Lakers4Change is a true GRASSROOTS parent group born out of the chaos of 2020. We have supported multiple school board candidates since, whom we believe have the best interest of our students and community in mind. School board candidates that are interested in focusing on academics, fiscal responsibility and neutrality in the classroom so EVERY child has the opportunity to reach their greatest potential.
There has been a lot of commotion around the ads popping up in support of PLSAS school board candidate Jon Conlon. We would like to shed some light on this, with data.
Smith began his campaign by labeling himself grassroots, which wasn’t untrue at the time but here we are, a couple days from Election Day, and we are watching his “grassroots” campaign turn into a puppet show. In typical fashion, his campaign team can be seen commenting all across social media, with the same talking points, trying to tie Jon Conlon to “big outside donors.” The reality is, this is a lie.
What they are referring to is the media campaign being run by Excellence Minnesota, a registered 527 Political Action Committee (PAC). What they love to leave out is that candidates have no control over who, or how, outside groups support them. PACs are required by law not to coordinate with a candidate or a candidate’s committee. The same should be said about Smith’s endorsement by the teachers union and The School Board Integrity Project (SBIP).
Another detail that Smith’s campaign crew likes to omit is that SBIP also has “big outside donors” like $5,000 from Blue Vision PAC in 2024, $10,000 from Education Minnesota in 2024, $10,000 from MN DFL State Central Committee (oddly they have received donations FROM Education MN but also donate TO Education MN in LARGE sums), $10,000 from The Majority Rules in 2024, and $10,000 in 2025 and $30,000 in 2024 from Midwest Values PAC. If you take the time to research each individual PAC donating to SBIP, you would find that a vast majority of the money originates from outside on MN.
Another interesting detail to note is that SBIP’s treasurer is also the registered treasurer for one of its donors, Blue Vision PAC.
So while Smith and his crew are going on and on about integrity, outside influence in elections and “big money donors,” remember what real grassroots looks like. And remember that we are still recovering from a former leader that promoted “Activism in the Classroom” so we sure don’t want another one! Smith just recently spoke at a “pop-up protest” at the Coon Rapids Civic Center coordinated by SBIP and he sure seemed excited to be there. He even spoke of his support for “a just and equitable society…That’s what we want, right?”
No, Mr. Smith, we want our kids to be in a neutral and safe environment that is focused on academics, not social justice and activism. When Kyrstin Schuette, director of SBIP was interviewed by WCCO’s Blois Olson Sunday, and when he brought up the topic of parents thinking that there are some “teachers who bring strong political opinions into the classroom that maybe are counter to what parents think time should be spent on,” she was quoted in her response saying that “being neutral is harmful.” Please take the time to listen to the entire interview (part 4).
If you are looking for a school board director that will bring true integrity and focus back into the classroom and is backed by a REAL GRASSROOTS effort
VOTE for JON CONLON
Thank you.