The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Political Agenda 07/18/2018

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Sample ballots available
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has announced that sample ballots for the Aug. 26 Primary Election are available online at PascoVotes.com, and will be mailed to Pasco County voters on Aug. 6.

To view sample ballots online, voters need to know their voting precinct and party of registration.

Club meetings

Republican Club of Central Pasco
Mike Wells will be the guest speaker at the Republican Club of Central Pasco’s meeting on July 23. The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Trinity Democratic Club meeting
The Trinity Democratic Club’s July 25 meeting will feature Chris Hunter, candidate for the district 12 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Amanda Murphy, candidate in district 16 seat in of the Florida Senate. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, at 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for dinner and happy hour (self-pay) with food and beverages available for purchase throughout the meeting. For more information, call (415) 609-3633.

Candidate forums

  • Idlewild Baptist Church, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz, will host a candidate’s forum on July 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • The East Pasco Democratic Club will host a political forum for all Democrats, Republicans and no party affiliation for local and state offices on Aug. 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. The League of Women Voters will be there to register voters or update voters’ current registration. Light refreshments will be served.

Ice cream social
The Central Pasco Democratic Party will host an ice cream social on Aug. 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe Community Center, 28245 County Line Road. Those attending can meet other Democrats and talk with local candidates.

Endorsements

  • The West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Mike Moore, in his re-election bid for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Moore’s campaign.
  • The Veterans Caucus; Alex Sink, former chief financial officer of Florida; and the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, have endorsed Brandi Geoit in the race for District 4 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Geoit’s campaign.

Published July 18, 2018

Pine View achieves IB designation

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Pine View Middle School has become the first public school in Pasco County to be authorized as an IB Middle Years Programme World School.

Principal Jennifer Warren and members of the school’s staff recently attended the Pasco County School Board’s meeting, where they were congratulated for their accomplishment.

The school received a letter dated May 30 from Siva Kumari, director general of International Baccalaureate, informing them that the school had met the requirements to receive the authorization.

“As an IB World School offering the Middle Years Programme, you are part of a global community of schools committed to developing knowledgeable, caring, young people who will be ready to negotiate their futures successfully, and make contributions resulting in a more harmonious and peaceful world,” Kumari wrote.

“We commend your school’s educators, administrators, students and families for their active roles in choosing to offer the Middle Years Programme,” he added.

An International Baccalaureate team visited Pine View Middle in the spring to determine whether the school should receive the distinction.

The team spent two days at the school, interviewing staff, students and parents, and observing classrooms to ensure that the IB framework has been embedded in Pine View’s learning environment, Warren said, in an interview following the visit.

Becoming an IB Middle Years Programme World School is a lengthy process.

Pine View, at 5334 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, became a candidate school in May of 2015, and began implementing the program at the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Pine View Middle also has been designated as a magnet school, which means that students who live outside of the school’s attendance zone can apply to attend the school.

Those living within its boundaries have first choice, and then remaining slots are opened up to those living outside the boundaries.

Pine View’s mission is “to provide a rigorous, world-class education, which inspires students to become active, compassionate and collaborative lifelong learners who understand and respect other people and their differences,” according to the school’s website.

The International Baccalaureate “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

“To this end, the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

“These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right,” according to IB’s mission statement, which is posted on Pine View’s website.

Published July 18, 2018

A trip to Ireland helps to inspire a 17-year-old in Land O’ Lakes

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Amanda Finn would be the first to admit she’s more than a wee bit shy.

But, the young woman from Land O’ Lakes said that a trip to Ireland last summer has helped to build her confidence, and now, the teenager is off on her second trip to the Emerald Isle.

She won scholarships both last year and this year for the summer leadership camp in Galway through her participation in the Florida Junior Rose of Tralee program.

Seventeen-year-old Amanda Finn has won two trips to Ireland, and hopes to make another trip to the Emerald Isle and then onto India in the spring. She said she also wants to raise money for a scholarship so another young woman can travel to Ireland next year. (B.C. Manion)

The program promotes Irish culture and involves an annual international competition in Ireland, where the Rose of Tralee is selected at a festival held at the town of Tralee in County Kerry.

