The Spring-Ford Area School Board underwent a liberal shift during the November elections – a recurring theme throughout many districts in Southeastern Pennsylvania – and the new Board will soon hold an 8-1 Democrat majority according to unofficial results.
“We look forward to working with the current Board members to advance public education and promote a safe and inclusive school community,” wrote the elected Democrats in a collective statement posted on the group’s Vote Spring-Ford Facebook page.
In Region I, which includes Mont Clare and Oaks, Dr. Margaret Wright and Heidi Goldsmith triumphed over Republican opponents Tony Folino and Kathleen Leto. Wright was the incumbent.
Region II also saw a Democratic sweep, with Limerick and Upper Providence Township residents electing Dr. Sagar Sharma and Theresa Westwood over Michael Lebiedzinski and Kathryn Jones.
Former Region III board member Thomas DiBello (R) finished third in his race for Montgomery County Commissioner, securing the final vacancy for the shared position.
There was only one open seat in Region III – which comprises Royersford, Spring City, and some parts of Limerick – to which Democrat David Laky defeated Republican Kathy Morris.
With the exception of the Region II elections, which were decided by only about 300 votes, the final tallies reflected decisive wins for Democrats, who carried strong majorities in Regions I and III that hovered around 60% of the vote.
Such a pattern was not limited to just Spring-Ford, as Democrats across the area won tense races in other school districts amid news coverage of heightened tensions surrounding new curriculum standards and policies concerning LGBTQ students among other social issues.
In Bucks County, Central Bucks School District and Pennridge School District both saw their boards flip from conservative to liberal majorities, with both making local and national headlines since 2021. Central Bucks faced an ACLU complaint concerning LGTBQ policies as well as a lawsuit concerning pay discrepancy of female teachers. Pennridge made headlines after restructuring their history curriculum under the guidance of what critics say is a far-right organization.
The ousting of conservative board members of these districts has been widely viewed as a public rejection of polarizing policies, with many students and parents claiming that board members were actively bringing culture wars into schools.
“I think all of that made people understand that this has to change,” Bonnie Chang, the chairperson of the political action committee Turn Bucks Blue, told the Associated Press.
Despite the broader pattern, however, conservative messaging still prevailed in some communities. The Boyertown and Souderton school districts, for example, both remained with conservative board majorities.
Still, the general results have left conservatives in a state of limbo. Republican candidates’ emphasis on addressing social issues in schools evidently did not resonate with voters, perhaps serving as a warning that the party’s national strategy will have to change ahead of the all-important 2024 election cycle.
This may be a struggle for a party that has become increasingly aligned with advocacy groups like Moms For Liberty and The 1776 Project, who became heavily involved in school board races nation-wide and locally.
Democrats, meanwhile, celebrate school board victories nationwide, their over-performance a welcome development for a party that has seen a steady decline in voter enthusiasm according to polls.
While this election cycle may offer clues about what is to come in 2024, it is important to remember that a lot can change in a year. Although one apparent constant is that Pennsylvania remains at the forefront of American politics.
