And they're off. Elliot Stern, a retired businessman and former member of the Pinellas Education Foundation board of directors, filed today to run for the at-large school board seat held by Janet Clark. He is the first candidate to announce for any of the four seats up for grabs this year.

"I honestly believe I bring a business perspective to the table," Stern, 72, told The Gradebook. "With a $1.4 billion education budget, I think someone with a business background would be quite helpful."

Stern lives in Palm Harbor. He is a former senior vice president of office services with Raymond James. He said he oversaw a department that had as many as 150 employees and a $40 million budget.

He was also the ed foundation's project manager for the Jacobson Culinary Arts Academy at Tarpon Springs High.