School Board Members


Self-Nomination Form


Members of the board of education are elected at large for four-year terms. They receive no pay for their service. Your school board has complete and final control over local school matters within limits set by laws and regulations. The board of education is a policy-making body whose decisions are carried out by school administrators. The board functions as a whole and its authority lies within the will of its majority. No board member has power to act independently. Board meetings are held every second and fourth Monday.

 

Mr. Combs is the Broker/Owner of NetWork Realty, based in Newton. He received his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science as well as a minor in Journalism from the University of Iowa. Dennis has an extensive background in finance, having worked for banking organizations and the investment firm Dean Witter Reynolds (now Morgan Stanley). Before opening his own real estate firm, he served for five years as Vice President of Housing and Economic Development for the Newton Chamber/Alliance. His wife, Nancy, is the Financial Controller at Grinnell College. They have three children in the Newton school system: Alex, Caitlin and Zachary.

 

Donna Cook, Board Member
518 North 2nd Avenue East, Newton, Iowa
Resident Phone 791-2665
E-mail:  cookie@pcpartner.net
Term Expires:  2015

Ms. Cook is a Registered Nurse and the Nurse Supervisor of the Health Services department at the Newton Correctional Facility. She grew up in Newton and is a graduate of Newton Community Schools. She is a past president of the Newton PTA, a past president of the Emerson Hough PTA and a past president of the Iowa PTA. She has served two terms on the National PTA Council of States. She is a member of the First Christian Church. Donna and her husband, Ernie, have three children: Katie, Kevin, and Christopher all are Newton Alumni.They also enjoy three delightful grandsons.

Andrew Elbert, Board President
710 W. 9th St. S., Newton, Iowa                              
 Resident Phone: 521-1641
E-mail:  andyelbert@gmail.com                               
Term Expires:  2013

Mr. Elbert is a Account Executive for KCOB & Energy 106.7 radio stations.  He grew up in Ames (Go Cyclones) and has been a resident of Newton since 1995. He is past president of the Woodrow Wilson PTA and recently completed the Jasper County Community Leader Development program. He and his wife Jen, a second grade teacher at Berg Elementary School, have two boys, Spencer and Austin. Spencer attends Woodrow Wilson Elementary and Austin attends Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. He and his family are members of the Haven Vineyard Church.

 

Don Poynter, Board Member
727 West 9th Street South, Newton, Iowa              
Resident Phone:  792-4104          
E-mail:  poynterdp@gmail.com                                
Term Expires:  2013

Mr. Poynter is a Financial Specialist at US Bank. A former high school English teacher and coach, he has been active in many organizations including the Planning and Zoning Commission and Chamber of Commerce. He is active with the Newton YMCA. Don and his wife, Pam, have a daughter who is a 2004 graduate of Coe College and a son who has a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State. Both are alumni of Newton Schools.

Bill Perrenoud, Board Member
Resident Phone: 792-7893
105 Oakwood Avenue, Lambs Grove, Iowa
Term Expire: 2015
E-mail: perrenoudbill@gmail.com

Bill Perrenoud is married to Linda and they have a daughter, Traci, who lives in Hiawatha. Bill taught for the NCSD for 33 years, retiring in 2007. For the first 13 years of his career he taught third grade at TJ. After receiving his Masters from ISU in Professional Studies he became Newton’s first elementary counselor splitting time between EH and WW. As more counselors were hired he became a full time counselor at EH. Bill was also very active in PTA, serving as City Wide PTA president. Bill was also a co-chair when Fort Emerson Hough was constructed. Bill is the mayor of Lambs Grove.

Sheri Benson, Board Member
Sheri Benson Contact Information:
Residential Phone: 641-417-0226
831 East 15th Street North
Newton, Iowa 50208
E-mail: sheribenson@tx.rr.com

Sheri Benson has been a member of the Newton community since 1998. She has been a “stay at home” mom and community volunteer since 2005.

 

Before staying home, she spent nearly 20 years in the insurance and financial services industry, working as an independent agent, district sales manager and managing principal. 

 

In addition to serving with the NCSD Board, Sheri has served on the United Way Board, SCORE, the Newton Transformation Council, Pastoral Council of Sacred Heart Parish, OPEN Sister City and Jasper County Wellness Coalition.

 

Broader volunteer activities include the Pastoral Council and the Board of Education for the Diocese of Davenport.

 

Sheri holds a Master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the same institution.  Sheri’s two children, Jordan (23-NHS class of 2008) and Trey (16) are former NCSD students.

 

Sheri is a strong advocate for life-long learning and believes learning is the key to a free and prosperous society.

 

Nat Clark, Board Member
Resident Phone: 792-2234
726 North 2 nd Avenue East, Newton, Iowa
E-mail: nat@clarkcentral.net

Mr. Clark relocated to Newton with his family in 2007 when he was hired as a Systems Administrator for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance.  He and his wife, Marci, became and remain heavily involved in their children’s schools via PTA and volunteer work.  He enjoys watching his daughters, Hanna and Maxine, participate in community theatre, chorus and band performances as well as working on his motorcycle and fixing/building computers.  He spent 8 years in the U.S. Navy, including a 4 year tour of Desert Storm.  He has served as Emerson Hough PTA Vice President and is currently Membership Chair for Aurora Heights PTA.