We currently face many challenging issues including teacher morale and retention of teachers and support personnel, discipline, safety, parental involvement, implementation of new student assignment plan and transportation. No one can deny that these are obstacles which need to be decisively addressed.

It is imperative however that our School Board focus first and foremost on student achievement. We must realize that our primary role is to assure that EVERY student be given the best opportunity to assure future success.

There are many factors including general state of the economy, declining student population, budget cuts from Tallahassee and a new superintendent search. Together with our less than optimal graduation rates, we have reached a point where we must take immediate and decisive action.

It is time to step back and re-evaluate our district and initiate new education strategies.

As chairman of the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas and part of the statewide Early Learning Advisory Council I am keenly aware that we must initiate curricular changes at the elementary level. We must teach our children to learn. We must provide more relevant curriculum, not only at the elementary level, but also carried through the middle and high school years.

Currently only 14% of our children entering our high schools receive college degrees, including associate degrees. We must expand our career choice programs including fully implementing our Centers of Excellence program.

A key component in this scenario is our School Board. It is imperative that we elect school board members who have the experience necessary to provide oversight at a policy level and are fiscally responsible.

I am running for our School Board to continue my community service in an area that I am truly passionate about. By utilizing my prior experience I know I will be an asset to the board.

“The White Paper”

Much has been written recently about the idea of de-centralizing our school district. There are also some misconceptions regarding this issue. As you may be aware, the Pinellas Education Foundation, in its role of providing enhancement and assistance to our district, has presented to the School Board and administration a model of change.

(Please see link below “A Case for Change in Pinellas Schools”, or, the “White Paper”.)

This model is based on years of research and successful implementation of similar ideas worldwide.

I fully support the ideas presented in this white paper, and believe our school district can be improved by implementing these proven ideas.  Although Pinellas County is different in many ways from Okaloosa County (the county that implemented this model), the model had tremendous success that we can learn from.  We will need to adapt the ideas and experience contained in this white paper to meet the specific needs of Pinellas County.  As a member of the school board, I will strive for improvements based on proven practices.  In addition to the ideas of this paper, we will evaluate and incorporate other successful strategies as well.

There will no doubt be many obstacles on the path to change. Change is never easy. In order to successfully implement this process it will take a collaborative effort of our administration, our teachers, our parents, and our community. I am very confident, however, that with the tremendous talent and commitment of our educators we can adapt and transform our district into nothing short of excellence.

A key component in this scenario is our School Board. It is imperative that we elect school board members who have the experience necessary to provide oversight at a policy level and are fiscally responsible.

A Case for Change in Pinellas Schools