Eight candidates for West Liberty Community School Board of Education got a chance to voice their views and concerns Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the West Liberty High School auditorium.
Put together by the Rotary Club of West Liberty and moderated by President Ken Brooks, the event featured some interesting comments as Dan Stevenson, a West Liberty Middle School history teacher and leader of the West Liberty Teachers Union as well as Allie Paarsmith, director of the West Liberty Public Library, posed questions.
The eight candidates, all from West Liberty, included Kira Achen of 1434 Terrace Lane, Courtney Crees of 110 E. 14th St., Emily Daufeldt of 1176 Davis Ave., Audra Daufeldt of 1215 Eliason Ave., Hannah Chesmore-Potts of 167 Elder Ridge Rd., Samira Deahr of 1165 120th St., Joshua Jackson of 905 North Columbus, and lone incumbent Jacob Burroughs of 1239 Country Heights Ln.
All three moderators praised the group for “stepping up” to run for the school board, the most candidates the district has seen in years, vying for just three seats.
Meet the candidates
Jackson had a lot to say about technology use in the schools as a former technology administrator in the schools for 15 years as well as guiding local government in technology and “bridging the gap” between various entities.
“Getting technology into the hands of kids is important,” he said, noting students “can do more with less.”
Crees introduced herself as a “lifelong citizen” with three of her four children presently in the district and pointed out that “communication is key” to making the school system work for everyone.
Chesmore-Potts pointed out that West Liberty offers a “high level of learning” and she moved to the district from Independence, Iowa, where she was raised in a similar community that she called “peaceful, secure and open to diversity.” She is running for the board position to secure “the success of our kids.”
Achen, who has four children in the district, said she has “huge respect for this community,” noting she moved to the West Liberty District because of the opportunities the district offered. A University of Iowa graduate in 2001, she is a customer service representative with West Liberty Foods.
Audra Daufeldt said she was drawn to run for the school board because of the passion both her parents showed her as educators. She called it an “important time” for teacher and staff retention and said she would work to help “create strong programs for the diversity of the community.”
Deahr, who has two students in the district, said her husband was a graduate of WLHS and the couple runs a business in Iowa City. Originally from Ft. Madison, she called herself “an advocate for all students” and said she was “so excited” about the opportunity the new sports complex will offer to students and families, feeling it will help attract newcomers to the community.
Emily Daufeldt said her family is a seventh generation that will go through West Liberty schools. With a background of working with students with learning disorders, she said education is important for the entire community.
Burroughs, who has four children in the district and has been president of the board for the past two years, said his career in finance has helped him to understand the workings of the school district and has helped in key situations like union negotiations. He also served on the district’s advisory committee, which started and continued the revitalization of school buildings in the district several years ago.
Posing questions
The moderators posed eight questions to the candidates, from asking about their involvement in the district to ideas on teacher retention to critical issues facing schools like mental health issues and bullying.
Most candidates have been involved with the district, either in Parent Teacher Organizations or coaching sports, being involved in Fine Arts Boosters, FFA and other organizations and committees.
Jackson talked about his years as technology director and what he’s learned since that can help create a better school system for not only students, but also parents and staff. Achen said she had a number of ideas on improving the district and said her eyes will be open to new suggestions for the district, including utilizing food sources in the area like River Bend.
Audra Daufeldt talked about her continuous support for teachers, the dual language program and her work as treasurer of the PTO. Deahr said she’s been involved in helping Early Learning Center reading programs and aiding youngsters in an after-school program at First Church United. Emily Daufeldt said she also has been involved in elementary reading programs, along with taking on several other tasks. Burroughs talked about being a former coach and said he learned a lot being on the board the past four years, including the “inter-workings” of the district, and noting he’d been through a number of “long sessions.”
Regarding teacher retention, most agreed the district needs to continue to find staff members “passionate to serve,” as Crees pointed out. “I have tremendous respect for teachers and paraprofessionals,” said Audra Daufeldt, pointing out the district needs to continue to find ways to pay teachers “as much as we can.” Deahr expressed interest in getting more of the Latino population involved in the schools and noted students seem to have a lot of options that may not always provide for them the education they deserve.
