Florida School News
06/17/24 | NextSteps staff
Around the state: Election match-ups for superintendent and school board races were set Friday when qualifying ended, arguments were made Friday before a three-judge panel of an appeals court on the state’s request to strike a circuit judge’s preliminary injunction against a law that limits what public university professors can say to students in classrooms, demolition began Friday on the Broward school building where 17 students and staff were shot to death in 2018, the former Duval teacher who lost her job over a fight about flags and masks says she’d like to teach again, Sarasota’s superintendent receives a “distinguished” rating from the school board, and Hernando’s school board chooses an interim superintendent. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: District 1 school board member Steve Gallon and District 5’s Danny Espino will remain on the school board after drawing no challengers. District 9 will be settled Aug. 20 with Kimberly Beltran challenging incumbent Luisa Santos. Two other districts could be settled Aug. 20 or go to a runoff Nov. 5 if no one gets a majority of the votes. District 7 seat-holder Maria Blanco faces Javier Perez and Maxine Tuchman, and in District 3, Joe Geller, Martin Karp, Brent Latham, Gustavo Ortega and Hayley Ross are competing for the seat given up by Lucia Baez-Geller to run for Congress. Florida Politics. A former teacher at the Mater Academy East Charter School in Miami has been arrested and accused of having a sexual relationship with a student several years ago. Police said Michael A. Tamayo, 39, taught high school social studies at the school between 2012 and 2017. WTVJ. WSVN.
Broward: Five school board races are on the Aug. 20 ballot. In District 1, board member Daniel Foganholi faces Maura Bulman and John Kanter. District 2’s Torey Alston is running against Rebecca Thompson, District 3’s Sarah Leonardi against Jason Loring, District 5’s Jeff Holness against Windsor Ferguson Jr., and District 9’s Debra Hixon against Thomas Vasquez. Broward County Supervisor of Elections. On Feb. 14, 2018, 17 students and school employees were gunned down in the 1200 Building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. On June 14, 2024, workers began to mechanically demolish the building. Sun Sentinel. Miami Herald. WLPG. WSVN. WFOR. WTVJ. WLRN. Axios. A former janitor at the New Life Charter Academy in Fort Lauderdale was arrested and accused of sexually abusing a girl at the school. Police said Bryam Salas is charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim younger than 12, and lewd and lascivious conduct. WPLG.
Hillsborough: Four school board races are on the Aug. 20 ballot. In District 1, incumbent Nadia Combs faces Layla Collins and Julie Magill. District 3 incumbent Jessica Vaughn is being challenged by Myosha Powell. Henry Washington has three opponents between him and re-election to his District 5 seat: Kenneth Gay, Elvis Piggott and Tamara Shamburger. And in District 7, Lynn Gray is seeking a third term. Her opponents are Karen Bendorf, Jen Flebotte and Johnny Bush. Tampa Bay Times.
Orange: District 5 school board member Vicki-Elaine Felder and District 7’s Melissa Byrd won re-election when neither drew an opponent. In District 4, Anne Douglas, Kyle Goudy and Jake Petroski are competing for the seat currently held by Pam Gould, while Jeni Grieger and Stephanie Vanos face off in District 6 to replace Karen Castor Dentel, who is running for supervisor of elections. Orange County Supervisor of Elections.
Palm Beach: Nine candidates have qualified for three school board seats. Virginia Savietto claimed the District 2 slot when no one else qualified, replacing Alexandria Ayala, and Matthew Lane, Page Lewis and Francesca Wernisch are running in District 1 to succeed Barbara McQuinn. In District 5, Gloria Branch, Mindy Koch, Mike Letsky, Suzanne Page and Charman Postel are competing to win the seat of the retiring Frank Barbieri. Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.
