Cedar Rapids school board candidates share their priorities, thoughts on transparency and the future of College & Career Pathways

CEDAR RAPIDS — Seven candidates are vying for three seats on the Cedar Rapids school board in next month’s election.

The Gazette asked why they want to serve on school board, their priorities and how they will communicate with the public.

School boards establish the vision and goals for public schools in their district and set standards for the performance of schools and superintendents.

School boards — whose members are unpaid in Iowa — are responsible for making final financial and policy decisions for their districts.

Election Day is Nov. 4.

Cedar Rapids school bond forum Wednesday

The Gazette invites the community to attend a live forum about the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s $117 million school bond referendum.

What: The forum will include an overview of the bond proposal, with district representatives and community voices.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 6-7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Where: Cedar Rapids Public Library, Whipple Auditorium, 450 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids

The forum will be recorded and a replay will be available after the event at thegazette.com.

District 2 race

Three candidates are running for one seat in District 2. Those candidates are Mimi Daoud, 24, Scott Drzycimski, 51, and David Chung, 64.

Daoud, a student engagement and success coach at Kirkwood Community College, said she is running for school board to “fight for strong schools, safe and inclusive classrooms, and a future where every student can thrive.”

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Daoud said as a champion for social justice in Cedar Rapids, she has witnessed how essential it is for students to have their basic needs met before they can be present in school.

Her priorities include advocating for more academic and extracurricular opportunities, social-emotional learning and restorative practices for students; supporting and retaining educators by advocating for competitive pay and manageable class sizes; and wise investment in facilities and programs.

Daoud said she is supportive of the district’s College & Career Pathways plan — expected to launch for the 2027-28 school year — that aims to engage students in learning connected to their career interests.

“These programs can help students discover their passions, prepare for college or the workforce, and feel more engaged in their learning,” Daoud said. “Implementation must be handled carefully. Pathways should expand opportunities — not come at the expense of core classes, electives, or staff positions that are already vital to student success. I will advocate for strong oversight, transparency, and collaboration with educators and families to ensure these initiatives are carried out responsibly and equitably.”

If elected to school board, Daoud said she would prioritize transparency and communication with parents, teachers, staff and the community by being available via multiple communication methods and present at community events.

“Families should not have to fight to be heard — their perspectives should be welcomed and valued from the start,” Daoud said. “My commitment is to meet people where they are, keep them informed, and create two-way communication that builds trust and accountability.”

Drzycimski, director of public affairs for ITC Midwest, is running for school board “to rebuild trust, ensure transparency and make smart investments in our schools so every child has access to safe, modern facilities and outstanding educational opportunities,” he said.

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Drzycimski is an alumnus of the Cedar Rapids district, and he has one child who graduated from Jefferson High and a daughter still in high school.

His priorities include supporting teachers and staff, “so they can focus on student learning” and expanding opportunities in academics, fine arts and career training programs; investing in facilities for safety, accessibility and modern learning environments; and building transparency and trust with families, staff and the community by communicating “beyond school board meetings.”

Drzycimski said he is supportive of the district’s College & Career Pathways plan, but he is “disappointed” in how it was presented and communicated to families.

“Parent discussions needed to start much earlier,” Drzycimski said. “The gathering of community input was delayed until after there were complaints, rather than leading the discussion ahead of implementing the change. I also believe that many educators didn’t feel that their input was requested or utilized in developing the programs … I believe these offerings can become programs that attract interest and could ultimately drive enrollment in the district.”

Drzycimski said the school district needs “a significant change from the status quo” in how they communicate with families and teachers.

“While some would argue that the floor is always open for comment at school board meetings, those meetings are not a modern form of interaction. I'd join with my fellow school board members to create other avenues of communication: Online, in person and individually, we need to be sure the community feels they can talk with us when they need to share their feelings or insights,” Drzycimski said.

Chung, a software engineer whose eight children attended Cedar Rapids schools, said he is running for school board because “the current board and superintendent have not been willing to listen to parents, the community or staff in their attempt to make significant changes in the district.“

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“Our community needs board members who are willing to listen to the community, who will be open to the concerns of faculty and staff, and who will hold district leadership accountable for making decisions that reflect the values and priorities of the people they serve,” he said.

Chung’s priorities include “gaining back the confidence of the community before moving ahead with major initiatives”; improving staff morale and retention; and ensuring students have equal access to academic programs, regardless of where they live in the district.

He said decisions made by district leaders “shows a troubling disregard for the will of the voters.”

