'Back on Track' PAC endorses two candidates in SPS school board race, issues voter guide

Back on Track America, a conservative political action committee based in Springfield, is supporting school board candidates Landon McCarter and Chad Rollins in the April 4 election.

The PAC, active in last year's board election, posted the endorsement on Facebook and its website, alongside its guiding platform.

The group posted a voter guide, the result of a joint survey with Christians Uniting for Political Action, showing how McCarter, an entrepreneur and business owner, and Rollins, a pharmacist, aligned with the beliefs of the PAC.

The guide focused its questions on transgender students, parental authority, and the impact of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts — as well as Critical Race Theory — on student discipline and academic achievement.

Here are the questions included in the voter guide and how McCarter and Rollins responded:

• "Starting in elementary school, do you believe we should be teaching that boys can become girls and girls can become boys?" They answered no.

• "Do you support biological boys competing in girls sports and sharing locker rooms?" They answered no.

• "Do you believe parents have the ultimate authority over their children's education?" They answered yes.

• "Do you believe SPS should prioritize equal outcomes — diversity, equity and inclusion — over academic excellence and merit?" They said no.

• "Restorative Justice, or Restorative Practices, means no real disciplinary consequences and is part of Critical Race Theory. Do you believe this form of discipline keeps our teachers and students safe?" They said no.

The voter guide stated it received "no response" to the five-question survey from the other two board candidates, Judy Brunner and Shurita Thomas-Tate, who is the sole incumbent. Brunner and Thomas-Tate have both been endorsed by the Springfield chapter of the National Education Association, the district's largest teacher union.

More:Springfield's largest teacher union endorses two candidates in April school board race

On April 4, voters will elect two board members to serve a three-year term on the governing body that sets policy, approves a budget, and hires and evaluates the superintendent. Board president Denise Fredrick opted not to run again.

According to the guide, each candidate was provided the survey and given ample time to respond. CUPA and the PAC stated the goal of the guide is to show where candidates stand on important issues and urged pastors to share the guide with congregations.

'This radical teaching comes at the expense of learning'

The survey for the voter guide was conducted by Calvin Morrow, executive director of Christians Uniting for Political Action as well as the PAC.

In 2015, Morrow rose to prominence locally and across Missouri as the spokesman for the successful campaign to remove sexual orientation and gender identity from Springfield's nondiscrimination ordinance, known as SOGI. It provided legal recourse for gay or trans Springfieldians who believed they were discriminated against on the basis of their identity.

Seeking more details about the survey, the News-Leader left a message for Morrow but it was not returned.

In a video on the CUPA and PAC websites, Morrow focused on what he believes is at stake in the upcoming board election.

"Critical Race Theory and sexual orientation is being taught in public schools throughout the country. Critical Race Theory teaches children to view all of reality through the lens of race and sexual orientation," Morrow said in the video. "You may have been told that Critical Race Theory is not being taught in the Springfield schools but that is simply not true."

The framework for CRT was developed decades ago by legal scholars. At its core, it argues that race is a social construct and that racism has been embedded in policies and legal systems in the U.S.

CRT was spotlighted during the 2020 U.S. Presidential campaign.

More:'Back on Track' group forms PAC, initially backs two Springfield school board candidates

As president, Donald Trump banned diversity training in federal agencies that used CRT or "white privilege," labeling it racist. Once elected, Joe Biden reversed the ban to allow training that examines systemic racism, white privilege, and unconscious bias.

The district has repeatedly denied using CRT in mandatory teacher training or classrooms lessons. It is the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by two employees against the district.

In the video, Morrow said CRT is being "cloaked" under different terms and programs including social-emotional learning; equity diversity and inclusion; culturally responsive education; and restorative justice or practices.

"This radical teaching comes at the expense of learning reading, writing and arithmetic," said Morrow, alleging a link between the district's test scores and CRT.

Restorative Justice, part of the larger framework of Restorative Practices, is a rehabilitation approach primarily used in prisons and by the criminal justice and social work systems that aims to help lawbreakers take accountability and understand the impact of their actions so they are less likely to re-offend. It occurs in different ways including face-to-face dialogue between victims and offenders.

In schools, the approach typically focuses on mediation rather than punishment. The goals include correcting bad behavior, limiting classroom disruptions and reducing the number of student suspensions and expulsions.

In the video, Morrow said CRT and the idea that a person can "choose your sex" is not consistent with the beliefs of Christianity.

"Children are effectively being sexually groomed using your tax dollars," he said. "This assault on children provides a great opportunity to engage in spiritual warfare."

He called for Christians to pray and take action. He also asked pastors to hold voter registration drives leading up to the election. "This is a great opportunity to rally God's people for a just cause."

Back on Track supported board candidates in past

The Back on Track America group, which does not list leaders on its website, set "take back the schools" as a goal along with "restore the state's Constitutional" purpose for education.

Other goals include limited government, protecting religious freedoms and restoring "Biblical values."

The PAC, formed in October 2021, supported candidates Kelly Byrne and Steve Makoski, who were elected in 2022.

In 2021, the Back on Track group backed Maryam Mohammadkhani and Scott Crise, who were sworn in that year, as well as Byrne, who was not elected in his first attempt.

Several candidates, including Crise, said they did not actively seek the support.

A mid-January report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission showed the Back on Track America PAC raised more than $25,000 during the last election cycle and had nearly $5,400 on hand.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: 'Back on Track' PAC endorses two for SPS board, issues voter guide