CLAY COUNTY – The Clay County School District had two candidates defeat incumbents, meaning two of the five faces on the school board will be new.

It’s safe to say the district has a lot going on. School started about two weeks ago. The district is one of the best in the state with high school grades, an “A” district grade and the state Teacher of Year, Lakeside Junior High’s Melissa Matz.

However, the district is currently addressing backlash against controversial books, accommodating the county’s growth and bus driver shortages. Each of those three issues, however, is being seen statewide. In addition, two incumbents lost in the Aug. 23 primaries.

Michele Hanson bested Tina Bullock in District 4, which encompasses a large swath of western Clay including Middleburg and Keystone Heights. In Fleming Island’s District 1, Erin Skipper unseated three-term incumbent Janice Kerekes. The pair of newly elected officials will take office in November.

The board’s agenda workshop was conducted on Aug. 22 with former board members Bullock and Kerekes present. Before the board’s meeting on Thursday, board members were asked what they thought of the shift.

Board Chairwoman Mary Bolla said anytime there’s an election there’s a possibility for change.

“What the citizens have done is select a representative of their district,” Bolla said. “Each of the five of the members is going to do their best.”

Bolla recalled her training through the Florida School Board Association when she first entered the dais in 2016. She said she wanted to maintain the district’s high ratings and continue to see standards rise.

“Our purpose as a school board is simply to set the budget and make policy, not the weeds or each individual complaint,” Bolla added. “I think it’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to working with these folks and seeing how we progress.”

Getting to be in as many schools as possible was an early signifier to Bolla of the job’s importance. Since COVID-19 precautions became more optional, Bolla looked forward to a year of open houses and school visits.

“Having a grasp of what’s going on in the schools, to be supportive of the strengths of those schools, that’s just huge,” Bolla said.

With new members, Board Member Beth Clark said the board can continue to keep moving.

“We always welcome the new constituents and we want to have a functioning board that works together,” Clark said.

Skipper said the first weeks after the primary contains meetings with district officials and lots of preparation.

“Right now, it’s about doing my homework and the due diligence to be the best school board member I can,” Skipper said.

For now, it’s about speaking with officials, taking in meetings and listening to community members. Skipper said she’s preparing for the position as though she was taking it tomorrow and she wanted to bring a voice for parents’ rights to the table.

“I think it’s important to be an advocate of parents’ rights, allowing our parents to be heard and bringing them full circle back into our schools,” Skipper said.