You are receiving this email because you gave us your information through our QR code or by going to our website.

Thanks for wanting to be more involved to protect the queer kid(s) in your life.

Previous week’s emails can be found here:

https://www.rainbowparentsofne.org/blog

Getting Engaged with Your Local School Board Races

There are 244 school districts in Nebraska, and no easy way for us to examine the background and record of each school board candidate who may be on your ballot. So, instead, your work this week will be to find out about your local school board races.

If you don’t know your school board district you can find it here. After putting in your address, scroll to the bottom where it says “Districts” and click on “show.” This will open a big list of all the various districts, subdistricts, and wards associated with your address.

Some school districts are not separated into subdistricts—all the candidates will be listed and the top vote getters will win the open seats. For others, each board candidate is running for a specific subdistrict’s seat.

School Board races aren’t always well publicized, so you might have to do some digging to make sure you know how yours works and who all the candidates are. It took a Google search and several clicks to find out that the incumbent in the above race is Jane Erdenberger, and that no one is running against her. In this case, it’s not worth putting time or money into her campaign. This voter could spend a few minutes looking into races in other subdistricts in Omaha Public Schools, and maybe in nearby districts like Millard or Bennington. Find a race that is more contentious and consider spending money or time to help out a candidate who will stand with LGBTQ students. Consider also getting the queer kids and allies in your life involved in school board campaign work.

If you can’t tell from a candidate website, social media, or news stories whether they will stand with LGBTQ students, you may need to look further. It doesn’t always fall along party lines with local candidates! Email candidates with questions about their stances on issues like Social-Emotional Learning, sex education, dress codes, LGBTQ student organizations, book bans, trans athletes sports participation, bathroom policies, etc. Ask the LGBTQ students in your life what their biggest concerns at school are and ask about those, and encourage students to email candidates, as well.

Action Steps

1. Find your school board, subdistrict (if relevant), and current board member(s)

2. Find out which seats are up for election in November and who the candidates are

3. Research the candidates, email them if you need to

4. Bonus step: If your subdistrict is not contentious, find another one nearby that is and see how you can help! School board races are often won or lost by just a few hundred votes, so your time and money can really matter!

Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter!

Don’t forget, you can find our previous email action items here: https://www.rainbowparentsofne.org/blog

Stay tuned for more action steps from Rainbow Parents of Nebraska next week. If you have questions or suggestions for us, please contact us at the links below!

Queer Joy

These words of affirmation for LGBTQ college students were written and posted this week by faculty and staff at a private university in Nebraska. Sometimes there is so much more love and support around than we realize. What words of affirmation can we each offer to queer kids this week?