I am concerned about the response, or lack of response, made by Bradi Darrah, a candidate for the Indianola School Board to the following questions asked by a constituent and former teacher on issues pertinent to the school board position.
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1. Do you love our country?
2. Where do you stand on the Indianola school logo?
3. Where do you stand on books that have sexually explicit content in our public schools?
4. In the 9th grade biology class, what will the curriculum state when life begins?
5. How many genders are there?
6. Can biological boys share in girls locker rooms?
7. Can biological boys play in girls sports?
Ms. Darrah refused to answer these questions on the following basis: “I hope to run a different campaign (and given the opportunity, lead differently) than what you’ve seen in the last few election cycles. I’m running for a non-partisan volunteer position, but your questions seem highly partisan in nature. The short answer to all of these questions is that we have laws in place which we must follow. We have clear procedures for revising, adding, or removing board policy that require the collaboration of the FULL board to execute. I will follow the law. I will follow board policy. I will strive always for good governance. I believe our students and community deserve school board members who focus on putting out flames, not stoking them.”
Ms. Darrah’s answer is nonresponsive, inaccurate, and overwhelmingly arrogant. To me, her attitude is you’re merely a member of the electorate. All you are is a citizen. I won’t answer your questions. You will just have to wait and see what I do when I am elected. Vote for me!
Does Ms. Darrah actually believe “Do you love our country?” is a partisan question? It is a question that most people, regardless of party, should answer a resounding “YES!”.
“In the 9th grade biology class, what will the curriculum state when life begins?” is not partisan. It is asking whether the curriculum will conform to standard biological knowledge.
But, suppose all the rest of the questions are partisan. So what? Important policy questions, including education issues, have people with differing views which may correlate to a political party. Because citizens have differing views on what are the wisest policies and most appropriate use of their tax dollars, they EXPECT candidates to answer their questions. Two questions above relate to the safety and privacy of girls in their locker rooms and their safety and fair competition for championships and scholarships in athletic competition. But, it’s all just too partisan for Ms. Darrah to tell us what she would prefer to do on the board.
It is no excuse to say “I will follow the law”. Ms. Darrah spouted similar nonsense when asked by the GOP her position on Senate File 496, dealing with sexually explicit material. But, enforcement of that law is enjoined, as Ms. Darrah ought to know. That does not mean school boards are required to accept sexually explicit material. They can stop it, but we don’t know where Ms. Darrah stands.
How would you feel if you asked a candidate if they supported the law prohibiting race discrimination in education and their response was just “I will follow the law”? Is that all you want?
Another concern I have is why didn’t Bradi Darrah mention, either in surveys from the Indianola
Independent Advocate or the Warren County Republican Party, that she was formerly the head of the local teacher’s union and on the negotiating team for that union? Isn’t it odd that it was not mentioned? Is it because of the radical positions taken by the national teacher’s union, the NEA? If she is on the school board, who will she actually be representing during negotiations, the Public or the Union?
Finally, the Indianola School Teacher Quality Committee Minutes for 2/9/21 reference Bradi Darrah and Mark Timmerman being involved in discussions concerning “equity and diversity” being communicated to teachers either through “a focus group, a class for recertification, a steering committee or something else.” The Indianola School Board's meeting on February 22, 2021 discussed this meeting and indicated that there were new administrative standards involving equity and there was to be a keynote speaker for the staff on equity the next school year. The discussion also noted that several teachers, on their own initiative, had taken the 21 Day Equity Challenge. https://www.youtube.com/@icsdboardmeetings/streams
Now, if these were discussions concerning nondiscrimination and the need for racial and sexual
equality of opportunity, I would have no problem with them. During my career, I investigated and, later, adjudicated civil rights cases. I support the civil rights laws. The problem is that “Equity” and “Diversity”, as “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion” or DEI, refers to government intervention to force equal outcomes, including using racial discrimination to achieve such outcomes. https://christopherrufo.com/p/unmasking-the-whole-of-government
The 21 Day Equity Challenge is notorious for promoting racial stereotypes. https://www.indianola-ia.com/news/warren-county-gop-holds-forum-rallying-against-21-day-equity-challenge/article_c2012954-d08d-11eb-9fbd-9b50194024c6.html#utm_source=indianola-ia.com&utm_
We ought to be concerned that teachers are taking this course or that this course is referred to with approval.
We have three excellent School Board candidates in Josh Lawrence, Ryan Werling, and Mack Rankin. Vote for them! Don’t roll the dice on Bradi Darrah.
Jeanette Campbell is also an excellent candidate, but is running for a different Indianola School Board slot than the three slots for which the other candidates are competing. Also vote for Jeanette Campbell!
Donald W. Bohlken is a retired Iowa Administrative Law Judge and Attorney
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