WATERLOO - The filing period for local school and community college officially opened this week.

Candidates must file nominating petitions by 5 p.m. July 30 to get their names on the ballot for the Sept. 8 election.

In the metro area, three seats are up for election on the Waterloo and Cedar Falls boards of education. Five positions will be on the ballot for the Hawkeye Community College's Board of Trustees. All seats are four-year commitments.

Waterloo seats

The seats held by Bernice Richard, Mike Kindschi and Shanlee McNally are up for re-election.

McNally, a homemaker and volunteer, said she will be running for the at-large seat the board appointed her to fill in November, when longtime member Judy Fossell stepped down. All eligible Waterloo Community School District residents can vote in that election. McNally said she has attended many district meetings, in addition to the board meetings, to learn more about the inner workings of the district.

"I wanted to really understand the organization, the structure and mission of the school district," she said. "I have children in the district, but I haven't been able to see the other side and see the administration, the full picture. I've tried to do a lot of learning and a lot of listening."

Richard, who was first elected in 2003, and Kindschi, elected in 2006, could not be reached for comment. Richard represents Director District 4, which encompasses a northwest portion of Waterloo, including an area south of the Cedar River. North of the city, it includes parts of East Waterloo and Mount Vernon townships. Kindschi represents Director District 1 which includes a northeast portion of Waterloo, portions of East Waterloo and Poyner townships, and the cities of Elk Run Heights, Evansdale, Gilbertville and Raymond

Cedar Falls seats

Board members Susan Lantz and Deon Senchina are both planning to seek new terms. Tom Reisetter, who was elected last year to fill the term vacated by Dan Battcher, will not seek re-election.

Lantz, a homemaker and volunteer, is finishing her second term on the board. Though the world of education has changed from her days as a teacher, Lantz said that classroom time can give her a different perspective when discussing items around the board table.

She said the budget and complying with state and federal education regulations will be among the most challenging tasks facing the district in the coming years.

"But, our No. 1 challenge is always making sure our kids are getting the best education they can," she said. "Our board focus is on all of the kids, all of our students."

Senchina, a former banker, is finishing her seventh term. She expects the budget and implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum to be the dominating topics in the coming years.

"The Iowa Core is going to have a profound impact on education K-12. … It is a huge challenge now, but I think it will prove to be a great opportunity as well," she said.

Jim Brown, a Cedar Falls entrepreneur, has also announced his candidacy for the September election. He hopes to add his voice to the conversation on how the district moves forward with its budgeting and long-term planning issues.

"I'm always a proponent of not spending other people's money. There is a balance there between the public school system and making sure that the economic well-being of our school district remains intact not only now, but in the future," he said in a previous Courier article.

Hawkeye seats

Luane Lorenzen, a retired teacher from Traer, is seeking her eighth term on the board. She represents Director District 3, which includes the Dike-New Hartford, Grundy Center, North Tama and Union schools districts plus portions of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck and Cedar Falls districts.

Businessman Mark Birdnow of Jesup hopes to be elected for a sixth term. He represents Director District 4, which includes the Dunkerton, East Buchanan and Jesup school districts.

Donna Miller, who recently retired from her job at Travel and Transport, is seeking her fourth term. She represents District 7, which includes Hudson, southwest Waterloo and portions of Cedar Falls.

Dave Krejchi, the board's newest member, is seeking re-election in District 9. The Dalton Plumbing, Heating and Cooling president represents most of northwest Cedar Falls.

Bill Gronen in District 5 has not yet announced if he is running for re-election. The area represents parts of northeast, central and west Waterloo.