Okaloosa County District 3 School Board Race: Veteran Educator and Army Veteran Offer Divergent Visions

Last updated: August 17, 2026

NewsWK — Voters across Northwest Florida are turning their attention to critical education leadership decisions as Okaloosa County prepares for its District 3 School Board election. The contest features two distinct candidates offering contrasting approaches to classroom technology, campus security, and fiscal stewardship: two-term incumbent Lynda Evanchyk and retired U.S. Army veteran Mitch Reed.

Two Visions for District 3

Evanchyk, 69, brings extensive public education experience to the ballot. Before serving eight years on the school board, she spent decades in the classroom teaching English and journalism at Choctawhatchee High School, where she guided the student newspaper to multiple regional honors. Her platform emphasizes building upon established district initiatives, expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, resolving student meal quality issues with local food service vendors, and preserving competitive health benefits for educators.

Reed, 41, centers his campaign on military discipline, cybersecurity oversight, and foundational classroom instruction. A father of five and business strategic planning consultant who briefly served as an Okaloosa substitute teacher between 2009 and 2010, Reed argues that the district needs stronger digital data protections, rigorous operational audits to eliminate wasteful spending, and a return to basics in elementary grades by limiting young children’s exposure to screens.

Why it matters here

School board governance in Northwest Florida directly influences property values, local tax efficiency, workforce pipelines, and classroom performance across the Panhandle. Because the Panhandle region shares common economic drivers—particularly defense installations and aerospace contracting—the decisions made in Okaloosa County establish regional benchmarks that affect neighboring communities throughout Santa Rosa, Escambia, and Walton counties.

Both candidates recognize that high school graduates must enter the local economy equipped with marketable skills. Evanchyk has highlighted the district’s ongoing growth in technical credentialing ceremonies, which formally celebrate students transitioning into trades and technical colleges. Reed similarly stresses that modern automation demands practical trade skills, while asserting that the district must rely on objective data rather than institutional inertia to guide curriculum adjustments.

Fiscal Constraints and Taxpayer Stewardship

Managing the school district’s balance sheet remains one of the primary hurdles for whoever secures the seat. Okaloosa County faces unique revenue limitations due to the massive federal footprint of Eglin Air Force Base, which leaves large swaths of local real estate exempt from the municipal property tax rolls. This dynamic constrains the district’s operating revenues compared to adjacent jurisdictions like Walton County, which operates with a smaller student population and higher millage rates.

State-level funding mechanisms also play a critical role. Evanchyk points out that per-pupil funding follows students who participate in state scholarship initiatives like the Family Empowerment Scholarship program, requiring the board to manage operating budgets carefully. She also notes statutory restrictions that prevent capital improvement funds—such as dollars allocated for new school construction in Crestview—from being diverted into instructional pay. “We need to make sure everything in the classroom is funded, including our workers, and then work out,” Evanchyk stated regarding budget allocation priorities.

Reed contends that the district can uncover meaningful operational savings without demanding more from taxpayers by tightening administrative efficiency. He advocates routine penetration testing and energy conservation practices, such as strictly managing climate control and lighting when buildings are unoccupied, as well as optimizing pupil transportation routes.

Classroom Standards, Technology, and Campus Safety

Student safety and technological integration represent a significant dividing line in the race. Reed has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the school system’s cybersecurity framework, raising alarms over data privacy vulnerabilities, parent portal protections, and the presence of foreign-manufactured hardware, specifically devices produced in China. Furthermore, Reed argues that excessive screen exposure in kindergarten through fifth grade detracts from essential cognitive development.

“I’m advocating that we scale back technology greatly in elementary classrooms,” Reed said, emphasizing that early grades should prioritize reading, writing, arithmetic, and critical thinking before students transition to heavier technology use in middle and high school.

Evanchyk approaches student well-being by maintaining close administrative oversight of anti-bullying policies, insisting on clear adherence to statutory definitions while working directly with parents to address behavioral concerns that originate outside the school gates. She has also emphasized improving transparency by publishing clear summaries of board meetings to keep working families informed.

With early primary voting scheduled for August 18 ahead of the November 3 general election, both candidates express strong confidence in their ability to serve Okaloosa County families and safeguard the district’s educational standards.