Brad Phelps This 42-year-old is employed as a postal carrier with the Spencer Post Office. He and his wife, Kim, have three children: Adam, 21, Andrew, 19, and Ally, 14.

One position with the Clay Central/Everly school board is up for grabs in the upcoming Sept. 9 election.

Clay Central/Everly candidate Brad Phelps, of 209 S. Washington in Everly, is featured today. The one-term board member has filed nomination papers for another one-year term for the District 2 seat he currently holds.

While a public testing of the new optical-scan voting equipment will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, the Clay County Auditor's office will be open until 5 p.m. that same day in order for workers to take and process new voter registrations.

Voters in the Clay Central/Everly district may cast their ballots from noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9. Voters registered in the Everly precinct may cast ballots at the Hap Ketelsen Community Center, 203 N. Main St., and Royal precinct balloters may vote in the Royal Community Center, 302 Main St. Voters may register at the precinct on the day of election, but they will need to prove their residency and eligibility, which may be accomplished with a photo ID and proof of residency.

Absentee ballots returned to the Clay County Auditor's office need to either be postmarked by Sept. 8 or hand delivered to the office by 8 p.m. Sept. 9.

The Clay County Board of Supervisors will canvass election results, as well as absentee votes, at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12. The final day a written request for a recount of votes may be received in the office of the Clay County Auditor would be Monday, Sept. 15.

Brad Phelps

Q. What is your major motivation for rerunning for this position?

A. I care about the Clay Central/Everly school system, and wish to continue to be a part of the decision-making process. I feel that my role as a school board member is to make decisions that will help the administration and the school staff to provide the best education. They have done a great job of leading the school system in the right direction to maintain a high standard of education in a small school system.

Q. How would you describe what you've contributed over your past term in office?

A. The school system itself has done a lot over my past term as a school board member. One of the schools biggest successes has been establishing a computer initiative that has put a computer into the hands of each high school student. It has been very successful. It has put CC/E ahead of many school systems in the state as far as technology. My contribution to this has been to support the administration and staff who have worked so hard to accomplish this.

Q. If elected again, what would you hope to accomplish during this term in office?

A. I would like to see the school system continue the challenge of providing the best education possible for our students.

Q. As you see it, what major issues within the district need immediate attention? Any suggestions regarding how they could be dealt with?

A. As with all school systems, funding is the driving force. It is important for schools to make sound financial decisions. It is crucial to voice concerns and needs with legislative representatives. The CC/E legislative school board member does an excellent job of maintaining a connection with all area representatives.

Q. How can people expect you to handle these as a board member?

A. I plan to become more involved with voicing concerns to the local legislative representatives.

Q. If you could change one thing about the Clay Central/Everly school district, what would it be?

A. If there was one thing about the Clay Central/Everly school district that I would like to see happen, it would be that enrollment numbers were on the rise. Unfortunately, this is not happening in many areas of the state.

Q. What do you believe will be the biggest challenge facing the school district in the next three years?

A. I believe that the biggest challenges that face all school districts are enrollment and funding.

Q. With the continuing decline in rural school enrollments, the case of ever-tightening budgets and ever-increasing mandates, and with the increased competition among schools for students, how would you suggest your northwest Iowa district face challenges in the future?

A. Tightening budgets, increasing mandates and competition for students are all things that are beyond the control of the school board. The one thing that can be controlled is the ability to offer the best education possible. Clay Central/Everly needs to continue to offer the best education possible by utilizing the most current technologies and strategies available. With the staff in place at CC/E, this objective is well within reach.

Q. What are your thoughts on regional schooling for northwest Iowa?

A. My thoughts on regional schooling for northwest Iowa is that I believe there will always be a place for small rural schools.

Q. What experiences do you have in dealing with the public that would make you a good board member?

A. I have served on the CC/E school board for the past three years. I have established a good relationship with the communities of the district. I feel that people are comfortable bringing issues and concerns to me, and that I address them to the best of my ability.