Duval: Four school board races are on the primary ballot Aug. 20. In District 1, Nadine Ebri and Tony Ricardo complete to replace the departing Kelly co*ker. District 3 incumbent Cindy Pearson faces Rebecca Nathanson. In District 5, Reginald Blount, Nahshon Nicks and Hank Rogers are competing to succeed Warren Jones. And in District 7, Melody Bolduc meets Sarah Mannion to see who replaces the retiring Lori Hershey. Duval County Supervisor of Elections.The Florida Education Practices Commission’s decision last week to clear former high school teacher Amy Donofrio to return to teaching “reinforces an important truth: that affirming black students is our responsibility as educators, not something that should cost us our license,” she said. Donofrio said she’d like to teach again, and in Jacksonville, “but just because I won on the facts doesn’t change the reputation damage and also, you know, the fear people have of state retaliation for being affiliated with me.” Florida Politics. Florida Times-Union. A former vocal teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student. Jeffrey Clayton, 66, pleaded guilty in April. Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville Today.
Polk: All three school board races will be settled in the Aug. 20 primary. In District 1, incumbent William Allen faces Bernnie Brandt. Travis Keyes and Marcus Wright Jr. square off for the District 2 seat, and in District 4, incumbent Sara Beth Wyatt is being challenged by Rebekah Ricks. Lakeland Now. Lakeland Ledger. A payroll “glitch” left a third of the school district’s employees without paychecks in their bank accounts Friday morning, when they were supposed to have been delivered. District officials said all the deposits were all made that afternoon. Lakeland Ledger.
Lee: For the first time in 50 years, voters will elect a school superintendent when Democrat Victor Arias meets Republican Denise Carlin on Nov. 5. Three school board seats will also be filled. Melisa Giovannelli is running for another term in District 2 against Carol Frantz, while Bill Ribble and Kaitlyn Schoeffel compete for the District 3 seat. In District 7, three candidates aim to replace the retiring Cathleen Morgan. They are Vanessa Chaviano, Sheridan Chester and Joshua Molandes. Lee County Supervisor of Elections.
Pinellas: Two school board races will be decided Aug. 30, while a third could go to a runoff Nov. 5. In District 1, incumbent Laura Hine faces Danielle Marolf. In District 4, incumbent Eileen Long is being challenged by Erika Picard. Three candidates are competing in District 5 to replace the retiring Carol Cook: Katie Blaxberg, Brad DeCorte and Stacy Geier. If no one gets a majority of the votes Aug. 20, a runoff will be held Nov. 5 between the two top vote-getters. Tampa Bay Times.
Pasco: Three people have qualified for the race to replace incumbent Superintendent Kurt Browning, who is retiring. In the Aug. 20 Republican primary, charter school owner John Legg faces Michele Mandarin. The winner meets Chris Dunning, who is running without party affiliation, on Nov. 5. Also on the August ballot is the District 4 school board race with incumbent Alison Crumbley running against Jennifer Wright. District 2 incumbent Colleen Beaudoin keeps her seat after she drew no challengers by the end of qualifying Friday. Tampa Bay Times.
Osceola: Two school board races are on the Aug. 20 primary ballot. In District 2, incumbentJulius Melendez has two opponents, Bethzaida Garcia and Diana Graniela. In District 5, Brian Bennett, Paula Bronson, Scott Ramsey and Dylan J. Reinsel are competing to fill the vacant District 5 seat. Orlando Sentinel.
Brevard: A newcomer will be elected to the District 3 school board seat Aug. 20 after Jennifer Jenkins decided not to run for another term. The candidates are John Thomas and Amber Yantz. In District 4, incumbent Matt Susin has drawn three challengers: Max Madl, Keith Schachter and Avanese Taylor. If no one gets a majority of the votes, the top two finishers advance to the runoff Nov. 5. Brevard County Supervisor of Elections.
Seminole: District 3 school board incumbent Abby Sanchez has two opponents for the Aug. 20 primary, Stephanie Arguello and Kelly Critz, while the District 4 race pits Robin Dehlinger against Carl Tipton. Orlando Sentinel. Seminole County Supervisor of Elections.
