Meet the two candidates running for District 4 on the Dallas Center-Grimes School Board
Two candidates are vying for the District 4 seat on the Dallas Center-Grimes School Board, which includes Dallas Center and parts of Grimes and Urbandale. Those two candidates are Sean Cully and Meg Dickinson.
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.
More: How to vote in Iowa's 2023 city and school elections, including early voting and absentee ballots
Sean Cully
AGE: 39
GREW UP: All over, but mostly in California and Iowa
CURRENT HOME: Dallas Center
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in church ministries, with an associate degree in biblical theology
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: This will be my first time running for a position.
Meg Dickinson
AGE: 38
GREW UP: Independence
CURRENT HOME: Dallas Center
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in English, Iowa State University; Master of Arts in English studies, St. Cloud State University
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: I ran for an at-large seat on the DCG School Board in 2021. I volunteer extensively in community groups in Dallas Center.
More: Election Day in Iowa is approaching. Your guide on Des Moines metro candidates, issues
Why are you running?
Sean Cully: I have 20-plus years of experience working with students and parents. I want to continue to do that for my community. I believe I have unique experiences that will benefit everyone in my district.Meg Dickison: I am running for DCG School Board to ensure there are clear, open, honest, and transparent lines of communication between the district and stakeholders in both Dallas Center and Grimes. We have such a dynamic district in that we are comprised of a small city and a small town. There are undeniable differences between Dallas Center and Grimes, but those differences, when celebrated, can bring us to a harmonious balance. In order to ensure balance, however, the board needs to take into consideration the concerns of their constituents, and that all boils down to communication and representation.
More: Who is running for Des Moines suburban city councils, mayor in the 2023 election
What is the most pressing issue facing the school district and how would you address it?
Sean Cully: Currently, it's addressing the superintendent position. Dr. Blum has the district on a great trajectory, and I'd like to see that continued by removing the interim title to his current role.
Meg Dickinson: The hyper-politicization of school boards is the most pressing issue facing DCG. While increased involvement could be productive, it has been very divisive. One of the most harmful byproducts of this division is the breakdown in communication between our board and their constituents. School boards are now more visible than ever, and as a result board members have an undeniable responsibility to relay information from meetings, continued education, legislation, and so forth to those they represent. Communication can't simply be, "watch the video" or "it's on my (personal) Facebook page." It has to be back and forth, public, and accessible.
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?
Sean Cully: I would encourage students and staff to partner with parents when their students are expressing a desire to talk about these topics. Those resources are still available. They're just not available through the local school.
Meg Dickinson: Senate File 496 is intentionally vague and districts need to define their own working definitions and stipulations for what material they will consider to meet the criteria set in place by the state. I would like DCG to create or make use of existing review committees comprised of teachers, school librarians, students, administration, and board members. It needs to be a community effort among our stakeholders to decide how to interpret these laws. Student and teacher voices need to be at the forefront of our decision-making. After all, our mission statement is, "Empowering Students to Take Charge of Their Future!"
More: Des Moines suburban school boards gear up for elections on Nov. 7. Here's who is running:
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?
Sean Cully: By continuing the pattern that I've seen in the last few months at DCG: continue hiring quality educators, pay them a good salary, and create an environment that is desirable to stay, not just for a good time but for a long time. All of these are ways we can create an atmosphere for healthy growth.
Meg Dickinson: At DCG we are at a "net-zero" in terms of growth or loss for this academic year. We have several families in our district making use of vouchers and enrolling their children elsewhere. The financial impact on our district is undeniable. We need to ensure competitive pay for our teachers and staff. We can not afford to grow too quickly as our finances have not kept pace with surrounding, larger districts. To ensure stability with projected growth we must create a strong, unified foundation and ultimately the best district for families who choose to enroll at DCG.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Two candidates are running for DCG School Board District 4 in 2023
