Terry Wells brings financial management experience to school board candidacy

Terry Wells is one of three candidates vying for one of the three open positions on the Fairfield Community School District Board of Directors on Nov. 4.

The Southeast Iowa Union learned about Wells’ experience and vision for the school district through a Q and A, which is reproduced here:

Q: Why are you running for school board?

I am running for school board because I identified a need for dedicated representation and, as a parent with children who are or will be attending schools in the district for many years, I am deeply invested in ensuring its successful future.

Q: Why do you think you would be a good school board member?

My leadership and financial management experience will be a valuable asset to the district. Furthermore, my personal investment in the district, as a parent, will guide my decision-making.

Q: What are your main accomplishments in life?

I have actively led the food and nutrition department at Jefferson County Health Center since 2013, overseeing significant growth and navigating industry challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic. I also mentored students of the Certified Dietary Manager program done online via the University of North Dakota and served on the Premier Inc. food service committee from June 2022 to May 2025, chairing it in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

In this corporate governance role, I reviewed and granted final approval on contracts for $10 billion in annual sales across 36,000+ facilities.

Q: What are the areas where the school district needs the most improvement, and how will you as a board member help make progress in those areas?

The district's performance is commendable. Our financial position has markedly improved over the past few years, and we have experienced an increase in enrollment this year, a significant first in recent memory. Our district staff retention has improved this year, though it remains below the state average, an area I believe warrants further improvement.

My proposal is to continue supporting successful initiatives while simultaneously identifying additional strategies to bolster our financial health, improve staff retention, and attract more students.

Q: Are you in favor of the district's $39.5 million general obligation bond referendum to build a new middle school? Why or why not?

I am in favor of the proposed project for constructing a new middle school. I believe that the current dilapidated condition of the existing middle school necessitates a complete replacement. My primary rationale for this position is an examination of the cost of repair versus the cost of replacement. Given the similar financial implications of both options, and considering the proposed modernization of the facility, I believe it is in the best interest of not only our students but also our community to proceed with replacement.

Through independent research, I have observed the benefits associated with an attractive school system, including the attraction of new families, the retention of current residents, increased home values, a stronger workforce, and the appeal to new businesses within the community. I therefore conclude that this is the most advantageous option available. While errors may have been made in the construction and past maintenance and upkeep of the current building, it is more productive to focus on future improvements rather than dwell on past missteps.

By consistently improving our district’s finances, fostering student population growth, and enhancing teacher retention, we can achieve the district’s current objective of establishing Fairfield as a destination school district in Iowa.

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