Two Incumbents Choose Not to Run for Johnston School Board

Two of the three incumbents whose terms on the Johnston School Board are up for election this year have chosen not to seek re-election.

Those who did not file to run again in the Sept. 10 election are John Dutcher and Julie Walter.

Dutcher told Johnston Patch he will have no comment regarding his decision not to seek another term on the school board until after Thursday's meeting of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Dutcher filed a complaint in June 2012 regarding the September 2011 school board election, asserting that Johnston faculty, staff and administrators used school district email and other assets in that election. 

Following is Walter's statement on her decision to step down:

I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that I will not be seeking reelection in September for the Johnston School Board. I feel that during my 4 years on the board, I have been able to accomplish some major goals, most notably developing a long term facility plan and implementation of a major technology expansion.

When we moved to Johnston in 1995, our children were in many buildings with what seemed like continual additions. After 4 years of committees and study groups of which I was a part of, I am confident that the district now has a very long term plan that will accommodate the total outgrowth of the district. There is a plan with specific direction.

The Ipad implementation, although still in its beginning stages, has had a huge impact on the high school, the way we teach and the way students learn.  Finally, we are allowing our students to use the technology in the classroom that they have grown up with. Although the staff made it a reality, the 2010-11 school board had the vision.

Four years is a long volunteer commitment. After multiple terms, some board members can become complacent if there is not continued willingness for professional development. Being an educated board member requires a lot of time both daytime and evening hours. If an elected official cannot get goals accomplished in 4 years, it is time to welcome some new ideas and energy. I challenge new and current board members to put in the time necessary to become educated to ask the difficult questions of the administration that your constituents are trusting you to ask.

I am excited to move onto a Department of Education Commission as well as other new projects. I will also finish my commitment to the statewide board of the Iowa Association of School Boards.

Thank you to all of my constituents for your support, it has been a pleasure to serve!

Read our earlier story on Dutcher's complaint

Four candidates are running for three open seats, reports the Des Moines Register:

• Incumbent Marci Cordaro, 46, 6818 Jules Verne Court, Johnston

• Brad Ortmeier, 49, 6204 N.W. 97th St., Johnston

• Chris Sonner, 51, 7041 Sharon Drive, Urbandale Sonner served on the board from 1997 to 2009.

• Mark Toebben, 55, 6798 Ceres Circle, Johnston, a co-chairman of the recent campaign to win passage of the bond issue that will build a new Johnston High School and renovate other buildings.

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