Rob, Replace the Iowa Board of Regents!

Rob Sand, State Auditor, Iowa

Rob Sand should Reset the Regents

Repulican governance has tanked our once robust public schools, both primary and post educational instituions have suffered due to their partisan attacks. As State Auditor Rob Sand considers a 2026 gubernatorial run, he should adopt the Virginia model used by Governor Abigail Spanberger, who demanded university board resignations to prioritize stability over political theater.

Current strategy follows a two pronged assault. First, the voucher expansion siphons millions from public classrooms into private pockets with little transparency. The Auditor’s office faced months of delays receiving basic fiscal data for this program.

Second, the partisan capture of the Iowa Board of Regents has turned universities into ideological stages. These members chill speech and drive away scholars by attacking diversity and creating a restrictive Intellectual Freedom Center. This experiment treats colleges as political tools rather than centers of inquiry.

Rob Sand can unify the defense of our schools. Under Iowa Code Section 262.4, a governor may remove unfit Regents. Iowa needs a leader to request these resignations and appoint representatives who reflect our communities. We must:

Reset the Regents: Demand resignations of partisan members to restore civic representation.
Restore Integrity: Reassess structures like the Intellectual Freedom Center and strengthen tenure to retain talent.
Audit Costs: Use the Auditor’s office to expose the fiscal damage of vouchers and ensure funds support public goals.

This reset can undo a decade of damage and help Iowa’s children thrive.



To: Rob Sand, State Auditor, Iowa
From: [Your Name]

Dear Auditor Sand,

We are writing to you as supporters who share your vision for "policies over politics” in Iowa. We believe a critical step in getting Iowa back on track is a comprehensive "reset" of the Iowa Board of Regents. In recent years, we have seen boards in other states, like Virginia, undergo significant overhauls to align with a new governor’s vision. For Iowa, we propose that your administration prioritize:

- Balanced Appointments: Ensuring the Board reflects a diverse range of expertise rather than political loyalty.

- Increased Transparency: applying the same rigorous auditing standards to the Board’s decision making that you have championed as State Auditor.

- Focus on Student Success: Refocusing the Board on lowering costs and improving Iowa's higher education system rather than engaging in partisan disputes and culture wars.
I believe this reset is essential to restoring public trust in our universities and improving education pre-k through College.

Thank you for your time and for your dedication to our state.