School Board Association urges you to run

Iowa’s Association of School Boards is urging local folks to run for the local school board. The opening to file for a seat on one of the state’s 270 local school boards will be July 7 to the 31st, and the association’s Lisa Bartusek says everyone should be willing to work for good schools. She says the success of kids in Iowa classrooms is important to parents but also to communities all over the state. Bartusek says serving on a school board can make a huge difference for children, as they’re counted on to make good decisions about buildings and programs, and find superintendents who will lead. Bartusek admits sometimes a single issue or special interest will draw candidates but often most people don’t consider running for school boards. Bartusek says there’s a saying that “bad officials are elected by people who don’t vote,” and she says bad decisions are made when good people don’t step forward to fill leadership positions, people who’ll look at the big picture and what’s good for all kids, not just some.