“As a member of the school board, I will ask about the district's efforts to communicate significant changes to faculty, staff and the community every time the district proposes a change. If the response is negative, I will push back and require the district to justify proceeding without buy-in; otherwise, I will vote ‘no,’” Chung said.

Chung said he likes the idea of the district’s College & Career Pathways plan, but the district needs to be able to answer parents’ questions and “bring staff on board” before moving ahead with the plan.“

If elected, Chung said he would use social media to keep the public informed of decisions the school board is considering and be available for conversations with school staff, families and community members.

District 3 race

Two candidates are running for one seat in District 3. Those candidates are incumbent Jennifer Borcherding, 53, and Ashley Burns, 32.

Borcherding, a business consultant, said she is seeking re-election because she is a committed public servant who wants to “help lead the district toward improvement.”

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Her priorities include transparency and improved communication; advocating for building staff by “asking relevant questions about culture and climate and student achievement”; and engaging in data analysis at the board table and showing the community how data is being used to accomplish identified strategic plan goals.

Borcherding supports the district’s College & Career Pathways plan, saying it “lets students explore possible future direction through project-based learning experiences.”

“This program can help students defer the cost of college and/or give them a head start on a different career path … Freshman academy programs smooth the transition into higher levels of learning,” she said.

Borcherding said she is happy to meet with parents, teachers and staff who want to share their concerns or “points of celebration.”

“The public should expect transparency from me at the board table and in all communications,” she said.

Burns, who works for the Cedar Rapids Public Library and Foundation, said she is running for school board to “bring a bold, student-centered voice” to the board table.

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“Public education is at a flex point and new paths are needed to ensure our schools remain strong and competitive in the face of increasing pressure from charter and private schools. It is not a time to be timid. It is a time to think outside the box and find creative solutions that keep students at the center of every decision,“ Burns said.

Her priorities include alleviating teacher and staff burnout and retaining staff; communication and building trust between district leadership and staff and the district and families; and advocating for public schools in the Iowa Legislature.

Burns supports the College & Career Pathways plan, saying it expands opportunities for students to explore careers and make informed choices about their future.

If elected, Burns said she would respond promptly to families’ and teachers’ questions and concerns and “take their input seriously.”

“I will always advocate to ensure concerns are addressed and that answers are provided by the appropriate district leaders. Being engaged in the work of the board means being prepared. Time in meetings should be spent asking the right questions, not rehashing materials that could have been reviewed beforehand,” Burns said.

At-Large race

Two candidates are running for one seat for director at-large. Those candidates are incumbent Marcy Roundtree, 50, and Laura Zimmerman, 39.

Roundtree, owner of Conversation Pieces By Marcy, said she is running for re-election because she wants to continue serving in a time of “unease and frustration.”

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“Our district has experienced great challenges that have shaken the foundation of our identity and influence in our community, but I remain steadfast and committed to doing the work that it takes to make sure that teachers and staff are feeling valued and supported; that every student is able to identify this district as a safe, engaging place to learn and thrive; that every single staff member is seen and heard,” Roundtree said.

Roundtree’s priorities include transparent communication, support for teachers and staff and community insight, she said.

She supports the district’s College & Career Pathways plan because it will help students achieve better outcomes after graduation, she said.

Roundtree said she will be “clear and transparent” in her communication with the public.

“If an email is sent I will respond and point you in the right direction to get answers. I will follow up to make sure you have the right information and that you are satisfied with what you needed,” she said.

Zimmerman, a former teacher with two of her own children in Cedar Rapids schools, said she is running for school board “to serve our students and contribute to the continued success of our district.”

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Her priorities include creating classrooms where students and educators feel safe, supported and challenged to reach their full potential; advocating for the needs of schools and staying competitive; and making evidence-based decisions and a commitment to stability and transparency.

“At the heart of public education is the mission to prepare students to become engaged, capable and contributing members of society. Achieving this begins with ensuring that every student reaches critical learning milestones — especially in language and math literacy, which forms the foundation for future academic and personal success. This vision reflects not only what I hope for my own children, but for every student in our district,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman supports the district’s College & Career Pathways plan that would “give students real-world experience, boosting both college and career readiness while strengthening Cedar Rapids’ future workforce,” she said.

However, she would like students to be able to “opt-in” to the program instead of it being a requirement.

“The role out of this initiative seemed to be done without transparency and input from families and educators. I believed the communicated structure was ‘one size fits all’ in nature, and I don't believe that it should be,” she said.

If elected, Zimmerman said she would invite the public to reach out via email and hold office hours at the public library.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com