Volusia: Three candidates are running for each of the two school board seats on the Aug. 20 ballot. In District 2, Cassandra Gonyer, Krista Goodrich and Angela Kopnicky want to replace Anita Burnette, who chose not to run. District 4 board member Carl Persis faces Donna Brosemer and Sarah Marzilli. Volusia County Supervisor of Elections.
Manatee: Two school board races are on the ballot and could be decided Aug. 20 or go to a runoff Nov. 5 if no one gets a majority of the votes in the primary. In the District 1 race are Heather Felton, Alexander Garner and Mark Stanoch. District 3 candidates are Charles Kennedy, Jonathan Lynch and Perri Ann Parkman. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
St. Johns: District 2 school board incumbent Anthony Coleman is being challenged by Francis Cummings in the Aug. 20 primary. In District 5, four candidates are competing to replace Patrick Canan, who has withdrawn from the race. They are Liliana Bristow, Bethany Hilbert, Lynn Straughan and Linda Thomson. St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections.
Lake: Tyler Brandeburg has been re-elected as District 2 school board member when no one filed to run against him. In District 4, incumbent Mollie Cunningham takes on Gavin Rollins in the Aug. 20 primary. Lake County Supervisor of Elections.
Collier: Both the District 2 and District 4 school board races will be decided Aug. 20. District 2 incumbent Stephanie Lucarelli is being challenged by Pam Cunningham, and District 4 board member Erick Carter takes on Tom Henning. Collier County Supervisor of Elections.
St. Lucie: One school board election was decided Friday and the other will be on Aug. 20. Political newcomer Terissa Aronson was the only candidate to qualify for the District 2 seat, while District 4 incumbent Jennifer Anne Richardson faces Nate Spera. TCPalm.
Marion: District 2 school board member Lori Conrad was re-elected without opposition when qualifying ended Friday, while District 1 incumbent Allison Campbell is being challenged by former board member Beth McCall in the Aug. 20 primary. Ocala Star-Banner.
Sarasota: Two school board members are being challenged in the Aug. 20 primary. In District 2, incumbent Karen Rose faces Liz Barker, and District 3 board member Tom Edwards is running against Andrew Babicz and Gregory Wood. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Charlotte Sun. Superintendent Terry Connor has gotten an effusive evaluation from the school board. All five members give Connor a 4 or higher on a 5-point scale, and his 22 cumulative points out of 25 earned him a “distinguished” rating. The evaluation will be discussed at Tuesday’s board meeting. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Clay: School Superintendent David Broskie and District 3 school board member Beth Clark went unopposed in their bids for re-election. District 2 has drawn four candidates trying to succeed Mary Bolla. They are Robert Alvero, Sharon Flowers, James Hughes and Elijah Mitchell. If no one gets a majority of the vote in the primary, the top two finishers move on to the Nov. 5 runoff. Clay County Supervisor of Elections.
Escambia: Seven candidates are running for two open school board seats. In District 4, Carissa Bergosh, Rich Holzknecht, Earle McAuley and Brian Ranelli are the candidates to succeed Patty Hightower. Bill Slayton isn’t running for his District 5 seat, leaving Thomas Harrell, Joshua Luther and Jim Taylor as the candidates. Pensacola News Journal. Superintendent Keith Leonard is asking each of the five school board members to nominate five people for the district materials review committee to help make decisions on more than 200 challenged school library books. Pensacola News Journal. WEAR.
Okaloosa: Superintendent Marcus Chambers and District 4 school board member Timothy Bryant have won re-election unopposed, while either Dewey Destin or David Schmidt will replace District 2 board member Marti Gardner, who isn’t running. Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections.
