At least 3 school board incumbents lose to well-funded newcomers in Portland suburbs
Updated 10:22 PM;
Today 9:14 PM
Newcomers outspent incumbents heavily in this year s school board elections. In Washington County alone, challengers raised nearly three times as much as sitting board members.Oregonian file photo by Brooke Herbert, 2020
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Incumbents faced challenges from newcomers with expansive war chests in school board races across the metro area Tuesday and partial returns show at least three sitting board members lost to well-funded opponents as of 9 p.m.
Campaign finance records show incumbents in Washington County raised about $54,000, close to one-third the $142,000 their challengers did.
The election has drawn a slate of candidates opposed to comprehensive sexuality education.
In October 2019, the Hillsboro school board in Washington County unanimously adopted a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum.
While the vote had no dissenters, the topic was anything but uncontroversial. The curriculum was approved at the conclusion of a more-than-three-hour meeting that drew hundreds of attendees. Some who addressed the board during the meeting expressed strong support for the curriculum. Others implored the school board not to support it, citing explicit and inappropriate course materials and lesson plans.
With the curriculum up for review every two years, Hillsboro Online Academy student Ceph Tronco is worried the next school board will side with the critics next time.