Sean Cooper: We need to continue offering every student equal opportunity to succeed academically and provide them all the resources we can for them to thrive. letter-spacing: 0.03em; This is a top priority for me in working with the state. margin-bottom: .75em; Elections in 2023 | Good schools not only provide students with more opportunities, but they also increase the financial values of homes and businesses within the county. She said lawmakers and state officials are overstepping their roles, forgetting theres a constitutional authority given to school boards to oversee education in their local districts. } The district said they have a website with information on the guidelines as well as other fundraising ideas and foods that meet the requirements for those PTSAs to sell for their fundraising events. Explain your participation in local government. Schools provide important social lessons for students Its how we learn to be team players and need to treat everyone on campus fairly. I am very passionate about taking care of our teachers. Up for consideration are Mark Rendell, a candidate from Brevard and former superintendent for Indian River County Schools; Scott Schneider, chief of schools for Duval County; and Jason. He is the father of four, with the three youngest in county schools. } Seminole c $ 157,632 $ 157,632 $ 157,632 $ 157,632 $ 167,454 $ 92,885 $ . No more lockdowns and no mandates is one of her campaign platforms. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. School board meetings are essential to allow students, parents and the community to express their concerns or praise, but it is not a two-way conversation. } Leslie Postal is the Education reporter for the Orlando Sentinel. } Cooperbelievesconversations of sex and sexuality are best handled in a loving context between parents or guardians and their child.. Public policy. She wants to focus on improving student achievement, keeping school safety a priority and making sure all students have access to mental health support. The Seminole County Board of Education is seeking qualified candidates interested in being appointed as District 5 School Board Member to complete the appointed term of Mr. Willia. The Seminole County Public Schools school board consists of five members elected to four-year terms. letter-spacing: 0.03em; Sean Cooper: In addition to regularly scheduled work sessions and board meetings, I am constantly out meeting with parents, teachers, students, and community leaders. The school board confirmed Beamon submitted her resignation on Feb. 16 as the districts attorney after she was not selected as the next superintendent. Contact our sales team. In the spirit of cooperation, the School Board of Seminole County and the Seminole Education Association, Inc. are pleased to announce that the partie Seminole County Public Schools Named a Recipient of Federal Grant to Support Mental Health and Student Wellness, 400 E. Lake Mary Boulevard, Sanford, FL 32773, English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Digital Tools for Reading and Research for K-12. For incumbents, did you regularly attend Seminole County School Board meetings before you were elected? If elected, her priorities include better salaries for teachers and more programs to mentor new instructors, more assistance for mental health problems, improvements to the exceptional student education programs and a reduction in bullying and other problematic behaviors. he inserted himself into local campaigns in an unprecedented way. float: left; Parents and students are encouraged to contact their elected officials if they have any questions or concerns. display: inline-block; A recent complaint over the nutritional policy prompted principals to take a closer look at what was being sold on campus. Members. display: table; Notice required by Florida statute 1003.42: Any student whose parent makes written request to the school principal shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS, its symptoms, development, and treatment. The district botched its search for former Superintendent Walt Griffins replacement, Bauer added, and she does not think Serita Beamon has done a good job since she was hired a year ago. We lose a couple hundred dollars a day off of the kids, he said. Board Member Amy Pennock said the decision is going to impact fundraising for financially strapped students to be able to attend camps, band functions, seminars, field trips and more. Grace A. Gonzalez Financial Reporting & Fiscal Transparency, Lake Howell High School Recognized as Cognia School of Distinction. She decided to run because she was upset about the recent noise around public education, which she did not see accurately describing the public school system that had served her three, now grown, children well. Karen Almond, Tina Calderone, and Kristine Krause voted for Beamon. That wont be true in 2024. Fernandez, a former teacher, ran on safety, parents rights, and accountability. margin-right: 10px; Agar Quiones-Aristone is a teacher at a private Christian school in Longwood and a former Florida public school teacher. Not everyone believed that science, but Krause said she stands by decisions meant to keep students and staff safe. width: 100% !important; color: #0645ad; overflow: hidden; We will get our best outcomes with the great pool of talents in our community. background-color: #6db24f; Learn more. question begins. Kelley Davis: I will always advocate for more funding for schools. The School Board of Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) typically holds the majority of its meetings on Tuesday evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Educational Support Center (400 E. Lake Mary Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773). letter-spacing: .03em; background-color: #dac113; Memminger said the pandemic hurt our most vulnerable students, widening the so-called achievement gap. DISTRICT 1 MR. SPENCER STEWART DISTRICT 2 DR. CHARLES O. WALKER DISTRICT 3 MR. TRENT CLARK DISTRICT 4 DR. Their responses were featured in the September 14 edition of Hall Pass. background-color: #003388; } Her goal, she said, is to unite the community around SCPS. Click here to view or fill out the survey. border-radius: 50%; Smith said the boards indecision makes the school district look bad. For nearly a decade, Venus Pizza has been a lunch staple for students at Lake Brantley High School. text-align: left !important; Jessica Vaughn, a board member for Hillsborough County schools in Florida, has