Dubuque School District Needs Your Input
News You can use Dubuque polling hours Tuesday are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For voting hours in other counties and polling sites go to THonline/elections08
If there was any doubt that local residents care about what’s happening in public schools, this year disposed of that doubt.
Dubuque Community School District Board members heard from taxpayers and parents on several issues during the past year.
Parents and students weighed in on the redistricting issue. Stakeholders spoke up again when the district was considering closing Jones Hand-in-Hand Preschool and Central Alternative High School. Then came news that district officials had to drastically cut the budget because of a reduction in the amount the district is allowed to spend each year. Job cuts followed.
As the school board waded through all of these complex issues, input from constituents played a significant role. Redistricting was passed with greater consensus after hearing families’concern and adding a grandfather clause. Many parents pleaded the case of Jones Preschool, and, with help from the 4-year-old preschool grant, the school closing discussion was postponed. The board likewise held off on shuttering Central.
On all these issues, community input made for more informed decision-making. Now citizens have another chance to give their input. It won’t even take much time. Vote in Tuesday’s school board election.
School board elections typically draw low voter turnout. Three years ago, when Adam Mennig and David Patton were voted in, turnout was about 12 percent – sadly, that was a strong turnout for a school board election. Now, Mennig and Patton are back on the ballot along with two challengers: Craig Beytien and Lesley Stephens. The Telegraph Herald Editorial Board endorsed Mennig and Stephens as the best candidates for the seats with Beytien noted as a strong challenger. Read the candidate profiles for yourself on THonline.com/ elections08. Make your own choice, and vote on Tuesday.
This year is a perfect example of why it matters who is sitting around that school board table. Decisions made there impact thousands of families in many different ways. Next year won’t be any walk in the park either.
Though there has been no official announcement, it appears likely that those voted in on Tuesday will be involved in hiring the district’s next superintendent when John Burgart retires. A superintendent search is an arduous and complicated process. Finding the person with the right personality and the right credentials to run the school district requires insight and patience. That’s just one key decision that these school board members will face.
Usually only one in 10 registered voters actually casts a ballot in school board elections. The remaining nine out of 10 people cede this community leadership choice to that 10 percent. For all the important decision-making that goes on at school board meetings, take time out Tuesday to vote and help make this important decision.
Editorials reflect the consensus of the Telegraph Herald Editorial Board: Jim Normandin (publisher), Brian Cooper, Ken Brown, Steve Fisher, Monty Gilles and Amy Gilligan.
Originally published by TELEGRAPH HERALD EDITORIAL.
(c) 2008 Telegraph – Herald (Dubuque). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.