Joe Gruters

School board campaigns officially are non-partisan races, but this year — more than ever — politics is front and center. What’s at stake for parents, teachers, students and voters when state politics comes to public school boards?

In addition to the term limits, the bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis gives parents and members of the public increased access to the process of selecting and removing school library books and instructional materials.

This year, the legislation to set term limits has more momentum due to backlash over issues like school mask mandates, and teachings regarding LGBTQ kids and race and history.

Said bill sponsor Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota: “This is all about transparency and making sure that parents know exactly what's being taught in their schools.”

Sponsor Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, said the change was made because “cigars and pipe smoking is such a small portion” of the problem.

Several people who testified in favor of the bill advocated for the removal of books that they said contained sexually explicit content or material that was not age-appropriate.

A Senate staff analysis of the bill said broadband access is available to 98% of the state’s urban areas and just 78.6% of rural areas.

The proposal mirrors a Texas law, dubbed the Star-Spangled Banner Protection Act, that went into effect in September.

The proposal from Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, would provide tax credits up to $2 million for projects that provide “high returns” on investment and economic benefits to the state.

The governor’s war on "wokeness" — critics call it a distraction and even dangerous. DeSantis calls it common sense.

In making his proposal, state GOP Chairman Joe Gruters says the school board races have grown increasingly political.

State Sen. Joe Gruters says the measure is meant to bringing more transparency to school boards.