Geralyn Jones for Linn-Mar School Board: Parents are demanding answers

I never thought I would live to hear, let alone say those words out loud: Parents are becoming more involved in their children’s school board meetings. Why is that? In my opinion, parents are speaking out because they are realizing the negative effects of local control. School boards across the nation are establishing policy and governing over children without presenting any form of supporting data. How is that legal? Parents are demanding answers, and the Biden administration has called in the Department of Justice (DOJ) to tell these parent (also known as “domestic terrorists”) to take a seat or face the consequences.

As a parent myself who has been actively bringing my concerns to the podium at our local school board meetings, I have often been ignored. The School Board Code of Ethics for Linn-Mar Community Schools, Series 200.1, states that the legislative function of the school board is to act, “As a representative of the citizens of the school district community.” How are they able to represent the members of this community when the current sitting board members choose to not acknowledge concerned parents’ emails, engage in dialogue at the podium or even meet with parents who are asking for clarification? These decisions model nothing close to a civil democracy.

Parents like myself would not have to respond in such a passionate way if the school board members would acknowledge “We The People” and hear our concerns.

Here’s a proposal — school boards need to start surveying the community. By involving the parents, teachers, staff etc., we will be able to establish a consensus of what the community desires and establish recommendations based on that data. In turn, the Biden administration can call off the watchdogs at the DOJ and we can return to civility. That is what we want, right Biden?

Geralyn Jones is a candidate for Linn-Mar School Board.

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