Hillsborough School Board member April Griffin wants people to tell her what they really think. So she's started the blog, "Sound Off and Be Heard," at  http://soundoffandbeheard.blogspot.com/.

Post anonymously. Post regularly. She just wants to know what's really on your mind.

"I just wanted to have my finger on the pulse of what's going on," Griffin says.

She won't share her opinions online, saving them for School Board meetings. She has two rules: Don't be vulgar and don't waste her time with insults.

Griffin, the district's first blogging politician, plans to use the forum to seek ideas and suggestions. One of her first questions: How can the school district best utilize technology? Griffin is collecting answers to share with a committee on the subject.

- Letitia Stein, Hillsborough County education reporter