Should Florida School Board Races Be Partisan? House to Put Question on Ballot, Voters Will Decide

By Tracy Caruso On Apr 3, 2023 0 Copy Link Print

It is no secret that school board candidates that Governor Ron DeSantis supported during the last election won, and they were all Republican. Like it or not, school board elections have become highly partisan.

The legislature says, let’s bring the truth into the sunshine and make these elections what they are, partisan races. That is why the House just passed HJR 31, a bill that will change school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan, a Florida state constitution change if voters choose to support it. This bill was sponsored by State Representative Spencer Roach (Rep) and passed by 79 yeas and 34 nays.

Subscribe to Florida Jolt Newsletter!

State Representative Spencer Roach (Rep) sponsored HJR 31, leaving it in voters’ hands to make school board races partisan.

For many years, school board elections were largely ignored. The result is that education has been taken over by bureaucrats who think their ideas and values are more critical than those of parents, and the quality of education has suffered. Parents are now saying no more.

This year’s legislative session has revolved around new laws ensuring kids have the best educational opportunities. School choice is what parents want. If the governor signs off on current legislation, each child will receive a yearly eight thousand dollar voucher to be used to attend any school. School times for middle and high school children will be later, ensuring that students get the most out of their education. Parental rights in education, enacted in 2022, will be expanded from third to eighth grade.

Representative Stan McClain (Rep) sponsored HB 1069 to extend the current Parental Rights in Education Law from third to eighth grade. It passed on the House floor. This year’s legislative session has many bills to ensure Floridians have the best for their children.

Opponents of partisan school board races say that school board members should prioritize the best interests of students and education rather than being beholden to a particular political party or ideology. By making school board elections partisan, there is a risk that decisions will be made based on political considerations rather than what is best for students.

For those in favor of partisan elections, that’s the point; The feeling is that many of the issues Republicans are voting in favor of are what parents want for their children. By knowing what party affiliation a candidate is, they will likely have school board members representing their interests.

Join your fellow patriots and subscribe to our Youtube Channel.

By aligning school board elections with political parties, voters can better understand the political ideologies of the candidates they are choosing from. This can hold elected officials accountable for their promises and make it easier for voters to select candidates who align with their political beliefs.

Teachers will continue to teach students, and parents will continue to parent their children. Parents are more involved in school board elections than ever.

Candidates running for school board on a partisan platform can make it easier for voters to understand what each candidate stands for and make an informed decision on Election Day.

Political party affiliation can be a tricky thing. Most people ignore local political races, and party affiliation is the only thing they have to go on.

Times have changed. The general public has become more politically aware, but the general public isn’t going to pay attention to every political race. Party is a good guideline for making voting decisions. Partisan school board races are a way to give voters a critical touchstone to make the best possible choice when voting.

Other stories you may want to read:

Palm Beach County Bob Weinroth’s Bid for School Board Seat off to Shaky Start

Former DINO Robert Weinroth Goes RINO, Runs for School Board

About
Latest Posts

Tracy Caruso

Tracy Caruso is the President/Owner of Delray Beach Executive Suites. In December of 2022, she was appointed by Governor DeSantis as a commissioner to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. She is Chair of the Housing & Finance Authority of Palm Beach County and a Trustee for Palm Beach State College. She is also a certified rape crisis counselor and trained literacy advocate. She currently serves on many boards including The Hispanic Vote and Propel. Tracy is married to Mike Caruso, the Clerk and Comptroller of Palm Beach County. She’s a stepmother of 7 and a mother of 2 toy poodles.