In an ideal world, school boards would focus on one thing and one thing alone: providing a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high-quality system of free public schools that allows students to receive a quality education.
Those aren’t our words. They’re what Florida voters wrote into the state constitution by an overwhelming 71 percent in 1998. But that’s not quite how it happened.
Schools have always been ideological battlegrounds to some extent, but over the past six years, that distracting conflict has accelerated: school leaders have suppressed student protests, books have been banned en masse, and teachers are afraid to talk about diversity for fear of violating state law.
There’s also an undeniable connection between a student’s success and what their lives look like when they get home from school — including whether they have enough to eat, or even a home to go to. Much of this burden has been shouldered by school districts, with the confident knowledge that education is the best hope these students have for escaping poverty.
That makes local school board elections a high priority for voters. Here are our recommendations for Orange County School Board seats.
Orange County District 4 School Board
The winner of this three-way race to replace retiring board member Pam Gould would have to be someone willing to continue Gould’s staunch support of public schools. That puts the burden on voters to do their homework and make sure each candidate is honest about what he or she would do if elected.
5 candidates vie for Orange School board amid debate over reading, teacher pay and politics
In this race, that’s a tough call. We see Jake Petroski, a former teacher and coach in Orange County who still volunteers at local schools, as the best-prepared candidate to take on that mantle. He’s a frequent attendee at school board meetings and has a background in career and technical education. That’s perhaps his greatest strength, and it’s an area that local education activists should be excited about because of the opportunities it offers students to explore careers and even graduate high school ready to take decent-paying jobs.
That’s not all he has to offer. Petroski, like many of the current board members, is not happy with the efforts to turn Orange County students and teachers into political pillars. It’s also telling that he has the support of local unions representing teachers and other school employees — astute defenders of the quality and integrity of Orange County schools.
Anne Douglas, a veteran teacher, also talks about the need to protect students, families, and teachers from political attacks—including her personal grief over being forced to remove books from the shelves of the classroom where she teaches reading. She would be a fine choice, but she doesn’t seem as well-informed as Petroski.
That leaves Kyle Roger Goudy, an NBC/Universal staffer and longtime school volunteer. During his interview with the editorial board, Goudy embraced many of the values Douglas and Petroski prioritize, and his web presence promises strong support for public education. But his connections may tell a different story. He has the support of many — including the Orange County Republican Executive Committee — who are strong supporters of school vouchers, which take money away from public education and redirect it to private schools that aren’t held to the same standards. He also criticized Orange County’s decision to develop a comprehensive sex education program instead of adopting the flimsy, abstinence-only model pushed by the state.
We’re not ready to say that Goudy would often vote with board member Alicia Farrant, a member of the Moms for Liberty group that has been such a disruptive force on school boards across the state and the country. But even setting that issue aside, it’s clear that Petroski is better prepared to serve on the Orange County board and more likely to defend teachers and students from politically motivated attacks.
The Orlando Sentinel endorses Jake Petroski for Orange County School Board District 4.
Orange County District 6 School Board
The difference between the two candidates in this race is much greater, and the choice is clear: Stephanie Vanos, an attorney with a long history of advocating for public education, has the support of the region’s top educators. She demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges facing public schools, and she is ready to advocate on behalf of all students and educators.
Central Florida Voter’s Guide: August Primaries and Nonpartisan Races and Candidates
Her opponent, Jeni Grieger, would be far more appealing in a different era. A former public school teacher, she has also done her homework, and she speaks persuasively about the need to improve reading scores and other measures of student achievement rather than resting on Orange County’s laurels as an A-rated district.
But in the current environment, her endorsements and campaign contributions (and some of her statements) suggest the likelihood that she will be called upon to support the radical agenda that Farrant and the Moms for Liberty group want to push through public schools. Giving Farrant a “second” would only increase the amount of time the school board wastes on culture war nonsense.
We have every confidence in Vanos’ commitment to strong public education. She pledges support for students who are going to college and for those who are taking advantage of Orange County’s rich offerings of career and technical education. But she also understands the need to focus on the needs of the county’s youngest learners. And her legal background could be useful as the school district tries to navigate the increasingly doctrinal distractions coming out of Tallahassee. She’s the right choice, especially at this time.
The Orlando Sentinel endorses Stephanie Vanos for Orange County School Board District 6.
We urge voters not to rely solely on our opinions to determine how to cast their ballots. Voters should check the candidates’ campaign websites and social media accounts (if they don’t have either, that should be a red flag). Ask friends and neighbors what they think. Google the candidates and check their campaign finances. In addition, we’ve recorded our interviews and posted them in full at OrlandoSentinel.com/opinion.
Election recommendations are the opinion of the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, which includes Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Insight Editor Jay Reddick and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Send emails to insight@orlandosentinel.com.
