Culture war drags on in Linn-Mar school board race

So we’re having a big school board election in the Linn-Mar Community School District. Maybe you’ve heard of us. The school district Republican politicians love to hate.

Linn-Mar’s support policies for transgender and nonbinary students caught a lot of hell during the last election cycle. Shame on the district for trying to comply with state and federal law while keeping marginalized kids safe at school.

Gov. Kim Reynolds used Linn-Mar’s policy to promote publicly funded scholarships for private school students, costing billions of bucks over the next decade. U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, whose kids go to Linn-Mar, accused the district of “helping kids change gender.” Fact check — false.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence called Linn-Mar’s policy “crazy,” in a nationally televised Republican debate. He also accused the school of creating “gender transition plans.” Again, not happening. You can’t let the truth ruin some great fear mongering.

But the Iowa Legislature made much of Linn-Mar’s policy illegal, and a federal appeals court panel struck down a provision requiring students to “respect” transgender kids’ requests to use names and pronouns consistent with their gender identity. “Respect,” the court ruled, is a vague concept.

So there’s not much left to fight about at Linn-Mar. And yet, the culture war drags on.

Eight candidates are vying for four seats on the board. Three of the candidates, Kevin Slaman, Tom Law and Laura Steffeck have been endorsed by Moms for Liberty. That’s the group that spearheaded the legislative push to remove books depicting sex from schools, to ban any mention of LGBTQ identity in grades K-6, to deny transgender kids the use of their preferred bathrooms and locker rooms and deny them gender affirming health care, even with their parents’ permission.

“There is a perception problem we have with Moms for Liberty,” Slaman told me in a brief interview. He sees it as simply a group of moms concerned about their children’s education.

Slaman’s yard signs bear the slogan “Education over ideology.”

“Simply, focus on teaching kids how to think, not what to think,” Slaman said, explaining his signs. He contends the district is catering to a small group of people at the expense of the majority.

“I think there’s an agenda in the school,” Slaman said.

Hinson held an event for Slaman in September that was also attended by Steffeck.

I couldn’t get in contact with Steffeck, who provides a phone number on campaign documents that doesn’t ring and won’t take messages.

Her campaign website says. “Laura’s aim when she is on the board is to keep education and the minds of students free from political and social agendas, prolonging the optimistic ambitions of youth, protecting the innocent joy of childhood and fostering independent thought.”

I had a very brief conversation with Tom Law. He wants schools to emphasize “traditional values.”

“I’m a conservative Christian and I believe in those values,” Law said.

There are also signs popping up around the district urging voters to support a four-member slate of candidates. In addition to Slaman, Steffeck and Law, it also urges support for Jodi Treharne. Their last names form the acronym LSTS, or “Linn-Mar Supports Traditional Standards.”

“I’m pro parents. I’m pro parents’ rights,” Treharne told me, adding that she has sought no endorsements or campaign contributions.

“On the transgender policy, I am of the opinion that we have common ground to approach it,” said Treharne, who supports providing separate locker rooms and bathrooms for transgender students.

“I am in no way against a transgender child,” Treharne said.

It’s worth noting that separate but equal has not worked out so well in this country. Do your research.

The notion that candidates supported by Moms for Liberty and its allies want to rid schools of ideology and political agendas would be comedy gold if it wasn’t so serious. The group’s agenda is clear — ridding schools of curriculum, books and ideas that run counter to their political and religious worldview.

Look no further than the list of books targeted by the group. Most are written by LGBTQ authors and people of color. Rather than teaching kids the world as it is, the world they will soon be entering as adults, kids must be taught about a world where no racism exists, discrimination isn’t a real problem and our history is a series of whitewashed, comforting myths.

And transgender kids can be labeled as damaged and threatening as they’re pushed back into the shadows. So much for the optimistic ambitions of youth.

One Iowa, an advocacy group for LGBTQ Iowans, is getting involved in school board races for the first time in its history. Keenan Crow, director of policy and advocacy for One Iowa, told an Iowa Ideas panel Thursday the No. 1 question candidates are getting as they knock doors.

“Are you one of those book-banners?” Crow said.

One Iowa has endorsed incumbent Linn-Mar school board member Brittania Morey.

“This is incredibly important to me,” Morey told me. “I can’t stand back and watch the attacks public education is taking.”

Also on the Linn-Mar ballot are incumbent Barry Buchholz and newcomers Justin Foss and Katie Lowe Lancaster.

Early voting begins Wednesday and Election Day is Nov. 7.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com