Marcia Andrews is a Palm Beach County School Board member facing challengers who are long on ideology and short on substance.
A lifelong educator who spent decades as a district teacher and administrator and has spent the last 12 years on the board, Andrews represents District 6. It includes the county’s western cluster of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee and the Glades communities. All District 6 voters can cast ballots in this Aug. 23 election.
Of Andrews’ four opponents, only Deanne Ewers — a district teacher — and Amanda Silvestri participated in the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board candidate forum. The other candidates are Jeff Browning and Jennifer Showalter.
Silvestri’s two issues are the board’s COVID-19 mask mandate and the equity statement that originally referred to “white advantage.” Silvestri said “there wasn’t enough proof” to support that wording, which the board — with Andrews in the majority — removed after receiving criticism.
Of the mask policy, Andrews said, “Different parents have different wishes. I will stick with what I did for our children.”
Of the equity statement, Andrews said, “We should have looked at that a lot closer.” She voted to remove it because she opposes all policies that leave people with “hurt feelings.”
Beyond those two issues, Silvestri could not cite any Andrews votes with which she disagreed. She said of Andrews, “You’ve done a great job,” yet she also believes the board needs “a new, fresh voice.”
Silvestri’s voice would not be helpful. “I’m not a right-winger,” she said, though she has a $100 contribution from School Board candidate Angelique Contreras, who’s challenging Erica Whitfield in District 4. Silvestri called Contreras, who went to the rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol riot, “a great candidate.”
Silvestri and Showalter also campaigned for votes at a local gun show. Given the many school shootings, that was clueless, tone deaf or both.
Silvestri in particular had previously expressed anger over Palm Beach Schools Superintendent Michael Burke referencing the Warren Zevon song “Lawyers, Guns and Money” in a speech to the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, a stance that now seems hypocritical in hindsight.
Silvestri also said “I despise” the label “don’t say gay” on legislation that restricts what teachers can discuss about sexual orientation. “It makes (a supporter) appear as a bigot.” But she volunteered that one book she would ban is Flamer, a coming-of-age story about a gay teen.
At 72, Andrews shows no sign of slowing down after a career in which she has been a district principal, an area superintendent and the chief recruiting officer. She has an extensive record of professional and civic volunteerism. The teachers union and other labor groups have endorsed her.
Voters have many reasons to retain Andrews. The biggest is her advocacy for schools in the Glades, one of the county’s poorest areas.
Andrews helped start the Glades Career Readiness Roundtable, which raised $2 million to help students find jobs. The district has built three new Glades schools in the past decade. Andrews’ campaign contributions include many from Glades farmers who appreciate her devotion to the often-overlooked region.
As School Board Chairman Frank Barbieri told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, “I have never met anyone more dedicated to the children of Palm Beach County — especially those children in the Glades — than Mrs. Andrews.”
Ewers seems well-intentioned but has little grasp of policy issues. Browning favors the sheriff’s office taking over school policing. Showalter wants to “eradicate political indoctrinations” that don’t exist.
For voters, this is an easy choice. The Sun Sentinel recommends Marcia Andrews for Palm Beach County School Board District 6.
Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its staff members. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.
