Former school board member, educator against adding politics to education

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A proposed amendment to the state constitution that would change non-partisan school board elections to partisan is getting feedback across the state.

House Joint Resolution 106 remains under discussion in the House of Delegates. If approved partisan school board elections would take place beginning in May 2024.

Former Monongalia County Board of Education member Barbara Parsons said politics should stay out of education.

Barbara Parsons

Parsons served 18 years on the BOE, eight as President. Her classroom experience includes teaching business and management at West Virginia University and Fairmont State University. She has also worked as the Vice President of Labor Relations at Fairmont General Hospital.

“I know, I personally probably would not have run if I had to be associated with a political party,” Parsons said. “I think it’s a very important job we do at the local level, we have to keep in mind the first concern we have is the needs of the students.”

Parsons said the parents and the public are always welcome to regular meetings or to offer input via email or phone. She saw benefit in non-partisan problem solving with parents and staff.

“If there is a problem or an issue we need to address we’ll come up with a way to do it,” Parsons said. “It’s like you don’t have a voice at the school board meeting- you have one definitely at the meeting and you have one when you vote.”

School board members are asked with providing the best education possible with resources, within state code and meet academic standards. Adding that political party influence could influence a candidate to follow ideology rather than input from parents and staff or statistics from experts.

“Will I get reelected if I make this decision? Or, will I ruin my chances to run for another public office if I do this?, Parsons asked. “I think it makes it very difficult and more complicated to being more objective and dealing with the local issues.”

According to Parsons, this is a familiar trend and happening across the country as debate rage about Critical Race Theory and sexual-related subject matter in schools. The voices become louder when parents who oppose mask and vaccine mandates join.

“This is an initiative that’s taking place all across the nation,” Parsons said. ” That school boards have been targeted for political campaigns so that the Republicans can exercise more influence.”

Parents, teachers and students have different priorities and objectives many times over the same issues. Those differences can be quelled by honest communication, but politics could add another potential barrier to building those relationships.

” We have so many challenges when we’re very much assigned to a party, it becomes you’re with me or you’re against me,” Parsons said. ” And that’s not what the Democratic process is about.”

The resolution has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee with a recommendation to be adopted.





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