Peoria, Ill — Illinois school board leaders vote to leave the National School Board’s Association over earlier controversy.
We learned of the decision from the Illinois School Boards Association on Tuesday.
The decision went into effect when it was announced November 18th.
It’s related to the controversy surrounding an NSBA letter which suggested some angry parents might be engaging in “domestic terrorism” while making complaints about COVID-19 restrictions and Critical Race Theory curriculum at local school board meetings around the U.S.
The letter paved the way for the U.S. Justice Department to consider investigating some of those parents.
It further fueled fears about federal government intrusion in local and state business.
In a news release, officials with the Illinois Association of School Boards say the NSBA letter came without any input from school leaders in Illinois and without any notice of intent by national partners.
In the release, IASB continues, saying it has tried, “to initiate changes to the governance structure, transparency, and financial oversight of the national association.”
One leading Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, Gary Rabine, is calling the IASB’s move, “a strong statement” in favor of Illinois families.
In his own comments, Rabine said, “The Illinois Association of School Boards does take the right of free speech seriously and they do take the rights of parents seriously as well.”
We haven’t yet seen any reaction to the news from Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office.
