Fiscal Scrutiny and Classroom Experience Clash in Santa Rosa County School Board District 1 Race

Last updated: August 18, 2026

NewsWK — Voters across Santa Rosa County are weighing starkly different approaches to fiscal management, classroom discipline, and district leadership as the race for the District 1 School Board seat takes center stage ahead of the August election. The contest pits longtime educator and two-term incumbent Linda Sanborn against retired business owner and Army veteran David Farrow.

With Santa Rosa County Schools facing a projected $3 million budget shortfall heading into the 2026–2027 academic year, the debate over how taxpayer dollars are allocated has become the central fault line of the campaign. Both candidates bring long ties to Milton and northern Santa Rosa County, but offer distinct philosophies on how the board should navigate funding pressures, rapid capital expansion, and academic accountability.

Why it matters here

The outcome in District 1 carries direct consequences for property taxpayers, families, and classroom instructors throughout Milton, Pace, Bagdad, and the wider county. While Santa Rosa County maintained an overall “A” rating from the state for the 2025–2026 school year, standardized testing data indicates math and reading proficiency rates remain in the mid-60% range, leaving significant ground for improvement.

At the same time, shifting enrollment patterns driven by Florida’s expanded Family Empowerment Scholarships have redirected state funding formulas. Taxpayers are balancing ongoing capital obligations—including major projects funded in part by the local half-cent sales tax—against operational cutbacks that have affected staff allocations and school activity budgets. The next board member will have a direct hand in setting curriculum standards, negotiating teacher contracts, and ensuring accountability for multi-million dollar building programs.

Budget Priorities and Capital Outlays

Fiscal policy represents the sharpest dividing line between the two candidates. Farrow, who operated an appliance repair enterprise in Milton after running a similar company in Georgia across a four-decade career in the private sector, argues that the district needs stronger business principles and rigorous oversight of its capital spending.

Farrow has directed sharp criticism at large-scale construction ventures, pointing specifically to the new Soundside High School. The project began with an estimated cost of $110 million and escalated to a final price tag of $132 million. The 250,000-square-foot facility is designed to serve more than 1,800 students but will initially house between 600 and 800 ninth- and tenth-graders during its phased opening for the 2026–2027 school year.

Farrow contends that opening a facility at roughly 33% to 44% capacity during a period of shifting enrollment creates unnecessary operational burdens, including elevated utility and upkeep costs. “We don’t have a money issue,” Farrow said. “We have a spending issue.” If elected, he plans to advocate for comprehensive reviews of all expenditures, including federal and state grant outlays, emphasizing functionality over cosmetic additions.

Sanborn, a 43-year resident of the county who co-owns Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center and serves on the board of the Do Unto Others nonprofit, contends that the school system is already managing its finances carefully under Superintendent Karen Barber. Sanborn notes that the board has undertaken line-by-line budget reviews to trim non-essential spending, including travel reimbursements for student club competitions, while adapting staffing to match enrollment counts.

Sanborn defends the district’s investments as necessary long-term infrastructure to support high-quality education across the growing county, arguing that maintaining educational quality during funding fluctuations requires preserving core classroom resources.

Teacher Compensation, Discipline, and Board Transparency

Despite their divergent views on facility spending, both candidates express strong backing for classroom teachers. Sanborn, who taught for 35 years—including 28 years at Milton High School—served as the critical vote in a 3–2 decision earlier this year that approved a 2% recurring salary increase for instructional staff. She has pledged to start annual salary negotiations earlier in the budget calendar.

“We could have every fancy computer program, every latest technological device, and none of that would compare to a caring, well-educated, well-prepared teacher,” Sanborn said.

Farrow also emphasizes higher teacher compensation, pointing to his own upbringing and the mentorship he received from public school educators. In addition to pay, Farrow is calling for enhanced administrative backing for teachers dealing with disruptive student behavior, alongside individualized pacing to help students who struggle to meet proficiency benchmarks.

On the topic of governance and transparency, Farrow has criticized how agenda items and capital approvals are presented at school board meetings, urging more open discussion regarding project costs before votes are taken. Sanborn counters that the public has regular access through district communications such as the Leaps & Bounds newsletter and extensive volunteer programs, while noting she is open to revisiting traveling town hall sessions across the county if community attendance warrants the scheduling.

Background and Election Information

Sanborn, who has six grandchildren attending Milton public schools, has largely self-funded her third-term campaign, contributing more than $23,000. Farrow, a 2020 Republican state committeeman whose wife serves on the Milton City Council, has raised over $11,000, supported by local donors and the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida Emerald Coast/Santa Rosa County Chapter.

Early voting for the District 1 seat runs from August 3 through August 15, with polling sites open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Election Day voting takes place on August 18 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. across Santa Rosa County.