Editor’s note: The Daily Freeman-Journal asked the Stratford School Board candidates

to answer a series of questions regarding their decision to seek a seat on the board.

CARRI EIDE, incumbent

Tell us a little about yourself personally — family, education, where you grew up.

My husband, Dave, and I live north of Stratford and have three daughters — Shelby, 23; Breckyn, 15; and Sawyer, 11; — and a 5-year-old granddaughter, Carson. I grew up in Shawnee, Kansas, and earned my bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kansas State University before moving to Iowa in 2008.

Do you have school-aged children?

Our daughter Breckyn is a sophomore at Webster City High School and Sawyer is a sixth-grader at Stratford Elementary.

What is your professional background?

I have over 20 years of experience in the software and technology industry. After starting my career with a successful startup, I went on to work for leading companies including Gartner, Salesforce and, currently, ServiceNow, where I serve our customers as a senior enterprise account executive.

Why do you think you would be a good addition to the school board?

I would like to continue my tenure on the school board because I believe it’s vital to ensure our district remains fiscally responsible in the face of declining enrollment. By making thoughtful, sustainable decisions, we can protect the long-term stability of our schools and preserve quality education in our community for years to come.

What do you think is important as a member of the school board?

As a school board member, I believe it’s important to provide a safe and positive learning environment for all students and staff, ensure our district remains fiscally responsible, and maintain strong programs and opportunities that attract and retain families in our community. My focus is on making thoughtful, sustainable decisions that keep our schools strong today and for future generations.

Do you feel the communications between the school system and families are adequate?

Communication between the school and families continues to improve, and we remain committed to being transparent and open. The administration has made strong progress in keeping parents informed and engaged, sharing building specific information as well as activities from surrounding communities.

STACIE ILES, incumbent

Tell us a little about yourself personally — family, education, where you grew up.

Grew up in Stratford; parents Bill and Dawn Chally and sister Megan Chally. Currently live south of Stratford with my husband Eric and two children. Graduated from Stratford Elementary and Webster City High School, then received a bachelor’s from Iowa State University.

Do you have school-aged children?

Yes, a fifth- and first-grader at Stratford Elementary.

What is your professional background?

Worked for 13 years as the office manager at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Hamilton County, and am currently employed as an accounts payable specialist for Iowa State University.

Why do you think you would be a good addition to the board?

I’m currently a Stratford School board member and would love to continue serving my community.

What do you think is important as a member of the board?

Advocate for our school and students, understand and use our budget wisely, and work to keep our school strong.

GARRETT AMENT

Tell us a little about yourself personally — family, education, where you grew up.

I grew up in the Ames area and graduated from Gilbert High School. After high school I attended Iowa State University where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and life sciences education. Today my wife, Chloe, and I reside south of Stratford. We have an 18-month-old son who will become a big brother in January.

Do you have school-aged children?

While I don’t have any children currently in the elementary school, my son attends the Stratford Early Learning Center, and will attend elementary school in Stratford in a couple short years.

What is your professional background?

After college, I taught high school agriculture for a short time before going to work in the ag industry. Currently, I work for Iowa Select Farms as the regional nutrients manager for western and central Iowa.

Why do you think you would be a good addition to the school board?

I feel that I would be a valuable addition to the school board because I have experience working in education and understand the valuable link the school board should have between parents and our wonderful teachers and administrators. As a parent, I also believe deeply in giving our students the highest quality education possible, and will voice my opinion as necessary to make this happen. Having family members who currently work in education also gives me a great resource to lean on for how board policy and decisions may affect the lives of our teachers and students.

What do you think is important as a member of the school board?

Being available to listen to ideas, opinions and concerns of parents, as well as asking questions myself are valuable assets a member can bring to the board. Ultimately, the most important thing is to keep the quality education of students, while also remaining fiscally responsible, at the forefront of all decisions that are made.

Do you feel the communications between the school system and families are adequate?

While our school has made great progress in streamlining communications to parents through the use of new communication platforms, there is always room for improvement to ensure that parents are quickly and thoroughly informed. One area of improvement is the ability of the parents to provide feedback and information to the teachers.

What is your position on the future of the high school and maintenance of other school property?

While Stratford doesn’t have a high school I think that maintaining our schools should be a priority. Repairs and maintenance can easily consume a budget, so staying on top of little issues before they become big issues is important. Also, our school should be a place that parents are proud to bring their students, and a well-maintained building is a great start.

What are your biggest concerns on the infrastructure of the existing buildings?

Currently, one of my biggest infrastructure concerns would be the asbestos abatement project that is currently happening at Stratford Elementary. We know that asbestos can have long-term effects on not only our children, but our teachers’ health as well. Getting asbestos safely removed from the building should be a priority of the board. I also believe that the board should be willing to take the necessary steps to ensure that our buildings are as secure as possible at all times.

Do you have other issues you would like to bring to light or areas of concern?

Having a school in a small town is a huge asset to the community and Stratford Elementary is no exception. Growing Stratford Elementary and improving the quality of education by reducing the desire to open enroll to outside districts, and maintaining a positive environment for our kids will be a top priority if I am elected to the board.

CODY FRAZIER

Tell us a little about yourself personally — family, education, where you grew up.

I grew up in Stratford and attended Stratford elementary when I was a child. I moved away and graduated from Humboldt High School. After high school I attended a tech school in Arizona for motorcycle repair. I moved back to the Stratford area around 2015.

Do you have school-aged children?

I live in Stratford with my wife, Ashley, and three youngest kids who attend Stratford Elementary — Wyatt, 9; Delaney, 7; Rhett, 4. My two oldest kids have graduated and are attending college — Austin, 18; Aubree, 18.

What is your professional background?

Since being back in Stratford I have joined Stratford Fire and Rescue, and have since then obtained my EMT and working on my paramedic license. I work fulltime for Hamilton County Secondary Roads, and have part-time employment with Mary Greeley Medical Center. I have also started to help out at Iowa Central Community College as an adjunct instructor for the EMS program.

I like to spend time with the family. Love watching my kids participate in sports and school activities. We always seem to be on the run to do something. I like to spend time outdoors hunting and fishing. Motorcycle rides are always fun when time permits.

Why do you think you would be a good addition to the board?

I’m running for school board to be more involved in hopes to bring new ideas to the floor. I hope that we can continue to better the school to bring more kids in and provide more opportunities for the kids to excel.

Do you feel the communications between the school system and families are adequate?

I hope that we can keep the communication open with the community and continue to include a learning environment to help all of the kids in the community excel.