Cedar Rapids school board needs fresh perspectives

Three school board seats, including an at-large seat and contests in Districts 2 and 3, are up for grabs in the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

We’d like new leadership and fresh perspectives on the school board.

We want board members who value transparency and are willing to speak for themselves. That means rejecting the board policy that only the president can speak for the board. Their constituents deserve to know where their representatives stand on issues. We want board members who are not afraid of debating in public instead of working behind the scenes and out of public view. We want board members who are willing to take chances on innovative ideas.

Following this path will help the district mend its often-cited trust problem in the community. People will have more respect for decisions if they can watch them be debated in the open and hear all members' arguments.

We also want a board that understands how to lead, challenge and set goals, and, when necessary, provide political air cover, for a superintendent challenged to lead a school district that faces a broad set of internal and external pressures. This is an extremely complex volunteer job, and while you want members that reflect the diverse makeup of the district, you also need change agents that give everything they can to motivate the district and community to assist in this challenge.

Of course, no one candidate can do all of these things alone. However, new board members provide the best chances for successful change.

At-large

The race for an at-large seat pits incumbent board member Marcy Roundtree, a business owner who has been volunteering in the district for 20 years, against Laura Zimmerman, a former teacher in the district of English language learners, who served in leadership roles and now volunteers in the district.

Our endorsement goes to Zimmerman.

While Roundtree has been present at the board table, the vision and replies given to questions about the current and future state did not reflect the depth and nuance we'd expect a four-year incumbent to have.

Zimmerman, asked about the district’s weaknesses, said she wants to help the board improve communication.

"At times, we move too quickly in shifting direction without fully engaging the community, educators, or parents. When major decisions are made without sufficient input, the outcomes can feel rushed or disconnected,” Zimmerman wrote in her issues survey.

Zimmerman also wants to become more accessible to constituents.

“As a board member, I believe that comes with the job, having an open door to communication. I would invite community members, educators, parents and all, to reach out via email. I also think having office hours at the public library would be positive, so people can meet face to face and can bring their concerns and suggestions,” Zimmerman wrote in her survey.

District 3

Incumbent Jennifer Borcherding, a business consultant, is being challenged by Ashley Burns, an employee of the Cedar Rapids Public Library and Foundation.

Our endorsement goes to Burns.

Burns said the district and the future of education are rapidly changing. The board, she said, must step up to meet those new challenges.

“I want to serve on the school board because, after four years of tumult in education, it is time for bold new ideas and leadership that is not hindered by the old ways of thinking.” Burns wrote in her survey.

“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,” Burns wrote.

Burns also wants to “rebuild” the district’s commitment to transparency and said communications policies must be addressed.

“Stakeholders sometimes receive mixed messages or feel delayed in responses. Additionally, communication between the board and district administration, teachers, students and the public must continue to be improved,” Burns wrote.

Since the start of 2025, Borcherding was absent from seven of 24 school board meetings and work sessions. This level of absence from the board table creates problems for cohesion and for making sure that policy issues and concerns are addressed in the public eye.

District 2

It was difficult to pick from three excellent candidates in District 2. David Chung, a software engineer with eight kids educated in Cedar Rapids, Mimi Daoud, a Student Engagement and Success Coach at Kirkwood Community College, and Scott Drzycimski, director of public affairs for ITC Midwest, all bring a passion for education and a commitment to greater transparency.

Our endorsement goes to Dryzcimski.

“I’m running 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,” Drzycimski said in his survey.

Drzycimski recognizes the district is at a “critical juncture” as funding challenges and competition for students with private schools have altered the education landscape. He has a firm grasp of complex projects from his professional job and a grasp of statehouse politics. He also learned crucial insights while spending hundreds of hours working to pass the previous iteration of a district bond referendum.

“We can advocate for change, but to succeed in the near future, we need to retain our students, attract more families to our district and retain our talented educators and staff. I’m interested in exploring what makes our district uniquely attractive to families and using those advantages to assure Cedar Rapids is a district of choice for parents,” Drzycimski said in his survey.

Drzycimski argues the district needs to “provide updates, clear communication, and real opportunities for parents, staff, and the community to have input in board discussion and decisions,” he wrote.

“To do this, we need to go beyond the school board meeting. The board meetings, while necessary, are a communications device of the last century. Few parents and taxpayers engage in the meetings. We should work to get more involvement in the board's meetings, but also look for other ways to communicate,” Drzycimski wrote.

Cedar Rapids’ district administration also has to improve communications to inform staff and teachers. Right now, Drzycimski said, they feel like they have no voice in decisions.

“They feel like they are hearing too much from public emails and news stories and not receiving enough timely communication directly from the district. Better internal communication with district employees is critical to educator and staff satisfaction and retention,” Drzycimski wrote.

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