Burroughs said the district is “moving in the right direction” concerning pay scale for staff but noted it still needs improvement. He said even during COVID-19, while other districts weren’t paying paraprofessionals, the West Liberty District did, helping retain those assistant classroom workers.
Jackson emphasized the schools need to provide the right technology tools for teachers, students and the entire district, pointing out the district has a “surplus of $8 million” that could be used to upgrade technology and make for a stronger district. He said teachers in the district are underpaid, pointing out educators teaching the same thing in Muscatine and Iowa City get paid $8,000-$12,000 more.
Critical issues
Regarding critical issues facing the schools, like literacy, Jackson called it an “embarrassing” and “ a waste of time to talk about this,” pointing out those conversations need to be made between parents and their kids. Most candidates did not favor banning books and it was pointed out the district simply needs to follow state guidelines. All agreed reading is important and that literacy should have a good variety to foster every student’s minds.
Utilizing data was another big topic of the group, Chesmore-Potts pointing out the importance of data as part of student success, noting the role data plays in her duties as a social worker. Burroughs pointed out there are many students who graduate from the district who take “untraditional paths” to careers and Jackson said the district needs to update things like transcripts but said parents need to take charge in demanding change.
Audra Daufeldt said she knows the importance of using data to give direction.
Asked about disagreements with other board members, all the candidates said “working together is important,” like Emily Daufeldt, but Burroughs pointed out there can be disagreements, saying “It’s healthy to have a board with diverse ideas.”
Deahr said it’s most important to “do what’s best for the kids,” Crees said an open conversation sometimes gets people to “common ground.”
Regarding the role schools should play in issues like sex education, personal identity and social issues, Burroughs said it was important to inform students and pointed out there are times the district is obligated, said to teach certain things while Jackson said the district has to be open to diversity and again pits the educational values of parents teaching their own children about such things.
Chesmore-Potts said she expects students to attend school and be “challenged” by issues, noting she understands these issues due to her work in mental health behavior. Samira said it’s “important kids have a safe place.”
All the candidates expressed interest in recommending the district to other families outside West Liberty and Chesmore-Potts said she found the district a great surprise since she moved to the community in 2007. “I didn’t expect to love it,” but says she’s fallen for the district and thanked the community for allowing her family to be part of it.
Achen called moving into the district “the best decision of our lives” and Audra Daufeldt said she couldn’t be more satisfied as a parent, noting her parents, as educators, were “thrilled” with the district when they checked it out, pointing out she’s proud of the fact the community “always shows up” when something is needed.
Closing remarks
In closing, Jackson said his experience of building schools all over the world including the Philippines and Bolivia gave him new eyes in coming back to West Liberty, calling the technology in the schools “embarrassing,” noting Bolivia has better systems. He said, as an explorer, he would “go out into the wild” and find new ways of doing things.
Crees said she would listen to all sides and do what’s best for students.
Chesmore-Potts said she’s talked to her own students about “the importance of taking risks” and decided to set an example by running for the school board. “I wake up every day thinking ‘How do I make this world a better place,’” and said she’s utilize her knowledge in special education to help the district.
Achen called the administration leaders in the district a strength, pointed out she’d like to see more diversity on the board and said West Liberty has offerings many other district do not – like full time pre-school.
Audra Daufeldt said she learned a lot about running schools from her parents of which her mom was an educator for 39 years and her father an administrator. She said the impact they had on her life was incredible and remembers “healthy debates” concerning school issues from time to time.
Deahr said staff retention was a major issue in her book and said the district needs to utilize resources like retired teachers to find out what it has done right and wrong through the years, pointing out the importance of transparency.
“We have a wonderful and unique community,” said Emily Daufeldt, noting the diverse community needs to continue to move forward. She looks forward to working with the new board, administration and staff and praised the strong curriculum of the district, calling for unification “to bring great things forward.”
Burroughs concluded the remarks by thanking all who attended and watched online, pointing out he was “proud” to be part of so many changes in the district, from new school openings to the new athletic complex at WLHS to superintendent changes. He said he would continue to work to be “the voice of reason” in the community.
