Why more conservatives are running in school board elections

“Going to school is not the same as going shopping. Parents should not be burdened with locating a suitable school for their child.”

— Diane Ravitch

Some of the most involved parents pay little attention to school board elections because they don’t know when they are held. It is common that these elections take place at times that differ from the general elections. This helps both teachers and their unions retain control of the educational curriculum.

UC Berkeley political scientist

Sarah Anzia recently released a book examining the consequences of off-cycle elections in U.S. politics. She finds that 90% of states hold elections for municipal races apart from major national elections. Data obtained from the National School Boards Association shows that three quarters of the states hold school board elections off cycle to limit voter turnout.

By decreasing voter turnout, this enables unions to get increased pay and benefits for the teachers. It also allows them to adopt and implement policies, teaching methods and curriculum developed by the federal and state Departments of Education and the local liberal politicians. “One penalty for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”

— Plato

In states that run board elections concurrently with general elections, most races are decided in the primaries. Since the average turnout for primary elections is 27% of registered voters compared to 60% for general elections, this guarantees school board incumbents are almost always reelected.

Many politicians get their start as members of school boards. Therefore members of these local boards are eyeing opportunities in the county, municipal and state governments. Since most board members are “union- and Democratfriendly,” this is reflected in their politics in other offices.

“If you believe teachers unions don’t have political motives you’re fooling yourself.”

— Lori Lightfoot

For well over 100 years, we’ve had “off-cycle” school board elections simply to conciliate teacher unions and the teachers.

Until recently, this widespread and questionable practice of local school districts holding elections apart from general elections has been taking place across the nation. A new report from the Government Accountability Institute shows the teachers unions have been working overtime since 2008 taking millions away from classrooms to finance political campaign activity. Most of these donations have gone to Democratic candidates and to help fund other liberal organizations. And recent elections show this has been effective in electing progressives.

According to GAI, spending by the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers on political activities increased more than $74 million since 2008 while spending for teachers increased by $5.3 million. The two teachers unions gave $91.8 million to Democrats.

Historically, conservatives have not been as vocal about down ballot races. Although Democrats and the unions still control many school districts, the Democratic- union stronghold on school district domination has been challenged in recent years. This is especially with the election of President Joe Biden.

In the past few years as progressives have been forcing their far left policies on public education, these often-ignored school board elections are gaining much-needed attention from the GOP. Conservative groups have been stepping up to support antiprogressive candidates in local board elections as more concerned parents are showing up to attend their local school board meetings.

“People are fed up with status quo education and are looking for ways to improve it.”

— Dale Lee

Conservative groups have taken notice that these elections mean more than just getting rid of the progressive curriculum.

Chief Mailes said the goal is to have a medic-trained firefighter on every piece of fire equipment, to enhance the medical response by minutes, maybe seconds. We remember that the city and county have already received financing for a countywide regional fire dispatching center, which would dispatch city and county fire units only, from the same center. That annual cost of $800,000 is to the city only.

Sounds like yesterday’s news? But we wonder what we are doing to another private industry if we allow more government agencies to absorb more private enterprises.

And here is the $100 million question for the taxpayers.

Sure, some of that is for equipment, but how much of that is for salaries, which add to government pensions, which increase with the salaries?

Those CalPERS government pensions and benefits far outspend the private arena, and the system of checks and balance sheets doesn’t receive the same scrutiny or fall-out as private enterprises.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors makes the final decision. And we pay for it.

Again, we ask the Redesign State Street Downtown Advisory Team, why wasn’t Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade used as an example in its presentation to the city council, because after all, both Santa Monica and Santa Barbara are upscale beach towns. Well, we have a pretty good idea why, after reading an article in the Circling the News out of Santa Monica, referred to us by another perplexed citizen.

We see a lot in common with the Santa Monica Third Street Street Promenade. For one, citizens and visitors complain about the lack of safety while walking the promenade. Just like public speakers said at our city council meeting several weeks ago.

These promenades are a failure. Sadly, they’re only good as a beacon for transients and others engaged in unlawful and unsavory behavior. Loitering, illegal and damage. It is clear: 320 feet is not sufficient distance to mitigate mudslide risk — and Legacy Estates knows this.

Thus, they refuse to allow additional environmental study because it is so close to the Purisima Hills.

Wendy McCaw Arthur von Wiesenberger Co-Publisher Co-Publisher