Three candidates to vie for two Charles City school board seats

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Three candidates — two retired educators and the current school board president — will contend to fill two seats on the Charles City Community School District Board of Education on Election Day.

Beginning this year, school board elections are being held along with the city elections, on Nov. 5 this year, instead of in their own separate elections in September as in the past.

Incumbent Robin Macomber is seeking re-election, and being challenged by Janiece Bergland and Patricia Rottinghaus. Two seats are available, as director Jason Walker has chosen not to run again, so at least his seat will be filled by someone new.

On Wednesday, a forum featuring the three candidates will be offered at 7 p.m. at the Charles City NIACC Center. The event is hosted by the Charles City Chapter of the American Association of University Women and the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce, and is free and open to the public.

Those who wish to ask questions of the candidates are requested to submit them in writing the night of the forum, or in advance at the Chamber of Commerce office, 401 N. Main St., or by email to info@charlescitychamber.com.

Candidates were asked by the Press to submit biographical information, and were also asked to answer why they decided to run for the school board. Here are the candidates, in alphabetical order, and their responses:

Janiece Bergland

Bergland is a retired music teacher, who works as an artist, painter and occasional musical director.

She was an educator for 32 years, the first three in Tripoli and the remaining 29 years here in Charles City. As a choral director and general music teacher, she directed junior high and high school musicals, as well as community productions.

“I am committed to keeping this community’s belief that the arts are an essential part of every child’s development, enhancing their learning while building a more complete human being,” Bergland said. “I believe that public education is the foundation of our democracy.”

Bergland served for many years as the choir director at Trinity United Methodist Church, and continues as a member of the choir. She also served on the board of the Iowa Choral Directors Association, with two years as that group’s president and a year as the editor of the group’s publication, The Sounding Board.

Bergland has been a longtime member of the Charles City Arts Council and has chaired the annual art fair in Charles City. After retiring from Charles City Schools, she founded and directed the select young women’s choir, Cantangeli, for four years.

She grew up on a farm in central Iowa — one of five children — and earned her bachelor’s degree from UNI and earned post graduate hours from the University of Minnesota and Baylor University.

Bergland and her husband, Bruce, have lived in the district since moving to Charles City in 1970, when Bruce was hired to teach biology at CCHS. For the past 40 years, they have made their home near Floyd, where they raised two children, Daneen and Robert.

“Though serving on the school board is not something I would have initially sought, when persuaded by several community members who felt I would be an effective member, I gave it serious consideration,” Bergland said. “If I can be of service to this community in furthering the excellence of our public schools, I am willing to do my part.”

Robin Macomber

Macomber, currently the school board president, was first elected to the Charles City Community School District Board of Education in 2013 to serve a two-year term, then re-elected in 2015 to serve a four-year term.

She is a painter, and has been owner of Whimsical Touch Decorative Painting and Art Box Painting for 23 years.

“I believe every student should graduate with an education that allows them to step into the job market or into college,” Macomber said. “I believe our students deserve every opportunity we can give them, while being fiscally responsible.”

She has lived in the Charles City area for 36 years and has been involved in several community events and organizations over that span. As a school board director the last six years, she has served on several different committees and has been a legislation delegate to the Iowa School Board Association Assembly each year.

“I am seeking re-election to continue to be part of making our schools the best place for our children to learn and thrive,” Macomber said.

A graduate of Cedar Rapids Washington High School, Macomber and her husband, Dan, have been married for 39 years and have four children — Jessica, Jonathan, Josslynn and Jacob — and five grandchildren.

“I believe our staff are the key to our success,” she said. “I believe it’s great to be a Comet and everyone should feel like they belong.”

Patricia Rottinghaus

Rottinghaus is a retired school counselor from Charles City who said her core belief is that “public schools are the backbone and future of the country.” She has been an active member of the community for more than 40 years.

“My experiences as a school counselor in Charles City for many of those years gave me the privilege of sharing in the daily successes and struggles of the students, staff and parents of our community,” Rottinghaus said. “It is this experience that I will bring to the table.”

Rottinghaus earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Simpson College and a masters in school counseling from the University of Northern Iowa.

“I have a passion for education and supporting what is best for all students, staff and our community,” Rottinghaus said. “Education needs to focus on academic excellence, career knowledge and the social-emotional development of each student.”

She said she believes opportunities need to be provided for all students to gain the knowledge and confidence to lead a productive life after graduation.

“Our students need to be prepared to continue their education, enter the workforce, or enter into the military or public service,” Rottinghaus said. “The future of our community relies on the students of today and their academic and personal success.”

Rottinghaus is married to Floyd County Treasurer Frank Rottinghaus. Their children are Anne, a public school teacher in Arlington, Virginia; and Libby Nelson, a learning and development trainer with Principal Financial in Des Moines. They also have five grandchildren.

“As a director of the Charles City Community School Board, I want to have a part in leading the Charles City Community as they continue to recognize and support the great things happening in our schools,” she said. “I know that by working together, we can make our schools even better.”