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Alicia Farrant (left) and Angie Gallo (right)<\/p>\nAlicia Farrant (left) and Angie Gallo (right)<\/p>\n
Photo illustration by Sarah Merly<\/p>\n
With the Aug. 18\u00a0primary\u00a0election slightly over a month away, The Apopka Chief is running questionnaires\u00a0for\u00a0several major local and regional races affecting Apopka-area voters. This week,\u00a0Orange County\u00a0School Board\u00a0chair candidates Alicia Farrant and Angie Gallo shared their thoughts on the pending property tax proposal,\u00a0rezoning\u00a0and relief schools.\u00a0Read below for\u00a0their complete\u00a0responses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Courtesy of Alicia Farrant Alicia Farrant<\/p>\n
Alicia Farrant,\u00a0Orange County School Board District 3 Member<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n What in your professional and community backgrounds makes you the best candidate?\u00a0 Become A Member<\/p>\n The Apopka Chief does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible.<\/p>\n See Member Benefits<\/a>Join Our Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n What prompted you to run for\u00a0school\u00a0board chair?\u00a0 How do you foresee the pending property tax proposal\u00a0impacting\u00a0Orange County Public Schools, and how would you adjust the budget accordingly?\u00a0 OCPS has\u00a0identified\u00a0targeted rezoning and future relief schools as part of its long-term response to growth in the Apopka area. How would you balance overcrowding, community\u00a0concerns,\u00a0and student stability as the district continues to grow?\u00a0 Where can voters go to learn more about you?\u00a0 Angie Gallo,\u00a0Orange County School Board District 1 Member<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n What in your professional and community backgrounds makes you the best candidate?\u00a0 What prompted you to run for\u00a0school\u00a0board chair?\u00a0 How do you foresee the pending property tax proposal\u00a0impacting\u00a0Orange County Public Schools, and how would you adjust the budget accordingly?\u00a0 However, that\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0mean there is no reason for concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n The proposal also contemplates a broader review of Florida\u2019s property tax system and leaves the door open for future reforms. Any significant changes to property taxes could have unintended consequences for public education, local governments, and essential\u00a0community services if\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0not carefully evaluated.\u00a0<\/p>\n As your School Board Chair,\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0continue to advocate for responsible tax relief while ensuring we\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0unintentionally weaken the stable, predictable funding our students, teachers, and schools rely on. Tax reform and strong public schools should go hand in hand\u2014not come at the expense of one another.\u00a0<\/p>\n OCPS has\u00a0identified\u00a0targeted rezoning and future relief schools as part of its long-term response to growth in the Apopka area. How would you balance overcrowding, community\u00a0concerns\u00a0and student stability as the district continues to grow?\u00a0 Where can voters go to learn more about you?\u00a0 Sarah Merly is an editorial assistant and reporter for The Apopka Chief. She joined the Chief in May 2025 after graduating from Patrick Henry College’s journalism program in Washington, D.C., where she served as the layout editor for her school newspaper. In her spare time, Sarah loves serving her local church, visiting Disney, and throwing parties.<\/p>\n
As a current school board member, mother of five, and nonprofit leader with over 25 years of community service, I have proven to be a courageous leader who is fiscally responsible and committed to raising the standard of excellence. I lead with integrity, common sense education, and fiscal responsibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since being elected to the school board in 2022, I have worked diligently to ensure parents have a seat at the table. As Board Chair, we will have a seat at the head of the table, helping to restore common sense and\u00a0strengthening\u00a0foundational education.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under the current proposal, school district property taxes would be carved out from the expanded homestead exemption, which will help preserve funding for our public schools. This carve out will help us\u00a0maintain\u00a0our budget, while giving taxpayers a much-needed break on property taxes. I will continue to prioritize funding for the classroom, student-focused education, and safety.\u00a0Maintaining\u00a0a balanced budget will be a top priority and must be done without raising taxes in the future. As a mom of five and a nonprofit leader, I have learned how to stretch every dollar and maximize funds to give the greatest return on investment. I have brought that same mentality to the school board and will continue that as Board Chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While OCPS has seen a decline in enrollment, Apopka continues to see growth and the need for future relief schools. The key to success is\u00a0great communication. As a district, we will need to partner with parents and the community to ensure everyone is on the same\u00a0page\u00a0and disruptions to students are minimized wherever possible. As a mother, I have been a voice for parents and will continue to listen to what our families are looking for from future schools or educational opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Voters can learn more by visiting my website:\u00a0www.VoteAliciaFarrant.com<\/a>\u00a0or by following me on Instagram\u00a0@alicia.farrant<\/a>\u00a0and Facebook:\u00a0Alicia Farrant for School Board Chair<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Angie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Angie-Gallo_Courtesy-of-Angie-Gallo-1024x913.jpeg\")
Courtesy of Angie Gallo Angie Gallo<\/p>\n
I have over 20 years serving Orange County Public Schools as a volunteer, advocate, and School Board Member. As President of the Florida School Boards Association, a business owner, and a PTA leader, I have a proven record of delivering results, building consensus, and putting students, teachers, and taxpayers first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m\u00a0running for\u00a0School\u00a0Board Chair to build on the progress\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0made while keeping students at the center of every decision. Strong leadership, collaboration, and accountability are essential as our district continues to grow, and\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0committed to ensuring every student\u00a0has the opportunity to\u00a0succeed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The current framework specifically carves out school district\u00a0operating\u00a0taxes, meaning public schools are not the direct target of these proposed changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Growth requires thoughtful planning and open communication. While rezoning can be difficult for families, we must balance enrollment, facility capacity, and access to high-quality educational opportunities. I support using data, community input, and long-term planning to guide these decisions while minimizing disruption whenever possible. My goal is to\u00a0ensure\u00a0every student learns in a safe, well-resourced school and that families have opportunities to be heard throughout the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Visit\u00a0www.voteangiegallo.com<\/a>\u00a0to learn about my priorities, endorsements, volunteer opportunities, and campaign updates. You can also follow me on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and Instagram<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-1.png\")
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