Tiger Bay: Pinellas County School Board District 1 candidate [Video]

The virtual Suncoast Tiger Bay Club meeting was held July 15 and featured a panel discussion with the three at-large candidates for Pinellas County School Board District 1.

• Laura Hine, a local businesswoman, Navy veteran and public education advocate with an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA in finance from USF.
• Stephanie Meyer, a middle school history teacher at Keswick Christian School with a sales and marketing background.
• Tom Topping, the founder of a business training and coaching company and 23-year veteran Pinellas County teacher, coach and administrator.

During the discussion, the panelists give brief introductions and share their platforms on issues surrounding education in Pinellas County. They also answer moderator questions regarding how they would handle school reopening in the age of Covid-19 and what they would do to promote equity in education.

Related: Suncoast Tiger Bay Club hosts Pinellas County School Board District 1 candidates

The audience asks questions about charter schools and vouchers and the expansion of fundamental schools. The discussion closes with the candidates to posing questions to one another.