Board of education

A $34 million Los Angeles Unified School District campus at 1215 Miramar Avenue, built for Camino Nuevo Charter Academy and opened in 2013, has sat vacant since the charter operator closed the site in 2021, citing its distance from other Camino Nuevo campuses. The building carries an $8 million construction debt that any new tenant must repay. Years of vandalism, fires, and burst pipes have followed, with LAUSD now spending roughly $1 million annually on security and upkeep. Deals with two prospective charter operators fell through, and a current bid by the Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise faces costly district conditions, including debt assumption and repair costs, despite state requirements that the campus be made available to a charter school.

The St. Paul Board of Education will hold a special meeting to consider a revised plan for closing a multi-million-dollar budget gap, after parents and teachers objected to an earlier proposal to cut 18 English learner (EL) teachers. The new approach would leave more than 10 vacant positions unfilled and offer early retirement to seven to 12 EL teachers, saving roughly $2.3 million, with other adjustments bringing total savings to about $5.3 million. The district cites a loss of more than 500 EL students this year, tied partly to federal immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities, costing nearly $5 million in funding. The board previously postponed a vote unanimously amid the backlash.

Gov. Tina Kotek and state Sen. Christine Drazan, facing off again for Oregon governor, are offering competing visions for the state's struggling schools. Kotek points to a cell phone ban, increased school funding, and a new accountability system, saying progress is underway but will take more than one term. Drazan wants to replace Department of Education and state board leadership, end social promotion by third grade, and reinstate graduation skills requirements.

The candidates also split on a new federal school-choice tax credit program: Drazan would opt Oregon in, while Kotek remains skeptical of the Trump administration's rules. Both want more instructional time and reforms to funding formulas, as districts face budget cuts, closures, and a higher education system under financial strain.

Paterson's Board of Education election features three seats and seven candidates following a contentious year marked by the elimination of four choice elementary schools, an 8% tax hike paired with layoffs and job cuts, a plan to split the district's top-ranked gifted and talented program across two buildings, and a last-minute vote to extend Superintendent Laurie Newell's contract scheduled for the night before the election.

Incumbents Joel Ramirez and Mohammed Rashid, backed by Mayor Andre Sayegh and other local officials, have supported the superintendent's decisions, while incumbent Kenneth Simmons and challengers Chris Small and Banita Herndon have opposed them, citing a lack of transparency and academic concerns. Other candidates include Madelen Lemoine and Sumaidah Ramadan.

The Agawam, Massachusetts City Council has reignited debate over the public school district's "Brownies" nickname and mascot, which depicts an Indigenous person in a headdress. A council resolution affirmed the school committee's exclusive authority over district symbols like colors, logos, and mascots. Sponsors say it was meant to reinforce governance procedures, not take a position on the mascot itself. Mayor Chris Johnson, who chairs the school committee, said he was unaware of the resolution beforehand and noted current talks involve adopting a stylized letter "A" logo, not changing the nickname. Massachusetts has no statewide ban on Native American school mascots, though advocates continue pushing for one.

Cheatham County, Tennessee school board members and parents met to discuss a possible merger of Pegram Elementary and Kingston Springs Elementary, prompted by declining enrollment that could threaten Pegram's future. Under the proposal, about 437 K-4 students would attend a combined South Cheatham Elementary, with class sizes largely unchanged. The vacated Pegram building could become a community and culture center, housing a library, sheriff and county clerk satellite offices, a commercial kitchen for The Arc and Meals on Wheels, and a storm shelter. Some board members favor boosting enrollment instead. A follow-up meeting is set for next week, with a possible merger no earlier than the 2028-2029 school year.

Providence is set to search for a new school superintendent just four months after regaining local control of its public schools, ending nearly seven years of state oversight. Mayoral nominee David Morales confirmed the city will begin the search once authorized by the school board, citing stability for students as a priority. The Boston Globe reported that Superintendent Javier Montañez has hired a private attorney to negotiate an exit agreement, with an announcement possibly coming before year's end, despite his contract running through June 2027. Three of his deputies are also departing. The school board, which has denied taking official action, faces its own internal tension, including a postponed vote on removing its president.

Three Toms River seats on the nine-member Toms River Regional Board of Education are contested this year, with the race colored by an ongoing feud between Superintendent Michael Citta and Mayor Daniel Rodrick over test scores, spending and Citta's new contract. Incumbents Ashley Lamb and James Capone are running with newcomer Gerard Nappi on a "Protect What Matters" ticket, facing a "Finance, Education and Accountability" slate of Anthony Colucci, Elizabeth Huber and Laura Picurro, plus independent candidate Kristen Hanson.

Property taxes dominate the campaign after steep increases tied to falling state aid and a $306 million budget; challengers cite spending growth and Citta's raise, while incumbents point to preserved schools and stability. Campaign donations linked to Rodrick's former chief of staff and a developer suing the township have added controversy.