USD 337 board clarifies position on political endorsements

Members of the Royal Valley Board of Education said Friday that political endorsements made by two members of the board for a state senator up for re-election do not reflect the opinion of the board as a whole.

During a special meeting Friday evening, members of the board clarified the board’s position on political endorsements after a recent radio advertisement aired in which board members Ann Kelly and Jeff Stithem identified themselves as USD 337 board members and endorsed Senator Dennis Pyle for re-election.

“It was confusing people that the board was endorsing a candidate. I’m not saying that was the intent, but that is how some people interpreted it and that is why I choose to call this special meeting,” said Cindy Broxterman, board president.

School boards and school districts, as a whole, are prohibited from endorsing any candidate for public office, it was reported. However, it’s not illegal for individual board members to publicly endorse a candidate, whether it’s placing political signs in their yard or advocating for the candidate in an advertisement.

“It’s not illegal to say you’re a member of the Royal Valley School Board and I endorse a candidate,” said Boone Smith, board member. “I’m concerned that if that candidate loses, their opponent might be more or less favorable to us if we’re endorsing someone. Also, it could divide us within our district, whether it’s staff members or employees. But it’s not illegal.”

Several board members said that if an individual does endorse a candidate, there should be a disclaimer stating that the opinion does not represent the whole board.

“One individual is fine, but when you put two individuals in the same commercial then it looks like, as a board, we’re endorsing a candidate,” said board member Jim O’Toole.

Kelly said she understood the concerns from the board but said the intent of her endorsement, as an individual, was not to confuse people that her opinion was also the board’s opinion.

“As a board, we can’t endorse anyone,” Kelly said. “I think there’s a fine line even having this meeting because, as a board, we shouldn’t be engaging in political activity.”

With a 5-1 vote, the board approved a resolution that “disclaims the statements made by individual board members regarding political endorsements of any political candidate using their board of education title.”

The resolution also states that the endorsements do not reflect the opinion of the board and no member has been authorized to speak on behalf of the board regarding political issues.

The resolution also says that endorsing a candidate “has the potential to divide, rather than unite, the board with the citizens its represents, the staff members and students and the elected officials it cooperates with.”

Kelly was the dissenting vote on the resolution. Board member Jeff Stithem was absent from the meeting.

Fifteen people attended the special 20-minute meeting, but the board did not take comments from the public.