been on the district's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Advisory Committee which was selected by Superintendent Lane Plugge.

Joshua "Josh" Kaine (D) is a Dad and member of the We Love our Neighborhood Schools group and is "hoping to represent those of us in the community who feel strongly about the value of smaller neighborhood schools. Supporting historic preservation, with an emphasis on obtaining a better balance of tax dollars spent on new vs. older schools. Working for greater transparency in communications with the public from the board and the district, including an emphasis on seeking public input well before plans are written."

Jeffrey Manthey (I) also a North Liberty resident wants to focus on the budget, boundary changes across the district, crowding at West High and disparity of students receiving free- and reduced-priced lunches in the district.

Sarah Swisher (D) co-chaired the Yes for Kids campaign for the $39 million bond referendum in 2003 said she wants to, among other things, promote income and social equity in the schools and expand the number of volunteers working in the district. She also is a local labor leader for the SEIU and a former county chair for the Democratic party.

John Deeth (D) has a different take. Well worth the read.

Note: Thanks to a tip from an anonymous comment I received, I updated this story to correct the party affiliation for Tuyet Dorau who I listed initially as Independent. I've also added links to other sources with more info about the candidates.

As SEIU Goes, So Goes Sarah Swisher

I missed this, but SEIU national endorsing Barack Obama, it appears that one time John Edwards champion Sarah Swisher, who briefly danced with Hillary Clinton, is now in the Barack Obama camp.

Sarah Swisher, a superdelegate and member of the SEIU from Iowa City, had committed to Edwards. After he quit the race, she switched to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, but she changed her mind again after her union endorsed Obama. "That will be kind of cool," Swisher said. "I will have supported all three."

Sarah, its okay to have a change of heart, but I just skipped HRC completely, and went directly to Obama (by my own freewill, I might add) after John Edwards went home.

Edwards Earns Iowa SEIU Endorsement

While the national SEIU failed to endorse any candidates for president, Democrat John Edwards has received the endorsement of the Iowa State Council of the Service Employees International Union, and announcements of support from other state councils were promised to follow Monday, a campaign official said.

"This endorsement reflects Senator Edwards' lifelong commitment to standing up for working Americans like the people he grew up with," said the senior campaign official, who requested anonymity because he was speaking about the endorsement before its official release.

He told The Associated Press that a "number of other state councils" of the SEIU will announce their support for the former North Carolina senator at an event in Iowa City on Monday evening, but he wouldn't confirm how many.

Edwards was stung last week by the national SEIU when leaders said it would not endorse a candidate for the primary elections, letting its members make their decisions on a state-by-state basis.

Edwards had worked hard to win the seal of approval from the union, which claims to be the fastest growing in North America, boasting 1.9 million members in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

Iowa City's own Sarah Swisher is the political director for SEIU.

Update: The other SEIU chapters backing Edwards are California, Washington, Michigan, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia and Oregon. Illinois and Indiana chapters are supporting Barack Obama.