What's Going On: School board focused on the wrong things

 When is a fight worth fighting?

Between the emergency closure of the middle school, a $25 million building project and a pending hearing before the Iowa Public Information Board, the Red Oak school board has a lot on its plate. 

Inexplicably though, the board decided at its meeting last week to add to that burden by refusing to sign off on a resolution regarding another complaint filed with the IPIB. 

Why? Because they don’t want to admit they made a mistake. 

As is well chronicled in this week’s edition, the complaint accuses the board of publishing an agenda for a June meeting that was incomplete. 

While Iowa law isn’t explicit about what is required in that agenda, the IPIB and the school’s own attorney agree the district probably didn’t meet the implied standard of the code. 

However, when presented with an opportunity to put this matter behind them and move on to the many more pressing matters, the board refused. 

As a result, we can expect more controversy possibly ending in another hearing in Des Moines, and more legal fees for the attorney to collect. 

Lee Fellers and Paul Griffen, the two most vocal opponents to the resolution, argued the school district shouldn’t have to admit fault when they may not in fact be guilty of anything. 

They are accurate in stating the law isn’t black and white and the issue has never been adjudicated in a court of law. They contend the practice employed on the agenda in question is used by school districts everywhere, and that by admitting fault, this case could theoretically be a benchmark by which others are judged. 

That’s why they believe this is a fight worth fighting.

They are wrong. 

Under normal circumstances, when the middle school wasn’t closed, when a volunteer committee wasn’t trying to generate goodwill in the community to pass a bond issue, and when the district isn’t facing pending litigation, maybe it is a fight worth fighting. 

But not now. This is not the time to be the standard bearer for every school district in the state. This is not the time to argue semantics for the sake of proving a point. This is not the time to create controversy over something so easily resolved. 

And what’s most astounding is on some levels, the school board actually agrees a mistake was made, even though they won’t admit it. 

Since the complaint was filed, agendas have been changed and are more specific. Fellers stated the board wants to do a better job at informing the public, which is why they changed their approach. 

Typically, when someone changes their behavior, it’s an admission what they were previously doing wasn’t the right approach. 

I truly believe Red Oak’s school board is filled with people with good intentions. They do want what is best for the students of the district. However, this action is contrary to that belief. Prolonging this dispute, especially with so much going on within the district, does not benefit students in the least. 

In fact, it hurts those students as the district’s resources and energy is being directed to a fight that’s just not worth fighting. 

It’s time to do what’s best for the district and its students. Admit a mistake was made so everyone can move on to more important things.
Gregory Orear is the General Manager/Editor of the Red Oak Express and Glenwood Opinion-Tribune. He can be contacted at publisher@redoakexpress.com.