Campaign Description

Here's what this campaign is about:


Ensuring equal opportunities in curriculum and programming for all students

Providing our students and faculty with safe, healthy, technology-driven learning environments

Committing to our neighborhood schools

Guaranteeing responsible stewardship of public funds

Celebrating the diversity within our district

Engaging parents to become active participants in the schools

Making data-driven decisions with measurable results




Email us at kirschlingforboard@gmail.com or call 331-6746

Sunday, July 17, 2016

On Swift Boating

Swift-boat: verb (informal) to target a public figure with a campaign of personal attacks

The term swift-boating originated after John Kerry's bid for the white house fell short in 2004.  The Political Action Committee called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacked Senator Kerry by smearing him publicly and raising question about his service in Vietnam. This political tactic is frequently utilized by candidates and campaigns who know that they can not compete on job qualifications or the issues and it is shameful.

I am sorry to see a number of local elected party leaders engaging in the same despicable type of behavior targeting Paul Roesler,  one of the three candidates for the special election to fill the board seat vacated by the resignation of Tom Yates in May.  You know who you are so I won't name names because I will likely have to interact with you in the future.  I will gladly point out though, that rather than ask the Board leadership or the Superintendent what it might take to restore confidence and effectiveness to the board team, you have chosen to play party politics with the academic wellbeing of our students and you should be ashamed of yourselves. You clearly don't understand what's at stake here and I'm sorry you didn't think to pick up the phone and give a friendly call to discuss the issues in order to gain a broader understanding before swift-boating Paul.

Service on the school board is a non-partisan elected volunteer position and anyone wishing to seek the office deserves to have the right to be judged on the merit of their understanding of the issues and their ideas as to how to solve them.  They do not deserve to be smeared and viciously attacked in the way that Mr Roesler has been.

As for my colleagues who serve on the board with me, well that's a different matter entirely.  It's not unusual to find oneself in agreement on various issues with certain candidates, but it is considered very poor form to inject oneself as a sitting board member into the campaign of an individual running for board.  I have been made aware of the fact that at least two of my colleagues have directly been involved with one campaign by helping distribute stacks of yard signs, place phone calls, and write emails on behalf of a candidate.

I've always been willing to discuss candidates with individuals asking who is best prepared to do the job or who has a firm grasp of the many issues that face the Board, but I'd never previously think to actually physically campaign for, or endorse, a specific candidate. Based on the activities of my colleagues and other local elected officials, it appears, sadly, that this is the "new normal" in our community.

So, to that end, since the community will be choosing on Tuesday who gets to sit at the table with me for the remainder of my term, I wrote a little something as an endorsement for the only candidate that I feel truly has the tools, knowledge and spinal fortitude to handle the job.  Additionally, in posting this blog, it occurred to me that the blog itself may not be as poorly titled as I thought after I was elected in 2013. Now, however, instead of advocating for myself to become a member of the Board, I am advocating for the entity of the Board itself because the decisions we make are so much larger and longer-lasting than my term.  Our students deserve to have effective and functional board governance and I believe at this time that there is only one candidate that can restore that.

Friends,

There is a very important election this coming Tuesday.  As you may know, there is a vacant seat on the Iowa City School Board of Directors as a result of Tom Yates' sudden resignation on May 13.  There are three people running for that vacant seat.  All are fine candidates and we should be grateful to all of them being willing to put themselves out there.  One candidate, however, stands out as having a firm grasp of the issues and would be ready to hit the ground running on day one.

Paul Roesler has attended nearly every board and committee meeting over the past three years and truly understands not only the larger issues, but the delicate intricacies underlying them.  Additionally, he clearly understands the time commitment involved, which is significant.  

His campaign platform is focused on passing the GO Bond next year in order to deliver the 10-year Facility Master Plan and recommit our community to the next century of public education and equitable facilities for all students. Additionally, he understands the District Strategic Goals of increasing Reading and Math Proficiency while decreasing the achievement gap that currently exists for our most vulnerable students.  

Paul believes in embracing cultural and socioeconomic diversity in our classrooms in order to prepare our students for life beyond our school hallways. He understands that curricular and extra-curricular equity is critical to the student experience and delivering high achievement.  Perhaps most importantly, Paul is an excellent listener who takes the time to make informed decisions and then respects the product of the Board decision-making process, which is critical to moving our school district forward. 

Finally, Paul is a lifelong resident of our community and, being married to a teacher, has a keen understanding of the needs of educators and has committed himself to valuing teacher and community input over his own personal beliefs.

Please read more about Paul here: www.roeslerforboard.com

Don't just take my word for it....read some notable endorsements for Paul here:




Eric Johnson: http://icp-c.com/29CSWCf

Cindy Abrams:  http://icp-c.com/29CKbhg

Write ups detailing the issues and what's at stake:


Vote at your school district polling place, which you can lookup easily here: https://gis.johnson-county.com/ElectionPollingPlace/

Join me in supporting Paul Roesler this Tuesday, July 19.  EVERY SINGLE vote counts as turnout will likely be low due to the summer timing.  Our community and our students depend on it. 
I would also like to add one more endorsement of Paul from Michael Tilley, who I sometimes agree with and sometimes don't, but I always enjoy the logic he brings to the discussion. Read it HERE 

Last, but not least, I would like to submit, for your reading pleasure the opinion of the Iowa City Council and the mayor of North Liberty who officially contacted the board after the May10 meeting when four votes overturned nearly two years worth of board and community work.  Both letters indicate that the general obligation (GO) bond in 2017, which is needed to finish our 10-year Facility Master Plan, is very much in jeopardy the way things sit now. Students across the district will continue to suffer in cramped, crowded, hot classrooms and Liberty High will remain unfinished for many years to come if we do not get back on track.

Here are the links:
Letter from City of Iowa City
Letter from Mayor Nielsen of North Liberty

SO, on Tuesday: Vote early. Vote often. Sink the swift boat.
...and make sure your friends, neighbors, and coworkers do too as every vote is going to matter.

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