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Pasco County School Board, District 5

 
Marc Yacht
Marc Yacht
Published Aug. 14, 2014

School Board | District 5

Retired high school assistant principal Steve Luikart, one of the more vocal members of the Pasco School Board, faces a challenge from onetime county health director Marc Yacht in this nonpartisan race. Luikart is seeking a second term, while Yacht has not run for public office previously. The candidates disagree on some key issues, such as taxes, with Luikart opposing any effort to increase local property taxes for education and Yacht in support.

Steve Luikart, 63 Retired, School Board member Marc Yacht, 74 Retired
Experience Steve Luikart won the District 5 seat, his first elected office, in 2010, from a field of three candidates. He currently serves as board vice chairman. Luikart worked as a district school teacher and administrator for 32 years before retiring in 2008. He still holds an active teaching certificate. He was Florida assistant principal of the year in 2001. Marc Yacht has not held or sought elected office before. He served as Pasco County Health Department director for 20 years, retiring in 2007. Yacht, a physician, is former president of the Florida Public Health Association. He has served on the boards of the Pasco-Hernando Early Education Coalition and the Pace Center for Girls.
Involvement Luikart serves on the Chasco Fiesta steering committee. He is a member of the New Port Richey Elks Lodge and the Florida Retired Educators West Pasco chapter, and volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club, the Angelus and Concourse. Yacht writes frequent columns on public policy issues for a variety of publications. He volunteers for the CARES Claude Pepper clinic, and serves as a medical consultant.
Taxes He does not support increased local taxes for schools. "Once we know the budget, we need to live within it. To resolve the funding issues, it's got to come from the state," Luikart said. He would back a local tax increase for education. "Every community should look at what it needs and find a way to work its budget to see that its needs are met. ... When you take a position that you're not going to raise additional resources, you end up where we are now."
Charter schools Says charter schools do not deserve special treatment that traditional schools cannot have. Suggests the school district must do more to offer choices so families will not want to leave for charter schools. Calls for more accountability and local oversight of charter schools, suggesting that they take funds from traditional public schools.
Cell towers on school grounds Supports. "I haven't seen any information or document or studies that show it's a hindrance or harmful to anybody." Opposes. "Yes, they are everywhere. The question is, should we be more selective with where they are?"
Key issues 1. Improve vocational education options — provide more opportunities for students not headed to college. 2. Have district be a leader in curriculum. 3. Expand school choice offerings. 1. Press Legislature for improved funding. 2. Improve charter school accountability. 3. Give more attention to medical issues facing the district. 4. Revamp student discipline rules.
Personal Luikart is a Pasco County native. He and his wife, Nancy, a teacher, have three grown children. Yacht has lived in Pasco County for 27 years. He and his wife, Helen, have three grown children.
Website steveluikart2014.com/ marcyachtcampaign.com/
Email j.steveluikart@yahoo.com marc@marcyacht.com

Retired, School Board member

Retired

2. Have district be a leader in curriculum.

3. Expand school choice offerings.

2. Improve charter school accountability.

3. Give more attention to medical issues facing the district.

4. Revamp student discipline rules.

About the job: The five-member Pasco School Board sets policy for the nation's 54th-largest school system, with 84 schools and 67,000 students. School Board races are nonpartisan, and members serve for four years. All five School Board members run in districts but are elected countywide. The annual budget totals $1.2 billion. The job has an annual salary of $39,318.