JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Early voting for the Duval County School Board elections is a little over a week away and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund is ensuring that community members have access to candidates through a series of forums.
Dr. Nadine Ebri was the only candidate in attendance for the District 1 forum at the Citadel Church in Arlington on Thursday. Her opponent Tony Ricardo was originally confirmed to be there but was unable to attend due to illness.
Rachael Tutwiler-Fortune, President of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, says the candidate forums are a way to engage the community in the election process.
“We want to encourage people who are still looking for more information from both of the candidates to check out our website so they can learn more information. But we do think it’s very important. That’s why we’re here to host these candidate forums that people have an opportunity to hear from those who are running for office,” she said.
The church was filled with about 40 people all wanting to hear from both candidates. Some issues they’re concerned with include transportation and staffing.
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Dr. Ebri answered questions about the future of education and her plans if she gets elected. News4JAX spoke with her before the event where she shared her platforms which include ensuring that all students get an innovative education, bringing in community voices into policymaking and being transparent with everything the board does.
“I want to ensure that our schools are the best place for Duval County public school students so that they don’t feel like they have to choose other options. And so ensuring that they have the programs that they need to thrive in their schools to ensure that they’re getting access to STEM at every single school to ensure that we’re bringing in the community and the policymaking process. And we have to listen to parents, we have to listen to parents and students and teachers, community members to ensure that we’re actually fixing the problems that they’ve been crying out about for years,” she said.
Dennis Parrish is a Duval County parent who attended the candidate forum Thursday night. Some of his concerns include issues with bus transportation.
“I have one daughter that did ride the bus. Last year, we took her to school every day just because of the bus situation. I did hear about the substitute problem, an issue within the schools and the pay that they were speaking on, which is a big issue that I’ve heard from different people that do substitute,” Parrish said.
Jolita Wainwright doesn’t have any children currently enrolled in Duval County Schools but she is concerned about the future of the school system. She’s concerned about how the school board considers policies they create.
“That they develop policies that are across the board, that not that that affects everyone you know, and not just pick and choose, or after you make a policy, then you, you switch out. And that’s what happens a lot of time, a lot of policies are not followed through,” she said.
Even though Ricardo couldn’t attend Thursday’s forum, he does have a candidate page on the Jacksonville Public Education Fund’s website. His priorities include safety, teacher retention, and financial accountability.
Parrish says since Ricardo wasn’t at the event he says he’s keeping an open mind and researching both candidates’ platforms.
“I do like the Dr. Ebri’s initiative on STEM. She’s real heavy in STEM, wants to have it involved in all the schools, which is going to be the future for all of our children, as they grow and get out into the workforce and go to college,” he said.
Wainwright appreciated getting to hear directly from Dr. Ebri. She’s also looking further into the candidate platforms before Election Day.
“I’m going to read about him,” she said. “But I was very impressed of all of the time that she spent in Duval County and in the classroom. And that’s what really impressed me. You know that she knows one on one about parents about children, you know about people who are concerned.”
Parrish said Ricardo seems engaged and that it appears he wants to get involved more in the school system and improve some things within the system.
Ricardo did not respond to a call from News4JAX.
Early voting for Duval County School Board elections starts on August 5 through August 18. Election Day is August 20. The districts include 1, 3, 5, and 7. Tutwiler-Fortune says it’s a defining time for public education.
“This is a changing landscape that we’re living through. And so just really obviously grateful for anyone who would raise their hand to serve in public office at this time,” she explained.
There are two more candidate forums that JPEF will host next week:
District 5: July 30 at EWU Milne Auditorium from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
District 7: August 1 at Hopewell Church from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.