Comments on: ABC’s of School Board Elections http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/ Blogging Des Moines Iowa Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:41:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Sandy Renshaw http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Sandy Renshaw Sat, 11 Aug 2007 18:44:45 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/#comment-202 <p>Hi Jamie,</p> <p>Thanks for updating our readers about the polling sites. Glad to know you're reading our blog! And thanks for the encouragement. It's great to hear from readers. Looking forward to more conversation.</p> <p>Sandy</p> Hi Jamie,

Thanks for updating our readers about the polling sites. Glad to know you’re reading our blog! And thanks for the encouragement. It’s great to hear from readers. Looking forward to more conversation.

Sandy

]]> By: Jamie Fitzgerald http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-187 Jamie Fitzgerald Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:45:49 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/#comment-187 I am sorry that you had trouble in the past regarding our polling sites and the polling pods. I did want to let you know that you will be voting at your normal polling place. We have made the decision to eliminate the polling pods. If you, or anyone, has questions, please direct them my way. Keep up the good work on the blog. Jamie Fitzgerald Polk County Auditor I am sorry that you had trouble in the past regarding our polling sites and the
polling pods.

I did want to let you know that you will be voting at your normal polling place. We have made the decision to eliminate the polling pods.

If you, or anyone, has questions, please direct them my way.

Keep up the good work on the blog.

Jamie Fitzgerald
Polk County Auditor

]]> By: M.R. Field http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-186 M.R. Field Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:27:05 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/#comment-186 Correction: The Des Moines school board has 7 members. Odd numbers are good to have because it helps to prevent ties. Currently, there are only 6 members on the board since Phil Roeder has resigned. Correction: The Des Moines school board has 7 members. Odd numbers are good to have because it helps to prevent ties. Currently, there are only 6 members on the board since Phil Roeder has resigned.

]]> By: M.R. Field http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-171 M.R. Field Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:20:49 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/#comment-171 The Des Moines Register reports on August 3 that 5 candidates will vie for 2 seats in the September 11, 2007 school board election in Des Moines. Marc Ward is seeking re-election. Patty Link is the PTA president. Matthew Harvey and Jonathan Narcisse have sought election before. Paul Knupp, Jr. is the fifth candidate. The Des Moines Register reports on August 3 that 5 candidates will vie for 2 seats in the September 11, 2007 school board election in Des Moines. Marc Ward is seeking re-election. Patty Link is the PTA president. Matthew Harvey and Jonathan Narcisse have sought election before. Paul Knupp, Jr. is the fifth candidate.

]]> By: M.R. Field http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-161 M.R. Field Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:54:10 +0000 http://www.arounddesmoines.com/abcs-of-school-board-elections/#comment-161 The first year I lived in Des Moines was the first year of the polling place consolidation. I misread the fine print on my voter registration card and went to the polling site for my general election. That site was open but my name was not on the registration list so I double checked my registration card and realized I had to go elsewhere. The site where I had to go for the school board election was close to an hour’s walk from where I lived and there was a definite lack of street lights. Moreover, the buses on that route stopped running at 6:00 p.m. I was not pleased. The second year I lived in Des Moines, I did not realize that there was a school board election until a few days before it was held. Local media hardly mentioned it until the weekend before the vote. Although, I did notice later that parent organizations had been promoting the election within their own circles. The lack of ease in accessing my polling place, and my lack of knowledge about any of the candidates or issues due to the lack of coverage, influenced my voting decision. This year, not only am I aware that school board elections will be held in Iowa on September 11, I am asking women I encounter if they are planning on running. Usually I get averted eyes, blank looks, or the occasional quick dismissal. Sometimes I point out specific areas in which a particular woman could add value and then I get a slightly more thoughtful look before rejection. The first year I lived in Des Moines was the first year of the polling place consolidation. I misread the fine print on my voter registration card and went to the polling site for my general election. That site was open but my name was not on the registration list so I double checked my registration card and realized I had to go elsewhere. The site where I had to go for the school board election was close to an hour’s walk from where I lived and there was a definite lack of street lights. Moreover, the buses on that route stopped running at 6:00 p.m. I was not pleased.
The second year I lived in Des Moines, I did not realize that there was a school board election until a few days before it was held. Local media hardly mentioned it until the weekend before the vote. Although, I did notice later that parent organizations had been promoting the election within their own circles. The lack of ease in accessing my polling place, and my lack of knowledge about any of the candidates or issues due to the lack of coverage, influenced my voting decision.
This year, not only am I aware that school board elections will be held in Iowa on September 11, I am asking women I encounter if they are planning on running. Usually I get averted eyes, blank looks, or the occasional quick dismissal. Sometimes I point out specific areas in which a particular woman could add value and then I get a slightly more thoughtful look before rejection.

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