Marty Dostal.

Marty Dostal

Age: 53

Education: 1991 North Tama Graduate, Associate EET Degree

Occupation/Profession: Global Supply Chain

Family: Wife Anita, Josh 19, Bryce 17, Hunter 13

1) What motivated you to run for school board? Why is public education important to you, and why would you like to serve it in this capacity? 

As a parent of three boys who are or have attended NT, a graduate of NT myself, and a long-term resident of Traer, I wanted to be more involved.

2) What do you feel are the three most important issues the school board will face during your (anticipated) term as a school board member? How do you plan to address those issues?

1. Budget

Continually looking at cost to ensure we are providing the best opportunities we can, while keeping the budget and taxpayers in mind.

2. Growing Enrollment

Looking at our school as a business, we need to grow our enrollment. Some key areas of focus that can help promote NT are quality education, quality teachers, modern facilities, and sharing the opportunities a smaller school like NT has versus big city schools.

3. Facilities Updates

The new school addition is nearing completion. We need to ensure there is a plan to maintain it. We also need to address areas of the NT campus that have been neglected.

3) The school district is currently nearing completion of the new high school addition which was made possible due to the successful passage of a bond referendum. Enrollment over the last decade has remained somewhat stagnant (up and down a few students each year). Is this sustainable for a small, rural district like North Tama? What should the school board’s role be when it comes to enrollment? Do you feel the State of Iowa should be doing more to help rural school districts and, if so, what should be done?

I touched on this in the previous question. Being a small school has its advantages by allowing more 1-on-1 time between teachers and students. The administration is working to maintain and improve our academic scorecard, which is critical in promoting our school.

4) The North Tama Community School District has placed at least two teachers over the last six months on paid administrative leave including K-12 vocal music teacher Chris McFate who was placed on administrative leave as the result of a social media post she is purported to have made regarding the late Charlie Kirk. Do you feel the district handled and/or is currently handling those issues appropriately? What would you have liked the district did differently?

These are very serious situations where I believe the administration and board took many factors into account. I believe NT followed their policies.

5) Why should voters support your candidacy for school board?

I am very compassionate in supporting both the school and our community.