No one questions Manatee County's schools have seen many changes in the past four years. But a crucial School Board contest on Tuesday could determine whether there is a shift in tone in the immediate future. 

Incumbent Julie Aranibar, who won election four years ago on a platform of reform, is challenged on Tuesday by Mary Cantrell, former director of Manatee Technical Institute. The election for Manatee County School Board District 1 is open to all Manatee County voters.

The school district in Aranibar's first term saw a change in administration with the departure of Superintendent Tim McGonegal and the hiring of Superintendent Rick Mills. It also has seen intense scrutiny from the state, which threatened to take over the finances for the district, and significant turnover in high-level personnel. Aranibar said major change was absolutely necessary to address issues, and voters shouldn't change course now.

"I was willing to run in tough times to get things sorted out, and I am running again to continue the process," she said. She noted Manatee's state rankings have moved from 47th position among 67 school districts up to 37th position. The goal now should be continuing on a course of stable improvement.

Cantrell notes that the entire district was not in dire straights, and that in 18 years working at MTI she oversaw an evolution from an institution with a poor reputation to one now considered a jewel for Manatee County. "It's now a nationally known institution," she said. 

The focus of the School Board now, Cantrell said, should be on making a positive work environment for educators. Discord and constant incivility on the School Board has led to a difficult work environment within to teach, she said. "We need to see more respect shown between the School Board and people at the dais." Preserving competetive salaries for teachers and hearing the concerns of educators will improve the district in numerous ways, she said.

Aranibar said she is worried groundwork has already been layed, should there be a change in School Board make-up, to force Mills out as superintendent, and that would create chaos. "To put the district back in a tailspin would be very detrimental," she said. "We are just now operating with a balanced budget and a proper fund reserve." She also noted that the district in the past got into a rush to build and put too much focus on making new classrooms instead of supporting education in existing ones. 

Cantrell said she isn't running to fire anyone. "Enough people have been fired," she said. She also said Mills has been working under direction of the existing board, and she expects he would operate differently if the School Board was giving different direction. But she did note that some administration leaders for the county have been snapped up by other successful districts, and she doesn't want to continue seeing talented leaders lost to the competition.