This year, the Land O’ Lakes teenager was the first recipient of the Cara Loughran Memorial Scholarship, created in honor of the young woman who lost her life during the Valentine’s Day shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

The 17-year-old Finn said one of her goals during the coming year is to raise money to support a second scholarship, to provide the opportunity for another young woman to take part in the leadership camp in Ireland.

Finn, who is a member of the Irish Young American Leaders, said her trip to Ireland last year gave her a chance to explore the way of life in another country, and also helped her to become more outgoing.

The leadership camp offered the chance to learn about Irish history, sample Irish foods and dip into the country’s culture, she said.

During last year’s travels, she learned about international trade issues involving Ireland and America; she visited EA Games, a company where computer games are produced; and she spent some time doing volunteer work at a mental health home for adults.

The group also met the Mayor of Galway and spent time with some high school students who were preparing to compete at the International Science Fair in America.

They also visited a farm where they observed how a typical Irish family spends a Sunday afternoon. And, they listened to live music and tasted traditional Irish stew.

Other parts of the trip included hiking Croagh Patrick and riding bikes around the Aran Islands.

Not only was last year’s trip the young woman’s first international foray, it was the first time she boarded an airplane.

The airplane trip was just her first encounter with many unfamiliar experiences, but Finn said she wanted the chance to learn new things, and the trip fulfilled that desire.

She also had a chance to see some Irish countryside, while traveling down narrow roads.

“We went up some mountains. They were very narrow. We were in a gigantic bus. It was so scary,” she said. “We (passengers) were holding onto each other.”

Her host family provided many American foods, but they also made brown bread and scones every day, Finn said. She also noted that she drank lots of tea, but no coffee.

“So, she did get a little spoiled because for the first two weeks after she came back, she asked for scones every morning,” said Tina Finn, her mom.

She said the trip to Ireland was a wonderful experience for her daughter, in many ways.

“She learned to be on her own and to be assertive in asking for things.

“Since we’ve been doing college visits, we’ve been flying around. I don’t have to tell her what to do. She knows what to do,” Tina Finn said.

After returning from this trip, the teenager, who will be a senior in Pasco eSchool this fall, plans to be busy working on two fundraisers. One would support the trip to Ireland for another young woman.

The second is raise $3,000 to support a trip she wants to take back to Ireland, then to India, in the spring.

Initially, she would be part of a group learning first-aid skills in Ireland, then they would travel to India where they would work to help children living on the streets and in slums in India, and poor families, too.

“It’s to promote immediate and lasting change in their lives,” the young woman said, noting a portion of the time would be spent in a hospital, which would be excellent experience for her because she aspires to become a midwife.

To find out more about the Florida Rose of Tralee, visit the group’s website at FloridaRoseofTralee.com.

Want to help?
If you would like to help Amanda Finn raise money so she can take a trip to Ireland and India in the spring to help the underprivileged in India, or if you would like to help support a scholarship so another young woman can travel to Ireland next summer, please email Amanda Finn at

Published July 18, 2018

School district acquires new school site in Northwood

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Taylor Morrison of Florida Inc., has conveyed a site for a future elementary school in the Northwood residential development.

Northwood is a master-planned community in southern Pasco County, on the north side of County Line Road, east of Interstate 75 and west of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The community is nearing build-out.

Taylor Morrison agreed to provide approximately 15 acres, more or less, of usable uplands for the school site, in exchange for impact fee credits estimated at a value of $450,000.

In addition, Taylor Morrison dedicated easements for an already-constructed stormwater pond and access from road from County Line Road.

The school site has already been filled and graded.

For the access road to be built in the proper alignment with the road to the south of County Line Road, a small triangle of property must be acquired from a third party, according to a school district document. District staff has negotiated that purchase and a future board item will be brought to the school board for its approval.

The Pasco County School Board approved the transaction, without discussion, as part of its consent agenda at its July 3 meeting.

Published July 18, 2018

New and renovated schools planned

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The Pasco County School Board received an overview last week on projects planned to construct, renovate, expand and repair schools across the district.

