Editor’s note: The general election for school district offices is Tuesday, Nov. 7. In anticipation, ThePerryNews.com asked each candidate for a school district office to answer a few questions in order to give voters a sense of who the candidate is and what issues motivate him or her. These candidate profiles will be published over the coming days. Interested voters might also wish to attend a candidate forum for the school board candidates, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Perry Perk coffeehouse at 1201 Warford St. in downtown Perry.
Jacob Jon Ballard is seeking a seat on the Perry Community School District Board of Directors. Ballard lives at 1410 Highview Dr. He can be reached at 515-681-3014 or jacobjonballard@gmail.com.
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself, Jacob. What do you want voters to know about you, your qualifications, your intentions as an officeholder?
I, Jacob Ballard, am a 1996 graduate of Perry and have lived in the community since I was in third grade. I have been a property owner and taxpayer in the community since 1998. I am married to my wife of 23 years, a 1999 Perry graduate, and have a daughter who is a 2020 Perry graduate and two sons, one a junior in high school and the other in eighth grade. I have a Graduate Accounting Certificate (professional degree), a master’s in business administration, both from the University of Phoenix, and a BA degree in business administration from William Penn University. I have over 15 years in accounting and finance experience and currently run Tax Tyme and Accounting Solutions LLC in Perry, and work full time for Mid American Energy. Previous positions I have held are school business official (SBO), school board secretary for United Community Schools (5 years) and SBO, school board secretary for North Polk Community Schools (1 year). Tax accountant for Meriwether Wilson and Co. in Perry and accountant for Wells Fargo. I have also taught for William Penn University from 2011 to 2020, many accounting and business college courses. I would hope that, based off my personal, educational and professional background, that would be a good reason to support me as a school board member. If elected, I will work to the best of my ability to do what is in the best interests for students and staff as well as the taxpayers and community members.
2. Why are you running for elected office? Is it something that you have done before? Are other forms of public service a part of your background?
The reason I am seeking a school board position is so I can use my school administration experience and knowledge around accounting and finance to help better guide decisions around this topic. Did you know it takes the average person voted to a school board two years to get acclimated in understanding school finance and how it all works? I would already have this knowledge base on day one and could be an asset to the district on my first day in office. The role of the school board member is to set policy and work as a collective board with administration to enforce school board policy. It is imperative that a board member has the student’s best interests in mind when making decisions for the school district. A school board member does not manage or run the school district. He or she is to provide guidance to the administration on leading the district in the vision and values set by the collective school board.
3. Are there particular issues that you believe are urgent or important and are facing the residents of Perry? If so, what issues are these? How to you think the city council can address or resolve these issues?
I feel our school district as many others in the state of Iowa have major issues around everything from the education program to the financing and funding of the system. I would like the district to follow federal and state laws as well as board policy to provide a quality education to our students.
4. What do you envision as the future of Perry? In what direction would you like to lead the school district?
My perception of the current working environment is one of great opportunity to grow teachers and staff. I see the program that is being used to allow para educators to obtaining classes to become teachers in the classroom. This is a great first step to building a better educational system. The learning environment uses technology and 21st century learning techniques to better educate our students. I feel as a state we are moving in the right direction in public education.
