Four of seven seats on the Duval County School Board are up for election this year. These are nonpartisan races that will appear on the August primary ballot. In District 3, school board member Cindy Pearson is seeking re-election, facing Rebecca Nathanson. This race will appear on the ballots of all voters in the district, regardless of party affiliation.
News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.
| NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES |
Rebecca Nathanson
Occupation: Business Owner, Human Resources Consultant
Age: 50
Family: Husband Josh, 14 year old son.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude
Political experience: (No response)
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. The literacy crisis. Right now about half of all DCPS students are not reading at grade level. In some grades it is less than half. This is a shocking and urgent challenge. Our children cannot be put on a pathway to prosperity if they are not skilled readers. I will prioritize the wide scale dissemination and implementation of the district’s Comprehensive Evidence Based Reading Plan. I will fully fund training for administrators, teachers, and coaches on evidence-based practices. I will shine a spotlight on the state funding available to parents for reading tutoring. I will continue to study Miami-Dade, the states of Mississippi and Louisiana, and other districts and states which have turned the tide of dropping literacy rates. Then, I will drive the conversation and be relentless in ensuring our district does what works.
2. School safety and discipline. Teacher retention is challenging in large part to how teachers are being treated by disruptive students and by administrators who fail to hold students accountable to the Board-approved Code of Conduct. I will prioritize the enforcement of the Code of Conduct and support teachers who report feeling unsafe. The Duval Teachers Union is reporting an ever-increasing number of works comp claims as a result of teachers being injured by students. The DCPS Police Department can no longer afford to ignore crimes on campus, including violence that leads to injury, disorder, and many teachers and families leaving the district.
3. Wasteful spending. The district currently operates within a $2.7 billion budget. More than a year ago, the Audit Advisory Committee discovered that DCPS spends significantly more per student than other large counties for transportation and food services. The Master Facilities Plan is facing a $1.4 billion shortage. The district spent millions of dollars of federal emergency relief dollars, yet there are no results to show for it. I will scrutinize every contract brought to the Board, insist that all projects follow an RFP process that requires vendors to competitively bid, as well as conduct a forensic audit on the district’s finances.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
As a lifelong resident of District 3, I have a broad network of relationships I’ve built in many different communities. I have my ear to the ground in a variety of neighborhoods, including locations where residents often choose private or charter schools, as well as communities that serve students learning English and the American way of life.
I believe hearing from them and honoring their perspective is necessary when considering solutions to the challenges of dropping enrollment and academic achievement. As an elected School Board member, I will uphold my duty to represent all stakeholders – students and their families, taxpayers, and all residents because everyone has a vested interest in the quality of our public education system.
When it’s time to address wrongs, I will speak up. I will not remain silent or go along with the status quo in order to follow the path of least resistance. My constituents can be confident that I will work hard to address problems that need to be fixed and fight for what’s right.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I would hope to be remembered as a public servant who was focused on making things better for our students and our city. I would hope to be remembered as someone who was willing to face tough challenges head-on, and who had the courage to make decisions that would benefit Duval County in the long run, leading to a revitalization of our public education system.
Campaign website: www.voteforbecky.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Cindy Pearson
Occupation: Current School Board Member
Age: 54
Family: Husband, Scott Pearson; 3 children who have attended Duval County Public Schools
Education: Master of Science in Recreational Studies, University of Florida; Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Florida State University; Diploma, Samuel Wolfson High School
Political experience: ‘Elected to Duval County School Board, 2020
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Budget- bring expenses in line with revenue; Student achievement- bring Duval County from the bottom to the top of the “Big 7” districts; Neighborhood schools- restore community confidence so that neighborhood schools are parents’ schools of choice
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I have been committed to serving students, families and staff, not special interests. I have been a champion for Duval County Public Schools, bringing more funding, more resources and more safety to our schools. I have focused on issues, solutions and partnerships to create excellent learning environments for all students.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Within the next four years, I want to see improvements in student attendance, engagement and achievement so that Duval County Public Schools is recognized as a place where graduates are prepared to enter the workforce, the military or the university and become leaders in their communities.
Campaign website: votecindypearson.com
Campaign social media: Facebook