Candidate: James F Daniel, Jr

What is your background (family, job, hobbies)?

Florida Native, 63 years old

Moved to Manatee County in 1982 from Orlando

CPA, with extensive audit and operational experience:

1.                 Governmental
2.                 Corporate
3.                 Not-for-profit

Corporate controller

Business Director for Church

Married to a 1st grade teacher, son and daughter also employed with the School District

Three children educated in Manatee public schools

Past President or Past Chair for community organizations including:

1.                 Palmetto Jaycees
2.                 Manatee County Chapter – American Red Cross (2 terms)
3.                 Southwest Children’s’ Academy
4.                 Rotary Club of Palmetto

Have served as deacon or trustee for my church,  currently worship leader at Woodland Community Church

-What are the school district issues you feel are most important?

1.        Protection of all students     
2.        Infighting amongst the Board.
3.        Search for Superintendent
4.        Failure to operate in an accountable, transparent and trustworthy manner.
5.        Lack of up to date strategic plans while experiencing explosive growth
6.        Renewal of one mill property tax in four years

-What would be your priority to increase school security?

1)       Immediate hardening of all elementary schools. Many are wide open and exposed.   Many are using Guardians instead of Certified Law Enforcement Officers.

2)       Continue dialog with Manatee County and provide any and all financial documentation requested to support need for SRO assistance

-What qualities would you seek in a new school superintendent?

Demonstrated leadership skills:

                Protects– Teachers, Students, Staff, and Community

                Provides – Resources wisely allocated and expended

                Promotes – Demonstrated staff and community development

-What do you hope to accomplish if elected/re-elected?

Prioritize student safety

Promote team-building, better communication, collarboration and working together at the Board level.

Establish consensus on District goals and priorities

Promote fiscal discipline and accountability

Develop an organic, ongoing five year budget plan for the District

-Why are you the best candidate?

We desperately need to Change the Dynamic. We can’t keep doing things the same old way we have been doing things and expect anything different. Change from the top down is needed to end the poor fiscal discipline, lack of planning, preparation or foresight, failure to prepare qualified staff members for promotion into higher positions and a continued failure to be transparent and accountable.

As a Servant Leader Jim Daniel, CPA brings the Leadership Skills, Community Relationships, Financial Experience, and Integrity desperately needed to Change the Dynamic for the School Board of Manatee County.