By PETER HUSSMANN
Four seats on the Newton Community School District's Board of Education are open in the Sept. 8 election, the first time board members will be elected to four-year terms.
This year's election marks the start of a new state law that sets elections only in odd-numbered years and increases the term from three to four years.
Newton school board seats held by Dennis Combs, Don Poynter and Sheri Benson had been scheduled to expire this year. However, in order to meet the requirements of the new election law adopted by the Iowa Legislature in 2008 and going into effect this year the board voted to extend the term of Donna Cook for one year until 2011 and shorten the term of Greg Davis by one year to this year.
Newton Community Schools Superintendent Steve McDermott, although hopeful, is concerned the change in state law may make it more difficult to find candidates willing to make the commitment to four-year terms.
"I worry that we may find it harder to find individuals willing to seek office," he said. "This could fall flat on its face."
McDermott said the new law may also have the unintended consequence of candidates dropping off the board before their terms expire. In such instances school boards would be required to find individuals to fill the unexpired terms or pay for costly special elections.
The Newton superintendent said no one has yet filed nomination papers but he has indications from three of the four incumbents that they will seek re-election. He said long-time school board member Davis has decided not to run for another term.
Individuals wishing to seek election to the Newton school board have until July 30 to file nomination petitions. Information on the process involved can be found at the Iowa Secretary of State's office here.
