Oskaloosa School Board Candidate Lin Yoder

Lin Yoder

Oskaloosa News sent out an email to all candidates with the exact same questions. Our question is in bold text, with the candidates answer following just below in normal text.

First and Last name.
Lin Yoder

Your education level and where did you attend?
B.S. Farm Operation 1981 Iowa State University
Accounting 1988-1990 Iowa State University

What other training that you believe makes you qualified for the school board?
I have mediation training and experience as a mediator and am a Certified Mediator. This will help especially during times of controversial issues among board members.

How long have you called Oskaloosa home?
I moved to Oskaloosa almost 20 years ago after accepting a job as controller/credit manager of Mahaska Farm Service.

How do you believe your service on the school board will make a difference to the school system and the community?
I have a calm and common sense approach to education in the Oskaloosa Community School District. Keeping up with technology changes is very important to make sure our students are entering the workforce and college at or ahead of other students across Iowa and the United States. We cannot be caught behind the 8 ball.

Some of you are running for the first time, other have in the past or are currently serving, but what moment made you realize you wanted to serve? How do you believe you will be able to impact the school district and make a difference with that?
I have served as an Oskaloosa school board member for seven years. These are current years of experience. I have had children that have gone through the Oskaloosa School system. The young man I have mentored for 7 years graduated from Oskaloosa. The board is better when we have a variety of experience and service on the board. I have experienced two excellent superintendents while serving on the board. Education has changed so much over the past 15-20 years. I knew I wanted to serve to give the board some of those addition years of experience of serving on the board.

Recently at the school board meetings, the subject of the good conduct policy came up. What are your thoughts on the current policy, and why do you believe your opinion is the correct one for the district?
The good conduct policy has been beaten to death. Especially, by one person in the community. There is a process that the board works through to make changes in policy like the Good Conduct Policy. We worked through that process and passed those changes in the policy at the July 9 meeting. The entire board was present and the policy was passed with a unanimous vote. It was made very clear what student actions would or would not affect a students violation of the policy. Case closed.

Let me know if you additional questions.