Schools must meet needs of all students

Before coming to Iowa City in 1994, I grew up in Chicago, where I attended elementary and secondary school. I attended and graduated from high school and came to the University of Iowa where I earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling. I'm currently an administrator at the in University of Iowa's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where I'm able to address financial matters related to budgets, human resource needs related to faculty and staff due to my supervisory role to 10, and facilities planning.

I have closely followed the work of the board for many years as a parent and the wife of a teacher in the district. I have been an active member of the Parent-Teacher organizations at our daughter's schools - Lucas Elementary, Southeast Jr. High and now City High. In addition to school-level involvement, I also served on the ICCSD Climate Survey Task Force in fall 2016.

I am running for school board because I want to work with parents, students, teachers, school officials and community members to maintain and enhance the high quality education our schools provide. I am committed to ensuring that our schools meet the needs of every student and am particularly attentive to the concerns of our special needs students as well as students of color. I believe every child, regardless of background, deserves a quality education to reach his or her full potential.

I'll work with other board members to address many of the needs we face as a district related to facilities, special education, equity/diversity and advocacy building to ensure that we are a strong district for all of our families for years to come.

' Ruthina Malone of Iowa City is seeking a four-year term on the Iowa City school board

Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com