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Hernando Today

Seeking better school board leadership

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By JEFF SCHMUCKER

Hernando Today

Published: October 25, 2009

Brooksville resident and candidate for Hernando County School Board - District 3 Keane Chapman believes he can offer leadership that would help the district move forward in many ways that it hasn't for the past few years.

Citing the recent turnover in the superintendent role, a change of leadership on the board and policy changes for magnet school admissions as some examples, Chapman said following his candidacy announcement he believes these issues and others are a result of a lack of board leadership. He hopes that, if elected, he could change that.

"I think there's just a lack of direction and leadership on the board," Chapman said. "And that indecision has caused us as a district to backslide when we should be moving forward.

Into his second year as parent co-chair of the Explorer K-8 School Advisory Committee, Chapman said he's had the opportunity to work with school finances and talk with area parents, teachers and school officials. During that time, he said he's seen other instances of projects and promises being put off - such as having an administrator specifically for the Quest Academy gifted center at Explorer K-8 in Spring Hill instead of one shared duties with another school.

He said in the short term, he believes interim Superintendent Sonya Jackson should be named as superintendent and continue to lead the district.

"We need some sort of consistency," Chapman said. "I think Ms. Jackson would offer that with her knowledge of the district. And it would help the board in moving forward to tackle other issues that have been going on for too long."

Chapman is the second candidate to run for the District 3 seat, currently held by Board Member Dianne Bonfield, who has yet to announce whether she's running for reelection. The deadline to file is by June of next year. Vi Coogler, of Brooksville, announced his candidacy last summer.

Chapman is married to Kelly Chapman, a third grade teacher at Explorer K-8. They have two children, Reagan, 10, and Alexandra, 7, who both attend Explorer. He also has a Master's Degree in business administration and currently works as the national sales manager for Alumi-Guard, a manufacturer of aluminum fence and railing in Brooksville.

Meanwhile, Chapman said for his first-ever run for public office, he intends to continue speaking with district residents about their views and perceived needs. He said eventually he plans to create a Web site to offer better accessibility and communication.

"I'm new at all this, but hopefully I can still offer insight and take part in the ongoings of the district," he said. "There's a lot I'm still learning about running for office."

Reporter Jeff Schmucker can be reached at 342-544-5271 or jschmucker@hernandotoday.com.

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