PBC School Board To Rejoin Florida School Boards Association

The Palm Beach County School Board is rejoining the Florida School Board Association.

The board has been apart from the organization since the former president of the FSBA made some comments that have been deemed racist.

Chris Patricca is no longer involved in the School Boards Association but she remains a Lee County School Board member.

In 2021, Patricca caught heat for saying schools face challenges with immigrant students because they spend too much time in the bathroom since they are "fascinated by plumbing." She went on to say that was because they "never seen running water before."

Now that she's gone, five local school board members voted to join the association again because of the resources it provides. One member was absent for the vote and another, Alexandria Ayala, voted against the move.

Other large urban school districts are in the organization, including Broward, Miami Dade, Hillsborough and Orange Counties.