Dallas Center-Grimes candidates stress communication, support for staff at forum

Four candidates for three seats on the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District board outlined their backgrounds and priorities at a candidate forum hosted by the district on Nov. 3.

Julie Quandt and Will Ruble are competing for the at-large seat that appears on every district ballot; Nick Fiala is running for Director District 1 and Monica Maughnberg for Director District 2. Moderator AJ Ellingson, the district communications director, described the forum format and time limits at the start.

The candidates emphasized three recurring themes: visible engagement in the community, clear and transparent communication with parents and staff, and efforts to recruit and retain teachers.

"I truly enjoy showing up," Julie Quandt said, describing two decades in Grimes, volunteer work with school boosters and the bond referendum committee and her desire to be accessible to families. She said open communication and listening are priorities and asked voters to support her Nov. 4 bid for the at-large seat.

Will Ruble framed his candidacy around financial, accounting and information-technology expertise. "You don't attack our schools, you don't attack our teachers and you don't attack our kids," Ruble said of his motivation to get involved after following board meetings. He urged board members to do their homework and cited "section 279 of Iowa code" as part of the body of law he reviews when preparing for service.

Nick Fiala, who said he has served on the board for roughly two and a half years and has a military background, said a positive attitude and time to attend workshops are important qualities for board members. He said he has reviewed district finances alongside staff and plans to continue working on fiscal oversight.

Monica Maughnberg, a current board member seeking another term, said transparency and communication have been central to her work. She pointed to staff surveys and benefits comparisons the district has used to address recruitment and retention concerns, and she encouraged turnout for both board elections and the bond referendum.

On recruitment and retention, candidates described district efforts and potential approaches: using staff surveys and benefits statements to compare pay and total compensation, convening ad hoc committees and outside experts to study problems, emphasizing district culture and volunteer engagement, and seeking targeted expertise on the board to address specific needs such as special education, construction, IT and finance.

The forum closed with two-minute statements from each candidate and a reminder from the moderator that the district recorded the session and would post it to its YouTube page. Candidates and the moderator also urged voters to participate in the upcoming bond referendum town hall and to vote on Nov. 4.

No formal motions or votes were taken at the event; it was an informational forum for candidates and voters.