Can an individual board member advocate a position on a ballot issue?
Yes, an individual board member may advocate a position. The board member may issue a statement advocating a position if it is done on the board member’s time and at the board member’s personal expense including writing a letter to the editor or an op ed piece. In doing so, it is appropriate for the board member to note that he or she is a board member. A board member may also expressly advocate his or her personal position on a ballot issue during a school board meeting. 2000 Formal Adv. Opn. 15. Board members may also individually solicit votes encouraging the passage or rejection of a ballot issue. In taking a personal position on a ballot issue, board members are reminded of the Iowa Association of School Board’s Code of Ethics for School Board Members, number 13, adopted as board policy by most Iowa school boards, which states that as a board member, the member will abide by majority positions of the board. IASB encourages boards to have in-depth discussions on issues presented to
