Cooper to seek re-election to Iowa City school board

First-term Iowa City school board member Mike Cooper announced Monday he will run for re-election.

Cooper, 60, of 3829 Stoney Pointe Lane in North Liberty, said there are a number of issues facing the district that he wants to play a role in.

Those include a possible new high school and finding a new use for the Roosevelt Elementary building, which the school board recently voted to close in a couple of years. He also wants the board to look at changing school boundaries across the district to better balance student demographics.

Cooper's top priority, however, is addressing the district's financial difficulties, which require $6 million in cuts over two years.

“As important as the other things seems to be, it's almost, if we don't have the money to do it, it doesn't make any difference,” he said.

Cooper predicted the 2010 school year would be a tough one and said any cuts should have as little impact as possible on classrooms.

Three seats are available in the Sept. 8 election. Cooper and April Armstrong of Iowa City have announced their candidacies. Nomination papers are due by Thursday. Incumbents Jan Leff and Tim Krumm are not seeking re-election.

Cooper's first term on the board was reduced to two years to comply with a new state law. Terms now last for four years.

Cooper is vice president of national services at Pearson Educational Measurement. He is married and has two adult daughters who graduated from City High.