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Residents urge ISD622 to adopt transparency and facility‑use policies ahead of future elections
Summary
Three public commenters told the school board they want clearer disclosures about who is funding political activity that affects school-board races and asked for a facility‑use policy prohibiting political organizing in district buildings.
During the public‑comment period at the Nov. 18 meeting, three residents urged the board to adopt policies increasing transparency around political activity and clarifying permissible uses of district facilities.
Peter Provost told the board he and families in the district want a transparency policy so "parents and residents can easily see who is funding political activity that affects our school board races." He emphasized he was not asking the board to regulate elections but to use district policy to disclose funding sources for campaign mailings, texts and digital ads.
Gary Timbrell asked the board for a clear, neutral facility‑use policy that would allow outside groups — unions and others — to use district property only for authorized, non‑campaign purposes and to prohibit campaign organizing, partisan planning or electioneering in taxpayer‑funded buildings.
Carl Nelson (identifying as a Maplewood resident) added that some conservative Christian families told him they felt marginalized after a teachers' union statement about election results. He asked for assurances that the district will be welcoming and neutral for all families.
Board members received the comments during the public‑comment period; the transcript does not record a formal board vote on any follow‑up policy at the Nov. 18 meeting.
