At stake is control of the Central Bucks School District, Pennsylvania’s third-largest with more than 17,000 students. Hundreds of districts across the country will hold local school board elections Nov. 7, ahead of a 2024 presidential campaign that is expected to see education play a bigger role than in the past.
Central Bucks was among a number of districts two years ago where anger over Covid mask policies and remote schooling propelled some Republicans to wins. A five-candidate Democratic slate hopes to wrest control, saying recent actions by the GOP-led board have made the district less welcoming to LGBT students.
Candidates are at odds over a 2022 policy allowing parents to challenge school library books with sexual content, and one adopted this year barring teachers from advocating “any partisan, political, or social policy issue,” including by displaying objects such as rainbow gay-pride flags. Republican members said the measures are meant to root out inappropriate material and keep classrooms politically neutral.
Rather interesting group candidate www sites: Central Bucks Forward and Neighbors United for School Board
Hunter, Mass, Schloeffel, Martino, and Arjona are the Republicans running as the Central Bucks Forward slate of candidates. On the slate’s website, the candidates said that, “Every student deserves an education focused on reaching their full potential. Parents need to be full partners in that process, not bystanders. The school board is the place where we shape the blueprint for a bright future for every student. We do that with civility, respect, and professionalism. That’s our commitment.” The slate lists the following priorities: “employ School Resource Officers to protect schools and build bridges with students; launch full-day kindergarten and STEM Academy; reverse Covid learning losses by shifting from controversy to classroom excellence; design and deploy curriculum focused on preparing students for tomorrow’s jobs; and nurture civil debate to protect the voices of students, parents, and teachers.”
Smith, Reynolds, Foley, Haring, and Gibson are the Democrats running as the Neighbors United for School Board slate of candidates. They are campaigning against the school board’s book and neutrality policies. On the slate’s website, the candidates said, “Central Bucks Schools should have elected school board directors who respect their citizen oversight responsibility. These directors should honor and uphold the mission of CBSD to provide all students with the academic and problem-solving skills essential for personal development, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning.” Neighbors United said it supports “candidates who respect our students and staff as individuals, commit to supporting public education, and will improve classroom resource funding.” The slate opposes “book banning, anti-LGBTQA+ policies, and ‘culture war’ politics.”
Pennsylvania state test results.
Candidate notes. Summary.