Fliers Anger School Board Challengers Pro-Incumbent Handouts Sent Home With Kids

Candidates who lost this week’s Post Falls School Board race are fuming over a flier distributed to elementary students endorsing the incumbents.

Dee Lawless and Mary Rutkowski said Wednesday they plan to contact a lawyer to determine whether the parent-teacher organization flier, handed out to Ponderosa Elementary School students Monday, is legal.

“I’m still in shock,” said Rutkowski, who lost the zone 5 race to incumbent Ed Adamchak 221-140. “I can’t believe what they would dare to do … The children were just used as message boys and girls for the incumbents.”

Post Falls Superintendent Dick Harris said he is still investigating the leafleting and plans on creating a new policy on handouts for the future.

“There was no attempt by board members or school personnel to influence the election,” Harris said. “It was in the exuberance of the parent group that this happened. In hindsight, it probably would have been better not to have gone out that way … They could mail the information, but it gets a little on the shaded side when they use the students for that.”

The flier is headlined, “Ponderosa P.T.O. Notice/Kids First!”

In bold letters, the handout urges parents to vote for Adamchak and Donagene Turnbow. It does not mention their challengers’ names.

“Ed gives 110 percent to his family, school and community. Sincerely, Ponderosa P.T.O.,” the flier reads.

Ponderosa Principal Bob Sloyka, who gave permission to distribute the handout, acknowledged that it was printed using school materials. But, Sloyka said, the P.T.O. paid for much of those supplies.

“It was a good race,” Sloyka said. “There were two winners and two losers. Sometimes when you run a race and you don’t come in in the spot you’d like you’re disappointed. But let it go and move on.”

But Lawless said her anger is not about sour grapes.

“It’s not because I lost the election,” said Lawless, who lost the Zone 4 race to incumbent Donagene Turnbow 160-114. “That’s not what concerns me so much … It’s the fact that it’s a terrible example for the students.”

Board member Charles Eberle was the only trustee Tuesday to vote against certifying the election results. He suggested the board wait a day to determine the legality of the flier.

“I’m afraid of a lawsuit,” Eberle said of his vote Tuesday. “If there’s a potential lawsuit here, let’s just take another day to check the law. Let’s not ask for problems.”

Adamchak, whose children went to Ponderosa, said he knew nothing about the flier before it was distributed.

“I don’t think there was any real intent for unethical actions by the P.T.O.,” he said. “My God, it’s a volunteer parent organization who comes in to help our school.

“I don’t think there’s a problem with that. We need to move on.”