School Board Members Take On New Roles

A new superintendent wasn't the only change at Tuesday's Pasco County School Board meeting.

Seats were shuffled around, as well.

Former board chairwoman Joanne Hurley and board member Alison Crumbley were sworn in for another term Nov. 20, after holding onto their positions in the August primary elections.

And though they are familiar faces, their roles have shifted as the district prepares to face its next challenges under new leadership.

 Newly sworn-in Superintendent Kurt Browning made a motion to nominate former vice-chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong as the new board chairwoman. Hurley seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved by the board.

Crumbley was then nominated as vice-chairwoman, which also was met with unanimous approval.

After a bit of musical chairs, the board and the district's new superintendent settled into their new roles with a few jokes and seemingly high spirits.

"Words can't express the amount of gratitude I have sitting here as superintendent of the best district in the state," Browning said.

United School Employees of Pasco president Lynne Webb addressed the board, offering her congratulations and hopes for the future.

“This is certainly a time of thanksgiving and a time for us to reflect on all that is good in our system and commit to making it better,” Webb said. “I can't think of a better day to commit to that journey than today.”

 Webb said she knows they can't solve every problem that affects not only Pasco, but districts statewide, but said that she is "convinced" that working from the ground level up and truly communicating the district will be better for teachers and students.

 See also: New Superintendent Kurt Browning: 'I Like This Gig Already!'