Letter to the Editor:
Misplaced Priorities and Lack of Transparency at Easton Valley
Approximately 20 additional people attended the Easton Valley school board meeting on March 26, 2025, with about half speaking during the public forum, which was curiously moved to the meeting’s start, apparently anticipating extensive comments.
Oddly, the agenda lacked specifics regarding personnel matters, yet attendees were aware Principal Brandon Krusey was up for approval as High School Girls Basketball Coach, along with Principal Austin Daniels for Junior High Boys Baseball. Clearly, someone from the board or administration selectively leaked information to supporters, ensuring no opposing views could be voiced due to insufficient notice.
While I value school athletics, Iowa law does not mandate sports programs; instead, it explicitly requires school boards to prioritize education.
However, this meeting devoted substantial time to athletics, particularly coach hirings. Especially troubling was extensive praise for Principal Krusey’s “volunteer” coaching of Girls Basketball. At the October 16, 2024 board meeting, the board clearly rejected Krusey as either a paid or volunteer coach. Despite this decision, Krusey actively coached all season from the stands, attended practices, and openly instructed players. Rather than addressing this clear breach, the board officially hired him as coach, undermining its own authority and integrity.
Subsequent discussion emphasized severe difficulties retaining support staff. Following coaching approvals, board member Dana Olson admitted the district doesn’t pay support staff adequately but confessed, “I don’t know how to fix this thing.” This reveals deeper concerns board members identified a problem yet provided no concrete solutions to retain essential staff like paraeducators, secretaries, and nutrition workers.
Instead, the board unanimously approved two principals as paid coaches, despite both earning salaries exceeding $80,000 annually. Encouraging these administrators to volunteer instead would free funds to offer competitive wages for vital support roles. Sadly, neither administration nor board pursued this practical, fiscally responsible solution.
Further, the board approved the first reading of a troubling revision to Board Policy 213, restricting public comments strictly to current agenda items. Such restrictions severely limit transparency, stifle community engagement, and silence critical public voices. Superintendent Fee suggested alternate feedback channels, but these require approval by the board president and superintendent, presenting further opportunities to suppress dissent and control narratives.
What message does it send when our school board prioritizes athletics over transparency and accountability, especially when key administrators disregard prior board decisions without consequence? How can we trust a board that deliberately limits public comment and demonstrates selective transparency?
Our district urgently needs leaders prioritizing student education, respecting transparency, and responsibly managing taxpayer resources. Actions at this meeting clearly demonstrate misplaced priorities, inadequate oversight, and disregard for community engagement.
I maintain No Confidence in the current Easton Valley Board and Administration and reiterate my call for their immediate resignation. Our community deserves leaders genuinely committed to education, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.
Richard Betts
