School board candidates weigh in on seclusion rooms and bond vote
Candidates in the Iowa City Community School Board race Wednesday addressed key topics at a forum organized by El Trueque Latino Magazine.
The seven candidates shared differing views on seclusion rooms and the upcoming $191.5 million general obligation bond vote but were aligned in favor of reducing disparities that affect minority and special education students and increasing support for immigrant families.
The candidates unanimously committed to completing their terms, if elected. Since 2014, four Iowa City board members have resigned.
Seclusion rooms are confined areas that schools, under Iowa law, can place students in during some incidents that rise above minor infractions.
The bond referendum would raise property taxes by roughly 98 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value and fund district-wide projects, including air-conditioning upgrades, classroom additions and other renovations.
The forum at the Iowa City Public Library came ahead of the Sept. 12 school election. Voters will elect four members to three expiring seats and one vacant seat and weigh in on the bond referendum.
Board hopefuls offered the following thoughts:
J.P. Claussen
Claussen, seeking an expiring seat, came out in support of the bond referendum.
He said he knows, based on his experience as a former special education teacher, that seclusion can be used in a "compassionate and empathetic way" but added that the district has done this "very inconsistently."
He said staff should not use seclusion as a punishment. He wants to bolster training on alternatives, such as mindfulness.
Claussen said that, in order to reduce achievement gaps between student groups, the district must ensure that all students feel safe at school and work to help staff combat unconscious biases.
Charlie Eastham
Eastham said he supports the bond issue and hopes to see it pass.
However, he said he is not in favor of the district's current usage of seclusion and has considered the possibility of a "moratorium" on seclusion rooms.
Eastham said he wants the board to provide translations of its meetings to families who are not fluent in English, and he wants school staff to offer translations during parent-teacher conferences.
"If it's a service that's needed, then you find the money," he said.
Shawn Eyestone
Eyestone said he supports the bond issue.
He said he would defer to the opinion of a specialist when it comes to eliminating seclusion rooms, but said he wants to make sure staff use them appropriately, if at all.
"I can't tell you that we should get rid of them or not get rid of them, but I know we're not following the rules," he said.
Eyestone attended a culturally diverse high school, but it takes more than a diverse environment to tackle unconscious biases, he said. He said he supports dialogue on the issue and unconscious bias training for school staff.
Janet Godwin
Godwin said she supports the bond referendum "publicly, locally, loudly."
She said her opinion has wavered on seclusion rooms, but she talked with principals and teachers on the topic, and some students require seclusion as an intervention.
"Removing them is going to do a disservice," she said, adding that parents should be aware of their use and staff should follow the protocol "religiously."
Godwin said that, as the population of students in the English Language Learner program grows, it will be important to allocate resources to provide translation services for parents navigating the school system.
Ruthina Malone
Malone said she supports the referendum as well as the district's 10-year facilities master plan.
She said that, if asked six months ago, she would have committed to eliminating seclusion rooms. However, a conversation with a parent changed her mind.
"Their question is, 'But what about my child? My child needs a seclusion room,'" she said, adding that staff should use them appropriately.
Malone said board members must be committed to talking with families about a variety of disparities, including those based on race, socioeconomic status and disability.
Laura Westemeyer
Westemeyer said a bond referendum with a smaller scope and more specific ballot language would meet with more consensus, and strengthening the relationship between district leaders and the community also would help.
However, she said she plans to follow through with the outcome residents vote to approve.
Westemeyer said she supports eliminating seclusion rooms as they currently exist and replacing them with a "safe space" alternative. She said she supports updating processes and terminology.
She said she supports addressing playgrounds' accessibility to students with disabilities as a way of reducing disparities.
Karen Woltman
Woltman stopped short of saying she supports the bond referendum but said she plans to support voters' choice.
"I am committed to carrying out your decision on that," she said.
She said she would work to eliminate seclusion rooms.
Woltman said she thinks it's "extremely important" for members of the community to have access to translators when they speak at board meetings, noting that she has seen this implemented successfully at meetings.
Reach Holly Hines at hhines2@press-citizen.com or at 319-887-5414 and follow her on Twitter at @HollyJHines.