been recently targeted by the governor allegedly for her opposition to restrictions on books and curriculum. Learn More About Ms. Beamon SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - The Seminole County School Board voted Serita Beamon to be named the district's next . That decision is having a trickle-down effect. Source. Seminole, FL (33772) Today. background-color: #db0000; It is essential that we restore the power where it belongs, back to the parents. Kelley Davis: Again, I believe in technologically advanced surveillance and regular training of school resource officers. Operations: Meghann Olshefski Mandy Morris Kelly Rindfleisch Krause, 64, who supported Beamon for the job, disagreed. Fernandezdoes notsupport the woke agenda thats been indoctrinating instead of educating our students.. He said his strong business resume would be an asset to the school board. padding:7px 8px 8px; Seminole School Board District. Each School Board member is elected "at-large." This means that all voters registered within Seminole County can vote for 1 candidate in each of the 2 contests. display: inline-block; I voluntarily give free tutoring to middle and high school students in my home and attend local veterans meetings. } Were going to start the campaign and whatever happens, happens.. Calendar. Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics. Three seats on the Seminole County Public Schools school board in Florida were up for general election on November 8, 2022. Tech: Matt Latourelle Ryan Burch Kirsten Corrao Beth Dellea Travis Eden Tate Kamish Margaret Kearney Eric Lotto Joseph Sanchez, What's on my ballot? Garick serves on the board of the Midway Coalition in Sanford and helped secure funds from Seminole County to update stormwater infrastructure and build local parks. Its the antithesis of small government, Vaughn said, referring to the governing philosophy Republicans have touted in the past. Next, on the day the lists were due, state education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. sent a follow-up memo to all superintendents and school boards. Notice required by Florida statute 1003.42: Any student whose parent makes written request to the school principal shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive health or any disease . Read: Central Florida dad charged in road rage incident that set off code red lockdown at nearby school. Evans does not like the way critical race theory, or CRT, has been politicized and weaponized, he said. I would like to see the politics out of our schools. We know our communities best, she said. .results_row td { Lets get a waiting list for teachers! .votebox_legend { Owner Mike DeQuattro is a Lake Brantley grad and his four kids went there, but Friday afternoon they learned that they can no longer deliver to the school. Serving Greater Oviedo & Winter Springs, Contact us: [email protected] Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. Collective Bargaining Tentative Agreement Reached. width: 100%; High 76F. Policy: Christopher Nelson Caitlin Styrsky Molly Byrne Jimmy McAllister Samuel Postell Please contact us about the issues that impact your local school district. Visit Kelley Davis website and Facebook to learn more. They include schools where lots of students struggle academically, school safety, student discipline and a teacher shortage. I feel real good about it. .percentage_number { position: relative; } @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { Cooper said he wants to help end fighting and other discipline problems on campuses, reduce student absenteeism and address childrens mental health problems. Candidates running for two of the three seats up for election advanced to the general election. We have to invest in our teachers, she said. A school board calendar, listing dates and times of public meetings, is available as well. U.S. .race_header { The district, which runs roughly from Winter Springs to Geneva, has drawn four candidates. Do you regularly attend Seminole County School Board meetings? And they just come in every single day, give us food, and you know, its good. .non_result_row { } Theyre worried about things it doesnt look like our state leadership is addressing, she said. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. Sanchez's current term ends on November 19, 2024. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { What will you do to quell public safety concerns at a time like this? Sanford, FL 32773 I really believe our current school district needs some help meeting the challenges coming up, Davis said. } Kelley Davis: Schools need to incorporate climate change into the curriculum and provide opportunities for younger children to plant flowers or vegetables and older children the opportunity to volunteer for credit. Read: Lawmakers file amendment to give Florida the power to inspect Disneys monorail system. Joshua Memminger, 36, is a sergeant with the Sanford Police Department who has worked as a school resource officer and supervisor in Seminole schools. height: 100%; We need to keep them and expand them, she said. Sean Cooper: 26 years of working with youth and parents, a vast network of relationships in Seminole County, a passion for bridge-building across partisan lines, and a commitment to convene leaders together to make our best decisions. Fernandezs priorities include school safety, parental rights, accountability, and prioritizing student interests. .non_result_row div { Members are elected at large. .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. to provide that the salary of each elected school board member shall be the amount calculated pursuant to s. 1001.395(1), F.S., or the . It said the Miami-Dade County school district was using divisive and discriminatory content branded as social-emotional learning, and he wanted everyone to be clear. