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Humbles joins Cedar Rapids school board race
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Jul. 29, 2013 12:41 pm, Updated: Jan. 6, 2022 1:24 pm
Nancy Humbles filed paperwork to run for re-election to the Cedar Rapids Community School District's school board Monday morning, making her the third candidate and final incumbent to join the race.
Voters first elected Humbles, director for the University of Iowa's Center for Diversity and Enrichment, to the board in 2009. She represents District 2 and serves as the board's vice president. Like At-Large Director Gary Anhalt, who was also elected for the first time in 2009, and District 3 Director Keith Westercamp, Humbles is running to retain her board seat.
“I had to really give it some thought this year. I decided to run because of one of the things I truly appreciate is the work that our teachers within the district put into educating our students,” Humbles said of her decision to seek re-election. “Sitting on the school board, it's a tough voluntary position but I know we are all very passionate about making sure that the district is doing the right things on behalf of the citizens and also the Cedar Rapids community.”
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If given the chance to serve a second term, she deemed the condition of facilities the district's “number one priority” moving forward. Humbles would like to see voters approve a 67 cent per $1,000 in taxable valuation increase in the district's Physical Plant and Equipment Levy, a measure that will be on the same Tuesday, Sept. 10 ballot as the school board race, which would provide an additional $3.46 million annually for the district to use for facilities, operations and maintenance projects.
“I know there's improvements that need to be made because we want our schools to be safe for our children and for our staff. That will be a huge concern,” Humbles said. “There are buildings in need of repair and that will be something that will need to be addressed.”
Atop her personal to-do list for a second school-board term is continuing the district's work in closing the achievement gap. She named that as one of her proudest achievements from her time on the board.
“That is one of my priorities and I know when I ran last time, that was a priority: closing the achievement gap and figuring out the best way to do that so all of our children have an equal chance,” said Humbles, who is a member of the district's Diversity Committee, which is committed to narrowing the divide between white students and their peers of color. “The district is aware of it and it is a concern and it is an issue that they are addressing.”
Candidates must file their paperwork at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids, by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. Three school board seats are up for election this fall.
Nancy Humbles