July 19, 2024 • 10 mins
Lewis and two other candidates are battling it out for a seat being vacated by Barbara McQuinn.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hey, Joel Malcolm Ford WJNO dotcom. My election spotlight is on the
(00:03):
pob Beach County school Board race forthe District one seat, and there are
three candidates in this race and weare checking in with Paige Lewis. Thank
you for joining me. Thank youfor having me Joel. Now let's get
some information on you. Have yourun for this or any other office before?
(00:25):
No, I have not. Allright, and tell us what you
know? What you what? Whatwas the impetus behind your decision to do
this? So you know, Ibelieve that education is a pathway to success
for all of our students in PalmageCounty, whether it's a pathway that goes
into higher education or into the trades, which I think is very important.
(00:48):
For the past seven years, I'vebeen a rating intervention teacher focusing on kids
off the tamer And Avenue and WestPalm Beach. I was able to take
them from seventeen percent reading on gradelevel to sixty seven percent, and I
just really felt like I needed todo something for more children. So I
(01:08):
was encouraged by a great deal ofpeople to go ahead and run for school
board. So what where were youdoing this teaching? I was an urban
youth impact off of Australian An anonprofit you were doing. It was kind
of like tutoring work. Yeah,okay, all right, what would you
(01:29):
say to somebody that you know,because I've heard this espoused about people that
you know run for school board andthose that run for school board who are
like long time teachers or principals orwhatnot will say this as well. Somebody
that would say, you know,but you've never you know, worked as
(01:51):
an actual teacher at a school,a public school, whatnot. What would
you say to them? So Iactually have been a teacher in the nonprofit
that I served, and so Ido have a background in education, but
I also have a background in mentalhealth and small business, which makes me
very well rounded, you know,to serve on the school board because it's
(02:13):
not just education issues that you havethere. There's a lot of financial capital
improvement type business issues that often needto be solved. You know, it's
kind of calmed down recently, butwe had, you know, the last
couple of years ago, we youknow, we had some uproars, not
(02:37):
just here, but you know,it was worse in other areas where you
had teachers going against some of theschool board members. School board members going
against some of the teachers, youknow, and a lot of that was
over COVID and then we had DEIissues, et cetera. So what are
your thoughts on any of that stuff? So, you know, as a
(02:59):
as a school board member, Ireally do want to make it more welcoming
for parents to come and have theirsay at the school board meeting. I
know that oftentimes that can be veryintimidating, and so I look forward to
having town halls and communities that Iserve to make sure that our parents are
actually heard. Do you feel that'snot done enough for is it even done
(03:24):
at all at this currently? Idon't understand what you mean. You're talking
about having the little town town hallsand you know in your specific district,
and is that going on at allmaybe you know, whether in your district
or this district that you're running foror any others. Sure, so there,
(03:45):
So in District seven, they actuallydo a really good job with having
town halls, you know, tolook at some of the issues that have
come up in their area, whichI am also very familiar with that area
because predominantly that's the area I've served. But we need to make sure that
the people in each of our districtsare heard. And I think that oftentimes
(04:05):
people are intimidated just by the settingof the school board and that has nothing
to do with you know, anyspecific members or anything. It's just an
intimidating setting. And I think thatif we could get back into our communities
and provide that platform within a muchmore comfortable setting, I think we would
(04:26):
hear more from our parents. Parand involvement is very important. Are there
any concerns you have currently with regardto the you know, to the current
school board as it is. So, I have concerns because I don't think
that there's diversity of thoughts. Ithink currently we have a school board that's
(04:53):
predominantly votes seven to zero, andI think in twenty twenty four we need
to embrace new ideas to make surethat our kids are successful. Are you
do you go to school board meetingscurrently? I do. I do,
and I have been ever since,even before I decided to run. I
(05:15):
also used them to watch them onYouTube. Okay, and let's you know,
talk about you know, why youfeel like you would be the best
and we should point out for folkslistening this is Barbara mcquinn's seat. She
is her term is expiring, andI don't believe there are term limits,
(05:38):
So I guess she's just not running, right are there are no term limits,
don't I don't believe. So she'snot running for another term here,
and so this is an open seat. There are three candidates here, including
yourself, Page lewis what, ultimately, you know, what is a key
reason why folks should vote for you? Sure, So I think we're going
(05:59):
to go back to the beginning becauseI'm the only candidate that has a background
in education and has actually been ina classroom for the past seven years.
