A Q&A with District 1 candidates for Marion County School Board

Allison Campbell (left) and Beth McCall (right) are the candidates for District 1 on the Marion County School Board in the 2024 election.

Editor’s  Note: The intro to this Q & A has been corrected to reflect an August election instead of a November one. Also, Campbel has three children in public schools – not two

The two candidates vying to represent District 1 on the Marion County School Board are both experienced at the role, and it’s up to the voters to decide in August which to choose.

Allison Campbell is running for reelection for her current seat on the school board, while former school board member Beth McCall challenges her in an attempt to rejoin the board.

Campbell has served on the school board since she was first elected in 2020. With three children enrolled in Marion County Public Schools, she aims to be the “voice of a parent” on the board. She recently earned her doctorate in strategic communication from Regent University

Campbell’s time on the school board has been marked with navigating the pandemic, updating the interlocal agreement among the school board, county and its municipalities, and reinstating impact fees to fund construction after a 13-year hiatus.

McCall served on the school board in the District 2 seat from 2016 until her resignation in June 2021. Since she has worked as the director of talent development at the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership and served on the board of a number of nonprofit organizations, including as executive director of the Marion County Children’s Alliance.

McCall earned a master’s degree in management and leadership from Webster University. She received a bachelor’s degree in education and music from Eastern New Mexico University.

McCall moved homes and now resides in District 1 where she is running for office.

The “Gazette” asked both candidates a series of questions about their qualifications for office and professional history. Their written answers are included here verbatim.

Q&A with Allison Campbell

Q: What do you count as your greatest accomplishments during your first term as a school board member?

A:

• Approved new district brand, and mission, vision and strategic plan with measurable objectives, because higher expectations produce greater results.
• Approved new evaluation tool for the superintendent that aligns directly with the strategic plan.
• Approved complete overhaul of district policies to align with state statutes. Policies had not been updated annually and were only approved piecemeal before. We have since updated at least annually, aligning with state law changes.
• Ensured budgeting and staffing plans increased funding to schools, where the students are.
• Improved district grade back to a B for 2022-2023, up from the C in 2021-2022 and the hold harmless COVID years of 2020-2021.
• Enhanced early learning initiatives across the district, elevating the district from 66^th in the state in kindergarten readiness to 37^th in one year.
• After the 2021 vote to close Evergreen Elementary, repurposed the space into the successful Fordham Early Learning Academy thereby impacting kindergarten readiness.
• Redistricted SW Marion schools to assist with overcrowding and capacity issues.
• Developed solid working relationships with local legislative delegation members and invited and escorted them in school visits, tours, first day of school and graduation participation. Participated in statute development with our legislators to improve and enhance education policy statewide.
• Received the District’s first ever legislative appropriation – $5.57M for Marion Technical College in 2023. Understanding the need for greater career and technical education opportunities, this new facility will bring aviation and diesel mechanics instruction to our community.
• Served as Chair in 2023, successfully leading the district through some challenging conversations – Books, Safe Schools Department, School Calendar for 2023-2024, Superintendent 3-year contract renewal and more.
• Implemented a moment of silence before each board meeting, mirroring and modeling how our students begin each day as statute requires.
• Approved new Interlocal Agreement in April 2023. (see below answer for more detail)
• Ensured union bargaining meetings occurred earlier with the expectation to be completed before the beginning of the school year.
• Worked with supervisor of elections to ensure our school board member residence areas aligned with the 2020 census data and were approved in December 2021 per statute and policy.
• Served on the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Public Liaison Advisory Committee as an elected official and mother of three student athletes.
• Approved construction of a new Central Warehouse (moved in in 2024) vacating a property that will soon go up for sale in Downtown Ocala. Also approved construction of a new data center that will also us to vacate additional property in Downtown. Selling these assets will increase our capital income, thus saving taxpayers as we build and replace aging facilities.
• Approved two new elementary schools, a new high school, and added wings onto schools in high growth areas.
• Approved replacement air conditioning units in middle school and elementary gymnasiums, equipping schools with much needed AC during required physical education classes and after-school activities.
• In 2022 and 2023, non-renewed male staff members with documented histories of bullying and harassing female students.
• Approved dozens of new job descriptions to align with jobs and evaluations.
• Approved new software to track work orders for tech services and maintenance for better efficiency.
• Approved policy to include student representatives to the School Board and served as Board liaison in this unique public policy internship opportunity, investing in our future public servants.
• Collaborated with internal auditing firm to increase operational efficiencies.
• Since 2021, participated as an active non-voting member of the City of Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission – something commission members have told me was not done before I was elected.
• Became an Emerging Leader and a Certified School Board Member in my first year in office, validating my desire to be the best school board member I can be.
• Currently serving as Vice Chair for the Central Florida School Boards Coalition and am set to become Chair in November. The CFSBC, made up of 14 Districts, advocate and lobby for educational policy with a united voice for change.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish if elected to a second term?

