To the editor:
I was extremely disappointed to see that on June 26th, the ISD 200 School Board members voted 5-2 to give themselves an additional year to their terms without taking it to the voters.
While moving to even-year elections would save the district money, there were both pros and cons to doing so. In fact, most school districts statewide moved to even-year elections back in 2005. The Hastings School Boards since then have decided it was better to stay on odd-year elections. Regardless of the decision to move to even-year elections, there were many other ways to get there, without using their power to arbitrarily decide they should all serve five year terms, rather than the four year terms they were elected to.
I think this was a poor show of democratic norms, especially in the times of school boards becoming another arm to inject political agendas into our communities. Knowing that two of these members traveled to Florida last April to attend a partisan convention on how to infiltrate extreme conservative policies into schools, this move to extend their terms is very disconcerting. Watch what policies they are enacting. Pay attention to decisions they are making for our district. Let your school board members know that you DO NOT want politics in our public schools!
Lastly, remember this move in 2026, when three board seats will be up for election. Our school district IS our community. We must all be working to keep our school protected from political agendas and help make and keep our district one that is successful and supportive to every child that attends, and the families it serves.
Jessie Nowak
Parent, Community Member, Public School Supporter