Leon: School Superintendent Rocky Hanna faces two challenges this fall: in the Aug. 20 primary from fellow Democrat Genleah Star Swain, and Nov. 5 against Joseph Lamar Burgess, who has no party affiliation. Both school board races have an incumbent and will be decided in the primary. District 2’s Rosanne Wood has drawn Daniel Zeruto as an opponent, and District 4’s Laurie Lawson Cox faces Jeremy Rogers.Tallahassee Democrat. Tallhassee Classical School is struggling with declining enrollment, budget problems and a change in leadership as it transitions to affiliate with the national charter school company Great Hearts Academies in 2025. Tallahassee Democrat.
Santa Rosa: Three Republicans are in the race for the superintendent’s job Aug. 20: incumbent Karen Barber, David Godwin and Brenda Stephens. In school board District 2, board member Elizabeth Hewey is running against Mariye Calkins and Oscar Locklin, and District 4 incumbent Charles Elliott is being challenged by Angie Straughn. Pensacola News Journal.
Alachua: Two school board incumbents face opponents in the Aug. 20 primary. District 1 member Diyonne McGraw faces Thomas Vu, and District 4 holdover Leanetta McNealy is being challenged by Lew Welge. Mainstreet Daily News. A plan of action to make changes at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School was presented to University of Florida trustees last week. UF preK-12 vice president Penny Schwinn’s plan would begin this summer with an evaluation of Yonge’s school programming and provide recommendations. From the fall to next summer, trustees and a UF advisory team will collaborate on “potential budget and program shifts.” Independent Florida Alligator. Gainesville Sun.
Bay: Superintendent Mark McQueen and District 4 school board member Winston Chester were automatically re-elected when no one qualified to challenge them by Friday’s filing deadline. District 1 board member Jerry Register will face off Aug. 20 against Whitney Nieves. Bay County Supervisor of Elections.
Hernando: Kayce Hawkins has won the District 2 school board seat without opposition, replacing the departing Linda Prescott. District 4 also became an open seat when Guy Guadagnino chose to step aside. Candidates for that race are Michelle Bonczek, Mark Cioffi and Gregg Laskoski. Hernando County Supervisor of Elections. In a 3-2 vote, the school board recently named assistant superintendent Ray Pinder as interim superintendent, replacing John Stratton. A proposed contract will be considered by the board at the June 25 meeting. Suncoast News.
Martin: Michael Moriarty will replace Michael DiTerlizzi as the school board member for District 5 after DiTerlizzi decided to retire and no one else qualified to run. In District 2, incumbent Marsha Powers faces Sydney Thomas in the Aug. 20 primary. TCPalm.
Indian River: District 3 school board member Peggy Jones has drawn competition fromRobert MacCallum in the Aug. 20 primary, while District 5 incumbent Kevin McDonald faces David Dyer. TCPalm.
Charlotte: District 5 school board member Wendy Atkinson won re-election by default when she went unchallenged, while two other seats will be decided Aug. 20. In District 2, incumbent Kim Amontree faces Leonardo Pires Trent, and District 3 board member Bob Segur is running against Karina Schmitt. Charlotte Sun.
Citrus: Two Republicans, Scott Hebert and Jason Koon, have qualified for the Aug. 20 primary election to replace the retiring Sandra Himmel as superintendent of schools. District 4 school board member Sandy Counts was unopposed and will retain her seat, while running to replace the retiring Ginger Bryant are Ken Frink, Laura Gatling-Wright, Dale Marie Merrill and Victoria Smith. Citrus County Chronicle.
Flagler: Two new school board members will be elected in the Aug. 20 primary. In District 3, Colleen Conklin is leaving the board and will be replaced by either Derek Barrs or Janie Ruddy. And Cheryl Massaro is stepping down from her District 5 seat, leaving Lauren Ramirez and Vincent Sullivan as the candidates. Flagler Live.
Hendry: Superintendent Michael Swindle, District 1 school board member Dwayne Brown and District 2’s Paul Samerdyke all will return to their offices automatically after no one filed to run against them by Friday’s deadline. Hendry County Supervisor of Elections.
