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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Here’s who’s running for re-election on Cedar Rapids, Iowa City school boards
Filing period for local elections opens Aug. 25
Jul. 4, 2025 5:30 am, Updated: Jul. 4, 2025 7:42 am
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Residents of Corridor communities are gearing up to run for school boards as Iowa’s Nov. 4 local election approaches.
School boards establish the vision and goals for the public schools in their district and set standards for the performance of schools and superintendents, according to the National School Boards Association. School boards — whose members are unpaid in Iowa — typically are responsible for making the final financial and budgetary decisions for their schools and districts, and ensure taxpayers get the most for their tax dollars.
This voter guide includes information about who is running for re-election to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City school boards. The Gazette will be speaking with candidates about their campaigns and priorities in future stories.
The official filing period for school board elections opens Aug. 25 and runs through Sept. 18. Candidates should file the necessary paperwork with their county auditor’s office.
If you plan to run for school board in Linn or Johnson counties, let us know by emailing grace.king@thegazette.com.
Cedar Rapids
Three seats are up for election on the Cedar Rapids school board.
The seven-member board serves about 15,000 students in the Cedar Rapids Community School District, and board members are not paid.
All voters within the district may cast ballots in all three races.
The Cedar Rapids Community School District is holding an informational session later this month for anyone considering running for one of the open seats this November. It will be from 4-5 p.m. Monday, July 14, at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids.
Running for re-election this year is current board vice President Marcy Roundtree, 50, who first won a seat on the board in November 2021 to serve at-large.
Roundtree said she wants to see through initiatives that began in her first term on board.
That includes a new facility plan that would be supported by a proposed $117 million school bond expected to go to voters this fall, a new strategic plan approved by the school board last year and a plan to expand college and career-connected learning to the district’s high schools.
“There’s so many new and big and heavy lifts going on right now. I want to make sure I am able to continue to add my voice to the things that really matter. There’s still a lot of decisions to be made. We really need people such as myself who have been in the trenches,” said Roundtree, who was a community engagement advocate at Washington High School before she was first elected to the school board.
Roundtree is being challenged by Laura Zimmerman, a parent to children in Cedar Rapids schools, volunteer and former teacher in the district. She is seeking election for the first time.
Zimmerman, 39, is a member of the Parent Teacher Association at Erskine Elementary and has been working with school officials for the last year to create a districtwide parent organization. She also is volunteering with BELIEVE in CR Schools, which is advocating for people to vote “yes” this fall on the Cedar Rapids school bond referendum.
Zimmerman said she’s witnessed a “sweet partnership” between the school district, teachers and parents that she wants to help further.
“My heart pushes me in the direction of serving in an even larger capacity,” Zimmerman said.
Jennifer Borcherding, 52, is not planning to run for re-election unless there’s “a candidate pursuing that seat that does not have what’s best for students and staff as a guiding focus,” she said.
Borcherding serves District 3 and was first elected in 2017 and reelected in 2021.
She said it’s been a “great honor” to serve, and she thinks one of the reasons she has been “effective” on the school board is because of her relationships with teachers and staff in the schools.
As her youngest son enters his senior year of high school this fall, however, Borcherding’s connection to the district as a parent is coming to an end.
Not running for school board “leaves me to pursue other offices,” Borcherding said.
Long-standing board member Nancy Humbles — who has been elected four times — does not plan to run for re-election. She has served on the board for 16 years, representing District 2.
“Serving our students, families, educators and staff has been one of my greatest honors. I am proud of the progress we have made together — strengthening our schools, uplifting equity and ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education,” said Humbles, 74.
“This decision is not made lightly. I believe it is time for new voices and fresh perspectives to carry the work forward,” she said.
Iowa City
Three seats are up for election on the Iowa City school board.
The seven-member board serves about 14,000 students in the Iowa City Community School District, and board members are not paid.
Current board President Ruthina Malone, 49, is seeking re-election for a third term. She was first elected in 2017 and reelected in 2021.
In another term, Malone said she would like to continue to prioritize enhancing preschool opportunities, address achievement discrepancies with various student populations, “ensure strong lines of communication” between the board, administrators, teachers, staff and families, and expand learning opportunities for students.
Jayne Finch, 54, who was first elected in 2021, also is seeking re-election.
Finch said she is a “voice for the community,” and wants to continue to improve the district’s and school board’s “transparency and ethics.”
“I do feel like my voice still is needed and necessary,” Finch said.
Shawn Eyestone, 53, who was appointed to the board last June to fill a vacancy, is not running for school board.
Eyestone was first elected to the school board in 2017 and reelected in 2019.
Eyestone stepped down from the board in August 2022 to pursue continuing education. He said one of his classes at the time conflicted with Iowa City school board meetings. His term would have expired in 2023.
He filled the remainder of J.P. Claussen’s term, which expires in November. Eyestone said that by completing Claussen’s term, he feels like he “put the time in I was initially elected for.”
Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com
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