They won’t take their places until an organizational meeting on Jan.

Thursday, November 04, 1999

They won’t take their places until an organizational meeting on Jan. 2, but the four candidates elected to the Austin Board of Education in Tuesday’s election won’t be doing a whole lot of relaxing even before then. They ran a hard race against 13 other candidates – four of them incumbents – but clearly finished in front of the pack.

Larry Andersen

1907 3rd Ave. SW

437-6298

Andersen, a 32-year teacher and coach at Austin High who retired two years ago, was the top vote-getter with 2,824 votes. He and his wife raised three sons in Austin – all three graduated from Austin schools. On the morning after the election, Andersen stressed that his priority on the board will be to "make sure the board understands the ramifications of their decisions in the classroom."

That emphasis ran throughout his campaign from the beginning. When the 61-year-old retired educator decided to make a run for the board, he outlined three standards for his platform: the first was "the classroom"; the second "treating faculty, staff, and support people with the dignity and respect they deserve as professionals"; and the third was restoring a trusting relationship between all district No. 492 employees, administration, school board and the community.

"The only thing I can do is add an attitude and an influence," Andersen said. "I can get voted down anytime. I’m only one person … it’s an awareness I’m striving for."

Andersen will be the second retired teacher on the school board come January; current board member Dick Lees is also an outspoken retired Austin teacher.

Anderson also said he would champion lowering activity fees:

"We’ve got to engage kids," he said more than once during his campaign. "And get them involved in as many activities as possible, because it may be one of those activities that makes them get up and come to school in the morning."

Kathy Green

2101 8th St. SW

437-8667

The mother of five school age children – the youngest in kindergarten and the oldest a senior at Austin High School – Green collected a total of 2,668 votes. She has been an outspoken critic of the state’s Profiles of Learning and Graduation Standards, and has lobbied both in Austin and at the State Legislature against the enforced standards.

Over the years, Green has accumulated an impressive educational resume through individual study – particularly of the difficult to comprehend Grad Standards – and volunteerism. She currently holds positions on five school-related councils/committees: the Austin High School, Ellis and Southgate Parent Advisory committees; the school board’s high potential advisory committee and the curriculum advisory committee.

She was most thrilled to hear that the referendum had passed.

"When I heard that it passed with such an outstanding percentage, I thought, ‘it’s so good for the kids’," she said the morning after the election.

About the challengers who will join her on the board in January:

"There’s so much talent there," Green said. "I’m very much looking forward to working with the board … I’m also going in with my eyes wide open. I know there’s a lot of work – and homework – that needs to be done. It will be a challenge, but I’m ready for it."

She said two of the things she will champion are purposeful curriculum and student involvement.

Bev Nordby

25791 555th Ave.

437-7120

The district manager of Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District, Nordby came in at number three with 1,935 votes. Nordby has lived in the Austin area all her life; she graduated from Austin High School and two of her children – one a special needs student – have graduated from Austin Public Schools. A third is currently attending Austin High School.

She heard the election results first from the radio.

"I’m really excited," Nordby said this morning. "I’m excited for the new board members – I think we’ll work well together – and I think we’ll work well with the existing board members."

The only rural resident elected to the board, Nordby said she feels she can be an advocate for the ag community.

"I don’t have a farm, we live on an acreage, but through my work I deal with a lot of landowners and farmers," Nordby said. "I talk to them all the time and I know what the farm economy is doing."

Nordby said she’s gotten a lot of feedback in the 24 hours since the results were announced – most of it positive.

"It seems like the community as a whole feels good about what was done," she said. "They had a strong voice. That’s a big plus."

Over the next couple months, Nordby plans to attend board meetings, ask questions and try to absorb as much information as possible. She promised to be a straight shooter with the press and the public.

"I don’t really have an specific agenda – I have a lot to learn," she said. "That’s all you can really do right now: keep your ears open and learn as much as possible."

Bruce Loveland

705 9th St. SW

437-7863

A stay-at-home dad with four children, Loveland garnered 1,807 votes – almost 400 votes more than the next highest vote getter. Loveland, who also runs a computer business from his home, was also the youngest person elected to the board. He is 37.

Age is part of the reason he ran; technology another.

"I can bring a unique perspective to the board," he said before the election. " … We need to elect younger people with kids in school to the board." Of the newly elected board members, Loveland, Green and Nordby all have children currently in the school system; current board members Amy Baskin and David Simonson also have children in Austin schools.

Loveland was one of two candidates who went to the district office to personally watch the results, an experience he described as nerve-wracking but exciting.

"When the results started coming in, I felt good to be there," Loveland said the morning after. "Knowing that the incumbents weren’t anywhere in the top four made me happy too. I think the people sent a strong message …"

Loveland said one of his priorities after he takes his seat on the board will be the board meetings themselves.

"I think the meetings should all be scheduled for evening hours, so working people can get there," he said. "Plus, I think there should always be some time for public comment if a person wants to speak to something on the agenda. I also think we should publish the agenda in advance, so people can know what is going to be addressed. That will give them time to decide whether they want to attend or to call a board member if they can’t make it."