The slate of candidates running for the three Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education seats on the ballot during the Nov. 7 City/School election includes seven people. One of those candidates is Sara Woerdehoff of Carroll. Woerdehoff explains the reasoning behind her decision to run.
Woerdehoff’s educational background is in forensic science, but her career path took a different direction. She worked for several years as a child advocate for children involved in the Nebraska foster and juvenile justice systems. She also has experience with Genesis Development in Guthrie Center, assisting young adults with individualized education programs (IEPs) or developmental disabilities to prepare for jobs after high school. She is currently employed by WESCO Industries in Denison in their marketing department. Woerdehoff says the special education department at CCSD needs a new perspective, and her background in that field would be invaluable.
Woerdehoff adds that overall student academic achievement has also been slipping at CCSD, a trend seen by nearly all schools nationwide following the COVID-19 closures and disruptions. She says these figures are often indicative of larger future concerns.
Also on the Nov. 7 ballot is the proposed renewal of CCSD’s instructional support levy. Woerdehoff says the funding benefits the district, but she is concerned about the added stress it puts on taxpayers, who already feel the pinch of inflation and higher property value assessments. The current ISL does not expire until Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, so she prefers holding off on approving the renewal before a new board is elected. For many districts, open school board seats often need to be filled by write-in candidates, but Woerdehoff says that is not the case for CCSD, as stakeholders are engaged with seven candidates. Regardless of the outcome, Woerdehoff says she will work with everybody to benefit students and the community.
Woerdehoff is scheduled to appear alongside the six other candidates at the Carroll County Growth Partnership (CCGP) Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Carroll High School auditorium. Those candidates include Jason Schagt, Stacey McCaulley, Casie Forke-Burke, Jim Friel, Jill Johnston, and Cindy Scaturico.
