By Anita Todd
LAKE WALES – The Lake Wales Charter School Board of Trustees voted last Tuesday afternoon to fill two vacant seats during its monthly meeting.
In unanimous votes, the Board appointed Dr. T.J. McKeon to Seat 7 and Gail Quam to Seat 8. McKeon, a well-known and respected member of the Lake Wales community, replaced Keith Thompson. He was sworn in during the meeting and took his seat alongside the other board members. McKeon is a chiropractor who practices in Lake Wales. His term expires June 30, 2028.
Thompson never attended a board meeting after his selection because it was discovered shortly afterward that he was ineligible to serve. He resigned because his wife is an employee at Lake Wales High School. According to Florida Statutes 1002.33(26)(c), “prohibits an employee of a charter school, or their spouse, from serving on the governing board of that charter school. This provision ensures that charter school employees or their family members do not hold a position of authority on the board overseeing the school.” Seats 3, 5, and 7 are considered “board seats,” with trustees selected through a nomination process followed by final approval from the Board.
Quam, a longtime educator and former principal at Polk Avenue Elementary School, was elected to fill Seat 8. This seat became vacant at the same time as Seat 7 when Rafael Unzueta, the then-newly selected Board Chair, resigned after because his wife is an employee within the LWCS system.
Quam was one of three nominees for the position. The others, also nominated by board members, were Sarah Jones and Skip Alford.
During the Work Session prior to the official meeting, Jaime Winfree, Seat 1 trustee and teacher representative, spoke in support of Quam.
“If we are looking for somebody who has knowledge of what it’s like to be an administrator and a teacher in this system who understands school budgets and charter policy, I cannot image a better candidate. I don’t know the other two candidates so it’s not personal. It’s just if we’re running a school board, a career educator seems like a good fit.”
Seats 4, 6, and 8 are designated as SAC/PTA seats and are nominated by a committee that includes only one Board member. Quam was not at the meeting. Her term expires June 30, 2026.
The next LWCS Board of Trustee meeting will be held Jan. 20, 2026 at the Lake Wales High School.
