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An African-American woman is sworn in, and after 12 years, Linda Lerner becomes chairwoman.
By KELLY RYAN GILMER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 20, 2002
LARGO -- It was a day of historic and political significance Tuesday for the Pinellas County School Board: Mary Brown was sworn in as the first elected African-American board member. And Linda Lerner, after 12 years on the board, was named chairwoman.
Taken together, the events signal a personality shift for a board that has consistently supported Superintendent Howard Hinesley. In coming months, a new board majority is likely to offer sharper criticism and more pointed questions about established ways of doing business.
Brown, for example, says a new choice plan must be closely examined.
"It's a new day," said a beaming Jane Gallucci, who frequently challenges Hinesley and was named board vice chairwoman.
Brown, a quality improvement specialist for Coordinated Child Care, drew a standing ovation after she raised her right hand and promised to support and defend the state and U.S. constitutions. The event at district headquarters drew dozens of family members and community leaders, including St. Petersburg NAACP president Darryl Rouson and St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis.
Mary Russell, a family literacy teacher, also began her first term on the School Board with questions about the board's vision and how teacher salaries can be bumped up.
It was Brown and Russell, who befriended Lerner on the campaign trail, that helped Lerner rise to chairwoman.
The chairman runs board meetings, responds to mail and represents the board at community events. It's a visible role -- but the chairman is still one of seven equal board members.
For the past four years, the chairman has been selected by a majority vote with no regard to seniority. In that span, longtime board member Lee Benjamin served twice and first-term board members Max Gessner and the late Tom Todd each served a year.
Lerner, an outspoken and liberal board member, has never been chairwoman. She's been on the board since 1990.
On Tuesday, Gallucci and Lerner -- who have frequently been on the losing end of 5-2 or 4-3 votes -- proposed a return to a policy that was in place for two years in the late 1990s. They lobbied for a rotation system that would give preference to senior members who had not yet served as board chairman.
"This is a fair way," Gallucci said. "We're all leaders in our own right."
Benjamin and Nancy Bostock, who started her second term Tuesday, disagreed. They said the chairman should represent the majority of the board, not ascend into the role because of seniority.
Bostock also pointed out that she didn't want the two new board members to go to the bottom of the list simply because they are new.
"I think there are certain qualities needed in a chairman," Benjamin said.
But the two new board members sided with Lerner and Gallucci. Board member Carol Cook eventually did, too, carrying the new policy by a 5-2 vote.
"We are all elected because the community felt that we were very capable," Brown said. "I think rotation is a fair way to do it."
As she took the gavel to run her first meeting, Lerner promised some subtle changes. Rather than calling on board members to speak at workshops, she prefers more spontaneous conversation. She also wants to take turns with her colleagues representing the board at ribbon cuttings and chicken dinners.
Over the next few months, she will referee debates about school choice, tight finances, single-member districts and searching for a new superintendent. Board members will attend a retreat in February to develop a mission.
Lerner is frequently teased for giving lengthy speeches about her point of view. With so many controversial issues on the horizon, Lerner sensed that her new title might carry some perks.
"I can talk at any time I want as chairman," Lerner said. "That's great."