Candidates are competing for two open seats on the Palm Beach County School Board in one of the county’s nonpartisan races.
This means that regardless of political party affiliation, if a registered voter lives in either District 1 or District 5, they may vote for one of the candidates.
If a candidate in either race receives more than 50% of the votes, they automatically secure a win. If no one gets more than 50%, then the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the November election.
Once elected, the two new board members will serve four-year terms and receive a salary of $53,407. Issues that bubbled to the surface during campaigning include school safety measures, such metal detectors, teacher pay, the state’s new law mandating later start times and how to maintain an A-rating.
Here’s what to know about each race and candidate.
District 1
District 1, which represents the northern part of the county with cities including Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter and Tequesta, is currently represented by Barbara McQuinn.
McQuinn will be replaced by either Matthew Jay Lane, Page Lewis or Francesca Wernisch.
Lane, 69, is a former Palm Beach Gardens city councilmember with a family and divorce law firm. According to his Sun Sentinel questionnaire, his priorities are ensuring teachers get paid enough and that students learn “the fundamentals.”
Lewis, 57, currently helps children learn how to read and believes the district’s success relies on students having a firm grasp on the essentials of reading, writing and arithmetic, according to her questionnaire.
Wernisch, 39, has young children currently in the school district and similarly advocates for “early learning” and improving teacher recruitment and professional development.
District 5
The District 5 race, which includes all the schools in Boca Raton and West Boca, is one of the county’s most crowded races with five candidates vying for the spot.
The winner will replace Frank Barbieri Jr., who has served in Seat 5 since 2008.
Gloria Branch, 56, is a more than 40-year Boca Raton resident and current substitute teacher with a desire to “shed the remnants of equity and woke ideology,” according to her questionnaire, and invest resources in teacher pay and the classroom.
Mindy Koch, 71, has spent more than 40 years either in teaching, administration or as a special education coordinator. According to her questionnaire, she wants the district to home in on reading and math for pre-K through third-grade students.
Mike Letsky, 47, is the founder of FutureGen Robotics. He said he wants students to have more in-person instruction and believes there are better ways to make schools safer, such as installing cameras with artificial intelligence.
Suzanne Page, 73, crafted a five-step educational reform plan outlined on her website that includes detailed steps for elementary, middle, high school students and teachers.
Charman Postel, 37, is a consultant and substitute teacher with four children currently attending school in the district. To keep the district’s A rating, Postel said in her questionnaire she would advocate for “curriculum enhancements, professional development for teachers and increased support.”
Voting
Early voting will be available until 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, then Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 20. The general election will take place on Nov. 5.
