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Sandra "Sam" Himmel, Bill Murray and Linda Powers begin their terms Nov. 16. Himmel plans a host of meetings to prepare.
By BARBARA BEHRENDT
Published November 4, 2004
INVERNESS - Just 15 hours after learning that she would be the next Citrus school superintendent, Sandra "Sam" Himmel was meeting with outgoing superintendent David Hickey to begin planning the leadership transition.
That transition includes not just the top elected district administrator, but also two new School Board members: teacher Bill Murray and guidance counselor Linda Powers.
For Himmel, the chance to begin planning the handover and assembling a close team of advisers was a culmination of something she had wanted to do for a long time.
Wednesday's brief meeting allowed Himmel to talk about a few specific issues with Hickey but also gave both of them a chance to pledge to help one another so the district's operations continue smoothly after Himmel takes over on Nov. 16.
More meetings are planned with district leaders to brief Himmel on ongoing projects so she is ready to take on the job.
While she has some specific ideas on organizational changes within the district, she plans to do more research before suggesting anything.
"I want to meet with every department, go through everybody's jobs and responsibilities" so that she knows what everybody is responsible for doing.
Those meetings will allow her to learn what employees have to say about the current structure. "Everybody's going to need to have some input here," she said.
By the end of the current school year, Himmel said she will have her leadership team in place.
Much sooner than that, she will begin bringing her ideas to the board meetings. At the first meeting on Nov. 16, she said she will suggest that the board begin to televise its meetings, an idea that both of her new board members support.
Earning nearly 59 percent of the vote, eight-year School Board member Himmel soundly defeated Republican challenger Ted Sgouros and independent candidate Ansel Briggs. Sgouros won 35 percent and Briggs 6 percent.
Sgouros had campaigned on his lifelong educational career and strong credentials. After Himmel's win was announced, Sgouros wished her well but expressed his disappointment that he had not done better. He said he felt he was well-prepared to make what he considered much needed changes in the school district's operations.
Briggs touted his varied background, from working in the building trades to organizing and running social service groups. An advocate and activist, Briggs said Wednesday that he thought Himmel's win reflected the fact that she had raised much more money, allowing her to get her word out in more fliers and advertising. He also said she had the support of the Democratic party during a spirited presidential election.
Briggs, who has run for the job three times unsuccessfully, said he will not run again but has no regrets. "I liked having a bully pulpit to be able to point things out that the other people didn't want to talk about."
The new School Board members also take office on Nov. 16.
Murray will replace Patience Nave in the District 4 School Board seat. She decided not to seek a third term. Murray defeated Cynthia "Cindy" Cino, earning nearly 55 percent of the vote.
"The people have spoken," he said late Tuesday. "My platform was "let's do what's right for kids,' and I'm looking forward to working with everyone, and I'm looking forward to working for excellence."
In each of the three school races, the theme emerged of voters choosing between those who were insiders within the school district vs. those who were outsiders. The construction debacle at Homosassa Elementary School was the issue much of that debate focused on, but voters chose to elect all three of the people considered district insiders.
Murray said he does not see that as a mandate for doing things as they have always been done but rather as an indication that voters chose the best candidate in each race. Four of five board members are now teachers or former teachers, a ratio that will make education related decisions easier, Murray said.
But it does mean that there is less business experience, which would be helpful in the area of budgeting on the School Board. Still, Murray said, it will help that Himmel as the new superintendent has a background that includes years in the business world.
Cino said she doesn't regret her run for School Board and she has already offered whatever help she can provide to Homosassa Elementary School principal Regina Allegretta for fundraising or volunteering to help the students there.
"I have a special affection for that school," she said.
Powers earned 63 percent of the votes cast to defeat her opponent, Bruce Bellamy, for the District 5 seat, which Himmel vacated midterm so she could make her run for the superintendent's job.
Bellamy said he thoroughly enjoyed the election process and has plans to return to politics again. Meanwhile, Powers said she looks forward to putting her campaign platform into practice.
Showing and telling people what the board is doing should get more people interested in getting involved, said Powers, who strongly supports the idea of televising board meetings. She also wants board meeting topics to be better publicized so interested residents will know when they should tune in or come to a meeting and participate.
While leaving her counseling job will mean less day-to-day contact with students, Powers said she planned to spend plenty of time in the schools.
"I want to make the board accessible to the students, the community and the parents," she said. "There is no point in doing things in isolation. That's when problems occur."
Barbara Behrendt can be reached at 564-3621 or behrendt@sptimes.com
[Last modified November 4, 2004, 00:41:23]
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