School board endorsements: Iowa City

Six good people have stepped up to serve on the Iowa City school board during an especially difficult time, ready to face tough decisions if elected.

Several candidates told members of The Gazette's Editorial Board they don't expect to to win any popularity contests. All seemed willing to wrestle with thorny issues such as school boundary changes, budget cuts and determining the timing and funding of a third comprehensive high school.

In considering which candidates seem best suited to the challenge, we decided to endorse incumbent Mike Cooper of North Liberty and newcomers Tuyet Dorau of Coralville and Sarah Swisher of Iowa City.

Cooper's experience and practical approach to the district's challenges will serve the board well.

He admits the board could have better communicated with the community during his last term - such as in the case of the district's decision to close Roosevelt Elementary - and said the board is talking about ways to generate more community dialogue.

He also has interesting ideas about new ways the Roosevelt building might be used to continue serving the community.

His thoughts about how to handle continued enrollment growth are pragmatic and flexible - recognizing the need while being realistic about funds and open to alternatives like three-year junior highs.

Swisher has a different kind of experience, her resume filled with work on boards and task forces, campaigns and committees. The third-generation graduate of Iowa City Schools has been active in local issues for years, and co-chaired the 2007 campaign to pass a School Infrastructure Local Option sales tax.

Like us, Swisher is deeply concerned with possible inequities at the elementary schools, notably in the distribution of students who receive free and reduced lunch.

She has a keen understanding of the interrelationships between schools and the community, and interesting ideas about how to strengthen partnerships in order to maximize scarce resources.

She seems eager to roll up her sleeves, saying: “I'm running because it's hard work and we have to do it. Not only because it's good for the kids. It's good for our community.”

Finally, we feel consensus-building Dorau will help nudge the board toward more global, long-term planning.

Already, she is asking the right questions about the necessity of hiring consultants for districtwide boundary changes and whether a smaller third high school would offer equal opportunities to students.

She wants to ensure our students are emerging from the district as well-rounded, critical thinkers, prepared to forge a better future.

Together, these three candidates would fill out a well-rounded school board, capable of doing the same for the district.