Osky School Board Ballot Set
Oskaloosa Community School Board
by Charlie Comfort
Incumbents face challenges as student discipline, achievement issues loom large
Oskaloosa, Iowa- For the third time since 2011, the incumbent school board president will face a challenge at the ballot box. Tom Richardson, of rural Oskaloosa and a six year veteran of the board, faces a challenge for the Director District 5 seat from political newcomer Lynette Stream, of rural Oskaloosa.
This will be the first time Richardson has ever run against an opponent, having been first elected unopposed in 2011 and re-elected unopposed in 2013 after redistricting forced him to seek re-election two years earlier than expected. Richardson served as Vice President of the School Board from 2013-2015, and was elected President in 2015.
Stream, of rural Oskaloosa, spoke at several Oskaloosa School Board meetings in the fall of 2016 expressing concerns over student behavior and discipline. Different philosophies on how to handle student behavior, particularly at the elementary school, is an issue that has plagued the school board since the 2016-2017 school year.
Richardson is not the only school board incumbent facing a challenger this year. At-Large member Carl Drost will also be facing a challenge in his bid for re-election. Drost won a plurality in a three way race for the At-Large position in 2013. He served as board President from 2013-2015. Drost also previously served on the board from 1981 to 1997, with much of that time as board President.
Challenging Drost is Kym Life. Life is a doctor of osteopathic medicine at Mahaska Health Partnership, specializing in Emergency Medicine.
Running unopposed this year is incumbent Shelly Herr in Director District 2. Herr was first elected in 2013, also running unopposed. She became Vice President of the Board after the 2015 school board elections, when Tom Richardson was elevated to President.
School Board Elections will be held on September 12. All positions are voted on at-large, which means voters can vote for the Director District 2, Director District 5, and the At-Large positions, regardless of which director district they live in.
