In election post, SPS board member questions display of Iran flag, blames board makeup
A day before the April 8 election, Springfield school board member Maryam Mohammadkhani questioned why a specific flag — the one representing Iran — was among the many flags displayed at a local school.
"The flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran hangs in the cafeteria of Rountree Elementary," she wrote April 7 on the Facebook page for her campaign committee, Parents for Mohammadkhani. "Under the guise of inclusivity, well meaning staff accepted this gift from a (Missouri State University) professor."
Officials with the district and board said Mohammadkhani did not raise concerns about the flag with the school, district officials or the board prior to the post on the eve of the election.
Mohammadkhani pinned the responsibility for the displayed flag in the school on the elected governing body that she has been part of since 2021.
In the post, she wrote: "Question: Who is responsible? Answer: The Board of Education."
She added: "Your vote has consequences."
Rountree is one of three Springfield elementary schools that offer the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme. It features an interdisciplinary academic approach that aims to teach students effective communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and belonging, locally and globally.
"There are IB schools in almost 160 countries," Mohammadkani wrote. "Why display this flag?"
The News-Leader asked that question of the Springfield district.
"It is a long-standing tradition for some International Baccalaureate schools to represent students from a variety of backgrounds by displaying flags from the various countries where they were born. The flags signify that a student from that particular country either currently attends, or has attended, that school," wrote Stephen Hall, chief communications officer, in the district response.
"In alignment with IB traditions, this is a visual way to represent varied cultures and is not an endorsement of any government or ideology. Neither the school nor our district has heard from Dr. Mohammadkhani regarding any concern related to this matter."
Mohammadkhani, a retired pathologist, was born in Iran and has lived in Springfield for more than 20 years.
Her post about the flag displayed at Rountree generated more than 90 comments and shares on her campaign page on Facebook. Some of the commenters called for the flag to be removed or argued only the American flag should be displayed. Others questioned the timing and appropriateness of the post.
"As a teacher at Rountree who teaches multiple students who speak languages from the areas in and around Iran, when I see the flags, I see the people, their culture, their humanity," wrote Rountree teacher Michelle Garrison, in a comment on the post.
"We can celebrate a variety of cultures without being swallowed up by politics affronted by the false efforts at 'diversity' and the like. And we can still encourage a sense of American pride while teaching about a variety of cultures. You don't have to agree with the politics or religion in order to care for the people, especially the students, whose heritage for which the flag might be the closest representation."
In the comment, Garrison wrote that of all the issues teachers and students face, flags take up "very little" attention. "We hope the school board focuses on what is most important, caring for kids, and the real problems teachers face in the trenches every day."
Mohammadkhani, elected to a second term in 2024, has been vocal in the school board election, publicly supporting incumbent Kelly Byrne and first-time candidate David Myers.
Byrne and Myers are among the four candidates, including first-time candidates Sarah Hough and Gail Smart, vying for two open seats. The two with the most votes will be sworn in April 15.
Other board members have also been vocal in support of candidates and Susan Provance, elected in 2024, was in a TV campaign ad for Hough.
Asked about the post, board president Danielle Kincaid said there is an "appropriate process for sharing concerns with fellow board members, the superintendent and the district we're elected to represent."
"That process provides board members with an opportunity to seek clarity on issues and resolve potential misunderstandings. In this circumstance, Dr. Mohammadkhani chose not to follow that process. She did not engage with the board, administration, or other district representative before posting her comments directly to a campaign page on the eve of an election," Kincaid wrote.
Mohammadkhani was also featured in a TV campaign ad paid for by Back on Track America, a conservative political action committee, that supported Byrne and Myers.
Kincaid said Mohammadkhani's post about the flag does "not speak for the Board of Education."
"In recent years, SPS staff have expressed concern about perceived surveillance from board members during campus visits. Dr. Mohammadkhani's posting of photos on social media without appropriate context fuels ongoing concerns and diminishes trust with Team SPS," Kincaid wrote, in a statement. "It is disappointing that the board and entire SPS team learned of Dr. Mohammadkhani's concerns through unconventional channels."
The News-Leader left a message seeking comment from Mohammadkhani about the timing of the post, if she had previously raised concerns about the flag with the district or board, and what outcome she is seeking.
This story will be updated if she responds.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS board member questions display of Iran flag, blames board makeup
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