Seven Pinellas County School Board candidates across three districts are stepping up to tackle teacher retention, low enrollment, and budget issues with fresh perspectives, ideas, and experience. Pinellas County has 153 schools and more than 91,000 students.
District 2
Lisa Cane, the incumbent, and Nancy Velardi are running for the Pinellas County District 2 At-Large position, which covers Tarpon Springs through Largo. Cane has $16,850 in monetary donations, while Velardi has $7,579, according to campaign finance information.
Cane said the arts and humanities are an integral part of education because they teach students life skills and increase brain function in growing students. She toured schools to hear parents’ and teachers’ opinions on the curriculum, resulting in a lesson plan to guide teachers through it.
District 3
Incumbent Dawn Peters, Curtis Campogni, and Dawn Douglas are running for the District 3 At-Large position, which runs from Gandy to Fort de Soto. Peters is a registered Republican, Campogni is non-party affiliated, and Douglas is a Democrat.
Campogni has worked with at-risk youth in Pinellas and across central Florida for the last 15 years. He said he is deeply invested in the schools on an emotional level, having adopted two kids through the Florida foster care system.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