They also heard a wrap-up on projects in progress or finished this year.

The presentation, by Chris Williams, director of planning services and Olga Swinson, chief finance officer, came as the district prepares to vote on a final capital construction budget in September.

Numerous projects are underway or planned in communities across central and east Pasco County.

Major milestones this past year have included:

  • Beginning the design of the Cypress Creek Middle School
  • Finishing the site development for Starkey K-8, as well as designing that faciilty
  • Replacing the roof at Denham Oaks.
  • Continuing work on massive renovations at Land O’ Lakes High School and Woodland Elementary, and adding capacity to both locations
  • Purchasing 30 cng buses and five diesel buses, and 35 radios
  • Purchasing more than 8,000 computer and laptops, and more than 2,400 iPads

Major projects planned for 2018-2019:

  • Beginning a major overhaul at Zephyrhills High School, which includes adding capacity
  • Continuing the Land O’ Lakes High and Woodland Elementary projects
  • Beginning construction of Cypress Creek Middle School
  • Continuing design of Starkey K-8
  • Working with the Pasco County library system on the Starkey Library/Theater design
  • Purchasing 40 diesel buses, 40 radios and several fleet trucks and service vehicles
  • Purchasing more than 7,000 computers and laptops and about 1,290 iPads.

As the district continues to build, it also continues to grow, Williams said.

Here’s a look at the renovation project that is giving a new look to Woodland Elementary School, and expanding its capacity. (File)

The big question is which areas will grow at the fastest pace, requiring new schools first, the planning director said.

He gave board members an overview of the current situation.

Odessa Elementary is projected to be at 114 percent, Williams said, adding that he expects relief for that school to come when Starkey K-8 opens, which is scheduled for 2021.

“I’m also concerned about Connerton (Elementary). They’re projected to be at 944 students this coming year, or 124 percent of capacity,” he said.

The district has opened up some additional seats at Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School, giving applications from Connerton students a higher priority, Williams said, so hopes that will help reduce Connerton’s enrollment.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin also suggested the district do more to advertise Pine View Elementary School’s candidacy program for the IB Primary Years Programme.

Some students might choose to attend Pine View, if the families knew about that program, she said.

“Pine View and Connerton are so close. Maybe some families might want to get into that (IB) pipeline,” Beaudoin said.

In Wesley Chapel, there are some schools near the new Union Park Charter Academy that are over capacity, but Williams expects the charter school to have significant impact on enrollment at nearby schools.

“Union Park is up to 483 students,” Williams noted.

In addition to affecting elementary enrollments, it also will affect middle schools because the charter school is for kindergarten through eighth grade students.

Meanwhile, in Zephryhills, Woodland Elementary School’s enrollment is well over capacity, but the district is adding capacity at the school as part of the current renovation, Williams added.

The district expects to increase its middle school capacity with the opening of Cypress Creek Middle in 2020 and with the opening Starkey K-8 in 2021.

When Cypress Creek Middle opens, it will help to relieve crowding at Wiregrass Ranch, which is projected to be at 139 percent of its capacity.

Here’s what the common area will look like when the Land O’ Lakes High School project is finished. (File)

When the middle school opens, Cypress Creek High’s capacity will increase substantially.

The district also is hoping to open an East Side Technical High School in 2022, which will affect enrollments at high schools on the east side of the county, Williams said.

Williams said Central Pasco’s growth does pose challenges.

“Sunlake High School is of concern because it still continues to grow,” he said.

The district has a future high school in the Bexley area, as well as the Starkey area, Williams said.

“We have to continue to evaluate when it makes sense to try to add additional capacity,” he added.

The district’s construction needs and maintenance needs continue to grow, but it doesn’t have the revenues to match the needs, Swinson said, forcing the district to put off projects that are needed because it doesn’t have the money.

Projected revenues for capital purposes remain lower than they were in 2007-2008, she said.