I also believe that again, youknow, I'm very well rounded, whether
it's for making business decisions or educationaldecisions, and also decisions with substance abuse
(06:21):
and mental health. So I'm theonly candidate in the race that has that,
you know, that well rounded backgroundthat you need to make decisions on
the school board. What what areyour thoughts regarding charter schools? So I
(06:44):
am I'm all for charter schools.Unfortunately, because we have not been able
to do a great job in thepublic school we have created a need for
charter schools and private schools, evenhomeschooling today. As we stand today,
only fifty four percent of our thirdgraders can read on grade level. And
that's the problem. Our state constitutionrequires a very low bar of an adequate
(07:11):
education, and I think that ifour kids aren't reading on grade level,
that we're not even needing that adequateeducation required. So we need to do
things differentiz all right, before wewrap up, did you have anything else?
I don't have anything else. Ijust hoped it on August twenty if
(07:33):
you will remember me, my nameis Page Lewis. I'm running for school
board in District one, and Pagelike a book because everybody needs to read.
There you go, all right,well, I appreciate you joining us.
And these races are just to beclear, these races are only open
for people in the specific district,correct, yes, sir, the district
(07:55):
District one is. You know,if you live in District one school board,
it'll be on your ballot. Soand obviously these are nonpartisan races.
Even though I know this year thereis a constitutional amendment that's going to be
on the ballot, I might aswell get you on that. How do
you feel about that? As faras the constitutional amendment of the proposed constitutional
(08:16):
amendment that would make if voters approveit in November, it would make these
partisan races, right, and it'sa sad day that we can't just come
together over the education of our children. But unfortunately, people don't research the
candidates. So when I can't tellyou, especially from knocking on doors,
(08:39):
people don't know what district they livein. They have no idea what's going
on with, you know, orwho the candidates are in their school board
races. And I do believe thatif at least, if it did have
an R or a D or anMPa, at least it gives people some
kind of idea of what the ideasare for education. And it's just unfortunate
(09:01):
because people literally will just pick thefirst name on the ballot. And I
think that's sad because education is soimportant, and I think it's sad that
we've had to resort to that,But I do believe that we have to
because people don't take the time toresearch. And I do I want people
(09:22):
to research your candidates. Make sureyour research your candidates. So ultimately,
because of the way you're describing it, if you would be in favor of
the constitutional amendment. I would bein favor of the constitutional amendments. I
gotcha, all right. Well,I appreciate your time and again talking to
the voters in District one again fornow anyway, it's you know, all
(09:46):
all parties. If you live inDistrict one, it'll be on your ballot
and you can vote on this racepage. Lewis kendidate for Pompach County school
Board District one and open seat onWJNO dot com. Thank you, Bill,
Hey, Joel Malcolm Ford WJNO dotcom. My election spotlight is on the
(00:03):
pob Beach County school Board race forthe District one seat, and there are
three candidates in this race and weare checking in with Paige Lewis. Thank
you for joining me. Thank youfor having me Joel. Now let's get
some information on you. Have yourun for this or any other office before?
(00:25):
No, I have not. Allright, and tell us what you
know? What you what? Whatwas the impetus behind your decision to do
this? So you know, Ibelieve that education is a pathway to success
for all of our students in PalmageCounty, whether it's a pathway that goes
into higher education or into the trades, which I think is very important.
(00:48):
For the past seven years, I'vebeen a rating intervention teacher focusing on kids
off the tamer And Avenue and WestPalm Beach. I was able to take
them from seventeen percent reading on gradelevel to sixty seven percent, and I
just really felt like I needed todo something for more children. So I
(01:08):
was encouraged by a great deal ofpeople to go ahead and run for school
board. So what where were youdoing this teaching? I was an urban
youth impact off of Australian An anonprofit you were doing. It was kind
of like tutoring work. Yeah,okay, all right, what would you
(01:29):
say to somebody that you know,because I've heard this espoused about people that
you know run for school board andthose that run for school board who are
like long time teachers or principals orwhatnot will say this as well. Somebody
that would say, you know,but you've never you know, worked as
(01:51):
an actual teacher at a school,a public school, whatnot. What would
you say to them? So Iactually have been a teacher in the nonprofit
that I served, and so Ido have a background in education, but
I also have a background in mentalhealth and small business, which makes me
very well rounded, you know,to serve on the school board because it's
(02:13):
not just education issues that you havethere. There's a lot of financial capital
improvement type business issues that often needto be solved. You know, it's
kind of calmed down recently, butwe had, you know, the last
couple of years ago, we youknow, we had some uproars, not
(02:37):
just here, but you know,it was worse in other areas where you
had teachers going against some of theschool board members. School board members going
against some of the teachers, youknow, and a lot of that was
over COVID and then we had DEIissues, et cetera. So what are
your thoughts on any of that stuff? So, you know, as a
(02:59):
as a school board member, Ireally do want to make it more welcoming
