Meet the six candidates running for Southeast Polk School Board in 2023
Six candidates are running for four seats on the Southeast Polk School Board, including incumbent Chad Crabb, Ryan W. English, incumbent Brett Handy, Greg Morse, Kelly Simmons and incumbent Lori Slings.
The Des Moines Register asked each candidate to respond to questions on why they're running and the issues their district is facing. Their answers may be lightly edited for clarity or length.
The election is Nov. 7.
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Chad Crabb (incumbent)
AGE: 45
GREW UP: Hampton
CURRENT HOME: Altoona
EDUCATION: Hampton-Dumont High School, 1997; Bachelor of Science, management information systems and transportation/logistics, Iowa State University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Southeast Polk School Board, 2019 – present; Lead DSM Curriculum Committee, 2019 – present; YMCA Supportive Housing Campus Board, 2019 – 2023; Swerve Outreach, Kids Cafe Volunteer, 2014 – present; Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Student Success Ambassador, 2022 - present
Ryan English
AGE: 45
GREW UP: Rising Sun
CURRENT HOME: Rising Sun
EDUCATION: Graduated from Southeast Polk High School, 1996, 5-year apprenticeship program Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: I do not have any relevant political experience. I have participated in Habitat for Humanity and fundraised for Orchard Place Christmas Families and United Way.
Brett Handy (incumbent)
AGE: 53
GREW UP: Bondurant
CURRENT HOME: Altoona
EDUCATION: Bondurant High School; DMACC and Upper Iowa University coursework
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Southeast Polk School Board, 2011 to present (vice president, 2013, president, 2014 and 2018); SE Polk School District Safety Committee, 2012 to present; Past: SE Polk Dollars for Scholars, volunteer board member; member of Local Union 238; SE Polk Junior High volunteer assistant wrestling coach; Altoona Baseball League, volunteer board member, coach and vice president; SE Polk District Central Place Family Resource Center, volunteer board member; Bondurant Fire Department, volunteer fireman and first responder
Greg Morse
AGE: 59
GREW UP: Beatrice, Nebraska
CURRENT HOME: Altoona, Iowa
EDUCATION: Degree in criminal justice
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None provided
Kelly Simmons
AGE: 43
GREW UP: Ames
CURRENT HOME: Des Moines
EDUCATION: Bachelor's with psychology minor, Iowa State University; graduate studies in public administration, Columbia Southern University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: I have not held any elected public offices, but I am a current commissioner on the Greater Des Moines Sister Cities Commission. I have also served active-duty Navy and worked in government policy and competitive and discretionary funding almost all my adult life at the federal, state, and local levels.
Lori Slings (incumbent)
AGE: 56
GREW UP: East side of Des Moines, Altoona and Mitchellville
CURRENT HOME: Altoona
EDUCATION: Associates degree as a paralegal
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Southeast Polk School Board, 2007-present; 2020 state representative candidate House District 30; 2020 bond referendum for school district; Altoona Chamber of Commerce board member; Southeast Polk Athletic Booster Club; director of Southeast Polk’s Dollars for Scholars Program; SEP District Advisory Council; Southeast Polk Kiwanis; Altoona Lions; Altoona Historical Society; RAGBRAI Altoona Committee Volunteer Chair; Altoona 150 Volunteer Chair; Altoona Palooza; East Polk Democrats Group; SEP Black & Gold Gala Committee; SEP Band Boosters; SEP Vocal Music Boosters; SEP Activities Advisory Council; Communication Council; Polk County Highway 65 Loop Committee; City of Altoona Sign Committee; Altoona Jaycees; Southeast Polk Hall of Honor Inductee; 2016 Altoona Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year
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Why are you running?
Chad Crabb: I am running because I want all children to have the best chance at a life of prosperity and purpose, and I believe that a quality education is the foundation. I want our students to be truly prepared for the next steps in life when they graduate. I’ve learned a lot over the last four years on the board, and I look forward to using that knowledge to continue building on our success as a district. We need to keep our students at the center of everything we do.
Ryan English: I do not have any significant agenda. I am in a good place in life my kids are at an age where my wife and I are more involved in our kids' school functions and I would like the opportunity to help in any way I can to continue to improve our kids' safety and education at Southeast Polk schools.
Brett Handy: I am running for another term because I would like to stay involved with the work at Southeast Polk. I am passionate about being involved in the community and helping make Southeast Polk the best place. I would love to continue being part of the solution and to help keep the momentum going. There are a lot of people to credit for where we are today, and I consider myself lucky to be part of the Southeast Polk School Board. We continue to look at new ways to improve safety and security for our students and staff. I will continue to work with administration on building a safe environment that the students and staff deserve.
Greg Morse: I am running because I have always had a passion for education and making it a better environment for both students and educators.
Kelly Simmons: I am running because I am a special needs and mental health advocate with extensive experience in government funding and policy. I am also a Navy veteran. I have three children CJ, Olivia, and Corey. I love this district and Southeast Polk is a very special place. Southeast Polk pride is felt throughout the entire community. I believe in a community-based approach to education and not one size fits all policies. I am a public school advocate with the experience to make a real impact in our district. I am running to ensure our children and families remain our priority.
Lori Slings: I believe that we must continue to keep the education of every single student a top priority. All students must receive all opportunities available to them to succeed and excel in their chosen field. What they learn within the walls of Southeast Polk should send them out into the world to enjoy that success and I hope they will look back on their time at SEP as a great stepping stone toward their personal goals. In turn, I hope they will choose to return to their community or to a new community and in turn choose to volunteer to support all students in whatever town they choose to reside in.
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What is the most pressing issue facing the school district and how would you address it?
