Jason Mims (left) is rarely shy when making his views known to the Hillsborough School Board. He has been a tireless champion of raising academic expectations among minority boys in the urban communities that struggle the most.

Well, Mims isn't just talking any more. He's filed to run for the School Board against incumbent Carol Kurdell (right), who has held the seat for 16 years. That makes for a three-way countywide race including Stephen Gorham, the political newbie who did surprisingly well against Ronda Storms in a state senate race two years ago.

Mims' comments at the Board meeting earlier this week may signal the tenor of the campaign to come. He told board members that simple tweaks could be enough to raise student achievement, instead of the expensive EXCELerator program that Hillsborough is launching next year in partnership with the College Board.

No doubt comments like those will resonate with some of the teachers skeptical of the curriculum change.

-- Letitia Stein, Times staff writer