School Board

This morning I received an email in reference to the upcoming school board election. I found the information interesting since it involves a letter from Jim Malcolm endorsing Gene Magrini.

Brooksville: After 16 years on the Hernando County School Board, retiring member Jim Malcolm has seen a thing or two.To be precise, he said in a letter Tuesday, he's seen four superintendents, one interim superintendent, seven finance directors, six human resource directors, six union presidents, and thirteen fellow board members.

So Malcolm's endorsement of either of the two candidates vying to replace him on the School Board -- James Yant, owner of a local insurance company and former chairman of the Pasco-Hernando Community College board of trustees, and Gene Magrini, former human resources director of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- is of more than passing interest.

His choice? Magrini.

"Both are good men and capable leaders," Malcolm said. "Both men have the best interests of Hernando County's children at heart."

But Magrini's corporate business experience -- and his support of gifted education, charter schools, and other programs Malcolm has championed -- tipped the balance for the former School Board chairman."His ability to work with people and seek compromise is a strength which this School Board sorely needs," Malcolm said. "We need Gene Magrini's budget expertise now more than ever."