Gadsden County School Board race heats up as enrollment, budget challenges loom

Four candidates are competing for an open seat on the Gadsden County School Board as the rural North Florida district confronts declining student enrollment, budget constraints, and persistent teacher shortages. The District 2 race pits Jefferson Flores, Rodney Moore, Tracey Stallworth, and Donnie Washington against each other to replace incumbent Steve Scott, who is not seeking reelection.

The contest comes at a critical juncture for Gadsden County Schools, which serves communities in the Tallahassee area's western neighbor county. Two of the four candidates — Moore and Flores — previously ran for the same seat in 2022, when Scott won in a runoff. Campaign finance reports show Moore and Stallworth leading in fundraising, with Stallworth collecting notable support from civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.

What's happening

The nonpartisan primary election for Gadsden County School Board District 2 is scheduled for August 18, 2026. All four candidates qualified for the ballot to fill the seat currently held by Scott, who chose not to run for another term.

Rodney Moore, a Gadsden County native with a 27-year law enforcement career, previously worked with the Florida Highway Patrol, the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, and served as police chief for the City of Quincy before retiring and becoming a substitute teacher in the district. He holds an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Tallahassee State College. Moore's campaign has raised $450 in monetary contributions and $2,346 in in-kind contributions, with total expenditures matching the in-kind amount. His campaign is partially self-funded with the remainder from individual donations.

Tracey Stallworth is a Quincy pastor born in Germany who grew up as a military child. He holds degrees in Business Administration and Religion, with a doctorate from Jacksonville Theological Seminary. Stallworth's family operates a farm that provides food to approximately 350 people weekly in the community and hosts distributions of supplies for those in need. His campaign has raised $2,040 in contributions — primarily from individual donors, with the largest contribution coming from attorney Benjamin Crump — and spent $276. Campaign expenditures total $276.

Donnie Washington has lived in Gadsden County for 50 years and serves as an associate minister at Mt. Pilgrim Primitive Baptist Church. He graduated from James A. Shanks High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry Institute of Technology. Washington volunteers at Stewart Street Elementary School and previously served on the School Advisory Council at Gadsden Elementary Magnet School. His campaign is mostly self-funded, raising $1,090 with $1,048 in expenditures. John Love serves as his campaign treasurer.

Jefferson Flores previously ran for the District 2 seat in 2022 against Moore and Scott. His campaign has raised $535 in contributions from individual donors and spent $190. Flores serves as his own campaign treasurer.

As of the most recent publicly available information, none of the four candidates have received formal endorsements from elected officials, organizations, or political groups. Three of the four candidates — Moore, Stallworth, and Washington — serve as their own campaign treasurers.

Impact on students and families

The election comes as Gadsden County Schools faces challenges that directly affect families throughout the district. Declining enrollment typically forces difficult decisions about school consolidations, program cuts, and staff reductions — issues that ripple through rural communities where schools often serve as anchor institutions.

Stallworth, the only candidate who made himself available for an interview before publication, said addressing the district's enrollment decline requires transparency and community engagement. He argues that families are more likely to keep their children enrolled when they see positive changes and feel included in decision-making processes. His approach centers on building trust through open communication about the district's challenges and progress.

The teacher shortage issue hits home for parents concerned about classroom stability and instruction quality. Larger class sizes, frequent substitute coverage, and difficulty filling specialized positions in subjects like math and science are common symptoms of staffing gaps. Moore has direct experience with this reality, having worked as a substitute teacher in Gadsden County schools after retiring from law enforcement.

For families weighing whether to enroll children in Gadsden County schools or explore options in neighboring districts like Leon County, the new board member's approach to student achievement and support services will shape those decisions. Washington's social media posts indicate support for expanding vocational and adult education programs — offerings that can attract students seeking career pathways beyond traditional four-year college preparation.

Budget pressures and funding strategies

The financial challenges facing Gadsden County Schools create a complicated backdrop for whoever wins the District 2 seat. Florida school districts derive funding primarily from a per-student state allocation combined with local property tax revenue. Declining enrollment directly reduces state funding, creating a downward spiral: fewer students mean less money, which can mean reduced programs and services, which can drive more families to leave.

