As voters cast their ballots for the Nov. 5 midterm election, they will see something new. This is the first year in Iowa that school board elections are being included. There are only three at-large seats coming open on the Carroll Community School District Board of Education this year, but five candidates are vying for those spots. Incumbent, Brad Jorgensen, has just completed his first four-year term, and says he believes his background in education has been invaluable in getting acclimated and in providing perspective on the issues.
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Jorgensen holds a master’s degree in education and taught high school science in Indianola. He was also an associate principal in Ottumwa prior to moving back to Carroll to farm. He says one of the reasons he is seeking another term is that he still has children in the public school system. His oldest daughter has graduated and attends Iowa State University, but he has another daughter who is a sophomore and a son in sixth grade. He adds there were two main reasons he initially ran for the position.
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The change from an athletic director position to one of an activities director puts the focus on a broader scope of extra-curricular offerings than sports. Jorgensen says he is pleased to have been able to help broaden the leadership in this position to include those fine arts programs. The new stadium is another issue Jorgensen is proud to have had a hand in. He points to some of the recent controversy in the news surrounding the newly-amended facility rental policy. As a district, he says, they are not trying to make money, they are simply trying to cover expenses, no matter who is using the stadium.
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Jorgensen says he sees two big challenges facing education in the future. Educator staffing in rural areas across the state will become more difficult and he says it is not just about being able to hire new teachers.
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The board does currently work with new teachers on ways they can support them inside the classroom and out. Another issue Jorgensen says will be brought to the forefront in coming years is in the mental health realm. The priority and focus will be to get dollars allocated for testing and treatment to help students with mental health issues. Jorgensen says he believes the district is headed in a great direction. The facilities are in great shape. There may be a study that needs to be done on the Adams Street building as it is currently the least efficient, but that is a long-range topic. And when it comes to asking for district residents to cast their vote for him, Jorgensen says he wants them to know he is using his educational background for the benefit of students and all other members of the district.
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The other candidates on the Nov. 5th ballot are newcomers, Onica Ulveling and Cindy Johnson and incumbents Jon Sampson and Karen Friedlein, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in May.