Robert Neuhausen is running for the District 5 seat on the Hernando County School Board.

1. Why are you running for this office?

We need to change how we interact on all levels within our schools. Communication is vital to understanding and being aware of what is and what will be happening in our schools.

I am running because I can help facilitate bringing our community into the process. We do not do an effective or a thorough job at properly communicating within our school system, on every level from the state to the student. We need to find a more efficient method than the proverbial "word of mouth" approach that seems to happen far too often.

There are a large number of parents/students and some teachers/administration that still do not get all the information they need until after the fact or until someone starts questioning or asking what or why something is happening.

I have found that large percentage of the school 'population' (parents and some teachers) do not know who represents them on the School Board. That needs to change.

I have proposed moving some of the meetings to the schools, to more effectively connect with our community. I also proposed that our School Board needs to listen to the community by changing the Citizen's Input.

We have numerous issues in front of us, and the School Board needs to become a more integral part of the solution.

2. Why do you think you are the best qualified candidate for the office?

I can differentiate myself in several ways. I have been a part of the education system from a parent's and community member's point of a view for almost 20 years.

I started volunteering and mentoring middle school and high school students when I was a student at USF completing my engineering degree. I started by helping students with Science Fair projects and also the judging of their projects. I still participate in that process today with our local Science and Engineering Fair.

I still have children in our public schools. This has given me and will continue to provide me the opportunities to interact with students, parents, and teachers on many topics.

When my oldest entered into Chocachatti, although an oxymoron, we had mandatory volunteer hours; 8 hours per year. By having this policy it allowed me as a parent to become more involved and understand more of what the education process was about.

As a first time parent, I was unaware of what I could do to be a part of my son's education. This was the start of my understanding some of the communication problems we face.

I participate in our Magnet Schools and have deep appreciation for what they are trying to accomplish.

I have never been an employee of the school district and as such I am able to see our schools as our community sees them, and have talked to other parents and a few Senior High School students on what's happening or what is missing in our schools.

It was brought to my attention from a concerned high school student and a parent that the School Board eliminated the honors of Valedictorian and Salutatorian. I do not believe these honors should ever be removed or not recognized.

As an engineer, I learned early in my career that to solve most problems, usually exceeds the ability of a single individual. One person is not going to be able to answer all the question/problems/issues/crisis that we have or may face. Only the collaboration with our administration and community will we be able to improve our schools.

There is no agenda to start a political career here, my passion is with our kids, to ensure that they get everything and every chance to excel that we can offer them.

3. If you are elected, what will be your top priorities?

  • Better, more effective communications from the administration to the parents/students
  • Establish a basis for engaging the schools and parents, teachers and students in workshops and meetings by going to them and not forcing them to come to us.
  • Start engaging local businesses from service to manufacturing to look at the possibilities of cooperative education or DCT.
  • Set meetings with state legislatures that are directly and indirectly part of the education committees.
  • Start opening up dialogs with the community at large. We have tremendous hurdles in front of us, and it is going to take more ideas and inputs than what we currently have.