Iowa district to sue state over new school board election law
The Des Moines Register reports that the Des Moines school board has voted to reduce the terms of members Jonathan Narcisse and Patty Link to two years, but that the board of Iowa's largest school district will pursue a lawsuit against the state regarding a new elections law passed during the 2008 legislative session that changed school board elections statewide. Starting in 2009, elections will be held every other year, rather than annually, and terms will be lengthened from three years to four. That means that Mr. Narcisse and Ms. Link, who were elected in 2007 to three-year terms, had to have their terms either lengthened or shortened. Some members of the public were upset that the item was listed as a discussion item, not an action item, and few people were in attendance. Many groups have been opposed to the new law, including the Iowa Association of School Boards, whose officials have said they will try to get it repealed. The law was advertised this year as a way to cut election costs, but sneaked through without much public attention. Beth Nigut, the district's legal counsel, advised the board that there is a precedent from 1907 that allows the legislature to shorten or even end the terms of elected officials, and warned that a lawsuit's outcome is uncertain. Board members said they want to pursue other angles, however, such as the short time frame in which they are expected to make a decision. The law was passed in April, and all districts must have plans in place by Aug. 1.
Source: Des Moines Register, 6/4/08, By Megan Hawkins