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Campaign 2008 Profiles: District 2 School Board

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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: August 1, 2008

With these profiles of the three candidates for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County School Board, a nonpartisan contest on the Aug. 26 primary ballot, The Suncoast News is initiating its coverage of 2008 local election races. See coming editions for coverage of other races that will be on the ballot.

School Board Seat 2

(nonpartisan)

•KURT CONOVER is running against Peter Hanzel and Joanne Hurley for the District 2 seat on the Pasco School Board in the Aug. 26 primary.

The district has talented, dedicated employees, he added. A big part of the school board's responsibility is to provide the kind of leadership that fosters a positive atmosphere for staff and students.

CONOVER

"We must be relentless in our efforts to challenge educators, businesses, governmental partners and parents to help our students connect what they are learning in school to careers that will benefit them in the future," Conover said.

Teaching is an underpaid profession, but it isn't just the paycheck that makes someone feel good about their job, he said. Letting teachers know they are respected and valued is just as important, especially in times when financial incentives can't be offered.

Raising graduation rates must be a priority, Conover said. Eventually, every middle and high school should have at least one career academy. He would particularly like to see the development of an "entrepreneurial academy" to show students how to start their own businesses.

Bio snapshot

Conover, 57, lives in Land O'Lakes. He and wife Sandra have a daughter, Brittany, 21; and a son, Kayne, 14.

Education: Associates of arts, St. Petersburg College, 1977; bachelor of arts, University of South Florida, 1986.

Occupations: Director of business development, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 1997-present; area manager, Florida Power Corporation, 1984-96; director, parks and recreation, New Port Richey, 1972-78.

Memberships: American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, Land O' Lakes Chamber, Keep Pasco Beautiful, Rotary Club of New Port Richey, United Way of Pasco, West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, Heritage Park Foundation, Central Pasco Youth Soccer, Denham Oaks PTA, Leadership Pasco, Pine View Middle School Advisory Committee, Optimist Club of New Port Richey, many others.

Awards: Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, 1996 and 2007; numerous West Pasco Chamber of Commerce awards; Leadership Pasco Judith Rochelle Excellence in Leadership, 2005; Rotary District 6950 Club President of the Year, 2005; Land O' Lakes Board of Realtors William Moorer Award, 2005; CARES Business Philanthropist Award, 2003; Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point Frist Humanitarian Award, 1999; New Port Richey Rotarian of the Year, 1998; New Port Richey Optimist of the Year, 1974 and 1978.

•PETER HANZEL is running against Kurt Conover and Joanne Hurley for the District 2 seat on the Pasco School Board in the Aug. 26 primary.

Chief among the challenges facing the district are the budget, security and growth, Hanzel said.

HANZEL

Money is always an issue, and the way to approach it is to prioritize. Teacher and staff salaries should always be at the top of the list. Cutting teachers should not even be on the table.

Beyond that, a close scrutiny of the budget can reveal where and how money is best spent. The board should make it a point to demand that state mandated programs be state funded, as well.

Hanzel would encourage the district to update its employee background screening methods, and include a credentialed psychologist on its hiring panel.

Merit pay for teachers sounds good, Hanzel said. But it is not fair to base it too heavily on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores. Standardized tests serve an important purpose, but they should be just part of assessing both teachers' and students' performances.

While Hanzel thinks college preparatory programs are important, he would like to see the district continue its expansion of vocational training options for non-college bound students.

Bio snapshot

Hanzel, 63, lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife, Karen. He has five children and nine grandchildren.

Education: Master of Science in education from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan.; bachelor of science, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.; U.S. Dept. of Justice Leadership course.

Occupations: Twenty-five years with the U.S. Department of Justice. Various assignments with the federal Bureau of Prisons. Retired as supervisor of education at a federal prison. Instructor to Justice Department and prison bureau staff and audit team member. Active duty in U.S. Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserves Instructor.

Memberships: Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Committee, Pasco-Hernando Community College Community Summit, Pasco Wildlife Association, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Pasco County School District Vision Committee, Neighborhood Crime Watch, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Voter Outreach Ambassador.

Awards: Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce President's Award, Golden Apple Award, Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons; various military awards.

•Joanne Hurley is running against Kurt J. Conover and Peter Hanzel for the District 2 seat on the School Board in the Aug. 26 primary.

"It is imperative that we raise the graduation rate and lower the dropout rate for our students," Hurley ranks as the biggest challenge. "I will encourage even more business partnerships and vocational opportunities for our students."

HURLEY

She would co-locate and co-use government facilities as one way to deal with rising enrollments.

She supports merit pay for teachers "based on equitable standards."

With revenue declining, she might impose user fees to offset costs for athletics, music, drama, field trips, courtesy transportation and special events. She would minimize consultant costs and form partnerships with county government or other school districts.

Standardized tests can be an "excellent tool," but the FCAT is overemphasized in her view, with changes due in 2010.

Technical or trade education is "beginning to move in the right direction." She might add more training for exceptional education students and offer agricultural programs.

Bio snapshot

Hurley, 63, resides in Land O' Lakes. She is married with three grown children.

Education highlights: Master of arts in elementary education from University of South Florida; bachelor of science in elementary education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Occupations: Community relations coordinator/public information officer for Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, 1997-Present; commercial recycling account executive at Browning Ferris Industries, 1995-1997; Pasco County recycling coordinator 1991-95. Previously a kindergarten teacher and drug prevention educator in Hillsborough County, a preschool/day care director for First Baptist Church in Lutz and other education posts in New Jersey.

Memberships: Suncoast Scenic Parkway Corridor Advocacy Group, Pasco County Greenways, Blueways, and Trails Master Plan Advisory Committee, Heritage Park Foundation Board of Directors, Lutz-Land O'Lakes Woman's Club, founding committee member Regional Nature Coast Envirothon and more. Formerly served with American Red Cross, United Way of Pasco, Leadership Pasco, Keep Pasco Beautiful, and others.

Awards: Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, University of South Florida, 1991; Florida's Turnpike Enterprise Excellence in Customer Service Award, 2000; Pasco County Government Employee Recognition, Coastal and Waterways Cleanup, 1991.

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