Student Services
As a school board member, I would be supportive of a quality research-based and comprehensive student services program to include counseling, health, families, social service coordination, and after school programming.

Many years ago and after a large community needs assessment meeting, the school board established a goal for developing a program for students at risk of not graduating.  The intent was to establish a kind of clearing house in the school system where families and students would have a single entry point for services when situations became difficult for the families, because a family in distress and with no support system is a factor in low student achievement. After a couple of unsuccessful grant applications, we were awarded the School Based Youth Services grant and set up a model program that involved counseling, health services, coordination of services with DHS personnel, and a research-based after school program. This program was named the Husky Hub.  

After 4 years, the state funding was reduced by 75% and a couple of years later, funding was withdrawn as schools were encouraged to apply for At Risk Allowable Growth dollars to fund their programs.  Oelwein chose not do this and for several years did not support the Hub with school district funding.  The Hub continued to operate with funding from Title IV, smaller grants, and rent collected from various agencies that rented space in the Hub. Despite this setback, the Hub continued to function and provide data about student success, albeit on a more limited basis than before.

When I began my teaching career in the 1960's, student services were not considered an essential part of education. Times have changed.

Keep Class Sizes Small, But Not Too Small
As a school board member, I would support class sizes that are most effective for increased student achievement.

Early Childhood classes have a mandated goal of 18.  In other grades, a class size at or around 20 would be a reasonable goal.

The legal requirement to include students of all ability levels in classrooms means teachers face a wide range of student ability and achievement in each classroom. This means smaller class sizes are now more important than ever. 

Research from the federally funded education labs shows that small class sizes are effective in increasing the number of students who graduate on time, who complete more advance courses, and who graduate with honors.  Small class sizes are also more effective with students who are from economically depressed areas.  Small class sizes mean teachers can use a wider variety teaching styles, hands-on learning, and give more individual attention to students.

When a significant number of class sizes fall below 20, scheduling adjustments need to be made to maximize dollars and student learning.

Encourage Community and Staff Insight
As a school board member, I would want community insight into school related issues.

Community Insight

I support an active, stable, and knowledgeable school improvement advisory committee with members who are pledged to learning how the educational system works and take a major role in bringing community input to the table for the purpose of increasing student achievement.

I support ad hoc citizen's committees when issues are controversial and need input from many diverse groups. For example, I have been asked about closing Harlan Elementary School, an issue that has many pros and cons. Board discussion alone will not find all the issues people care about. It is important that all stakeholders are provided with a forum to speak about their ideas and concerns. As a board member, I would not want to be called upon to make a decision without first hearing from the community.

Teacher Insight

This issue is not as easy to pinpoint as tax dollars or class size, but it is as important. Teachers need to be heard when it comes to decisions about the educational program because teachers are the people in the educational community most directly responsible for student achievement.  As a board member, I would support a plan that provides a formal method of teacher input into decision-making about curriculum, scheduling, technology, early childhood, student needs and other issues that impact teaching and learning success in the classroom. Teacher-led committees can bring practical ideas to the fore.

Staff Insight

This issue is the same as the teacher issue. People closest to the job have practical ideas about how things should work.

Make School District Non-confidential Data Easily Accessible to the Public
As a school board member, I would support making data easily accessible to the public.
I support an update of the school district web site that would make it a quick and easy task to find student achievement data (group data only, not individual student data), demographic data, and other school data. Because we are a nation concerned with test scores, we need to be able to compare Oelwein scores to the statements that are made about state and nation. Oelwein decisions need to be made from Oelwein data.