Jay Rowden, candidate for Hernando County School Board District 3

Jay Rowden is running for the District 3 seat on the Hernando County School Board.

1. Why are you running for this office?

I am running for School Board to replace Dianne Bonfield, the board member stepping down, because I heard that former superintendent Bryan Blavatt was going to run. I think that it would have been unfair to the current superintendent, Lori Romano, to have her predecessor as one of her five bosses.

Although Blavatt never ran, I stayed in the race because I firmly believe that I can help the district with our financial problems. Our schools need more funding so that our students can succeed and I will provide that.

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

I have vastly more experience on several different levels. I have experienced taking a business from an idea to a global enterprise. I have worked with Fortune 500 companies and countless foreign countries. 

I have 25 years of working with government officials at the highest level from the school districts to Washington D.C.

I was on the PTA of West Hernando Middle school, Westside Elementary and Deltona Elementary.  I was on the first SAC committee for West Hernando Middle School.  I was on the Springstead High baccalaureate organizational committee.

I was a founding member of P.O.W.E.R., an organization with the mission to make the school system accountable. The organization was responsible for getting the appointed superintendent issue on the ballot and campaigning for its passage.

I have also had the experience of raising my children, sending them to college, and helping raise my grandchildren. This makes me a seasoned veteran, not a retired “geezer.”

I simply want our children and grandchildren to have the brightest future that we can provide for them and I promise to not lose sight of this goal.

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

My platform is: Increase funding for schools.

I believe that Hernando County schools are seriously underfunded. I will work to change that by working with legislators in Florida and Washington to acquire increased funding for the district.

I will help search out grants from both private and public sources. I will work with staff and the board to come up with innovative ways to get the maximum out of the existing funding.

More funding means that our students will be better equipped for college and careers. More funding also means that we can focus on improving our graduation rates, which are still below state averages.