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. Katie Murphy, Board Member, Seminole County Council PTA. top: 2px; Autumn Garick is a 56-year-old Sanford resident and candidate for School Board Member District 5. At an early age, we are asked what we want to be when we grow up and that's how the "what's your e?" } A primary was scheduled for August 23, 2022. [1] Gerick, a school volunteer, has run on preserving and promoting excellence and supporting educators. Sean Cooper is a father of 2 and the CEO of the non-profit USA Unites, Kelley Davis is a mother of 2. Kelley Davis: I have been attending Seminole School Board meetings when not in conflict with other essential meetings or speeches. Member Application. Smith said it will be difficult for either candidate to accept the position and move forward. Seminole County School Board Rescinds Superintendent Job Offer. Kelley Davis is a mother of 2. Selling candy and other foods to fundraise during school hours on Seminole County school campuses is no longer allowed. Sean Cooper: All of us can play a part in making our county safe, clean, and healthy. Note that not all submissions may meet Ballotpedia's coverage requirements for inclusion. .results_row.winner { That wont be true in 2024. Paid for by Free to Learn Action. I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens. width: 35px !important; Serita Beamon, Superintendent, Seminole County Public Schools. max-height: 580px; .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Coopers priorities include fostering an environment for academic excellence, character building, and building a strong relationship with student families. Cities | Board Members are members of the community who are passionate about our schools and would like to give their time, talent, and treasure to further enhance education in . Source. width: 350px; Karen Almond has held the seat since 2010 but is not seeking re-election. How, if at all, do you plan on altering the school curriculums and teacher training sessions? Read: New agreement between Seminole County, school board, cities remains on hold. He would like character education taught again and wants to do more to boost teacher pay. Sean Cooper: I attend school board work sessions and board meetings as well as attend chamber meetings and other community events that are open to the public. We need to help our teachers feel even more support to do what they do so well. District 2 In the District 2 race, Sean Cooper, a former pastor,. After serving in the United States Army she became a math teacher, and later, a lawyer. The Seminole County School Board's chambers witnessed fierce debates during the COVID-19 pandemic, with residents arguing over face masks requirements and other safety rules. background-color: #f9d334; The Seminole County School Board voted Serita Beamon to be named the districts next superintendent, after already voting last month to select Chad Farnsworth. Calderone could not be reached Wednesday. Regarding CRT, Coopersaysit is the School Board members duty to follow the law and not teach CRT in school districts. Kelley Davis: I believe in technically advanced surveillance in all schools and propose a restructuring of our discipline programs to include behavior modification and counseling support for students when expulsion or suspension is really unnecessary. Period. School Board Clerk Federal courts | border-bottom: 1px solid grey; Click on the different Bio Links provided to meet and learn more about SCPS' passionate school board members. Need to find your polling place? Public Input. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Visit us at Ballotpedia.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Garick said years of volunteer work and her recent efforts to attend board meetings and district workshops will help her be a bridge between the community and the superintendent.. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you. Fernandez disagrees with parents being labeled domestic terrorists.. The mission of Seminole County Public Schools is to ensure that all students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be productive citizens. } Board members Amy Pennock and Abby Sanchez voted "no." After Calderone proposed rescinding the vote, the board heard from several school employees and community members who said they. Hillsborough County School Board member Jessica Vaughn, whom DeSantis recently targeted for defeat in the 2024 election, suggested the survey and letter were timed to send a message as the legislative session nears. Visit the Voter Precinct Lookup website produced by the Florida Secretary of State. Theres been some mistrust and distrust thats been created, she said. Earlier this year, Smith, one of three LGBTQ members of the Florida Legislature, said he attended a Seminole County school board meeting where LGBTQ supporters planned to urge the board. Your nonprofit newsroom Candidates must reside in District 5 to be considered for this appointment. Superintendent Search Committee Member and current Seminole Educators Association President Dan Smith said he was shocked by the vote. The districts COVID-19 safety rules, including a face mask mandate adopted two years ago, were based on the advice of medical professionals, she noted. Click here to learn more about the newsletter or to read archived editions. View Katherine Crnkovich, APR, CPRC'S profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. At a subsequent school board meeting two weeks later, board member Tina Calderone announced she was not comfortable with the vote. U.S. President | Gillum trial: Jurors begin deliberations, break for weekend, over face masks requirements and other safety rules, controversial process that involved three votes, whether the LGBTQ community was treated fairly. This means knowing the issues, the schools and building relationships in the system and community.. The district serves over 66,000 students and has more than 10,000 employees. The districts hiring of a new superintendent in 2021 a controversial process that involved three votes and a legal challenge prompted disputes, too. Sean Cooper: I signed the Moms4Liberty pledge because I believe the family values outlined in that paragraph should be non-partisan goals for everyone. font-size: 1.25em; The School Board consists of 5 members that are elected to 4-year terms on a staggered basis in even-numbered years. } } Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. The next election will be . Phone: 321-307-8023 Supporting our schools is good for the entire community, whether or not you have children in school. Katherine has 11 jobs listed on their profile. As a result, she historically became the 1st woman Superintendent, 1st African-American Superintendent, and 11th Superintendent overall for the district. I also believe very strongly that the students have been negatively impacted by the school closures and mandates., As an involved parent of three who attended elementary, middle and high school in Seminole County I have always been passionate about providing the very best education opportunities not just for my own children, but for every student, every school.