North Wasco County School Board zone 4

Why should residents consider you for NWCSD 21 school board zone 4?

Experience counts! I have a great deal of experience that directly relates to the job at hand. I have been a D21 board member for 12 years. I have served as chair and vice chair, each for two years.

My career has been in education, having taught as an elementary school teacher in public schools for 24 years. I have also owned and operated two daycare centers in Oregon. I offer my personal experience and vision to promote excellent educational outcomes.

What do you see as the school district’s greatest challenge going forward?

The greatest challenge for the school district, in my opinion, is to attract community participation, discussion, promotion and investment in the process of passing a school bond to repair our aging facilities or build new ones. I believe the decisions should be  reflective of the community’s input into the process. The district has created policy that gives structure to the type of committee that allows for community members to help guide the process, collaborate, build trust and advise the school board of the way to move forward and effectively pass a school bond.

What changes do you think the district needs to make to any of its policies, and why?

There are a few responsibilities that belong solely to the board. One of those is to adopt new policies and changing or repealing existing policies. Keep in mind the basic responsibility for recommending new policies rests with the superintendent. New policies or changes to existing ones may be proposed by any board or community member, but all final policy recommendations to the board are made by the superintendent. Adoption of policy is solely a board responsibility. As a present member of the school board, I support all of the policies we have adopted at present.

How will you support the district’s mission of “Educating each student to the highest standards while motivating them to reach their fullest potential and graduating them to be college, career and life ready”?

Along with other board members, I am supporting the superintendent in engaging her school staffs to carry out programs that are designed to address that mission. One such endeavor is the engagement of students at all schools in deeper learning with instructional activities that are designed to be experiential and hands on. The students are encouraged to become personally involved and take ownership of their learning.

David Polehn

Why should residents consider you for NWCSD 21 school board zone 4?

I’m running because I believe every student deserves a strong foundation in the basics — reading, writing, and math. As a father, an Army officer, and an engineer, I know firsthand the importance of discipline, high expectations, and clear goals. I want our schools to be places where kids feel like they can win at learning, and where parents know their voices matter. North Wasco County students can achieve more — but we need leadership that’s focused on results and willing to ask the hard questions to get us there.

What do you see as the school district’s greatest challenge going forward?

Our biggest challenge is academic underperformance. Oregon already ranks in the bottom 10 nationally, and our district ranks near the bottom within the state. We can’t fix what we won’t face. We need a clear, honest look at what’s holding students back — especially in reading and math — and we must hold ourselves accountable for improvement. That includes understanding why some schools are outperforming others and making strategic changes to replicate success.

What changes do you think the district needs to make to any of its policies, and why?

We need to focus less on bureaucracy and more on student outcomes. That means prioritizing transparency, fiscal responsibility, and measurable academic goals. Policies should empower teachers, involve parents, and ensure that every dollar spent is helping students grow. I also believe competition breeds excellence — we should look at how high-performing models, like the Mosier Community charter school, can inspire policy reform district-wide.

How will you support the district’s mission of “Educating each student to the highest standards while motivating them to reach their fullest potential and graduating them to be college, career and life ready”?

I’ll support this mission by pushing for excellence at every level — setting high expectations, investing in the fundamentals, and making sure no student slips through the cracks. I’ll advocate for programs that identify and support students’ unique needs early, whether they’re struggling or advanced. And I’ll always keep the focus on equipping students with the skills they need to thrive beyond graduation — not just check the boxes.