1. What is your role in government in North Port?

I have been a commissioner for 4 years. I majored in Political Science in college. I retired in 1999 to come to Florida to play golf and I lived close to city hall. I went to meetings to get more involved in city government.

I got on the zoning appeals board first & became chair at the same time NPHS was being built. I was on the board for building the PAC (Performing Arts Center) and worked on the board for writing the interlocal agreement. In an interlocal agreement, everything is spelled out so that city has its part to complete and the school has its part (like a contract). People do not realize that 3.7 million of city funds went to building the PAC.

                            
2. Under your sphere of influence, what is the biggest challenge facing North Port Schools?

Growth is a main challenge facing North Port. I have worked closely with the school board and Dr. Kenney. The cafeteria needs expansion. Several city commissioners and I got to serve food in the cafeteria and we realized the need for expansion. The plans got pushed back this year so that it has not been complete (although it will be done in spring of 2009).

There was a meeting when Dr. Norris was still superintendent and parent groups came to push for another high school in North Port. Parents demanded that with the growth in the community there is a definite need for another high school. Nancy DeCarlo, a leader in parent groups, got a challenge. Dr. Norris stated that compared to other high schools in the district North Port is not overcrowded. I took Nancy and some other school board officials to the other 5 high schools and found out that North Port has the best facilities. There are 100 acres that encompass NPHS. Nancy and I agreed that when the school reaches the capacity enrollment of 2700 (currently it is 2400) then another school will go on the slate to be completed within 2 yrs of that time. Currently the city has an interlocal with the school board that is based on the number of seats in a particular school and the growth that will happen. There were meetings for 2 yrs with school board to develop this plan. The board of education is a separate entity and my role is to build relationships so that collaboration can happen. The feeling of community is important.

3. Describe some initiatives that you feel will have a positive aspect on North Port schools?

Building the community to meet the needs of the people is a motto in North Port. Economic development is the main concern. 70% of workforce drives to another area to find work. This will affect graduating students. Jobs that are 20% higher than the median income are the ones sought after. There is an economic development planner that works with how to attract companies to NOPO. One of the strategic parts of the plan is to have a USF campus similar to the Sarasota one in NOPO. There are plans to have “soft good” companies such as Publix distribution center to come in and employ many companies. Growth related items should start to stabilize around 2010 and we need to be prepared for it. This is especially important for the road system. There are plans to have Price upgraded to 4 lanes (Biscayne all the way to Atwater) at a price tag of $150 million.

In order to attract a business owner to relocate to North Port, we need to establish a community that they would want to live and work. North Port is farsighted in what we develop and that it is planned appropriately and aestetically pleasing.

The Community Center, at a cost of $10 million, will start next summer. This will be a great asset for everyone in the community, especially students.

North Port needs a hospital but currently only has a medical facility. There is a North Port social service center and a new building will be up and running to help people with needs (such as Salvation Army helping people meet bills). Grants have been used to pay for this. The city has required the current buildings to allow a trolley system and or frontage road so that people do not have to go on US-41 to do business.