Carol Kurdell held the District 7 seat for more than 20 years. She'll step down in November, and two candidates emerged out of a field of eight to compete in the November runoff. Lynn Gray has decades of classroom experience. Cathy James has an equal number of years in accounting, and believes that's what is needed as the school district contends with a financial crisis.
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 7 is countywide.
Lynn Gray
Profession:
Former teacher, running coach
Former teacher, running coach
About the candidate:
Gray, 64, spent decades teaching in the public and Catholic school systems, including department head positions, before she opened a business that trains women to become distance runners. This is her first run for public office.
Gray, 64, spent decades teaching in the public and Catholic school systems, including department head positions, before she opened a business that trains women to become distance runners. This is her first run for public office.
Education:
University of South Florida, B.A.; Nova University, M.S. in school administration
University of South Florida, B.A.; Nova University, M.S. in school administration
How can the board better monitor the budget and spending?
Understand how to read a budget. Set short and long-term goals. Prioritize. Automate clerical tasks. Subcontract widely needed services to nonprofit organizations such as Children's Services and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Communicate more effectively with the unions.
Understand how to read a budget. Set short and long-term goals. Prioritize. Automate clerical tasks. Subcontract widely needed services to nonprofit organizations such as Children's Services and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Communicate more effectively with the unions.
Are students equally served? If not, how would you change this?
No, and that includes access to team sports, music, mentoring and the arts. Children must have better access to preschool, and all should be taught to read on grade level. "Early literacy, writing, and numeracy training should begin prior to kindergarten; no later than age 3." Every school must be safe and feel safe.
No, and that includes access to team sports, music, mentoring and the arts. Children must have better access to preschool, and all should be taught to read on grade level. "Early literacy, writing, and numeracy training should begin prior to kindergarten; no later than age 3." Every school must be safe and feel safe.
How would you improve the graduation rate?
Strategies include quality pre-K, relationship building in grades 1-4, emphasis on attendance and study habits in middle school, and helping students set goals — and avoid risks such as drug use — in high school.
Strategies include quality pre-K, relationship building in grades 1-4, emphasis on attendance and study habits in middle school, and helping students set goals — and avoid risks such as drug use — in high school.
What is the appropriate role of charter schools?
The original role was "to serve students in low socioeconomic areas and special needs students who could not be adequately served with the public school system. Now we have for-profit schools that are 'accountable to no one.'"
The original role was "to serve students in low socioeconomic areas and special needs students who could not be adequately served with the public school system. Now we have for-profit schools that are 'accountable to no one.'"
Assets/liabilities/ income:
Assets: House, car, IRA Liabilities: none Income: $25,497
Assets: House, car, IRA Liabilities: none Income: $25,497
Personal:
Home: Tampa Marital status: Married Children: One adult son
Home: Tampa Marital status: Married Children: One adult son
Campaign fundraising, Sept. 30:
Contributions: $32,460 Expenditures: $31,056
Contributions: $32,460 Expenditures: $31,056
On the web:
Website: LynnGrayForSchoolBoard.com Email: Lgray88@yahoo.com
Website: LynnGrayForSchoolBoard.com Email: Lgray88@yahoo.com
Cathy James
Profession:
Finance manager, Homeless Initiative
Finance manager, Homeless Initiative
About the candidate:
James, 57, is an accountant who has worked in the banking and broadcast industries. She's a member of the Hillsborough School Board Citizen Advisory Committee and president of the Middleton High School PTSA.
James, 57, is an accountant who has worked in the banking and broadcast industries. She's a member of the Hillsborough School Board Citizen Advisory Committee and president of the Middleton High School PTSA.
Education:
Mississippi College, B.S. in accounting; University of Alabama, M.A. in accounting
Mississippi College, B.S. in accounting; University of Alabama, M.A. in accounting
How can the board better monitor the budget and spending?
Principals must be accountable to area superintendents. District "overhead" must be accountable to superintendent. Vendor contracts must be evaluated every three years. "A budget of $2.9 billion with 250 schools has many moving parts."
Principals must be accountable to area superintendents. District "overhead" must be accountable to superintendent. Vendor contracts must be evaluated every three years. "A budget of $2.9 billion with 250 schools has many moving parts."
Are students equally served? If not, how would you change this?
"No. Why can't there be a system much like Major League Baseball where wealthier parent groups pay a tax to help less affluent schools? Maybe team up two schools as sister schools that could help each other instead of being adversaries."
"No. Why can't there be a system much like Major League Baseball where wealthier parent groups pay a tax to help less affluent schools? Maybe team up two schools as sister schools that could help each other instead of being adversaries."
How would you improve the graduation rate?
"I suggest using positive reinforcement instead of punishment to change behavior by having booster clubs for graduation rate improvement just like there are sports boosters or band boosters.
"I suggest using positive reinforcement instead of punishment to change behavior by having booster clubs for graduation rate improvement just like there are sports boosters or band boosters.
What is the appropriate role of charter schools?
"I would limit charter schools as much as I could because they divert funds from our traditional public schools and are not managed by the district. If a public school is not performing well in an area, we need to fix the problem, not create a school that operates outside of the school district's management reach."
"I would limit charter schools as much as I could because they divert funds from our traditional public schools and are not managed by the district. If a public school is not performing well in an area, we need to fix the problem, not create a school that operates outside of the school district's management reach."
Assets/liabilities/ income:
Assets: House, cars, investments Liabilities: Mortgage, car loan Income: $72,630
Assets: House, cars, investments Liabilities: Mortgage, car loan Income: $72,630
Personal:
Home: Riverview Marital status: Married Children: One son
Home: Riverview Marital status: Married Children: One son
Campaign fundraising, Sept. 30:
Contributions: $23,198 Expenditures: $17,815
Contributions: $23,198 Expenditures: $17,815
On the web:
Website: ElectCathyJames.com Email: info@ElectCathyJames.com
Website: ElectCathyJames.com Email: info@ElectCathyJames.com