I’m sure all the school board candidates are very nice and very good people. I personally like all of them and believe they are good citizens and good community members. I appreciate that they are willing to put their name on the ballot. When you put your name on the ballot your views, visions, and values are under the microscope. Rightly so, especially when it comes to our children. Here in Indianola, we are especially proud of the schools, both public and private. We afford the opportunity to have choices that meet the specific needs of our children and uphold the fundamental rights of parents which include the religious, moral, medical, and educational upbringing of their children.
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Whether or not you agree with Educational Savings Accounts or public dollars for public schools is not the point. The burning question here, which many of us have is, “How will you as a school board member be a good steward of our tax dollars?”
Ms. Darrah expressed that a problem our Indianola Community School faces is a lack of funding. Darrah also went on to claim that the Educational Savings Accounts and open enrollment have added to the financial strain. Another candidate, and current board president, Mr. Rankin explained that “funding is a perennial concern, ensuring our schools are well-resourced without placing undue burden on our taxpayers takes deliberate planning.”
What is the truth about funding? Are our Indianola schools underfunded? Information located on Iowans for Tax Relief indicates that Indianola’s tax levy is among the highest in the state. Here’s a simplified explanation of how your school board determines property taxes. “When your school board creates a budget and decides how much to spend, they also set the rate, which determines the school district portion of your property taxes, which is the largest part of your total bill.”
Our community recently (September, 2022) passed a $70 million dollar bond issue to ensure a “replace in place” building project. Half of the State of Iowa’s budget is dedicated to public schools. Many of us pay 62% of our property taxes to public schools. Last April, I learned that approximately 139 students in our district attend the private school or are homeschooled. This means that our Indianola Public School receives around $230,000 from the state for these students. You also need to know that even if a student is homeschooled, private schooled or open enrolled to another district, your local property taxes STAY with your local school. The state funding portion follows the student. The district’s financial manager indicated that, “Indianola continues to be in good financial condition. The building projects are within budgets.”
I strongly urge you all to continue to ask good questions of your candidates! What will be the focus of academics in our schools? What will happen if we are faced with another pandemic? Will the teacher’s union be allowed to keep our schools closed? Will you protect girls’ sports? What exactly is good governance? Is good governance self control or over reach? What exactly does putting out fires look like? Telling a parent or taxpayer to be quiet and not ask questions or actually refusing to answer questions because they are political in nature or cause a fire might mean this!
It is your fundamental right as a citizen, parent and taxpayer to ask questions! It is your fundamental right to know what your child will be learning throughout the school day and to know how your hard earned taxes are spent.
Above all, please go vote!
Patty Alexander lives in Indianola
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