Major projects for 2018-2019:

  • Beginning renovation at Zephyrhills High School: Includes massive overhaul, as well as adding capacity.
  • Continuing major renovations at Land O’ Lakes High and Woodland Elementary
  • Starting construction on Cypress Creek Middle School
  • Continuing Starkey K-8 design
  • Working with the Pasco County library system on the Starkey Library/Theater design
  • Purchasing 40 diesel buses, 40 radios and several fleet trucks and service vehicles
  • Purchasing more than 7,000 computers and laptops, and about 1,290 iPads.

Love of community, and chamber, inspires honorary mayor

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When Judi Fisher decided to run for the title of honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes she realized she was making a sizable commitment.

That’s because she knew it would require a considerable amount of time and energy to conduct and attend fundraisers to win the title.

And, if she won, she knew she would be spending an entire year attending ribbon cuttings, celebrating milestones and showing her support at other Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce breakfasts, luncheons and other events.

Judi Fisher, the new honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes, poses with an oversized check representing the donation she made to the Hunters in Christ’s Kingdom. Also shown, from left, are Jonathan Fisher, Richard Meachum and Chad Hudson, who are on the board of that charitable group.
(B.C. Manion)

But Fisher, of Architectural Signage & Printing, decided it was worth the time and effort.

“I believe that Land O’ Lakes is an amazing little town and I don’t think people are taking advantage of all of these little businesses,” she said.

She also noted: “I want to make sure the community is aware of the chamber.”

Besides helping businesses in Land O’ Lakes to network, the chamber supports local causes and organizes events that help to bring the community closer together, Fisher said.

The business organization also holds annual awards to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of local businesses and individuals.

Fisher’s victory was announced during a recent awards banquet. Other candidates in this year’s race were David Cravatta with Wells Fargo and Russell Bly with RE/MAX.

The annual race for honorary mayor also raises money to help support the chamber and the work it does.

To raise money for her campaign, Fisher held a high tea, did a bake off and took part in a meet the candidate’s night at Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que in Land O’ Lakes.

“She put her heart into it and worked very hard,” said Ray Fisher, her father-in-law.

“She’s very interested in community involvement and promoting the business,” added Geneva Fisher, her mother-in-law.

As winner of this year’s race, Fisher was able to direct a portion of the proceeds to a charity of her choice. She chose to support an organization called Hunter’s in Christ’s Kingdom, or HICK, for short.

During a check presentation last week, Fisher was joined by Suzanne Beauchaine, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, other chamber members, family members and other supporters.

She presented an oversized copy of a check for $240, as well as an actual check, to her husband, Jonathan Fisher and two other members of HICK’s board, Chad Hudson and Richard Meachum.

Jonathan Fisher then described what the charitable group does.

“HICK (Hunters in Christ’s Kingdom) is all about sharing the outdoors with other people that don’t know how to camp, how to hunt, how to fish,” he said.

“We give them the opportunity. We just love sharing the outdoors with people, and it gives us the opportunity to share Christ in those situations.

“A lot of times we can talk to people out in the woods that you won’t ever get into a church. It’s all about building those relationships and sharing the gospel outside, outdoors,” he said.

Published July 11, 2018

 

 

 

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North undergoing $75 million expansion

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St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is the midst of a $75 million expansion that will double the hospital’s capacity and support additional services.

Crews are currently working to build out four additional operating suites, in shelled spaces that were included during the original construction in anticipation of future need.

Ryan Bittner, project superintendent on a $75 million expansion project at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, explains the complexity of the construction drawings needed for the project.
(B.C. Manion)

The operating suites are expected to be completed in September, said Sara Dodds, director of operations.

Meanwhile, work is underway to prepare for a two-floor expansion.

That portion of the project is expected to begin in July, said Ryan Bittner, who works for Barton Malow and is the project superintendent for the hospital’s expansion.

“We’ll start with the concrete sheer walls first, like the stairwells, the structural concrete portions that we’ll tie all the steel into. Once that’s up, our steel contractor will come in and erect. That’s when you’ll see the biggest change because you’ll see all of the steel framing go up, the floors being installed, all of the decking,” he said.

The additional floors, which will each have 54 patient rooms, are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2020, Dodds said.

Although the expansion of the facility at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, was always planned, the need came faster than initially expected, Dodds said.

