Mask-mandate foes win in West Ada, Nampa school board contests
School board candidates who oppose mask mandates and support parental choice came out on top in their races Tuesday night in West Ada and Nampa, a reflection of the ongoing tension over COVID-19 protocols in schools.
In the West Ada School District, the largest district in Idaho, four candidates vied for two open seats to serve four-year terms on the five-member board. No incumbents were running to keep their seats.
In Zone 1, the western part of the district, covering parts of Meridian, Lori Frasure won against her competitor Brent Hart, 64.5% to 35.5%, according to Ada and Canyon County unofficial results, with all precincts reporting.
In Zone 3, covering parts of Boise and Meridian, Angie Redford beat Anita Beckman, 54.4% to 45.7%.
Frasure and Redford made parental choice on masks and vaccines a central part of their campaigns. They were endorsed by the West Ada Parents Association, which is pushing for mask-optional policies.
The West Ada School District has faced tense debates over the past several months over mask mandates. Groups of parents have advocated both for and against the face coverings. The district is currently mandating masks in the classroom.
Frasure, who grew up in Meridian and graduated from Idaho State University with a degree in business management, has referred to herself as a “conservative Republican” on her Facebook page. She said her priorities include putting kids first and listening to the community.
Similarly, Redford, who grew up in Boise and worked for a high school foreign exchange program for 10 years, has called herself a “conservative voice for schools” and said she wants to put students first, focus on education and support teachers and staff, according to her Facebook page.
The two candidates raised thousands of dollars for their campaigns, far outpacing their competitors. Frasure brought in more than $20,000 and Redford more than $11,000, according to campaign-finance reports on the Idaho Secretary of State’s website
Hart and Beckman, on the other hand, supported COVID-19 mitigation protocols, such as mask mandates. The two raised just a fraction of the money their competitors did and chose to end their fundraising efforts once they said they had enough for yard signs and other campaign materials.
Throughout the campaign, Hart, who graduated from Meridian High School and is now a program director, has raised concerns about outside money being raised by Frasure, his competitor, and said he believes in local control and in making the school board races about the issues. Hart said his top priorities include improving special education, supporting teachers and building trust in public education.
Beckman, who is a stay-at-home parent and spent six years in the U.S. Air Force, said she ran for school board because she supports educators and believes in listening to “stakeholders and using all available facts in the decision-making process.”
Parents told the Statesman ahead of Election Day that COVID-19 was a big priority in their decisions, but many also said they hoped voters would look beyond what candidates have said about how they would handle the pandemic and focus on other issues affecting education.
As voters cast their ballots Tuesday, several people said the way candidates said they would handle COVID-19 protocols was a key part of their decisions. Others talked about wanting trustees who would listen to the needs and concerns of parents and students.
Nic Hardy, who was voting at Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene in Zone 1, said his No. 1 priority is that his kids are safe when they are in school.
“I know that’s hard to do. No one can guarantee me their safety all the time,” he said. “But I want to know that they are safe.”
Hardy supported Hart, and said Hart’s support of COVID-19 mitigation measures in schools was a big reason why.
“If they’re going be learning at school, and if COVID is still on the rise, and a lot of them can’t get vaccinated right now, definitely wear masks,” he said. “That’s our best line of defense.”
Other voters, though, said they supported giving parents a choice on what health and safety protocols their kids should follow, and they wanted to support a candidate who felt the same.
Kimbra Cardwell said she voted for Frasure because freedom of choice is important.
Jon Klein, who didn’t want to say publicly who he voted for, said the most important thing for him is to have a trustee who listens to parents. They have to have an open ear to what parents and students want, he said.
“When school boards are tyrannical,” he said, “that’s a problem.”
Voters voted only for the candidates in their zone.
Nampa School Board races
In Nampa, where a similar fight over masks and COVID-19 protocols has been ongoing, the six candidates running for the five-member board’s three open seats have also had a mix of views.
With all ballots counted, Tracey Pearson came out on top in Zone 3 with a significant lead over Chandra Reyna, 65.8% to 34.2%. In Zone 4, Brook Taylor took the race, defeating Sarah Riley, 62.7% to 37.3%. In Zone 5, Jeff Kirkman had a similarly large lead to win over Patrick Tanner, 64.5% to 35.5%.
The three victors have all said they don’t support mask mandates or critical race theory. The theory, according to the American Bar Association, “recognizes that race intersects with other identities, including sexuality, gender identity, and others. CRT recognizes that racism is not a bygone relic of the past.”
It has been a point of controversy for months, and Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin created a task force that met over the summer to talk about claims of indoctrination and critical race theory in schools. Teachers and educators previously told the Statesman critical race theory is not taught in K-12 schools.
In contrast, Reyna, Riley and Tanner all voiced support for mask mandates or other mitigation measures, if necessary. Riley and Tanner have said there is no evidence critical race theory is taught in K-12 schools, and Reyna said it had been “grossly misinterpreted.”
Pearson’s Zone 3 includes Greenhurst Elementary and Skyview High School.
Taylor’s Zone 4 includes Iowa Elementary, Lake Ridge Elementary, Owyhee Elementary, Lone Star Middle School, South Middle School, Nampa High School and Union High School.
Kirkman’s Zone 5 includes Endeavor Elementary, New Horizons Elementary, Park Ridge Elementary, Ronald Reagan Elementary, Sherman Elementary, East Valley Middle School, Columbia High School and Treasure Valley Learning Academy.
No incumbents ran for reelection. Voters voted only for the candidates in their zone. Board members in West Ada and Nampa are volunteers and do not receive a salary. Trustees serve for four years.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 8:00 PM.
