Members of the 2023-24 North Tama Board of Education including, from left, Doug Dvorak, Haley Blaine, David Boldt (back), Jenny Sniffin, Cheryl Popelka, David Calderwood (back), student representative Kinsley Even, and chair Rod Zobel. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TRAER – May is School Board Recognition Month in Iowa, honoring those who serve on Boards of Education in school districts across the state. These dedicated public servants become school board members because they are committed to improving public education and their communities.

Our board members devote many hours to making sure North Tama is a safe and efficient place to work and learn. Their actions ensure that the dedicated educators at North Tama have the resources and instructional programs needed to educate children to their fullest potential.

School board members face complex and demanding challenges, yet few people fully understand the scope and far-reaching implications of board members’ responsibilities. I hope that all North Tama citizens appreciate the vital contributions of our board members for the crucial role they play in the education of our children. Their job entails an endless string of meetings and school functions to attend; reams of reports, agendas, proposals and other information to read and study; and a host of difficult decisions to make.

These volunteer leaders also are responsible for formulating school policy, approving curricular changes, maintaining school facilities and adhering to ever-changing state and federal education laws. Legal concerns and the complexities of school finance, including budgeting and taxation, require them to spend many hours in board meetings and personal study to enhance their understanding of these issues.

As elected leaders, school board members are accountable to the voters who elected them. This isn’t always easy, but our board members show again and again that they are up to the task. They each work tirelessly to do what’s best for all of our students. Although they may individually disagree on certain issues, their role as a board is to keep the district moving forward in achieving our goals.

North Tama’s current school board members are Rod Zobel, Haley Blaine, Cheryl Popelka, David Calderwood, Jenny Sniffin, David Boldt, Doug Dvorak, and non-voting student board member Kinsley Even. When you see these leaders, please thank them for their dedication and their service to our school. They deserve our recognition for a job well done!

To our school board: we appreciate your dedication and hard work on behalf of our students, staff, and community. Thank you.