Three school board seats up for election

Nominations for open seats on the Fairfield Community School District can be filed today through July 30, with the election set for Sept. 8.

In the Fairfield school district, the terms of Sheila Clements, Jeri Kunkle and Bob Waugh end this year. None of the three have announced if they are planning to seek re-election. The terms of Margaret Dwyer, Doug Flournoy, Ralph Messerli and Gail Miller will end in 2011.

Starting this year, school board members will be elected to serve four-year terms, and elections will only be held in odd-numbered years. Previously, school board members were elected to three-year terms, and elections were held each year.

Anyone interested in seeking one of the three open seats on the school board in this year?s election must file nomination papers between today and July 30.

Any person who is a United States citizen, 18 years or older, a resident of the school district and eligible to be registered to vote can become a candidate for the school board.

Nomination papers are available from the school district?s business manager and board secretary Kim Sheets at the Administrative/Curriculum/Technology Center, along with the Iowa Association of School Boards? free guide ?Leaders Who Care? to help answer potential candidates? questions about serving on the board.

Candidates also can get information about campaign finance disclosure laws from the Jefferson County Auditor?s office in the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Nomination papers must be signed by a minimum number of eligible voters in the Fairfield school district, and then filed with Sheets by 5 p.m. July 30.

The timeline applies to all 362 public school boards in Iowa.

According to the IASB, serving on a school board is a challenging job requiring leadership, vision and dedication. Board members are charged with accountability for student learning, determining educational goals, setting policy, overseeing school finances and other duties.

School board members receive no pay. According to the IASB, school board members say the rewards of service lie in meeting the needs of children and communities.

Board members for the 15 community colleges in Iowa also will be elected Sept. 8.

The ballot in the Fairfield school district also will include a measure seeking approval for a new revenue purpose statement for the district.

Superintendent Don Achelpohl has explained the proposed revenue purpose statement is not a new tax.

The new revenue purpose statement, if approved by voters, will allow the Fairfield school district access to and permission to use the statewide penny tax and increase the funds coming to Fairfield.

For the complete article, see the Monday, July 6, 2009, print edition of The Fairfield Ledger.