Doretha Edgecomb's departure leaves a void in the central Tampa district that includes some of the county's poorest neighborhoods. Both Joe Jordon-Robinson and Tamara Shamburger come to the race with business experience and an understanding of what it is like to raise children in an urban environment. As the school district continues to work its way out of federal discrimination investigation, both candidates promise to be voices for the district's under-served children.
About the job: School Board members, elected on a nonpartisan basis, are paid $42,000 a year for interacting with constituents and overseeing the eighth-largest school district in the United States, with a yearly budget of $2.8 billion. They meet about four times a month. District 5 includes parts of East Tampa, West Tampa and Sulphur Springs, and extends into Brandon.
Tamara Shamburger
Profession:
Type
Type
About the candidate:
Shamburger, 41, oversees litigation for an insurance company. Although she grew up in Bloomingdale, she draws on her experience in District 5, where she was a young single mother, as she contemplates what she would like to accomplish for children in the inner city.
Shamburger, 41, oversees litigation for an insurance company. Although she grew up in Bloomingdale, she draws on her experience in District 5, where she was a young single mother, as she contemplates what she would like to accomplish for children in the inner city.
Education:
University of Florida, B.A., political science; Saint Leo University, MBA
University of Florida, B.A., political science; Saint Leo University, MBA
How can the board better monitor the budget and spending?
"Less spending authority and more required signatures, including that of all board members, to ensure that set budgets/reserves are not exceeded." She does not like the Gibson Consulting Group recommendations on cost cutting.
"Less spending authority and more required signatures, including that of all board members, to ensure that set budgets/reserves are not exceeded." She does not like the Gibson Consulting Group recommendations on cost cutting.
Are students equally served? If not, how would you change this?
"In District 5, there needs to be more access to technology, vocational training, and more experienced teachers, just to begin. Failing to change... will further widen the achievement gap."
"In District 5, there needs to be more access to technology, vocational training, and more experienced teachers, just to begin. Failing to change... will further widen the achievement gap."
How would you improve the graduation rate?
Would hold the superintendent and staff accountable for the graduation rate. "It is my goal to be a helpmate and to make sure we are always on target by continual reassessment and adjustment to the process."
Would hold the superintendent and staff accountable for the graduation rate. "It is my goal to be a helpmate and to make sure we are always on target by continual reassessment and adjustment to the process."
What is the appropriate role of charter schools?
"The lack of success we see in charter schools stems from the emergence of 'chain charter schools' managed by for-profit companies whose purpose appears to be profit and not education."
"The lack of success we see in charter schools stems from the emergence of 'chain charter schools' managed by for-profit companies whose purpose appears to be profit and not education."
Assets/liabilities/ income:
Assets: House, retirement account Liabilities: Loans Income: $84,000
Assets: House, retirement account Liabilities: Loans Income: $84,000
Personal:
Home: Tampa Marital status: Single Children: one adult daughter
Home: Tampa Marital status: Single Children: one adult daughter
Campaign fundraising, Sept. 30:
Contributions: $21,621 Expenditures: $13,100
Contributions: $21,621 Expenditures: $13,100
On the web:
Website: votetamara.com Email: Tamara@votetamara.com
Website: votetamara.com Email: Tamara@votetamara.com
Joe Jordon-Robinson
Profession:
Type
Type
About the candidate:
The outspoken Jordon-Robinson, 62, makes his living as an engineer and is second vice president of the local NAACP. In that role, he has challenged government agencies for the way they award minority contracts, and describes himself as an informant for the FBI.
The outspoken Jordon-Robinson, 62, makes his living as an engineer and is second vice president of the local NAACP. In that role, he has challenged government agencies for the way they award minority contracts, and describes himself as an informant for the FBI.
Education:
University of Iowa, B.S., mechanical engineering
University of Iowa, B.S., mechanical engineering
How can the board better monitor the budget and spending?
Bond rating firms are already providing oversight. Would improve the process "by monitoring the monthly reports on spending versus what was budgeted and by having the chief of staff provide updates by way of the 'Suspended Agenda.'"
Bond rating firms are already providing oversight. Would improve the process "by monitoring the monthly reports on spending versus what was budgeted and by having the chief of staff provide updates by way of the 'Suspended Agenda.'"
Are students equally served? If not, how would you change this?
No. Federal dollars, which are about 10 percent of the budget, should be used appropriately for students with greatest needs. And "dollars should come from partnerships and donors in the business and corporate communities."
No. Federal dollars, which are about 10 percent of the budget, should be used appropriately for students with greatest needs. And "dollars should come from partnerships and donors in the business and corporate communities."
How would you improve the graduation rate?
With equal access to good schools and teachers, starting in pre-kindergarten. Give all middle and high school students the ACT/SAT and PERT tests yearly. Get high-demand industries involved. Improve the system of tracking students' warning signs.
With equal access to good schools and teachers, starting in pre-kindergarten. Give all middle and high school students the ACT/SAT and PERT tests yearly. Get high-demand industries involved. Improve the system of tracking students' warning signs.
What is the appropriate role of charter schools?
"Charter schools are supposed to demonstrate diversity in teaching strategies in order to meet the needs of students' multiplicity of learning styles." And they are the law.
"Charter schools are supposed to demonstrate diversity in teaching strategies in order to meet the needs of students' multiplicity of learning styles." And they are the law.
Assets/liabilities/ income:
Assets: Four homes Liabilities: Mortgage, other debt Income: More than $10,000
Assets: Four homes Liabilities: Mortgage, other debt Income: More than $10,000
Personal:
Home: Tampa Marital status: Single Children: one adult daughter
Home: Tampa Marital status: Single Children: one adult daughter
Campaign fundraising, Sept. 30:
Contributions: $37,984 Expenditures: $26,729
Contributions: $37,984 Expenditures: $26,729
On the web:
Website: electjoerobinson.com Email: jrobin19@tampabay.rr.com
Website: electjoerobinson.com Email: jrobin19@tampabay.rr.com