“The growth rate around us is higher than the state of Florida and higher than the nation. If you drive around, there’s more than 1,000 homes and apartments going up, just within 1 mile of us,” she said, adding, “we are regularly now running at capacity.”

Sara Dodds, operations director for St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, is overseeing the expansion of the hospital, which she said was anticipated when the hospital opened in 2010, but came faster than expected because of area growth.

When the expansion is completed and the patient rooms are full, the hospital expects to add around 200 positions, including clinical staff and support services.

The expansion will allow the hospital to double the number of beds it has in its intensive care unit from 12 to 24, by converting 12 existing progressive care beds into intensive care beds.

The 108 beds being added will consist of 48 beds for patients receiving progressive care and 60 beds for those receiving medical surgical care.

Progressive care beds are for patients who are not typically as ill as those needing critical care, but require more specialized attention than a general patient recovering from surgery.

When the expansion is completed, the hospital will have 12 dedicated private rooms for infusion services, Dodds said. Currently, those services are provided in a shared space.

Before work began, the hospital reached out to its neighbors to share its plans, Dodds said.

“One of the things that there was concern about was the path of the deliveries and the construction crews, and we addressed that,” Dodds said, noting those deliveries and crews will not be cutting through residential areas.

The construction team will do what it can to minimize noise, but there will be noise, Dodds said.

“We’ll work with every patient that comes to make sure they understand there may be some noise,” she said, adding that the hospital will give patients earplugs, if they need them.

Crews are preparing to do the framing for the ceiling in four operating suites that are being built out at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. The shells for the rooms were included in the original construction, in anticipation of future need.

“Whenever possible, we will minimize whatever work needs to be done at night,” she added.

If the project is finished on time, it will roughly coincide with the hospital’s 10-year anniversary.

When it opened, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North was the first new hospital that had been built in Hillsborough County for 30 years. Before that, area residents had to drive for miles to get to the nearest hospital.

Dodds vividly recalls opening day on Feb. 15, 2010.

She was a charge nurse at the time and remembers gazing out of the third-story window to see the hospital’s first patient approaching the building. It had 2,918 discharges that first year.

In 2011, its first full year of operation, the hospital had 4,831 discharges. That compares to 7,814 last year, which is a 61 percent increase since 2011, hospital officials note.

The larger hospital will address the community’s growing needs, Dodds said.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, by the numbers

  • 7,814 discharges
  • 404 births
  • 4,467 outpatient surgeries
  • 42,869 emergency department visits
  • 463,414 lab tests
  • 799 team members
  • 156 physicians

These figures are for 2017, the last complete year that statistics are available.

Published July 4, 2018

Spreading a gospel of love through brown-bag lunches

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Sharing food with those in need has been part of the Father and Son Love Ministries since its inception, but now the Lutz church has branched out to create a free summer lunch program — with no strings attached.

The church is tucked away in a commercial office plaza, just off State Road 54, at 24156 Foggy Ridge Parkway.

All families and children are welcome to come by the church on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m., to pick up the free bagged lunches.

Assistant Pastor Ken Waters wears plastic gloves and a hairnet, as he prepares sandwiches for the Father and Son Love Ministries’ free summer lunch program.
(B.C. Manion)

The free Father and Son Love Ministries Summertime Lunch Program runs through Aug. 29, but will be closed on July 4.

Although the program operates just two days a week, the church provides multiple bagged lunches to help families to get from one distribution to the next.

For instance, a family with four or more children will be offered up to two lunches per child, per visit. A family with one to three children will be offered up to three lunches per child per visit.

Each lunch consists of a turkey or peanut butter and jelly sandwich; salad or fruit; cookies, doughnuts or pastry; and, a small bottle of water.

The program aims to send a message of hope to those in need, said Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., who said he felt spiritually compelled to launch the program this year.

“It’s hard for people to be knocked down and still feel dignity,” Johns said. “If you don’t have kids and you’re struggling, what do you do? You’re not lesser than because you don’t have money.

“We’ve turned into a society where if you don’t have an American Express card, you’re a throwaway. It’s ridiculous,” Johns added.

