Q&A with Iowa City School Board candidate Charlie Eastham

Charlie Eastham is running for the Iowa City School Board. He is an incumbent. Here are his answers to a survey we sent to all of the candidates.

Occupation and Employer: I retired in 2007 from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after holding a professional and scientific staff senior research position in the Department of Internal Medicine and subsequently a computer consultant position in Health Care Information Systems.

How and who should determine curriculum?

Teachers, students, parents, administrative staff, community members, and the school board all play some role in developing curriculum. Active teachers have the highest level of expertise in creating classroom environments that support the learning of specific content areas. Other stake holders in questions of the school instructional program can be helpful partners to the teaching staff in achieving curriculum that students find challenging and worthy of their time and effort.

Why do you want to serve on the school board? What relevant experience do you have?

A major factor motivating me to become a candidate for re-election to the Board has been the experiences I have had and relationships I have formed from serving as a Board liaison to the Equity Advisory Committee, being a member of The Black Voices Project and the Johnson County Interfaith Coalition, and serving on the Board of Directors of the Center for Worker Justice. After four years as a Board member I have developed an appreciation of the commitment to public education of District students, teachers, staff, administrators and my Board colleagues. I hope to play some role in continuing that commitment for the next four years.

How would you describe your attendance at past school board meetings?

I have attended all regular and special meetings.

What are your three top priorities for the school district? What will you do to address them?

My primary priority is eliminating our academic achievement and discipline disparities of African American, Black and Latinx students. By adopting our Strategic Plan, our Diversity Equity and Inclusion Plan and implementing the High Reliability Schools framework, the District has put in place the systemic guidance needed to eliminate disparities in educational outcomes.

Second, as is the experience of many districts across the nation, our Iowa City schools are facing challenges in attracting and retaining a diverse group of the best and brightest teachers and staff members. In my view the Board needs to act upon recommendations from current teachers and staff of color as it works to support recruiting new teachers and staff, retain teachers and staff in their current roles, and understand why teachers and staff may choose to leave the District. The Equity Committee gave a presentation to the Board in early 2018 making these key research based recommendations for recruiting and retaining teachers of color: focus recruiting on candidate pools in Iowa City or areas similar to Iowa; increase retention by improving the racial climate in schools and compensating teachers for their added values and responsibilities. The percentage of new hires of color has increased recently and future teachers have continued to take advantage of the District Grow Our Own program. As a Board member I see my responsibility as both establishing the priority of recruitment and retention goals and providing the resources requested by both teachers and administration to implement effective recruitment and retention initiatives.

Finally, Non-English-speaking parents often talk to me about not having fluent translation available when they contact teachers or staff. I understand that the recent use of a more robust electronic translation application has helped in many cases but continuous attention to this issue appears to be called for.

What do you see as strengths and weaknesses of the school district?

We have made major progress towards offering free preschool opportunities for all students in the District. The Board has worked with the Superintendent and staff to invite local municipal and county governing bodies to partner with the District in subsidizing the cost of wrap around care for families so that work schedules and transportation are removed as barriers to attending a preschool program in District elementary buildings.

Perhaps a significant area of improvement we face is creating an atmosphere throughout the District that assures everyone that critiques and descriptions of happenings within the District are welcome and when voiced will be met with acceptance and without any trace of retaliation.

Are there any curriculum concerns you have with the district? Why? How should the school board address these issues?

We must continue to seek advances in providing career and technical course paths and post graduation employment opportunities for students choosing those educational options. The District is in the process of developing a Center for Innovation. To remain competitive and draw new enrollment the Center will create new opportunities for students including career and technical education programs, certifications, apprenticeships and internships.

If you were required to cut the district's budget, what areas would you look to for savings and why?

My budget priorities for every year will be tied closely to maintaining the resources needed to implement the District’s Comprehensive Equity Plan so that work towards our goals of equitable educational instruction is not interrupted. However, in making specific budget decisions I intend to listen to and ask for recommendations from both represented and non-represented staff, administration, as well as, when possible, students and parents. I do not believe it is desirable at this point for me to individually develop premature opinions as to exact uses of district financial resources in years of inadequate revenue. There are many voices with experience and wisdom and viewpoints to understand and weigh before the best financial way forward can emerge.

What level of control do you think school boards should have?

A school board is responsible for approving school district policies. Board members have legislative, evaluative and policy formulating responsibilities but we are not administrative officers.

If the school district had additional funds available, what should they be allocated to? Why?

Increasing the number of teaching and para positions would decrease class sizes and have the greatest impact on classroom learning. Adding mental health staff and counselors would address the need for greater social emotional support of students.

What will you do to be responsive to parents, teachers and district staff? What types of communication should the public expect from you?

I try to reply to email sent to me as well as messages sent to all board members. I am also available to meet in person, or to talk by phone, to anyone who wishes to do so.