Advertisement

Hillsborough, Pinellas school boards swear in new leaders

Both districts also welcome newly elected members as they get organized for the year ahead.
 
New Hillsborough County School Board member Jessica Vaughn, District 3, receives the family Bible from her son Zachariah Kapadia, 8, as her husband, Nilesh Kapadia watches. Vaughn was sworn in Tuesday, November 17, 2020 in Tampa during a Hillsborough County School Board reorganization meeting.
New Hillsborough County School Board member Jessica Vaughn, District 3, receives the family Bible from her son Zachariah Kapadia, 8, as her husband, Nilesh Kapadia watches. Vaughn was sworn in Tuesday, November 17, 2020 in Tampa during a Hillsborough County School Board reorganization meeting. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]
Published Nov. 17, 2020|Updated Nov. 17, 2020

Lynn Gray is the new chairwoman of the Hillsborough County School Board. Carol Cook is beginning another year as chair in Pinellas County.

With organizational meetings on both sides of the bay, one elaborate and the other perfunctory, leaders were selected in two districts that serve more than 300,000 public school students.

The longer meeting was in Hillsborough, where sitting members delivered sometimes tearful tributes to Steve Cona III, who lost his bid for re-election, and Melissa Snively, who chaired the board during the first nine months of the coronavirus pandemic.

The board then oversaw the swearing in of first-time members Jessica Vaughn, Nadia Combs and Henry “Shake” Washington. Although new to the board, Washington enjoys a long history with the district as an educator and administrator.

Left to Right: 13th Circuit Court Senior Judge Perry A. Little swears in new Hillsborough County School Board member Nadia Combs, District 1, Tuesday, November 17, 2020 during a reorganization meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board in Tampa. Looking on are her family members, son Ian Combs, daughter Ava Combs, and husband Richard Combs.
Left to Right: 13th Circuit Court Senior Judge Perry A. Little swears in new Hillsborough County School Board member Nadia Combs, District 1, Tuesday, November 17, 2020 during a reorganization meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board in Tampa. Looking on are her family members, son Ian Combs, daughter Ava Combs, and husband Richard Combs. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]

The decision to name Gray as chair was unanimous. Of three members running for re-election this year, she was the only one to hold onto her seat.

Board member Stacy Hahn won the post of vice chair in a 4-3 vote. Vaughn and Combs supported two-year board member Karen Perez for vice chair. Voting for Hahn were Gray, Washington and Snively.

At the Pinellas meeting, which took only 20 minutes, Caprice Edmond and Laura Hine took their first oaths of office. Cook and board member Eileen Long were sworn in for new terms.

Carol Cook will serve another term as chairwoman of the Pinellas County School Board. [JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK  |  Times ]
Carol Cook will serve another term as chairwoman of the Pinellas County School Board. [JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK | Times ]

Long, entering her second term, declined a nomination to serve as chair after having been the vice chair for the past year. She supported another year for Cook, who won the post unanimously. Long then nominated herself for another year as vice chair. Board member Nicole Carr also put her own name in for consideration, but Long won that contest.

While there were no speeches at the Pinellas meeting, there were remarks from the new members in Hillsborough, who vowed to prioritize the well-being of the district’s diverse population groups.

Left to Right: New Hillsborough County School Board member Henry "Shake" Washington, District 5,  waves to members of the audience after he was sworn in, Tuesday, November 17, 2020 during a reorganization meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board in Tampa. Standing next to him is his daughter, Jamia Washington and his wife Cheryl Washington.
Left to Right: New Hillsborough County School Board member Henry "Shake" Washington, District 5, waves to members of the audience after he was sworn in, Tuesday, November 17, 2020 during a reorganization meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board in Tampa. Standing next to him is his daughter, Jamia Washington and his wife Cheryl Washington. [ SCOTT KEELER | Times ]

“We have a new board," Washington said. "And I have confidence that this board will do everything in our power to make this school system better than it is now.”