Ok I will admit up front that few nonprofit boards are so controversial in their work that they garner the attention of people with big money to support those who want to be on that board. Would that situation be a dream - I doubt it. But some school boards where members must campaign to be members are indeed being financially supported to get a seat. Now, in your everyday nonprofit board, most folks are running the other way from even getting on a board but it appears that folks more dedicated to their own agendas are seeing school boards as the place to be. Funny enough, every nonprofit is a forum for individuals who have a personal mission to move forward and a seat on a board makes that even more possible.
Anyway, perhaps an awakening that there is a place to go that can have a broader impact? Something about the following situation is just not right - oh but wait - it's right wing!
School Board Candidate Backed By Dark Money From National Conservative Group
Jill Sessions’ bid to join the Polk County School Board is backed by a national conservative political action committee that funded a video mentioning her and three other Polk County School Board candidates in August ahead of the primary, according to an article in The Daily Caller.
Despite the national support to push education policy locally, Sessions, a candidate for District 7, has not visited a Polk County public school in 2022, according to records on file with the school district. She is also not an approved volunteer with the school district and does not serve on any school district committee or board.
And, records show, she sold her home in School District 5 and rented a house in School District 7 in May when she filed to run for office. District 5 is represented by longtime School Board member Kay Fields and includes central and northwest Lakeland. District 7 is currently represented by Lisa Miller and includes northeast Lakeland and north Polk County to U.S. 27.
Sessions did not respond to a voicemail or an email asking for comment on several questions for this article.
Video
A video posted on Aug. 10 on the YouTube channel of The American Principles Project urges people to vote for Sessions, along with three other conservative Polk County School Board candidates the video labels as backed by “the Parents’ Caucus.”
In the video, a voice intones over dramatic music: “Radical Democrats want to indoctrinate our kids. They’re teaching trans ideology and anti-American critical race theory to our children. They even think parents shouldn’t have a say in their child’s education. Only the Parents’ Caucus is fighting back. Terry Clark, Jill Sessions, Justin Sharpless and Rick Nolte will protect parents’ rights. Say no to critical race theory. Say no to sexualizing our children. Vote for the Parents’ Caucus on August 23 for Polk County School Board.”
Images include President Joe Biden with what subtly looks like a red target – with a D in the center – a transvestite reading a book to children (it’s unclear if the event is taking place in Polk County or even Florida), someone in a crowd (it’s unclear where or who the people are) burning an American flag, and Sessions, Sharpless and Nolte all with American flags billowing behind them.
Clark lost his bid, while Nolte and Sharpless won. Sessions garnered 37.45% of the 99,732 votes cast, while incumbent Lisa Miller won 42.43%, and Dell Quary got 20.12%. Sessions and Miller are now in a runoff, which will be decided in the general election on Nov. 8.
Kyle Kennedy, a spokesman for Polk County Public Schools, said drag queens have never read to children in PCPS schools, as depicted in the video. Superintendent Frederick Heid has repeatedly said that critical race theory is a college-level course not taught in Polk County Public Schools. He has decided to continue using an opt-out policy for parents to block their children from reading any library materials they find objectionable, including 16 books a local conservative group, County Citizens Defending Freedom, wanted permanently removed.