Parents urge Indianola school board to audit NHS selection and allow appeals after alleged bias

Debate over the Indianola High School National Honor Society selection process dominated public comment at the Indianola Community School District board meeting, where parents pressed the board to investigate possible retaliation and to provide an appeals pathway.

Tristan Grover told the board that a political exchange in a high-school biology class last November led to teachers labeling some pro‑Trump students "brainwashed," and that three students — Madison Grover, Alexa Geyer and Kendall Sandy — were later denied NHS selection with no clear, consistent reasons given. "The reason that these girls were denied acceptance is clearly due to discrimination," Grover said, and asked the board to "conduct an audit of the National Honor Society faculty" and to "allow and assist with an appeal" to review the students' applications.

A written letter from Tanner and Jody Sandy (dated 11/15/2025) reiterated similar requests, noting apparent conflicts between the Indianola chapter bylaws and the National Honor Society constitution and citing Article 4 (appeals to the principal) as a discrepancy the local bylaws fail to address. The letter asked the board to "weigh the information provided and then follow-up with researching information the high-school administration has to ensure that the administration is living up to the purpose statement of the National Honor Society."

Board members and administration were asked repeatedly by speakers why documentation related to selection decisions and the local chapter bylaws had not been forthcoming. Tristan Grover said the superintendent pushed the issue back to building-level staff and that NAHS guidance (through NASSP) indicates the principal—and if necessary the superintendent or board—can hear appeals when a principal refuses to do so. "We are requesting three things of the school board: conduct an audit, allow appeals, and review local bylaws," Grover said.

The public record at the meeting shows the board received the comments but took no formal vote on the requested audit or appeals process during the session. Administration acknowledged there is work to do on the local NHS bylaws going forward but also said rewriting bylaws would not retroactively change selection outcomes for this year.

What happens next: parents requested the board provide direction and assistance with appeals and to review bylaws for consistency with the National Honor Society constitution. The board did not announce a specific follow-up vote during the meeting.