Cedar Rapids school board incumbents worried about possible union influence

Cedar Rapids school board candidate John Laverty issued a mass e-mail late Sunday night encouraging people to vote in tomorrow's school board election.

In the e-mail, Laverty – who is currently the board's president and one of three incumbents in this year's election – said “‘Special interest groups' are attempting to take control of the school board in this election and it's critical that everyone vote.”

The special interest group Laverty refers to is the teachers' union. Incumbent Ann Rosenthal said the same thing in her guest column published in The Gazette on Sept. 4.

“The Cedar Rapids Education Association (teachers' union) is campaigning to replace current board members John Laverty, Mary Meisterling and me with a slate that would form a majority,” Rosenthal stated. “This risks limiting parental input on the board in favor of initiatives more focused on the interests of just one shareholder group.”

Three retired educators – two teachers and one para-professional – are on this year's ballot. In all, nine candidates are vying for four seats in this year's election.

“I am a retired teacher and I have been, and am, a member of the NEA (National Education Association) and the ISEA (Iowa State Education Association),” said Karen Hartlep, who is one of five at-large candidates.

Hartlep said she's concerned her involvement with both associations may be misinterpreted, but added that that role of the school board is leadership to make the best decisions for kids.

“If I went to a hospital board, I would expect the hospital board to made up of doctors and others in the profession,” said Sunny Story, a District 4 candidate. “I expect our school board to be made up of educators and others in the profession.”

Story, a retired para-professional, is running against Allen Witt, a civil engineer.

“I look at myself as part of the support group for students and students are my top priority,” Story said.

Rosenthal said school board members make decisions based on data, not special interests. She didn't speak against the Cedar Rapids Teacher Association, but expressed concern of what could happen if the lines between the school board and the union are blurred.

“About 80 percent of our budget is salary and benefits, and a vast majority of that bargaining is done with the union,” Laverty added. “Right now, we have a balanced school board, including Gary Anhalt, who is a past union president.”

Kathy Ulrich, a retired teacher, pointed out that three of the current board members are University of Iowa employees.

Laverty is the associate director of admissions. Rosenthal is the associate director of facilities management. Nancy Humbles, who was elected to the board in 2009, is the director for the UI's Center for Diversity & Enrichment.

“Some people might look at that and say the University of Iowa might have a vested interest in the school board,” Ulrich said. “I am running because I'm an educator of long-standing who happens to be a union member.”

Both Laverty and Rosenthal are at-large candidates in Tuesday's election. They are challenged by Hartlep, Ulrich and Matt Ford, a Realtor with Skogman Realty.

District 1 candidates are incumbent Mary Meisterling, a strategic account manager for Alliant Energy and the board's current vice president, and Dustin Weiland of Ironworker Local 89.

Polls open for Linn County school board elections at 7 a.m. tomorrow. They close at 8 p.m.