Nassau: All three school elections will be settled at the Aug. 20 primary. Superintendent Kathy Burns is running against Curtis Gaus, while incumbent District 2 board member Gail Cook is being challenged by Yvon Joinville and District 4 holdover Cynthia Grooms by Kristi Simpkins. Nassau County Supervisor of Elections.
Highlands: Superintendent Brenda Longshore has drawn two opponents in the Aug. 20 primary: Christopher Doty and Donald Ridgeway. In the school board District 2 race, incumbent Donna Howerton faces Lauren Bush, and in District 3, Javita McKinney and Mason Whidden are competing to replace the departed Jan Shoop. Highlands County Supervisor of Elections.
Walton: Superintendent A. Russell Hughes and districts 1 and 4 school board members, Tammy Smith and Jeri Michie, respectively, have been re-elected after they drew no opposition. Walton County Supervisor of Elections.
Putnam: Races for two school board seats will be settled in the Aug. 20 primary. District 2 incumbent David Buckles faces Leon Edenfield while District 3’s Sandra Gilyard takes on Tim Houghtaling. Superintendent Rick Surrency is being challenged by Paul Adamczyk in the Republican primary Aug. 20, with the winner facing write-in Pat Wilson in the Nov. 5 general election. Putnam County Supervisor of Elections.
Columbia: No school elections will be held as all the candidates went unopposed. Keith Couey will replace Alex Carswell as superintendent, while District 2 school board member Dana Brady-Giddens and District 4’s Keith Hudson automatically win another four-year term. Columbia County Supervisor of Elections.
Sumter: District 2 school board member Brent Sherman drew no challengers and automatically wins re-election. Superintendent Richard Shirley faces Logan Brown in the Republican primary Aug. 20, while District 4 school board incumbent Russell Hogan is running against Mary Prows. Sumter County Supervisor of Elections.
Monroe: District 3 school board member Mindy Conn went unopposed and wins re-election, while Zach Bentley and Yvette Mira-Talbott square off in District 2 to replace the retiring Andy Griffiths. Monroe County Supervisor of Elections.
Okeechobee: School board members Malissa Morgan (District 2) and Amanda Riedel (District 4) drew no challengers and were re-elected to another four-year term. Okeechobee County Supervisor of Elections.
Jackson: Superintendent Steve Benton has two challengers in the Aug. 20 Republican primary, Hunter Nolen and Laurence Pender, and the winner of that race meets Democrat Eddie Ellis on Nov. 5. District 2 school board member Tony Pumphrey and District 3 candidate Rex Torbett won their races unopposed. Jackson County Supervisor of Elections.
Suwannee: District 2 school board member Norman Crawford has been re-elected after going unchallenged. Republican Ronnie Gray and write-in candidate Janene Fitzpatrick will meet Nov. 5 in the superintendent’s race, and Douglas Aukerman, Lesley Fry and Adam Hitt are in the Aug. 20 primary for the District 1 school board seat. Suwannee County Supervisor of Elections.
Levy: Superintendent Christopher Cowart is being challenged by District 4 school board member Tammy Boyle in the Aug. 20 Republican primary. Linda Campbell and Kelly Gore are competing to replace Boyle on the board, while Lisa Baxter was unopposed in District 2 and will succeed Paige Brookins. Levy County Supervisor of Elections.
Wakulla: Three candidates are in the superintendent’s race Aug. 20 to replace Robert Pearce: Rick Myhre, Matt Payne and Ricky Strickland. District 4 school board member Joshua Brown faces Camden Smit, while Angie Nichols and June Davis compete in District 2 to succeed Melisa Taylor. Wakulla County Supervisor of Elections.
Baker: School board members Tiffany McInarney (District 1) and Amanda Hodges (District 5) drew no opposition and earn four more years in office. Wyatt Milton and Allen Murphy are running in the Republican primary for superintendent Aug. 20 to replace the departing Sherrie Raulerson. Baker County Supervisor of Elections.
