Meet the candidates for three GHV School Board seats

Three Board of Education seats in the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura School District will be determined in the Sept. 12 election.

Incumbents Jack Toppin and Steve Watson will be seeking re-election, while longtime Board member Larry Costello is not.  Costello served on the Ventura School District School Board and then the GHV School Board for a total of 41 years. A reception is planned for Costello Sept. 9.

Jay Larkin, of Ventura, has filed nomination papers for the Board seat, finalizing the ballot with three persons seeking three positions.

This week the GHV candidates have provided information about themselves and their vision for the school district.

Jack Toppin

I graduated from Ventura High School in 1976 and for the past 37 years I have lived in the community of Garner.  Cheryl is my wife and I have one daughter, Nicole, who will be a freshman at Iowa this year.  My educational background includes an associate degree in agriculture from NIACC and several agricultural credits from Iowa State.  I am employed at Interstate Battery and have a grain farming operation with my brother, Gene.  Other work and life experiences include being a member and deacon at St. John Lutheran Church in Garner and serving two previous terms on the school board for the Garner-Hayfield Community School District and the

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Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community Schools.  During my tenure as a school board member, the committees served on included: Finance, Building and Grounds, Negotiations, and the Garner-Hayfield Education Foundation.

Job experience or qualifications you feel relate to your candidacy:

I am seeking re-election to the GHV Community School Board of Education in order to continue my involvement in assuring that students who attend this school district receive a quality education.  To build positive relationships, inspire passion for learning, and prepare for the future is our school district’s vision.  My involvement as a board member has contributed to the implementation of this vision.  Receiving a quality education is a key factor that contributes to a person’s quality of life.  It is important that our students receive an education that builds on their potential and prepares them for future success.  Having served two, four-year terms on the G-H and the GHV school boards has allowed me access to job responsibilities that are necessary for a school board member to possess.  A few examples of my past school board involvement and responsibilities included: consolidation of two school districts, budgetary expenditures during tough economic times, renovation of the middle school and high school, and new building projects like the sports complex and bus barn.

What is the most important quality you would bring to the School Board?

The most important quality that I would bring to the GHV Board of Education is my past school board experiences.  Having served two previous terms has prepared me well to continue the current work, in addition to accepting all responsibilities that move our district forward.  Being a school board member is a privilege that I don’t take lightly.  I am accountable to my constituents to allow them to voice their opinions, ask for issue clarifications, and to help out with their concerns.  It would be an honor to serve a third term.

Please identify the top three challenges you see facing the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura School District in the next four years:

The top challenges facing the GHV School District are decreased state and federal funding, declining school enrollment and rising operating costs.  These factors all contribute to our school system having to do “more” with “less” money.  These challenges can best be met by looking at all available state and federal resources.  Long-range planning is critical for the growth of our communities and school district.  Thriving communities that are growing attract new families, which can ultimately increase student enrollment.  Increased student enrollment results in additional funding that can help reduce some of the financial burdens of a school district.  Another challenge that cannot be overlooked or ignored is providing a challenging curriculum that meets the academic, social and emotional needs of all learners.  Equally important is preparing teachers with the necessary skills to educate our students.  The ultimate goal is to prepare students to be successful for the workforce, post-secondary education, or the military.

In these tough economic times, the School Board is typically faced with making cuts in its budget. What areas would you like to see the Board review further for potential cuts?

A school district needs to be a good steward with their resources.  This means analyzing expenditures in relationship to the school district’s vision, mission and goals.  Budgetary cuts need to be made in areas where resources have not shown to be used effectively.  Our ultimate goal is to make budgetary decisions that positively impact student learning.

Additional comments:

The GHV School District’s mission is to prepare students for a successful future in a kind, caring and compassionate way.  Continuing the work of this mission statement by serving another term on the GHV School Board of Education would be an honor.  I would welcome the opportunity to serve again.

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Steve Watson

My family and I live South of Ventura. I’m a 1986 Ventura graduate.  After graduation I attended Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Iowa.  I’ve been employed with Axalta Coating Systems for 24 years as an Account Manager.  I have been married to my wife, Wendy, for 29 years. We have two daughters. Whitney Jo, 21, she is currently in the Dental Hygiene program at Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo. Kelsey, 15, is a freshman at GHV. I’m a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake, and have served on various boards, along with volunteering time for other things in the church.

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ifications you feel relate to your candidacy:

In sales, communication and being open minded plays a big role. This carries over into the role as a board member. You need to keep good two-way communications with both school staff and patrons of the district. Being open minded about opportunities and other peoples’ ideas makes it a lot easier to do the research and make good decisions.

What is the most important quality you would bring to the School Board?

 I believe I keep an open mind and look at the big picture when making decisions. You need to make decisions that are best for all kids not a select few (both academically and athletically).

Please identify the top three challenges you see facing the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura School District in the next four years:

1) The biggest challenge for the district in the next four years will be keeping a good handle on the balancing of the budget.  The most difficult part of being a school board member is making necessary budget cuts when needed.  2) The second challenge will be enrollment. Unfortunately it has been on a declining trend across this area of the state for many years. 3) Making sure all students get a great education so they can go on to college and achieve their life’s goals/dreams. This gets harder every year with the unfunded mandates that get put on the school districts by the state.

In these tough economic times, the School Board is typically faced with making cuts in its budget. What areas would you like to see the Board review further for potential cuts?

I think the most important thing a board can do is stay on top of things financially. Be looking out in the future for possible road blocks/bumps in the road. When you proactively take steps instead of reacting it’s much easier to make the needed changes/decisions and not turn everything upside down.

Additional comments:

I have appreciated the opportunity to serve on the GHV School District for the past 3 years. I’m also looking forward to the opportunity to serve the district for another four years if re-elected.

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Jay Larkin

My name is Jay Larkin.  I am a 2004 graduate of Garner-Hayfield.  I received my AA and building trades diploma from North Iowa Area Community College.  I am currently self-employed doing construction and radon mitigation.  My wife, Ashley, and I have three daughters, Harper, Hallee and Hadlee.

Job experience or qualifications you feel relate to your candidacy:

Being a self-employed contractor and dealing with homeowners, I feel I will be good at communicating with other board members and parents.

What is the most important quality you would bring to the School Board?

Young and interested

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in making the school district the best one possible, especially since I have children in the school district.

Please identify the top three challenges you see facing the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura School District in the next four years:

1) Budget cuts.  2) Utilization of all the buildings.

In these tough economic times, the School Board is typically faced with making cuts in its budget. What areas would you like to see the Board review further for potential cuts?

Being new to the school board and having young children in the district, I’m not aware of the cuts at this time, but am interested in making the school the best for students, staff and parents.

Additional comments:

None.

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