Leon County School Board

Laurie Lawson Cox is set to be sworn in Tuesday as the newest member of the Leon County School Board. She says one of her first priorities is to ensure kids get back up to speed after many fell behind during the coronavirus pandemic.

Laurie Lawson Cox is the newest member of the Leon County School Board. Cox beat out Godby Assistant Principal Alex Stemle for the job.

Godby Assistant Principal Alex Stemle and retired teacher Laurie Cox are delivering their final pitches to voters. The two are running for a Leon County School Board seat. It’s among the most-watched races, locally.

Alva Striplin handily won her reelection bid to the Leon County School Board during Tuesday's primary with 53.54% of the vote as of 1:50 a.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile, the District 4 race is heading for a November runoff.

The Leon County School Board could shift a bit to the right depending on the outcomes of local races. While Gov. Ron DeSantis has not endorsed any local candidates for school board his influence is playing out in a predominantly blue county.

The race to replace DeeDee Rasmussen on the Leon County School board features two district veterans and a self-described “right-wing conservative." Two of the three candidates say they support the conservative group Moms for Liberty, which has become a political force for parental rights during the pandemic. The overall effort by Republicans to exert influence at the local level is working, as candidates weigh their messages carefully.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is expanding his influence down to local politics, especially when it comes to school board races. Lynn Hatter reports that’s playing out in school board races in Leon County where some candidates are being careful when it comes to issues like how to address LGBTQ students, and how to discuss race and history in the classroom, following new laws that place restrictions on each.

Leon’s School Board has approved a new LGBTQ guide after more than four hours of public comment.

Leon County School Board member Dee Dee Rasmussen is resigning. Her departure from the board means the seat will come available for a special election this Fall.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil sees the school district as a key partner in an effort to lower gun violence in the community. Most of the perpetrators and the victims of gun crimes also have a history of expulsions, dropping out, or being sent to an alternative school.