Stallworth outlined a strategy centered on pursuing partnerships with businesses and large corporations willing to contribute to teacher salaries and provide stipends for classroom resources. This approach reflects a broader trend in Florida education, where districts increasingly seek private-sector support to supplement public funding. The viability of such partnerships in a rural county depends on the local business base and proximity to larger employers in the Tallahassee metro area.

The budget challenges also affect facility maintenance and upgrades. Washington's social media posts describe plans for developing a yearly maintenance schedule that would include renovating and upgrading school sites. School facilities in districts with declining enrollment and tight budgets often face deferred maintenance backlogs, creating environments less appealing to families and harder to staff with teachers.

Property taxpayers in Gadsden County have a stake in how the district manages its financial pressures. School board decisions about millage rates, capital spending, and operational efficiency directly affect local tax bills. The tension between maintaining service quality with fewer students and keeping costs manageable for taxpayers is a central governance challenge the new board member will help navigate.

Teacher recruitment and retention

The teacher shortage problem in Gadsden County reflects statewide and national trends but carries distinct challenges in rural districts. Competition from nearby Leon County — home to Tallahassee and Florida State University — creates pressure as Gadsden County competes for the same pool of educators who might prefer working closer to urban amenities and services.

Stallworth emphasized recruiting teachers through partnerships with colleges to build a pipeline of new educators while creating an environment where teachers choose to stay in Gadsden County. This strategy aligns with how many Florida districts approach workforce development, establishing relationships with education programs at universities and creating grow-your-own initiatives that support local residents through certification.

Teacher retention typically depends on multiple factors beyond salary: professional development opportunities, administrative support, classroom resources, and school culture all influence whether educators remain in a district or seek positions elsewhere. The school board member from District 2 will help set policies affecting these conditions, from approving professional development budgets to supporting principals in their instructional leadership.

Moore's background as a substitute teacher gives him firsthand recent experience in Gadsden County classrooms, potentially informing his understanding of daily challenges educators face. His law enforcement career, including leadership as Quincy's police chief, suggests experience managing personnel and budgets in a public-sector environment.

Community engagement and accountability

Several candidates emphasized community connection in their campaigns. Stallworth's family farm work, providing food to 350 people weekly and distributing supplies to those in need, demonstrates grassroots community ties. He framed his campaign around being "a voice for a community that works together," saying the district needs a tribal approach to raising the community.

Washington's volunteer work at Stewart Street Elementary School and previous service on a School Advisory Council at Gadsden Elementary Magnet School shows direct involvement in school governance at the building level. School Advisory Councils in Florida are designed to provide community input on school improvement plans and help principals make decisions affecting their campuses.

Moore's public social media posts have focused on advocacy for students who are victims of sexual assault at Gadsden County High School, according to reporting from The Tributary. School board members play a key role in overseeing policies related to student safety, Title IX compliance, and how districts respond to allegations of misconduct.

The level of transparency and communication the new board member brings will affect how families and taxpayers perceive district decision-making. In districts facing difficult choices about closures, boundary changes, or program cuts, early and honest engagement with affected communities can build trust even when decisions are unpopular.

What happens next

The primary election takes place August 18, 2026. Because the school board race is nonpartisan, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff. The 2022 race for this same seat required a runoff between Moore and Scott, with Scott ultimately winning.

Voters in Gadsden County School Board District 2 can find their polling locations and verify their registration status through the Gadsden County Supervisor of Elections office. Early voting dates and locations will be announced closer to the election.

The winner will join four other school board members in governing a district that serves students across Gadsden County, including the communities of Quincy, Gretna, Chattahoochee, and Havana. The board sets policy, approves budgets, hires the superintendent, and makes decisions affecting everything from academic programs to transportation routes.

Current school board members from other districts will continue serving their terms while the new District 2 representative joins. The composition and dynamics of the full five-member board will shape how effectively the district addresses its enrollment, budget, and staffing challenges.

The Gadsden County race reflects broader education debates playing out across North Florida and the state as districts balance accountability pressures, funding constraints, and community expectations. The election offers Gadsden County voters a choice between candidates with varied backgrounds in law enforcement, ministry, education, and community service — each bringing different perspectives on how to steer the district through turbulent challenges ahead.