Vision

If elected to the North Polk School Board, I will prioritize being inclusive, proactive, and transparent. My visions and action steps for each of these priorities are detailed below.

BE INCLUSIVE

• School board members should be representative of North Polk Schools requiring the school board increase to 7 members using a blend of districts and at-large member seats. This structure prioritizes the representation of North Polk Communities while allowing for the election of superb candidates from the same district to still be elected.

• Promote diverse options for post-secondary plans by tapping into the available resources including: Iowa Workforce Development, Future Ready, Work-Based Learning, and Portrait of a Graduate. Attending a 4-year college is only one option. Presenting post-secondary options should begin in elementary and continue through high school with follow ups after graduation. 

• Provide resources and pathways for vertical program development of activities and academics beginning in elementary grades through high school. This is particularly important for systems that do not have the staff/capacity to keep pace with the growth of the student population such as youth sports and vocational programs.

BE PROACTIVE

• Build intimate relationships with city councils to foster collaborative partnerships and open up the communication pathways critical to symbiotic growth, especially related to future land use. Advocating for commercial and industrial development is critical for increasing the district tax base and reducing the burden on residential tax payers.

• Craft and share district growth projections for 5, 10, and 40 years. Develop district growth plans for 5, 10, and 40 years with if/then statements. Plans should be revisited and shared annually. This will allow families, businesses, and communities to anticipate and respond accordingly.

• Prioritize the professional development and retention of teachers and staff. Our teachers and staff are the most valuable assets in our district. Research shows high-quality teachers have the greatest impact on learning and student achievement. Maintaining an excellent work environment and positive building culture is the top priority.  Continuing to work toward competitive teacher and staff pay is the next priority.  Finally, continuity in professional development and direct connections to student learning make the time and effort spent worthwhile. Supporting implementation and teacher success will open access for student growth and success.

• Develop new funding streams including corporate partnerships and expanded 28E agreements. Firstly, corporate partnerships opens a new avenue for funding district amenities and creating student experiential opportunities. So many businesses are seeking to collaborate with students and districts to broaden their reach and qualify for grants and other funding. Secondly, expanding 28E agreements with other districts for activities, course offerings, specialty staff, and programming is one way is one way to offer Comet students more options by leveraging the funding that follows students to North Polk from other districts.

BE TRANSPARENT

• Access to Board happenings and District information should be simple and not reliant on personal relationships. Increase visibility of board communications, meetings, and initiatives by creating neighborhood representatives that connect with Board members on a monthly basis and share information through social media and other pathways. Continue broadcasting meetings and providing summaries from Mr. Kline. Provide this same information to City Council members and the North Polk Living magazine for those who do not regularly communicate or seek information online.

• Update district website to include a mobile-friendly format, more detailed teaching and learning information, and specific pages for teachers and programs. Additional communication pathways between the district and families are essential for incorporating all stakeholders into the educational system.

• Create a teacher advisory board and/or teacher representatives for the Board to maintain a direct line of communication to staff members. This is particularly important since Iowa shifted to a right-to-work state. Teacher representatives could be a way to ensure there is two-way communication and transparency with staff.