Hardee: District 3 school board member Claire Cornell returns to her seat after being unopposed. In the Aug. 20 primary, District 2’s Mildred Smith faces Andrew Smith, and Superintendent Robert Shayman is being challenged by Sonja Bennett. Hardee County Supervisor of Elections.
Gadsden: Superintendent Elijah Key has drawn two opponents in the Aug. 20 Democratic primary, Karema Dudley and Tracey Stallworth. A runoff will be held Nov. 5 if no one gets a majority of the votes. It’s the same situation for District 5 school board candidates Stacey Hannigon, Jamaal Holt and Eva Love, who are running to replace Dudley. District 1 board member Cathy Johnson faces Doug Stephens. Gadsden County Supervisor of Elections.
DeSoto: Both District 2 school board member Sharon Goodman and District 3’s Karen Chancey have been automatically re-elected when neither was challenged. Republican Superintendent Bobby Bennett faces Democrat Jermaine Andrews in the Nov. 5 general election. DeSoto County Supervisor of Elections.
Washington: Superintendent Joseph Taylor faces two opponents in the Aug. 20 Republican primary, Samuel Cox and Thomas Register. If no one gets a majority of the votes, the two top advance to the Nov. 5 runoff. District 3 school board member Milton Brown wins by being unopposed, and District 2’s Lou Cleveland is being challenged by Jason Smith. Washington County Supervisor of Elections.
Holmes: District 2 school board member Wilburn Baker returns to his seat after going unopposed, while two other races will be decided Aug. 20. Superintendent Buddy Brown faces Ron Dixon, and District 4 board incumbent Shirley Owens is running against Derek Worley. Holmes County Supervisor of Elections.
Bradford: Superintendent Will Hartley has drawn an opponent in the Republican primary Aug. 20, Tracey Kendrick, and the winner will meet Alan Bhajan in the Nov. 5 general election. Julie Johnson has won the District 3 school board race unopposed, while District 4 incumbent Candace Osteen faces Dana Bell and Mitchell Gunter on Aug. 20. Bradford County Supervisor of Elections.
Gilchrist: All three school races are being contested. Superintendent James Surrency has two primary opponents, Ronda Adkins and Gina Geiger. If no one gets a majority of the votes Aug. 20, the two top advance to the Nov. 5 runoff. It’s the same scenario for the District 4 school board race, where Dena Griffith, Patricia Philman and Tammy Moore are competing to replace Geiger. District 2 school board member Susan Owens is being challenged by J.D. Perryman. Gilchrist County Supervisor of Elections.
Taylor: District 5 school board member Deidra Dunnell drew no opponents and was automatically re-elected. Her District 3 colleague Jeanne Mathis is opposed by Laurel LaValle, and Danny Glover Jr. is challenging Superintendent Alicia Beshears. Both those elections will be settled Aug. 20. Taylor County Supervisor of Elections.
Union: All three school elections were settled Friday when the incumbents drew no opponents. Superintendent Mike Ripplinger, District 2 school board member Russell Gordon and District 4’s Becky Raulerson will each serve four more years. Union County Supervisor of Elections.
Madison: District 4 school board incumbent Frankie Carroll won re-election unopposed, while District 2 board member Carol Gibson faces Jamie Andrews in the Aug. 20 primary. In the superintendent’s race, Republicans Bart Alford, Jonathan Mazzella and Karen Pickles compete in the Aug. 20 primary, with the winner facing Democratic incumbent Shirley Joseph in the Nov. 5 general election. Madison County Supervisor of Elections.
Dixie: All three school elections were settled when the incumbents drew no opponents. Retaining their seats are Superintendent Mike Thomas, District 1 school board member Cheryl Pridgeon and District 4’s Timothy Alexander. Dixie County Supervisor of Election.
Calhoun: District 1 and District 4 school board incumbents Danny Ryals and Kenneth Speights, respectively, won re-election when no one challenged them. Superintendent Darryl Taylor Jr. faces Corey Silcox in the Republican primary Aug. 20. Calhoun County Supervisor of Elections.