Chad Crabb: I don’t see a singular pressing issue, but a few of my top priorities are: 1) Safety and mental health of our students and staff, 2) Closing achievement gaps, giving all students their best opportunity to learn, 3) Advocating at the state level for more funding in public education. All these issues require thoughtful leaders who consider all perspectives. As board president, we passed a set of operating principles to unify our board and help us act with civility in the best interest of our students. A high-functioning board and administration puts us in the best position to succeed.
Ryan English: I think the continued safety of our kids is second to none. Education will always be a close second on my list. Provide the students the opportunity to learn and grow as well as make sure they are respectful to the teachers and staff. I hear way too much about disrespectful situations in the schools and I am not sure how we can expect our teachers to do what they need to do to prepare our kids for the future.
Brett Handy: Student population/growth. SE Polk has purchased several pieces of land around the area to plan for future growth. We are building a new 6/7th grade building and then moving our 9th grade out of the high school and into the junior high school to help alleviate overcrowding. There is already a plan in place to build our 9th elementary; the question is where will that need to go. As we move forward this fall, we will do an evaluation on our growth overall in the district and will most likely need to adjust some boundaries for our elementary schools.
Greg Morse: Issues facing the district from what I have observed serving as a substitute teacher for three years, is making the schools safe. Giving the proper tools to administrators and teachers is a must. To address these problems is to first and foremost, listen to the needs of the teachers.
Kelly Simmons: The most important issue impacting our district is our students’ mental health, bullying, and lack of supportive resources. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the problem. In Iowa, intentional self-harm was the second leading cause of death among youth 15-19. The statistics are alarming and the accessibility of mental health services in this state is at a crisis level. The health and well-being of our students is my top priority. I have the knowledge to work at advocating for federal discretionary and competitive funding to expand and support this work so our district will have the resources to make this possible.
Lori Slings: Keeping the focus of education of our students as the main job of our duties. Continuing to challenge our students to learn more every day in preparation for their future endeavors. There are many distractions within our state not focused on what is in the best interest of our students. Redirect continuously to the important task at hand, which is the education of each and every student within our education centers. Our students are our future.
How would you balance the needs of students and staff while complying with a new state law, Senate File 496, that restricts certain books and LGBTQ instruction for certain grades?
Chad Crabb: We have and always will comply with the law. This requires a coordinated effort across the district to evaluate and re-evaluate books and curriculum for compliance. Beyond that, I believe we need to make sure that all students feel welcome and supported. We want all students to be successful. There is also advocacy work to be done at the state level to help our lawmakers understand and empathize with the diversity in our student bodies. We need to get away from fear-mongering, and back to seeing the good in people.
Ryan English: We will follow the law as it is written.
Brett Handy: We will continue educating our students as we always have while complying with the state law. Whether you agree or disagree with this new law, there are restrictions on things children can do or see, like movies and magazines, so we should leave it up to the parents to decide what their children read or watch as long as it is within the perimeter of the law for the child’s age.
Greg Morse: Senate File 496 is set forth by our elected officials and I will follow to the letter of the law.
Kelly Simmons: Senate File 496 mainly reflects the views of politically and socially conservative parents and was passed into law. Now the important thing is to ensure that all students are treated with dignity and respect. It will be important in our district to ensure that any student questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity has a safe space and resources available to them and their families, while complying with Senate File 496.
Lori Slings: Our school district will always follow the laws laid out by the state of Iowa. As we do every single day of the student’s time at SEP, the board will make sure the students and staff feel safe and welcome within our education centers.
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In recent years, Des Moines metro school districts have seen their enrollment numbers steadily increase. What can the district and board do to manage future student growth?
Chad Crabb: In my time on the board, we have planned and started construction on a new 6/7 building which will help us to increase capacity in our junior high and high school. We also will be working with a demographer to project growth and determine where and when a new elementary building is needed. Our board and admin teams are constantly reviewing student enrollment data to ensure we have staff to meet our needs across the district. It will be critical to keep ahead of this growth so we can continue providing the best education possible for our students.
Ryan English: Southeast Polk is seeing the same situation and has been doing a very proactive job of planning for the future. I would love to be a part of this.
Brett Handy: We are building a new 6/7th grade building and then moving our 9th grade out of the high school and into the junior high school to help alleviate overcrowding. The junior high school will consist of 8/9th grade. We possibly may have to do a boundary adjustment in the near future. There is already a plan in place to build our 9th elementary; the question is where will that need to go? As we move forward this fall, we will do an evaluation on our growth overall in the district and will likely need to adjust some boundaries for our elementary schools.
Greg Morse: Maintaining a growing student population is a positive and has been dealt with by our district in the past and near future by building new facilities.
Kelly Simmons: Southeast Polk has grown so much in the past decade, but we are continuing to grow. The construction of the new middle school will help, but new developments are currently parceled for lots and planned for future development, will eventually be a part of our district. We will need to look at being more restrictive with open enrollment policies, as well as being proactive about planning and funding our future expansion needs. My experience and knowledge in discretionary and federal funding will be invaluable to the board in addressing funding Southeast Polk’s future expansion needs.
Lori Slings: Hire a demographer for projected growth points within the communities of SEP and where those points of growth are. We adjust our building plans for growth and where our next education centers must be located. Occasional boundary adjustments to each education center. In 2021-2022 years we did purchase parcels of land to help with future growth plans. Managing growth is priority as we strive to stay ahead of the needs of our students and education centers. We won’t know the impact of the new voucher law to public education until spring 2024 and how we must adjust our 2025 budget.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Six candidates running for Southeast Polk School Board in 2023
