Christie Kessel wants to restore the public’s trust in Fairfield school board

Christie Kessel is one of seven candidates for the Fairfield Community School District Board of Directors who are seeking one of the four open seats up for election on Nov. 7 whose terms will last four years.

The Union sent a candidate questionnaire to Kessel, and here are her responses:

1. Why are you running for the Fairfield school board?

My name is Christie Kessel and I am running for Fairfield Community School Board. My husband Alex and I are both graduates of FHS class of 1996. I come from several generations raised in the Fairfield school district. Growing up, the State of Iowa was always at the top of the list in education throughout the United States. It has been frustrating to watch the decline in the quality of public education in our great state. I now have a son (Xavier) who is a sophomore at Fairfield High School, an 8th grade daughter (Vanessa) at Fairfield Middle School, and a 3rd grade daughter (Valerie) at Pence Elementary School.

I am running for the school board because I am a parent of three children and I am very concerned to see the direction that schools have taken over the last decade. I have heard first hand from teachers who feel unheard and overwhelmed by the current state of our local district. I have watched board meeting after board meeting while parents, teachers, and concerned citizens vocalized their concerns and those concerns seem to fall on deaf ears.

The lack of transparency and unwillingness to disclose key information to the public has led to a complete lack of trust in our current school board. I believe it is time for a change. Communication is vital to the success of our schools and our community at large.

2. What qualifications do you have that would make you a good school board member?

After growing up in Fairfield, I attended the University of Iowa, graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Business Minor. I have a strong background in finance- working in banking, insurance, and real estate for the last two decades. In 2015, I founded a nonprofit organization called Little Superheroes that helps families who are struggling due to a child with a chronic illness. I have also served on several other local boards in town including the Jefferson County Hospital Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. I am currently serving on the Fairfield Crush Board and the Fairfield Golf & Country Club board. I believe financial responsibility is instrumental to being a qualified candidate for school board.

3. In 2021, Fairfield voters rejected a $34 million bond vote to build a new middle school and make other improvements to the district. Do you think the district should attempt another bond vote for a new middle school? If so, what should the district do differently this time around to ensure the ballot measure passes?

4. An online survey of 669 Fairfield residents conducted by FEH Design earlier this year indicated that 70 percent of respondents wanted the district to downsize from four school buildings as a way to save money. Do you think the district should reduce its number of buildings, and if so, what do you want to see as the new configuration?

(In response to questions #3 and #4)

I think it is important to provide our teachers and our children with a quality education and this includes quality school buildings. I believe this is also an important tool for our community to help recruit and retain young families to reside in Fairfield. In order to make this decision it is imperative to have a clear understanding of our financial position as a school district.

Numerous factors go into making a large decision like this and I will spend the time necessary to determine the best route for our district. Right now I do not feel that we have the information necessary to make a responsible decision. Once that information is obtained I will work hard to educate the public so that they are also able to make an educated and informed decision.

5. Fairfield's enrollment has declined by about 200 students in the last 14 years. Last school year, 114 students open enrolled into the district, while 197 open enrolled out, for a net loss of 83 students. What, if anything, can the school board do to reverse the decline in enrollment, and encourage more families to enroll their children in the Fairfield school district?`

6. What can the school board do to attract and retain quality teachers? And do you believe the district is doing a good job at retaining teachers, or does it need to improve on this front?

(In response to questions #5 and #6)

I am extremely excited for the opportunity to help guide our school district in a positive direction and to help create a culture and an environment that promotes collaboration and open communication. I would like to see a task force developed to specifically address the issue of enrollment out of our district. I feel strongly that each and every family that enrolled out of our district should be contacted personally to understand why they left and how we might be able to regain them as a part of our school system.

I think our district can do a much better job of retaining and rewarding quality teachers. First of all we can do this through competitive wages and quality benefits.

Our current high turnover rate is forcing our school district to spend substantial amounts of time and money on recruiting new teachers. Secondly, we can do this through collaboration with our administrators and our teachers. I want our teachers and our students to feel welcomed and valued. I want parents and community members to feel engaged and included.

Social-emotional wellbeing, relationship-driven culture, and student connectedness are vital to the success of our students, teachers and ultimately our community. We are competing against social, environmental, and outside pressures as never before. Creating a positive school culture encourages greater productivity, supports successful change and improvement efforts, and amplifies energy and motivation of staff members and students.

  Buy Photo