Iowa Ethics Board Admonishes Pleasant Valley School Staff and Board Members for Campaign Email Misuse

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board recently admonished several staff members and school board officials from the Pleasant Valley Community School District for using public email accounts for campaign purposes. The decision, which came after a complaint filed by former school board candidate Amy McCabe, highlighted the violation of Iowa law that prohibits the use of public resources for campaigning.

Among those admonished were Superintendent Brian Strusz, his secretary Deborah Dayman, and staff members Kelsey Allbaugh, Margaret Dougherty, and Tony Hiatt. Current school board President Nikhil Wagle and former member Tracey Rivera were also included in the admonishment. The emails included in McCabe’s complaint revealed discussions about candidate filings, message strategy, and support for certain candidates using school email accounts.

In response to the admonishment, Superintendent Strusz stated that the district had not been provided with a copy of the complaint or given a chance to respond before the board acted. He emphasized the district’s commitment to ensuring full compliance with Iowa’s government and campaign laws moving forward.

Board member James Albert expressed the seriousness of receiving an admonishment from the state ethics board, noting that it is a significant issue that should not be taken lightly. The district, which serves approximately 5,500 students, has stated that they have taken steps to prevent similar violations in the future.

Overall, the admonishment serves as a reminder of the importance of following ethical guidelines and campaign laws in the public sector.