Linn-Mar school board appoints Laura Thomas to fill vacancy

MARION — The Linn-Mar school board has appointed Laura Thomas to fill a board seat left vacant by Matt Rollinger, who resigned earlier this month with a year and a half left in his term.

Thomas, 38, a Northeast Iowa native whose parents were educators with an area education agency, recalled she was intimidated when her oldest son entered kindergarten in the Linn-Mar Community School District eight years ago.

“What I thought was this huge, overwhelming place was actually a close-knit community like I grew up with,” Thomas said.

Thomas decided to apply for the vacant school board seat to be a voice for every child and family in the school district, she said. She was one of five residents in the Linn-Mar district who applied for the unpaid opening on the seven-member board. Her term expires at the next school board election in November 2025.

“I don’t take lightly the commitment involved in this,” she said after the appointment Monday. “I will do everything I can to bring my skills and knowledge to the table. I’m here to serve Linn-Mar and try to be someone who can see all sides and do what’s best for Linn-Mar.”

Rollinger, who was first elected in November 2021, resigned Feb. 2 from the board. He did not cite a reason in a letter to the board read by President Barry Buchholz during a meeting earlier this month.

Thomas, a single parent with two kids ages 12 and 9, said she began watching Linn-Mar school board meetings regularly online about a year ago. “When I’m cooking dinner on Monday nights, I have the board meeting streaming,” she said.

“I acknowledge I still have a ton to learn,” Thomas said. “I’m not watching anymore. I am in it. I want to listen and have more in-depth conversations, so I can better understand how some of those tough budget issues and legislation could impact Linn-Mar.”

Thomas is a senior programmer for Social Policy Research Associates of Oakland, Calif. She works remotely, focusing on workforce and economic development and data analysis. Some of her work includes projects with the U.S. Department of Labor, where she evaluates workforce development programs, such as job training and apprenticeships and their effectiveness.

Previously, Thomas worked for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance as a research and analytics specialist.

Her career experience could be beneficial as the Linn-Mar district designs career and college planning to provide students’ opportunities relevant to their career interests.

Growing up, Thomas’ parents worked for the Keystone Area Education Agency. Her mom was a speech pathologist and her dad was a special education consultant.

“I grew up knowing about the AEAs, and how they work with schools,” Thomas said. “I could see firsthand how committed and devoted those educators were to kids.”

Iowa’s nine area education agencies have been at the forefront of the Iowa Legislature this year. Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed an overhaul of the agencies, which provide special education support, media services and other services to school districts around the state. The proposal has met significant opposition from parents and administrators and skepticism from House Republicans.

A House version of the legislation would allow schools to keep their state special education support dollars, but require they still spend them with one of the AEAs.

The Senate Education Committee, however, passed an amended version of Reynolds’ proposal. The Senate version would allow school districts to retain most of their funds for special education and have the option of using that money with an AEA or with another party.

Thomas does not have plans at this time to run for election at the end of her appointment, but said she is open to the possibility. She did consider running in the most recent school board election in November 2023, but thought other people who announced their candidacy would be “a good fit” on the board.

“Right now, my focus is learning how to do this job the best I can. If in 18 months, the time comes and I feel like it would be beneficial for the board and Linn-Mar community, and I feel like I can contribute, then I would consider it,” Thomas said.

School board member Rachel Wall said appointing a new member is a “tough thing.”

“It feels like you’re making this decision for an entire community that generally would happen with an election,” she said. “For me, it’s figuring out who would fit the best.”

School board member Katie Lowe Lancaster — who was elected to the board in November 2023 — said Thomas had to make “a decision quickly” to accept the appointment. She said in Thomas’ application, she demonstrated commitment to the school district and position and a “fast and furious” willingness to learn.

Other school board members thanked all those who applied to the vacant seat.

“When we made the decision to appoint someone, it sounded like an easy process,” Buchholz said. “We were fortunate to get good candidates. Keep in mind, a year and a half from now we’re going to have another election.”

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