Seminole teachers union backs Garick, Kraus and Mills for school board

The Seminole Education Association has lined up behind Autumn Garick, Kristine Kraus and newcomer Holton Mills, a sign that the teachers union wants to shape the direction of Seminole County Public Schools before voters decide three of the five school board seats. In a district that serves 65,443 students in 76 schools, runs on a $1.5 billion budget and employs more than 7,000 people, the stakes reach well beyond endorsements and into the daily workings of classrooms, staffing and student services.

SEA President Thomas Bugos said school board members make decisions that directly impact classrooms, teachers and students every day. The union, which represents Seminole County educators and is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the Florida Education Association and the National Education Association, said it backed candidates who will listen to educators and work collaboratively to strengthen public education in Seminole County. The SEA release was paid for and approved by Garick, Kraus and Mills.

Garick, a former literacy educator, is seeking to hold her District 5 seat against Brian Newsome. Kraus, a former preschool teacher and mother of four Seminole County Public Schools graduates, is defending District 1 against Antonio Pizza. Mills, who chairs the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools and works as an account executive at evōk advertising, is running in the open District 2 race against School Resource Officer Joshua Memminger. Kelley Davis is not on the ballot, leaving District 2 without an incumbent.

The board races carry unusual weight because Seminole County’s elections are nonpartisan and countywide, so every voter can participate in all three contests. A candidate who gets 50% or more in the Aug. 18 primary wins outright; if not, the top two advance to the Nov. 3 general election. The filing deadline passed June 12, and each winning candidate will serve a four-year term.

Education observers have said the board’s power extends into staffing, school start times, travel rules, enrollment changes and how the district responds to state mandates. With all three races competitive, the outcome could produce a new majority bloc on the five-member board, giving the union-backed slate a chance to influence how Seminole County schools are run over the next four years.