School activist files challenge for Colfax school board

Kirby Dailey, who was active in the Colfax school district before and after the 2010 levy failure, is so far the lone challenger to file for a seat on the Colfax school board. He is running against board member Laura Johnson.

Dailey filed Monday, and Johnson and three other incumbent board members filed for another term Tuesday.

Johnson is finishing her first four-year term. Johnson told the Gazette she and Dailey had already spoken about his decision to file and she favors voters having a choice.

Also filing for re-election Tuesday were Kathy Wride, Robert Smith and Brian Becker.

After Colfax voters in February 2010 rejected the first school levy proposal, the first levy failure since 1970, Dailey called for public meetings in which the Colfax residents questioned the school board and superintendent about the levy.

A second, lower levy proposal passed later, with Dailey and others conducting support campaigns. Dailey then urged the school board to survey the public’s perception of the school district and administration.

Dailey Monday said he still believes the school board could be more open in talking with the public both at board meetings and in the community.

“I still think there’s room for improvement in the communications,” he said. “I’d like to see the board meetings with more discussion, more debate, more transparency, and be more enjoyable.”

In addition to the levy rejection and rerun, Colfax school board members have weathered other storms over the last two years. A teacher contract deadlock, a request by some teachers to turn out Supt. Michael Morgan, and declining state revenue which has led to staff layoffs have all been on the board’s plate.

For her goals for her next term, Johnson said she is focused on working diligently on the school budget problems.

“The biggest issue will be working with the budget and trying to avoid more cuts,” she said.

Johnson said in light of the public’s renewed interest, she will continue to work to keep things as open as possible.

Johnson and Dailey are running for the school seat which represents the south rural district. Smith represents the south end Colfax seat.

Wride, who was appointed to the seat vacated by Steve Lyons, represents the central Colfax district seat. Becker, who is board chairman, represents the north Colfax seat.