During a live-streamed candidate forum sponsored by the Tallahassee Democrat, WFSU and the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, longtime educator and incumbent Rosanne Wood and first-time candidate Daniel Zeruto offered their views on the state of the district, private school education vouchers and parental involvement.

The biggest existential threat to the district, according to the candidates

At the start of the forum, the candidates answered the question of what they believe is the greatest existential threat to the school district.

“We're seeing a movement toward vouchers and private schools in this state in particular,” Wood said, pointing to the state's expansion of private school vouchers in 2022, which has encouraged some parents to take their children out of public schools. The result has been reduced enrollment rates in some locations.