On November 5, four new members—Juanita Kerber, Jennifer Rivera, Kerry Sautner, and Anna Shurak–were elected to the LMSD School Board, signaling a potential shift in priorities for the upcoming year. This election in particular received heightened attention after the previous race faced issues with antisemitism and stirred controversy over misleading campaign mailers. The School Board oversees a wide range of responsibilities, such as approving the budget, setting policy, and overseeing the curriculum, teachers, and finances for the public schools in the district. In order for these candidates to lead effectively, they should prioritize the issues that last year’s controversy overshadowed: responsible budgeting, equity, and rebuilding trust.
One of the most significant changes in recent years was the shift in school start times for the 2024-2025 school year, moving the first bell at the high schools from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Widely viewed as a positive change for students; the decision was aligned with research from health organizations and showed potential benefits like improved sleep and better academic performance.
Despite its achievements, the Board has faced controversy over how it has handled antisemitism and budget shortfalls. In September 2024, the Board reviewed ways to align the school district’s policy with a recent Supreme Court decision that prohibits affirmative action. Controversy started when Garrison stated she was familiar with Jewish history and claimed that at one point, Jewish Americans came to be viewed as part of the white majority. Because of this, she believed they did not need to be a protected group under the equity policy. Her direct statement was, “Jewish people have been racially classified as white in this country,” a comment that sparked community concern about the Board’s judgment. In addition, disagreements over endorsements and campaign messaging added to community tension during the most recent 2025 election. Before the election, voters were sent a mailer labeled a “Democratic sample ballot” that actually listed SchoolBoard candidates supported by the Republican Party. With these issues in mind, these candidates should focus on rebuilding trust by acknowledging past missteps and strengthening communication within the community.
Even with these controversies, the overwhelming 75 percent Democratic victory suggests that the LM community will continue to trust Democratic leadership to guide the district and maintain stability. This race drew more attention to the polls, with the top candidate, Rivera, getting 13,400 votes. Besides being a political win, this signals that voters have higher expectations of the new Board, particularly in addressing antisemitism and fair governance.
Kerber emphasizes that making progress first starts with understanding the perspective of the students, parents, and teachers. She directly says the district should have “consistency and stability” and should “stay focused on what works for our community,” referring to funding cuts.
Similarly, Sautner’s priorities are developing a strategic plan with the superintendent to boost accountability, close achievement gaps, and enforce clear anti-discrimination policies. Her goal is to have more community engagement by fostering “open, transparent communication.”
Shurak, a current educator and Board member, said her top priorities are promoting open governance, ensuring equitable opportunities for students, and supporting a stable environment for students and staff. As an LMSD parent and executive assistant, Rivera’s focus is on supporting the students, ensuring “every student in the Lower Merion School District feels supported, seen, and successful in their academic journey.”
Overall, each candidate stresses the importance of stability and equity while keeping the students at the center of the district’s decisions. With these qualities, the new members should set a standard of transparency and responsible budgeting to move beyond the mistakes from previous years.
The potential for these new candidates to bring positive changes to LM remains uncertain. The school district is facing budget challenges from increased spending on projects and programs while being largely dependent on property taxes for funding. One of the main reasons for this is the construction of Black Rock Middle School, costing the district around $88 million. With these expenses, the recently elected candidates should keep responsible budgeting in mind to avoid repeating budget shortfalls that raised concerns in recent years.
Families are hoping for more reliable transportation, clearer communication about spending, and stability after years of controversy. Whether or not these candidates will make positive impacts on the community is to be determined, but their priorities seem to be aligned with issues like the budget shortfall and the need for clearer communication from the Board. The new LMSD School Board members should use their opportunity to prioritize responsible budgeting and renewed trust from the community, to refocus on the issues that last year’s election overshadowed.
