April Griffin's Blog

I received a call from April Griffin for some advice about her blog. (April is running for Hillsborough County School Board at large and is a Seminole Heights resident.) She is the third political candidate I have had discussion about blogs.

I did not know she had a blog, which is precisely why she called, to find out how to make it something people would want to read. She wants to use the blog as an vehicle for people to give her feedback and to sound off on issues. Sounds great to me. Often times when people run for office, they spend alot of time speechifying but may not have the best opportunities to listen.

Here are some topics she mentioned in her blog and asked for comments on:

FCAT and accountability:
". . . .In my opinion the only things the FCAT in it's current form measures is the affluencey of a school or how well a student tests. . . .

Money for teachers:
". . . We need to pay our teachers what they deserve to be paid. Teachers do need to be accountable, but we need to base that accountability on true metrics. . . ."

Parents need to have a voice:
"I understand the need for the boundary changes. However, the district's handling of the recent boundary changes was inexcusable. . . ."

Education for jobs as well as college:
"We should do more to prepare our students to be successful in their lives. For some, this means preparing them for college. For others it means giving them the skills and experience to go after and get high-paying jobs right out of school. . . ."

Education is not a business, it is a social responsibility:
"An educated citizenry is absolutely vital to maintaining our democracy. We do need to be more efficient and business like in certain areas of our administration, but performance based funding does not work with schools. . . . "

Here is her bio: "April has been a member of the PTA, a classroom volunteer, a substitute teacher, and has been active in her children’s schools for many years. A lifelong Hillsborough resident, she was a successful business owner, and has also worked in the Hillsborough County School District’s Public Affairs Office, and PACE Center for girls, an all-girl’s school for at-risk teenage girls. The Weekly Planet honored April with a “Best of the Bay” award for her humanitarian work with the medically needy. She is currently a member and past chair on the Tampa/Hillsborough County Cable Advisory Board and a Leadership Tampa alumna. April also co-founded her Neighborhood Watch Group, is a member of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association, and the League of Women Voters"


One side benefit of having political candidates having kickoffs and fundraisers in Seminole heights. It's brings people to our neighborhood whom ingh not always come here. John Dingfelder went to April's kickoff at the Seminole Heights Garen Center. He had never been there and was not aware of the issues involved. He does know. Thanks April!