Carol Boston: Candidate, Santa Rosa County School Board District 3
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an interview conducted via questionnaire by the Pensacola News Journal with Escambia and Santa Rosa County election candidates for their respective races. All of the answers were submitted to the Pensacola News Journal by the candidate and are available to our readers to show the candidates' position and priorities on the issues. Candidates were limited to 750 words. IF A CANDIDATE DID NOT RETURN A QUESTIONNAIRE BY DEADLINE, THEIR Q&A WAS NOT PUBLISHED.
Candidate: Carol Boston
Office you're seeking: Santa Rosa County School Board District 3
Occupation: School Board Representative
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration
More about the race: Longtime incumbent faces newcomer for Santa Rosa County School Board District 3 seat
District 1 race: Longtime Milton teacher faces Air Force vet for Santa Rosa School Board District 1 seat
Why are you running for this office? To serve students and the school district.
What makes you stand out from your opponent(s)?
I have 23 years of dedicated service to Santa Rosa County School District (SRCSD) including 8 years as a school board representative. My opponent has no experience in our Santa Rosa County School District.
I was an integral part of hiring a Director of Safety, hardening schools, ensuring that SRCSD was the first in Florida to have an armed and trained School Resource Officer in every school and instituting the Guardian Program. My opponent was not involved in school safety.
Through my advocacy and collaboration with Mrs. Knight; Director of Work Force Education, nearly 2,100 industry certifications were earned by our students in the last school year alone. My opponent is not engaged with industry certifications for our students.
Previous elective office/ elective office experience: 8 years Santa Rosa County School Board District 3 elected representative.
What are your three most important priorities if you are elected or re-elected?
School Safety
Serving The Students
Innovative Local Partnerships
How would you implement Priority 1?
SRCSD was the first in the state to have armed and trained SROs in every school
Instituted the Guardian Program
Director of Safety hired
Hardened schools from intrusion.
How would you implement Priority 2?
I support positive outcomes for all students through varied and appropriate curricula. I am a leader and supporter of Career Academies and Skilled Trades. I increased student opportunities to enter career paths directly after High School.
How would you implement Priority 3?
I am a proponent of STEAM -and- skilled trade certifications. Through my advocacy, students earned nearly 2,100 industry certifications in the 2020/21 school year.
Teacher shortage: Escambia and Santa Rosa school districts hired hundreds, but still need need more teachers
How will you use your position as board member to address the learning and socialization gap caused by COVID-19?
Santa Rosa County District earned the achievement as an “A” rated school district for the 2021-2022 school year. The district strives to narrow any learning or socialization gaps caused by any disease or natural disaster our community may experience.
How will you change classroom curriculum, student clubs or school interaction with parents and students in response to new laws put into place governing public schools under Ron DeSantis?
When new textbook adoption occurs, curriculum is available at the School District office and on the district website for parental review. Because of my 13 years’ experience serving on and as chair of School Advisory Councils (SAC) I believe in engaging SAC members throughout the approval process of curriculum and text book adoption.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Carol Boston: Candidate, Santa Rosa County School Board, District 3
