An oft-repeated statement among parents and community members is that politics has no place in schools.
But in this election, the Florida Constitution could be amended to make school board races partisan, meaning candidates would have to reveal whether they are Democrats, Republicans or members of another political party.
Amendment 1 would reverse a decision made by Florida voters in 1998, when school board elections were held nonpartisan for the first time.
In Florida, state constitutional amendments require the support of at least 60% of voters.
Here’s what you need to know about the amendment.
What would Amendment 1 do?
Amendment 1 is a constitutional amendment referenced in law, meaning the Florida Legislature created the amendment.
According to Brevard County’s elections website, the amendment would change the Florida Constitution and require school board candidates to run for partisan elections. Instead of running as nonpartisan candidates as now, candidates would have to reveal whether they are Republicans, Democrats or members of another party.
If approved, the change would come into effect in 2026.
Partisan primaries may take place before the general election to nominate a candidate for the general election. Primaries are generally only open to members of that party. In counties that lean heavily toward one party or the other, that party’s primaries are often de facto general elections.
Positions of local and state organizations on Amendment 1
Opinions are divided across Florida on Amendment 1.
The League of Women Voters of the Space Coast and the State League of Women Voters oppose the amendment.
“We believe that school board elections should remain nonpartisan so that all voters can choose a candidate for the general election,” said Judy DeAngelis-Small, first vice president of the Space Coast chapter.
“Identifying candidates by their party affiliation would close the primaries, limiting full participation in the electoral process.”
The Brevard Democratic Party also opposes the amendment, with Chairwoman Pamela Castellana saying serving on the school board should not be a “step on the ladder of political success” and accusing local Republicans of “using politics for power grabs.” .”
“I don’t want our already politicized and charged school board races to add these types of games to the process.” said Castellana.
The Brevard Republican Executive Committee did not respond to multiple requests for comment from FLORIDA TODAY. The voting guide on its website suggests voting ‘yes’ on Amendment 1.
At the state level, the Florida Education Association – Florida’s largest association of professional school employees and the largest union in the Southeast – is advising voters to vote against Amendment 1.
Florida NAACP, Florida For All, Common Cause Florida, Mi Familia en Acción and Florida National Organization for Women are among other organizations opposing the amendment.
Brevard’s candidates for the District 4 school board seat — incumbent Matt Susin and newcomer Avanese “Ava” Taylor — commented on the issue at a forum in July, with Taylor saying she does not support race partisanship and Susin saying that non-partisan elections have helped people work together. best. He didn’t work it out.
Have Florida school board elections always been nonpartisan?
School board elections were previously partisan, although Florida residents voted to make them nonpartisan in 1998, according to Politico.
But school board elections are largely nonpartisan in name only, said Andrea Messina, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association.
“School boards and school board elections are a microcosm of their local communities and the country,” Messina said. “So as we have increased partisanship in our communities and in our country, we have also seen increased partisanship in our local school boards.”
Messina and the Florida School Boards Association are not taking a position on Amendment 1.
Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finch runner.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Chalkboard Racing in Florida: What You Need to Know About Amendment 1
