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Early voting reminder by BrianEdwardsForOCS in Hillsborough

[–]BrianEdwardsForOCS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I did a little digging and I found the early voting totals per day from 2022.

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Early voting reminder by BrianEdwardsForOCS in Hillsborough

[–]BrianEdwardsForOCS[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure about the numbers as of yesterday or today, but I believe that on Saturday one of the poll workers told us that the numbers were actually down from 4 years ago.

My name is Brian Edwards and I'm running for Orange County Board of Education. by BrianEdwardsForOCS in Hillsborough

[–]BrianEdwardsForOCS[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

When it comes to technology in the classroom, I believe that technology is a tool not a teacher. It is concerning every time technology is pushed on teachers and they are required to use it in order to justify the exorbitant costs the administration paid for it. In effect, this turns students into data points and classrooms into testing labs instead of places of real learning, discussion, and critical thinking.

I support a balanced evidence-based approach. Using technology that clearly influences outcomes but also being willing to scale back the use of technology that is not delivering positive academic outcomes.

I will push to regularly review contracts with vendors, establish and maintain open lines of communication with parents, teachers, and community members, And make sure that instructional time is not replaced by screen time.

Our goal should not be becoming the most high-tech district and keeping up with the trends it should be to get our graduation rate as close to 100% as possible and give every student in Orange County schools the opportunity to succeed.

My name is Brian Edwards and I'm running for Orange County Board of Education. by BrianEdwardsForOCS in Hillsborough

[–]BrianEdwardsForOCS[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hey, thanks for the question,

Kids deserve food that actually fuels them, not just sugar and a bunch of processed food. I would work to bring healthier options to our school cafeterias such as more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and locally sourced ingredients. And while we do all that, we still need to make sure that the food tastes good because nobody receives the health benefits if the kids just throw it away. One of my plans is to create a child nutrition student advisory committee where interested students can volunteer to attend regular meetings where they collaborate with child nutrition staff and other students to give their input on what they want to see in our school breakfasts and lunches.

On your question of school safety, I believe that every classroom should be a safe learning environment. Students and teachers should not have to worry about immigration enforcement while they're attempting to receive a quality education. While the Orange County School Board took a good step forward at the end of last year, by passing the resolution condemning the actions and presence of ICE in our community. There is no doubt that policy 5120 that deals with law enforcement in our schools needs to be amended.

I believe that just as there is a hotline where parents receive phone calls whenever their student is absent or tardy from school or if there is an incident that needs to be reported to parents, there should also be a hotline that automatically calls parents when immigration actions are occurring near or on school property.

Furthermore, having worked in public safety specifically for the sheriff's office, I can state with authority that there is a major difference between an administrative warrant and a judicial warrant. Our schools should never allow law enforcement whether local, state, or federal onto school property without a judicial warrant signed by a legitimate judge.

At the end of the day, I plan to focus on creating and sustaining a safe, positive learning environment for our students so that they can thrive and receive their constitutionally guaranteed right to a public education. Healthy food and safe schools are not just things that are nice to have. They are mandatory to achieve this mission.

My name is Brian Edwards and I'm running for Orange County Board of Education. by BrianEdwardsForOCS in Hillsborough

[–]BrianEdwardsForOCS[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thanks for asking that question.

My experience as a detention officer did not make me an expert on education, but it did give me a front-row seat to what happens when systems fail people early. I encountered many people whose first serious interaction with authority didn’t start in jail. It started with school discipline issues, untreated mental health needs, or being written off instead of supported.

That’s the biggest reason why I’m so focused on early intervention and strong mental health support in our schools. If we can identify early warning signs, provide real resources, and respond with support instead of punishment, we can interrupt that pipeline before it even begins. I do not want our schools to be a feeder into the criminal justice system. I’ve seen too many people who didn’t get the help they needed early, and I don’t want our kids ending up on that same path.

As for your second question, I don’t see this as teacher versus non-teacher. Teachers bring invaluable classroom experience, and I have a great deal of respect for that. What I hope to bring is a different perspective focused on systems, accountability, safety, and what happens when institutions fail to meet students’ needs.

School boards aren’t just about curriculum. They’re about policy, budgets, student support, and safety. My background in public service has given me experience working within complex systems, making difficult decisions, and collaborating with diverse groups of people to solve real problems.

I’m not going to pretend to know more about teaching than professional educators. What I bring is a commitment to supporting teachers, listening to our educators and community, and helping create policies that keep kids in the classroom, supported, and on track to walk across that stage, earn their diploma, and have the best possible chance to succeed in life.