A: My life motto is to effect change. Our superintendent often says, “what’s best for students if often really hard for adults.” I understand change is hard, but we have come so far in the four years since I was elected. Yet, there is still so much left to do.

While student success and achievement rates are on the rise, we still have areas to improve for students to choose their future pathway (employment, enlistment, enrollment or entrepreneurship). New career programs, acceleration opportunities, a focus on gifted instruction, as well as continued literacy enhancements will be areas of partnership with the superintendent and the Board.

As the largest employer in Marion County, we continue to need improvement in job recruitment and retention as well as increased job description analysis and evaluation alignment. These are strength areas for me, and I will continue to provide the oversight needed to assist. Additionally, identifying waste and enhancing operational inefficiencies remain. I have a record of asking tough questions and not approving of everything put before the Board. I will continue to be that taxpayer voice of accountability.

In recent years, Marion County has become a positive voice with decision makers in legislative policy development in Tallahassee. Prior to my serving as the legislative and advocacy liaison on the School Board, we did not have that influence. If re-elected, those relationships can only be enhanced to support students in Marion County schools and across the state.

I’ve always been steadfast that I wanted to be on the School Board for two terms. If I am afforded the opportunity to serve another four years, my youngest son will be a high school senior in my eighth year. Being a mom on the School Board has been one of my biggest desires, because I am not the typical “politician.” With my children in schools today, I see how education is delivered very differently than when I was in school and understand where gaps exist. I know how social media and cell phones impact my own teenagers and how student mental health challenges are more prevalent today than ever before. My valuable perspectives add unique context to present-day education delivery, and I hope to continue being that parent voice.

In School Board meetings we read a statement that includes “we will leave a legacy of success.” Since joining the Board, I have had a clear vision and a clear voice for Accountability, Budgeting for Student Success, and Common Sense in Education. If chosen to continue to serve, this board will leave a legacy of success.

Q: Implementing impact fees again after a 13-year hiatus and voting to put a half-cent sales tax on the ballot had to create some political headwinds.  Do you think this is why you drew an opponent?

A: The reason I drew a challenger is not for me to answer.

This School Board’s goal was to begin building new facilities to help overcrowded schools and replace aging schools that have been neglected without a solid capital income stream. To help raise those much-needed dollars, the impact fee conversations became a much larger debate than I had hoped.

Very soon after I was elected in November 2020, I began asking staff about intergovernmental meetings with other local elected officials. I publicly began asking in April 2021. There hadn’t been one since 2011, and I was grateful we all came to the table in November 2021 to start collective conversations about growth, school infrastructure and capital needs. Those meetings were the precursor to the revised and renewed interlocal agreement that then led to impact fee conversations. It is unfortunate it took as long as it did to get the impact fees reinstated, but we are finally about to restart the suspended collections on July 1, 2024.

This School Board and superintendent have the desire to improve our schools, and that includes facilities that have been neglected for far too long. Understanding budgets and funding mechanisms for capital, we have some significant challenges ahead. However, as we continue to illustrate the needs of our students, our community will respond. Our students deserve the best, and it’s time we start providing it for them. This board has every intention of being a part of the change that has been needed within our school facilities for decades. Students and staff need all we can give them to help them succeed.

