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MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024
VOLUME 119 - ISSUE 10 Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
A voter guide to the six state amendments this election NOV. 5 IS THE LAST DAY FOR VOTING
By Morgan Vanderlaan Alligator Staff Writer
Early voting in Alachua County started on Oct. 21 for the 2024 presidential election. From dynamic candidates at the top of the ticket down to local sheriff races, this year’s election will have far-reaching impacts across Florida. However, one important and often confusing part of this year’s election cycle is the six constitutional amendments that voters can decide on. Each amendment must meet a threshold of over 60% approval from voters to pass. If approved, these amendments would become a permanent part of Florida’s state constitution and could not be bypassed by any act of legislation. Despite being non-partisan amendments, voters across Florida stand divided on each issue. Amendment 1
If passed, Amendment 1 would make all school board elections partisan races from the 2026 election cycle onward. Currently, it is up to the discretion of each individual county whether or not to bring politics into the board by making candidates list their political affiliations. In Alachua County, school board races are currently non-partisan. School board seats are already politicized enough without bringing party affiliation into races, Alachua County League of Women Voters President Janice Garry said. “Schools and education of our students is not a partisan issue, and it should not be made partisan by having candidates represent a specific party,” she said. However, the sponsor of the amendment, State Rep. Spencer
Roach (R-Fort Myers), said the purpose of the bill is not to bring politics into the classroom but rather to educate voters on who the candidates on the board are. “For me, it’s about transparency, and I simply believe that we have an obligation to give voters as much information about a candidate as possible and let them make a decision about vetting a candidate,” he said in a statement to the Florida House panel in 2023. Roach’s office did not respond for comment in time for publication. Amendment 2
If passed, Amendment 2 would provide a constitutional right to hunting and fishing. The amendment states that fishing and hunting would become the preferred method for “responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife" and "shall be preserved forever as a public right." Fishing and hunting regulations are currently set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Amendment 2 will secure Floridians' right to hunt and fish by enshrining it into the Constitution, said Ed Penny, the director of public policy education at Ducks Unlimited Southern Region. Ducks Unlimited is a national, non-profit organization that does habitat restoration in wetland territories. The amendment makes sure that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors through fishing and hunting, Penny said. “In Florida, hunting and fishing is a strong part of many citizens' heritage,” he said. “It's something to be proud of. It's something to protect.” However, some voters find the wording of the amendment troublesome. In a constitutional amendment, every single word is impor-
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT
Men's Basketball Story description finish with comma, pg#
Meet some of UF’s international recruits. Read more on pg. 11.
SEE AMENDMENT, PAGE 3
Matthew Lewis // Alligator Staff
UF cheerleaders wave at the homecoming parade audience on Oct. 18, 2024. Read more on pg. 4.
Alachua County School Board fired its superintendent. What’s next? LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ISSUES OF STABILITY CALL ACSB’S FUTURE INTO QUESTION
By Sara-James Ranta Alligator Staff Writer
In a 3-to-2 vote, the Alachua County School Board voted to fire Superintendent Shane Andrew at a meeting Oct. 15. Andrew’s firing came after recent evaluations of his position were completed by each board member. Behind the scenes, each board member had their own reasons for voting the way they did. “It’s been an honor to serve the children and families of this community for nearly 35 years,” An-
Climate migration
Citizens flee climate change in coastal cities, pg. 5
The Avenue: Pumpkins
The best pumpkin patches in Alachua County, pg. 6
drew wrote in a statement Oct. 16. “I will continue to do what’s best for students through my final day as Superintendent of this outstanding district, and I look forward to helping children in my next chapter.” Board member evaluations raise concerns
District 3 board member Sarah Rockwell voted against Andrew’s termination because she wanted the board to perform a national search for the best candidate to replace Andrew. She rated Andrew overall “needs improvement” in her evaluation. Rockwell said she found many parts of the evaluation process were last-minute and violated policy. The evaluation instrument is
supposed to be developed jointly by the board and superintendent, then formally adopted by the board. ACSB raised concerns about the instrument developed by Andrew at a workshop meeting, Rockwell said. “Some of the language in the rubric was vague, things like ‘most,’ ‘almost all,’ ‘some,’ words that could mean different things by different people,” she said. After the workshop, the instrument was supposed to be revised and brought back to the board. The board would then formally adopt it as an action item in a public ACSB meeting. That never happened, Rockwell said. Per the superintendent’s contract, evaluations were supposed to
SEE SUPERINTENDENT, PAGE 4
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