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Editorial: Hillsborough, Pinellas school board races headed in right direction

 
Published Aug. 30, 2018

Voters did their homework Tuesday in navigating a crowded primary ballot and supporting the most qualified candidates for school board in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. While most of the attention was directed to the top of the ballot, these are critical times for the school districts on both sides of Tampa Bay. Voters need to remain focused on the strongest contenders in the run-up to the Nov. 6 general election.

The results in Hillsborough were particularly encouraging, as Stacy Hahn defeated board Chairwoman Sally Harris, a one-term incumbent. Harris seemed to view her role as a lobbyist for the administration rather than as an independent thinker and one of seven on the governing board. That role is useless in the best of times, and it's certainly out of place as the district looks to improve its reputation with the voters and seeks a half-cent sales tax increase in November for school repairs and construction.

Hahn, a former teacher who directs professional training for the University of South Florida's College of Education, won the three-way race outright, and by a commanding margin, reflecting the call for change and a higher level of scrutiny on school district operations. She rightly remains skeptical about the school tax, saying the district is currently operating beyond its means and while the additional revenue would help, it wouldn't alone provide a long-term solution. Her insistence that the district first focus on rebuilding public trust in the school system strikes a sensible warning to anyone pushing the tax to the ballot.

Hillsborough voters also made the right choices in two school board races heading to a runoff. The top vote-getters in Districts 1 and 6 — William Henry Person and Henry "Shake" Washington — are by far the best prepared to put the district on sounder financial footing and to build on its solid academic gains. Voters will need to see through the fog of special-interest money and look at what the candidates actually intend to do.

While the Pinellas County School District does not face the serious financial issues that confront Hillsborough, it could use some fresh perspective on the board as the district continues to focus on helping struggling schools in high poverty, high minority neighborhoods. Voters ousted one incumbent Pinellas School Board member, as Terry Krassner failed to make the run-off in District 2 and former Tarpon Springs City Commissioner Jeff Larsen almost won the seat outright with 46 percent of the vote. Larsen, a middle school reading teacher who would bring new energy to the board, faces Lisa N. Cane in November.

Another longtime incumbent, Peggy O'Shea, finished a strong first with 42 percent of the vote in District 3. O'Shea has been a steady, no-nonsense board member and will face former district administrator Nicole Carr. And incumbent Rene Flowers won a four-way race outright with 67 percent of the vote in District 7, which includes some the district's lowest-performing schools. The one race for an open seat, District 6, will be close with Hillsborough County human resources manager Matt Stewart narrowly leading former St. Petersburg City Council member Bill Dudley Tuesday. Stewart remains the strongest candidate in that race.

Education remains a top priority for voters, and they chose wisely Tuesday in School Board races in both Hillsborough and Pinellas. They should be just as selective in November.