It's critical to know our school board candidates

With all of the noise coming from Washington, D.C., and a new variant of an old pandemic raging, it’s easy to forget closer to home we have school board elections on Nov. 2. It’s a pretty thankless, but essential job that takes a certain type of person willing to fill it.

Candidates run for a job without salary but with big impact because they want to support their local public school even though they know they will be criticized and pressured. All of them should be applauded for their willingness to step up, but all candidates should be vetted to see if they match what the community needs.

This year, a number of pressure groups have popped up in towns across Iowa seeking to weaponize school curricula to please a particular political viewpoint. That’s dangerous, and it’s wrong because it cheats students from having a balanced and honest education.

Also, the governor and Legislature decided to ban mask mandates for schools even though the pandemic still is raging thanks to delta, and kids under 12 aren’t vaccinated yet. They also made it impossible to know who is vaccinated and who isn’t because it’s now against the law to ask for proof.

For these reasons, it’s critical to have people truly committed to serving on the school board. For too long, many communities have elected nice, willing, sincere, people without a clue about what it really takes to really serve the whole community on a school board.

Here are some questions to help the community get acquainted with its school board candidates.

1. Could you please provide your thoughts on school funding in Iowa? Specifically, is it adequate, or does funding need to be increased?

2. What would be your specific priorities as a board member?

3. What are your thoughts about COVID-19 protocols in school? Specifically, should masks be mandated in school?

4. Should students and educators be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend and work in schools?

5. If there was a mask and vaccine mandate, how would you deal with parents who disagree?

6. Are you a member of a group or supported by a group that encouraged you to run?

7. Who are the biggest contributors to your campaign?

8. What role should the legislature play in determining curriculum?

9. What is the biggest problem facing our school?

10. Do you have some thoughts on public funding paying for private schools?

11. Do you think the changes in public sector bargaining made in 2017 are positive or negative for our school system? Could you please give some examples of either negative or positive outcomes?

12. Do you believe there is a teacher shortage? If so, what steps would you as a board member take to help correct this problem?

13. Can you tell us when was the last time you visited our schools? Was it a positive or a negative experience?

14. If an educator called you about a problem, what would you do?

15. If a member of the community called you about a school problem, what would you do?

We owe it to our children and their futures to care about school board elections. Let’s start by getting to know the candidates and assuring they share our desire to see that our public schools are safe and thriving.

Bruce Lear lives in Sioux City and retired after 38 years of being connected to public schools.