Q: What sets you apart from your opponent’s record on the school board?

A: When I joined the Board in 2020, I had three children in Marion County Public Schools. That was unique to me then and still is today.

The school district has changed a lot under an appointed superintendent. As I observed previously, the Board had functioned quite differently. However, a Board Member’s role should not be a part of the day-to-day operations of the district but rather to offer a high-level oversight. We direct the “what” of the district. The superintendent determines the “how.”

My skillsets and knowledge base in policy, corporate-level budgeting, organizational leadership and strategic communication provide powerful perspectives for the specific statutory responsibilities of the Board.

I have dedicated myself to building relationships with other local and state elected leaders, and my strategic communication skills have enhanced the district’s reputation. I have championed causes, like air conditioning in middle school gyms, that had not been a priority in the past. I have worked directly with parents, struggling with their students, their school, or their understanding and have worked to alleviate their concerns. Through all I have done in the 3.5 years I’ve served, I have maintained high ethical standards and led with my faith as my guide.

My board decisions have been driven by passionate stewardship of taxpayer dollars while ensuring every voice is heard. Often, I vote as a parent, understanding how major decisions will impact tens of thousands of those just like me. I’m a parent, not a politician. Even if my vote winds up in the minority, if my parental advocacy is not present, who will be that voice?

Q&A with Beth McCall

Q: How many years did you serve as a board member?

 A: I served from November 2016 to May 2021.

Q: What do you count as your greatest accomplishments when you served as a prior board member?

A: I led the referendum initiative to renew the 1mil tax for school safety, art & music, physical education and to meet the class size mandate. The referendum vote passed with a significant majority of voters saying “Yes”.

Leading the negotiations alongside Councilman Matthew Wardell, I played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the City Council and the School Board to resolve a decade-old lawsuit revolving around storm water fees. We were successful in coming to a settlement agreement.

Q: Campbell has indicated historically that you encouraged her to run for school district, why do you wish to unseat her now? 

A: I am running to serve the citizens of Marion County and the students who attend our public schools.  My record as a school board member speaks for itself.  I am a proven leader and have been given several awards for my leadership.  Those awards include the School Board member of the Year in 2019 from the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and the School Board member of the Year in 2019 from the Florida Music Educators Association.

I did encourage Dr. Campbell to run in 2020.  However, with the growth of our student population and the myriad of other issues and opportunities facing the School Board over the next few years, it is essential to have a leader who is not only experienced but also deeply committed to the well-being of our community. My calm demeanor, strategic thinking skills, and ability to connect people to solve problems uniquely positions me as the most qualified candidate. My love for this community and my years of experience working towards its betterment have always driven me to prioritize the needs of our school district.

Q: Why did you resign from the school board?

A: My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020.  We made the proactive decision to downsize and move to a home that would be safe and accommodating for him as his diagnosis progressed.  The purchase of a new home took us from District 2 to District 1.

Q: During your tenure as school district member previously, you waived impact fees every year and did not implement a sales tax initiative for funding schools, why not and do you disagree with the school’s implementation of impact fees or request for ½ cent tax on this year’s ballot? 

A: The school board, prior to my election, made the decision during the recession in 2009-2010 to eliminate impact fees.  The school population was not growing and our community was in crisis economically.  When elected to the board, the student population remained flat at 42,000. There was no indication that there would be a significant increase in the future.  Since the pandemic, Florida has become a desired place to live and Ocala is one of those desirable places.  Due to the collaboration of the city, county and the CEP we have diversified our economy and Marion County is now thriving.  There are 259 people moving into Marion County weekly.  Because of the diversified economy and the new companies coming to Ocala/Marion County, a large number of the people moving to here are in their 30s and 40s. This has called for the school board to rethink and look at new revenue streams to build and maintain schools.  I am 100% for the reinstitution of the impact fees.  Knowing that those fees will not cover the total cost of building new schools, I am also for the 1/2cent sales tax that will be on the ballot in November.  Thirty percent or more of this sales tax will be paid for by people visiting Marion County or people that come from other counties to work in Marion County.