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    Newspapers on partisan school boards

    Online Niel Posted on

    Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

    You know about 2024 Florida Amendments?

    Florida voters will face six proposals to amend the Constitution on the November 5 ballot. Each needs at least 60% of the vote to be enshrined in the Florida Constitution.

    Still not sure what each amendment means and whether you will vote yes or no? In this story, we highlight Amendment 1 to help you prepare for Election daywhich is from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

    If you want to vote for the candidates and Florida’s six amendments early, early voting runs through Sunday, Nov. 3, with different hours and days depending on the county.

    Early voting: Here’s when it starts in Florida, including time, date and by county

    With less than two weeks until the election, if you’re still not sure what Amendment 1 means — the “make school board races partisan” amendment — and whether you’ll be voting yes or no, we’ll break it down for you.

    In this story, we highlight Amendment 1 and offer the recommendations (when available) of the editorial boards of two Florida newspapers in the USA TODAY NETWORK and four other Sunshine State newspapers. Although Florida is home to nearly two dozen newspapers, with 16 sites that are part of the USA TODAY network, a small fraction of the newspapers provide editorial board recommendations during the U.S. general election. However, every newspaper covered the Florida amendments in the 2024 election with stories explaining what it means for their readers. Below is a list of newspapers here with links to their websites if you want to do further research on Amendment 1.

    How many newspapers are there in Florida?

    Below is a list of Florida newspapers:

    Which Florida newspapers offer editorial board recommendations or endorsements of Florida amendments?

    For the 2024 general election, the editorial boards of six Florida newspapers provided recommendations — approvals on how to vote — on the six Florida amendments on the ballot.

    Sponsor: Florida Legislature

    Summary: Proposing amendments to the state Constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election rather than a nonpartisan election and to specify that the amendment applies only to elections held on or after the November 2026 general election. However, partisan primaries may be held before the 2026 general election for the purpose of nominating political party candidates for that office to be placed in the ballot paper for the 2026 general election.

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    Florida Amendment 1: Making local school board elections non-partisan

    FLORIDA TODAY’s John A. Torres discusses the pros and cons of Amendment 1 with USA Today Florida reporters James Call and John Kennedy

    Florida Amendment 1: Are you voting yes or no on Florida’s amendments? What does amendment 1 mean, partisan school board elections

    TCPalm, also known as Treasure Coast Newspapers, is part of the USA TODAY network, which covers Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucy from Florida.

    TCpalm: NOT

    The TCpalm editorial board recommends a negative vote on amendment 1.

    Why: “School board elections should be grassroots issues, with the needs of parents, teachers, school administrators, taxpayers and most importantly, students coming first. We don’t need yet another type of outdated election with the expense of black money, advertisements and attack agendas. that have nothing to do with what is best for our children. Partisan school board elections would become even more ugly and divisive, pitting neighbors against each other.

    The Palm Beach Post is part of the USA TODAY network.

    The Palm Beach Post: NOT

    The The Palm Beach Post editorial board recommends a Negative vote on amendment 1.

    Why: “Florida’s public schools have enough challenges. Whether it’s aging infrastructure, declining enrollment, underpaid staff or undue state intervention, the pressure on local school board members is intense and growing. Political hacks hostile to public education need not apply. By requiring candidates to disclose their party affiliation, the amendment opens up the process in a way that would reduce voter and local community influence. Partisan politics, including campaign contributions from corporations and political action committees that may be more interested in contracts and education policy, flies in the face of what most parents, students and educators believe is necessary for quality schools.”

    Tampa Bay Times: NOT

    The The Tampa Bay Times Editorial Board recommends a Negative vote on amendment 1.

    Why: “Few things have torn Florida apart in recent years like the politicization of local schools. But the war over book bans, gender identity and race lessons would go into overdrive if Floridians approved the measure to make school board elections partisan. Florida school board elections are currently nonpartisan. That means all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, have a say in who controls their local schools.”

    Miami Herald: NOT

    The The Miami Herald editorial board recommends a Negative vote on amendment 1.

    Why: “Florida and the country need less partisan division — not more — especially when it comes to public education. That’s why Florida voters should reject Constitutional Amendment 1 in the general election. The proposal, placed on the Nov. 5 ballot by the Republican-led Legislature, would “require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election, rather than a nonpartisan election,” as they are now. If at least 60% of voters approve Amendment 1, candidates will have to run as Democrats or Republicans starting in 2026, and the parties will nominate their own candidates for that election. As the US becomes more polarized, so have nonpartisan school boards.”

    Florida Amendment 1: Orlando Sentinel Recommendation of the Editorial Board

    Orlando Sentinel: NOT

    The Orlando Sentinel The Editorial Board recommends a “no” vote on Amendment 1.

    Why: “Amendment 1 would exclude voters from school board races. It always seems strange when MPs turn to constituents and ask “Are you sure?” about something they established a quarter of a century ago. Amendment 1 would turn back the clock and make all school board elections partisan, reversing a voter decision in 1998 when they voted to make school board elections nonpartisan.”

    South Florida Sun Sentinel: NOT

    The South Florida Sun Sentinel The Editorial Board recommends a “no” vote on Amendment 1.

    Why: “Save our schools: Floridians voted to make school board elections nonpartisan in 1998. Going back to the bad old days would disenfranchise millions of voters, make school board races more expensive, increase the power of special interests and would further polarize our politics.”

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