District 4 candidate: Allen Witt

I know Cedar Rapids Community School District has a very successful STEP-UP preschool program for children who turn 4 on or before Sept. 15, and we have 865 enrolled this year. Presently the district provides priority enrollment to families qualifying as low income.

The district's STEP-UP program is a very special early learning opportunity where positive reinforcement from caring adults and opportunities to take risks, make decisions and solve problems will lead to healthy self-images. The successful early learning experience lays a foundation for a continued school success and a lifetime of problem-solving skills.

Since 1997, Iowa has made major advances in developing preschool for children. In 2010-11, 65 percent (25,400) of all 4-year olds in Iowa were funded and attended public schools or community-based sites across Iowa. The purpose of Iowa's Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for 4-year-olds is to provide an opportunity for all young children in the state to enter school ready to learn. I believe the goal to fund all of our 4-year-olds will pay dividends by putting every student on a path to higher learning.

The fact that education is the No. 1 topic in Iowa this year is promising since the Cedar Rapids district's guiding philosophy is “continuous improvement.”

I agree with Senate File 2272, legislation in 2006 mandating that, beginning with the 2011 graduating class, all school districts must require four years of English/language arts, and three years of mathematics, science and social studies. I believe if all Iowa students meet these goals and those students are given the support at home, we will increase our graduation rates in the Cedar Rapids District and all of Iowa.

Many of these graduates will attend college and many will have skills to fulfill our local work force needs to make Iowa No. 1.

A more recent approach for the Cedar Rapids district is to teach critical thinking skills and applying new knowledge in innovative ways. We need to balance our traditional curriculum with project-based learning because it weaves all of the subjects together and allows the student to apply problem-solving techniques to their learning experiences.

In running for school board in District 4, within the southeast side of Cedar Rapids, I hope to see the largest turnout for a school election, because in past school elections we had fewer than 3 percent of the electorate vote.

With 25 years of experience in engineering, technology and business, I bring a valuable skill set to the school district. My wife and I are proud parents of children being educated at Washington and McKinley.

I understand the impact our decisions will have on both our students and taxpayers. I'm committed to excellence for all in our school system, and high expectations of our students.

I have the confidence, common sense and personality to work in good faith with all people for the achievement of academic excellence. I also have the courage and conviction to take positions that are focused on student achievement and are fiscally responsible for our district.

Allen Witt, a principal of Hall & Hall Engineers Inc., of Hiawatha, is chair of the Project Lead the Way Community Partnership Team-Cedar Rapids, member of the University of Iowa Civil & Environmental Engineering Advisory Board, past chair of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and on the Center for Youth Innovation Committee. Comments: allen@halleng.com