for parents to come and have theirsay at the school board meeting. I
know that oftentimes that can be veryintimidating, and so I look forward to
having town halls and communities that Iserve to make sure that our parents are
actually heard. Do you feel that'snot done enough for is it even done
(03:24):
at all at this currently? Idon't understand what you mean. You're talking
about having the little town town hallsand you know in your specific district,
and is that going on at allmaybe you know, whether in your district
or this district that you're running foror any others. Sure, so there,
(03:45):
So in District seven, they actuallydo a really good job with having
town halls, you know, tolook at some of the issues that have
come up in their area, whichI am also very familiar with that area
because predominantly that's the area I've served. But we need to make sure that
the people in each of our districtsare heard. And I think that oftentimes
(04:05):
people are intimidated just by the settingof the school board and that has nothing
to do with you know, anyspecific members or anything. It's just an
intimidating setting. And I think thatif we could get back into our communities
and provide that platform within a muchmore comfortable setting, I think we would
(04:26):
hear more from our parents. Parand involvement is very important. Are there
any concerns you have currently with regardto the you know, to the current
school board as it is. So, I have concerns because I don't think
that there's diversity of thoughts. Ithink currently we have a school board that's
(04:53):
predominantly votes seven to zero, andI think in twenty twenty four we need
to embrace new ideas to make surethat our kids are successful. Are you
do you go to school board meetingscurrently? I do. I do,
and I have been ever since,even before I decided to run. I
(05:15):
also used them to watch them onYouTube. Okay, and let's you know,
talk about you know, why youfeel like you would be the best
and we should point out for folkslistening this is Barbara mcquinn's seat. She
is her term is expiring, andI don't believe there are term limits,
(05:38):
So I guess she's just not running, right are there are no term limits,
don't I don't believe. So she'snot running for another term here,
and so this is an open seat. There are three candidates here, including
yourself, Page lewis what, ultimately, you know, what is a key
reason why folks should vote for you? Sure, So I think we're going
(05:59):
to go back to the beginning becauseI'm the only candidate that has a background
in education and has actually been ina classroom for the past seven years.
I also believe that again, youknow, I'm very well rounded, whether
it's for making business decisions or educationaldecisions, and also decisions with substance abuse
(06:21):
and mental health. So I'm theonly candidate in the race that has that,
you know, that well rounded backgroundthat you need to make decisions on
the school board. What what areyour thoughts regarding charter schools? So I
(06:44):
am I'm all for charter schools.Unfortunately, because we have not been able
to do a great job in thepublic school we have created a need for
charter schools and private schools, evenhomeschooling today. As we stand today,
only fifty four percent of our thirdgraders can read on grade level. And
that's the problem. Our state constitutionrequires a very low bar of an adequate
(07:11):
education, and I think that ifour kids aren't reading on grade level,
that we're not even needing that adequateeducation required. So we need to do
things differentiz all right, before wewrap up, did you have anything else?
I don't have anything else. Ijust hoped it on August twenty if
(07:33):
you will remember me, my nameis Page Lewis. I'm running for school
board in District one, and Pagelike a book because everybody needs to read.
There you go, all right,well, I appreciate you joining us.
And these races are just to beclear, these races are only open
for people in the specific district,correct, yes, sir, the district
(07:55):
District one is. You know,if you live in District one school board,
it'll be on your ballot. Soand obviously these are nonpartisan races.
Even though I know this year thereis a constitutional amendment that's going to be
on the ballot, I might aswell get you on that. How do
you feel about that? As faras the constitutional amendment of the proposed constitutional
(08:16):
amendment that would make if voters approveit in November, it would make these
partisan races, right, and it'sa sad day that we can't just come
together over the education of our children. But unfortunately, people don't research the
candidates. So when I can't tellyou, especially from knocking on doors,
(08:39):
people don't know what district they livein. They have no idea what's going
on with, you know, orwho the candidates are in their school board
races. And I do believe thatif at least, if it did have
an R or a D or anMPa, at least it gives people some
kind of idea of what the ideasare for education. And it's just unfortunate
(09:01):
because people literally will just pick thefirst name on the ballot. And I
think that's sad because education is soimportant, and I think it's sad that
we've had to resort to that,But I do believe that we have to
because people don't take the time toresearch. And I do I want people
(09:22):
to research your candidates. Make sureyour research your candidates. So ultimately,
because of the way you're describing it, if you would be in favor of
the constitutional amendment. I would bein favor of the constitutional amendments. I
gotcha, all right. Well,I appreciate your time and again talking to
the voters in District one again fornow anyway, it's you know, all
(09:46):
all parties. If you live inDistrict one, it'll be on your ballot
and you can vote on this racepage. Lewis kendidate for Pompach County school
Board District one and open seat onWJNO dot com. Thank you, Bill,
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