Gulf: School Superintendent Jim Norton and District 3 school board candidate Matt Terry won their elections unopposed, but District 4 board incumbent Marvin Davis has three challengers: Equillar Gainer, Charles Gathers and Heather Jones. If no one gets a majority of the votes Aug. 20, the top two move on to the Nov. 5 general election. Gulf County Supervisor of Elections.
Glades: District 3 school board incumbent Jean Prowant won re-election without opposition Friday when no one else qualified, while District 2 candidates Kevin Bryant, Larry Luckey II and Kari West are competing to replace the departing board member Jenny Allen. Superintendent Beth Barfield faces FeLinda Langdale in the Aug. 20 primary. Glades County Supervisor of Elections.
Hamilton: District 2 school board member Gary Godwin and District 3’s Saul Speights have been re-elected without opposition. Superintendent Dorothy Lynn Wetherington-Zamora drew an Aug. 20 primary opponent, Doug Clayton, with the winner facing Paula Williams in the Nov. 5 general election. Hamilton County Supervisor of Elections.
Liberty: Superintendent Kyle Peddie and District 2 school board member Jodi Bailey keep their positions because neither drew any opposition by the filing deadline. In District 1, Sydney Beckwith, Mason Kever and Stephen Shuler are the candidates to succeed the departing James Flowers. Liberty County Supervisor of Elections.
Franklin: Three school board members will remain in office after no candidates came forward to run against them by Friday: Melonie Inzetta in District 1, Fonda Davis Sr. in District 3 and District 5’s Jared Mock. Superintendent Steve Lanier is being challenged by Jill Rudd on Nov. 5. Franklin County Supervisor of Elections.
Lafayette: Superintendent Robby Edwards will remain in office after no one filed to oppose him by Friday’s qualifying deadline. In the school board races, District 2 office-holder Jeff Walker takes on Katrina Fillyaw, while District 4’s Amanda Hickman is being challenged by Kimberly Adams. Lafayette County Supervisor of Elections.
Jefferson: School Superintendent Eydie Tricquet has a challenger in the Republican primary Aug. 20, Al Cooksey, and the winner will face either Jackie Pons or LaClarence Mays from the Democratic primary in the Nov. 5 election. There are also two school board elections this year. In District 1, incumbent Gladys Roann-Watson meets Joy Beth Frisby, and District 4 board member Bill Brumfield faces Kendra Burrus.Jefferson County Supervisor of Elections.
Colleges and universities: The $237 million donation to Florida A&M University announced in May promised to bring much-needed financial stability to the historically black university in Tallahassee. Then the “gift” unraveled and became a public embarrassment. Associated Press.
Education in the courts: Arguments were made before a three-judge panel of an appeals court Friday on the state’s request to strike a circuit judge’s preliminary injunction against a law that limits what public university professors can say to students in classrooms. Charles Cooper, an attorney for the state, argued for the “Stop WOKE Act” by asserting that, “In the classroom, the professor’s speech is the government’s speech. And the government can restrict professors on a content-wide basis and they can restrict them from offering viewpoints.” Eight college professors, two students and a student organization filed the lawsuit in 2022, alleging the law is unconstitutional and a violation of free speech rights. Politico Florida. USA Today Florida Network. Florida Phoenix. News Service of Florida.
Opinions on schools: Despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’ declarations, Florida schools still indoctrinate children, as long as it’s the right kind of indoctrination. Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel. On a day-to-day basis, students in our public schools need access to qualified professional counselors and therapists. We wouldn’t think of placing their physical health in the hands of untrained volunteers, no matter how well-intentioned they might be. Why would we want to do any differently with their mental and emotional health? David Kay, Orlando Sentinel. I think the vast majority of Floridians are sick of embarrassing, anti-intellectual, anti-education headlines from the state such as “Tolstoy, Sendak picture book among hundreds banned from Florida schools.” If you’re among them, vote accordingly this fall. Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel.
