Candidate profile: David Price, for school board

David Price is looking to get involved in Austin education.

Price, who works in Hormel Foods Corp.’s IT division, wants to learn more about what’s going on in local classrooms. He’s one of nine candidates up for three Austin Public Schools board seats this November.

“There’s been a lot going on that I hear about,” Price said, referring to the new fifth- and sixth-grade school in the planning stages and the year-round program at Southgate Elementary. “I felt bad not knowing about [these issues]. This is my attempt to get involved and get educated on the issues.”

Price became active in local politics this spring, working with the Mower County GOP party and attending the District 1 Convention in Mankato as a delegate this year.

One thing he hopes the board will look at is increasing extracurricular opportunities for students.

“Students need to have something positive to be involved in after school, just so they have options so they can continue,” he said.

Yet overall, Price wants to make sure students are getting a quality education.

Price and the other candidates will face off in an Aug. 14 primary, where six candidates will remain on the ballot come November. Price joins Carol McAlister, Dick Lees, Kathy Glowac, Mary Jane Kestner, Bud Johnson, Bruce Quitmeyer, Don Leathers, and Matthew Tabor as candidates.