Editor’s Note: Incumbent Donna Cook is one of the four Newton Community School District board of education candidates for the Sept. 8 election. Here are her replies to a Newton Daily News email questionnaire.
The Newton Daily News and the League of Women Voters are sponsoring a candidate forum, to be held at 7 p.m., Aug. 27 in the Newton Council Chambers, located inside City Hall, 101 W. 4th St. S.
The Newton Daily News will publish the reply from the other incumbent, Bill Perrenoud, on Tuesday. Profiles of challengers Josh Cantu and Ann Leonard were published late last week.
Occupation: Registered Nurse, Nursing Services Director at the Newton Correctional Facility.
Family: Married and proud mom of three children, all Newton alumni; three grandsons will be educated in Newton Schools.
Years of residence within the NCSD boundaries: Most of my life; I am a Newton High School graduate.
Educational background: Bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Iowa, completing this life goal at the age of 50.
No additional NCSD board of education objectives are needed for the four years ahead (Beyond the board's stated goals): The addition of more objectives would dilute our focus. I recommend we continue to enhance, develop and implement our laser-like focus on student learning.
There are more strategies to develop to support our teachers and staff for continual improvement of instruction, respecting their professions. This encompasses the continued pursuit of our mission through further definition of our goals, emphasizing checkpoints along the way to monitor our progress and stay the right course.
We have initiated programs that will support meeting these goals including Capturing Kids Hearts and continued learning of issues that impact our students like poverty. The board of education has a responsibility to be engaged in individual and board learning to elevate the quality of our conversations and ask better questions to challenge the process.
Literacy is critical for academic success and must continue to be a priority, using evidenced-based strategies.
The element of campus and student safety I feel needs to be addressed most urgently in central Iowa: Safety is critical for a healthy learning environment. While media reports tragedies, these are more isolated then we are led to believe. Schools are one of the safest places.
Safety has been an important board goal, and measures have been implemented including handicap access, sidewalk repairs, fire escapes, refining building check in procedures, cameras at entrances and on buses and the use of canines for searches and more. I support maintaining these safety measures.
I challenge our community to improve safety through family and community involvement and support of our children’s education.
My position on Newton K-8 reconfiguration, as of today: I voted against the current reconfiguration plan because of concerns the identified benefits of improved professional collaboration and flexibility in grouping students to meet specific individual learning needs identified effectively would be lost. I am disappointed I was not able to convince fellow board members to share my views.
The board makes decisions together as a majority. As a board member, it is my responsibility to learn, deliberate and act, and then to support the decision of the board. Now I must work diligently to support the successful implementation of the approved configuration maintaining the focus on student learning and continual improvement.
One of my focal points will be to ensure there is professional collaboration and continued flexibility in grouping for best instruction and learning. I continue to be passionate about learning — not necessarily the framework.
These tools should be utilized in Newton to get parents more involved in the educational process: Parent involvement has a hugely positive impact on student learning. There is no one way, and it must be individualized for our community.
Volunteering in the classroom is the best-known involvement. Technology provides us with a plethora of opportunities to engage in new and exciting ways.
Fall is my favorite time of year when you can feel the excitement of going back to school. We need to continue the momentum with excitement for learning all year long. A successful education is the key for an informed citizenry and to develop contributing, fulfilled adults.
All parents want their children to be happy. Education is the avenue to achieve this goal.
The district should continue to offer free preschool: Early education is crucial to all children. We provide free 4-year-old preschool. I am a huge advocate of the importance of early childhood education. I will continue to support free preschool.