CRSD Cohenour: To solve problems, get input from those on the “front lines”

My name is Todd Cohenour and I am running for Cedar Rapids District School Board at Large on Sept. 8. My grandfather and father both held community offices and I want to give back to my community by serving on the school board.

After graduating from Truman State University with a degree in Economics I joined the United States Navy for five years and was in during the first Gulf War (Desert Storm). After returning from the Navy I earned an associate degree in Computer Programing from Kirkwood Community College. My working background is in programming, sales, collections and customer service.

The school board is struggling with budget constraints and unfunded mandates from the state and federal governments. I want to help improve the district and will bring a fresh look to today's problems in education. I am a problem solver.

I want to work with teachers and parents to help students to accomplish their goals to become successful citizens in our community. Teachers are dealing with larger classes and should have more flexibility in teaching your child for success. We need to look at the use of student assessments and how the information is being data mined successfully. I support 'Zero Tolerance on Bullying” because students need to feel safe and comfortable in their school environment to learn. I disagree with the policy by the board on making up snow days by adding 10 minutes a day. The students were cheated out of valuable educational time.

I believe when a problem is detected it is better to ask the people on the front lines and get their input as to how to reach a solution. The current school board does not do that. Teachers, parents and students are impacted everyday by the problems the school board faces. Their issues and problems need to be addressed in a timely fashion.

Do you feel the school board is working for you? We need to find out why we are losing students in open enrollment. The school board needs to ask the right questions to find out why students are enrolling to other school districts. That is not being done.

To improve the Cedar Rapids School District please vote me, Todd Cohenour at Large.

l More information: taciowa2@gmail.com