Oskaloosa School Board Candidate Neal Hadden
Neal Hadden
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.
Neal Hadden
Your education level and where did you attend?
BA and MA from the University of Northern Iowa Additional Hours from Drake working towards my Specialists Degree.
What other training that you believe makes you qualified for the school board?
Thirty-three years in education and being the parent of three Oskaloosa graduates.
How long have you called Oskaloosa home?
Twenty-three years.
How do you believe your service on the school board will make a difference to the school system and the community?
My educational background and twenty years of service to the Oskaloosa Community Schools will provide me an excellent background.
I have always been a good listener and have a proven record of making decisions with a focus of what is best for our students. As a responsible board member, I can make a difference by asking pertinent questions so board members can make informed decisions. I am committed to making the Oskaloosa School District the best in the state.
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?
It wasn’t an easy decision for me to decide to run for school board. I spoke with current board members, past board members and a good friend of mine. After many conversations, I decided that with my passion for educational excellence and my background, I had the qualifications to be a responsible board member.
The impact I will make will only be one vote. Any impact that is made will be a TEAM effort, with a shared goal of educational excellence for Oskaloosa.
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?
My thoughts on the current policy are mixed. It is unclear to me if a parking ticket is or is not a violation of the Good Conduct Code. The conversations at the August board meeting, it appeared to me that it depended who you asked how the policy would be enforced.
As with any policy, it needs to be clear so students, parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators understand what is and what is not a violation of the Good Conduct Code. It is then up to the administration to enforce the policy fairly.
