All seven candidates running for the open Miami-Dade School Board District 1 seat agree on one thing: school security is the top priority. But their proposals for keeping students safe differ sharply, giving Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay voters a clear choice before the Tuesday, Aug. 18 primary.
Early voting is already underway at Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 SW 152 St., and runs through Sunday, Aug. 16. Voters can use any of the county's 23 early voting sites, not just their assigned precinct.
The candidates outlined their security platforms in coverage published Aug. 10 by Local 10. The seat opened when Steve Gallon III resigned from the board to join the Miami-Dade County Commission.
Hardware vs. human investment
Joy Jackson, a pastor and retired teacher with 51 years in Miami-Dade public schools, said existing infrastructure is sufficient. She told Local 10 that locked doors, safety rooms, police officers and security monitors are already in place, and argued that giving students and staff more knowledge is the real key. Jackson holds the United Teachers of Dade endorsement.
Wrendly Mesidor, a Catholic school teacher with prior Miami-Dade public school experience, pushed further. He wants clear backpacks and metal detectors at every entry point, citing other districts that have adopted similar policies.
Bernard W.H. Jennings, chair of the Florida Memorial University Board of Trustees, focused on personnel. He argued that underpaid security guards look for other jobs while on duty and called for competitive wages to attract and retain quality staff. In a July 28 Miami Herald voter guide, Jennings also called for greater transparency in how the district's $7.4 billion budget is spent.
Prevention and mental health
James Wright, a former Opa-locka police chief and interim city manager who also served as a lieutenant with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, framed security as a prevention issue. "We need to also address bullying issues, which sometimes arise to the level of grievances, and then violence occurs," Wright said.
Erhabor Ighodaro, a former Miami Gardens vice mayor and former Miami-Dade public school teacher, zeroed in on mental health. He called for trauma-trained teachers and properly funded school counselors.
Linda Cothiere, a teacher, tied safety directly to learning outcomes, saying students cannot learn where they do not feel safe and that securing buildings is her priority.
Katrina Wilson, a retired principal who resigned her Miami Gardens City Council seat to run, said schools are safer than ever. She has the endorsement of outgoing board member Gallon.
What's at stake locally
The winner will join a nine-member board overseeing Miami-Dade County Public Schools. For families at Coral Reef Senior High and other local schools, the candidates' competing visions on security could shape everything from hallway protocols to counseling staffing levels.
If no candidate wins an outright majority Tuesday, Aug. 18, the top two finishers advance to the November general election. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.