By reducing grocery bills for families, perhaps they’ll be able to pay for summer camps for the kids, go on some family outings, or do other things they enjoy during their summer break, Johns said.

At the very least, he added, it can take some pressure off families: “You don’t have to open a can of Spam every day.”

Assistant Pastor Ken Waters and his wife, Cheryl, typically arrive about an hour before the doors open, to begin preparing the sack lunches.

“We are making sure that these sandwiches are nice and fresh,” the assistant pastor said. “We try to make sure they get a healthy portion (of turkey),” he added, as he layered several slices of meat on two large pieces of bread.

Helping to feed those in need is more important than focusing on strategies to build church membership, said Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., who leads the Father and Son Love Ministries, a church at 24156 Foggy Ridge Parkway in Lutz.

Being involved in the ministry is rewarding, the couple said, adding that they hope those receiving the lunches will enjoy them.

The church covers most of the cost of the free summer lunch program, but Publix helps by donating bread and pastries every Sunday and Wednesday, the assistant pastor said.

The biggest problem so far is that there hasn’t been much traffic.

It’s been difficult to get the word out, Johns said.

He hopes that will change as the church does more outreach to food pantries, apartment complexes and other places where there may be people in need.

Those dropping by to pick up lunches aren’t required to listen to any type of preaching or to sign any paperwork, Johns said. “We don’t need names. ID. Social (Security numbers). They don’t ever have to see me again.”

And, when it comes to how many lunches are provided to a family, the church is operating on an honor system, the pastor added.

The free lunch program isn’t intended as a promotional tool for the church, Johns said.

The only information included in the bagged lunches is a flier listing the program’s days and hours of operation.

The idea is to be of service, and to perhaps serve as an example for others, Johns said.

“We need some boots on the ground. We need ministers who are going to be doing the servant’s work, of serving people,” he said.

In the pastor’s view, doing this kind of work is far more important than focusing on strategies to boost church membership.

He wants to spread a message that: “Maybe there is goodness in the world, maybe somebody does care.”

Assistant pastor Waters agreed it’s important work: “Walk the walk.”

Johns added: “People may think we’re crazy, but I believe we can change this world, one person at a time. I believe it. It’s not a slogan.”

What: Father and Son Love Ministries Summertime Lunch Program
Where: 24156 Foggy Ridge Parkway, Lutz
When: Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m. (through Aug. 29, except for July 4)
Cost: Free
Details: This church ministry provides free sack lunches, as an act of service to others, during the summer months.
Info: Call (813) 383-8410.

Published July 4, 2018

Candidates qualify, political groups have meetings

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Candidates have qualified for the upcoming election, giving voters plenty to consider. Here are candidates in key races during the 2018 election cycle.

Primary voters could decide the outcome for three Pasco County School Board seats. School board races are nonpartisan. Although candidates must live within specific districts, voters countywide select the winners. If a candidate does not receive more than 50 percent of the vote in the Aug. 28 primary, the top two vote-getters will face off on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Winners in two Pasco County Commission districts will be decided in the general election.

Key Pasco County races 

Pasco County Commission
District 2
Mike Moore (Rep), incumbent
Kelly Smith (Dem)

District 4
Brandi Geoit (Dem)
Mike Wells (Rep)

Pasco County School Board
District 1
Allen Altman (NPA), incumbent
Kenneth J. Mathis (NPA)
Brian Staver (NPA)

District 3
Cynthia Armstrong (NPA), incumbent
Meghan E. Hamer (NPA)
Heide R. Janshon (NPA)

District 5
Mike Aday (NPA)
Megan C. Harding (NPA)
Kathryn “Kassie” Hutchinson (NPA)
Tara M. O’Connor (NPA)

State and federal races
Florida State Senate
District 10
Michael Cottrell (Dem)
Wilton Simpson (Rep), incumbent

District 16
Ed Hooper, (Rep)
Leo Karruli (Rep)
Amanda Murphy (Dem)

District 20
Joy Gibson (Dem)
John Manners Houman (Rep)
Tom Lee (Rep), incumbent
Kathy Lewis (Dem)

Florida State House
District 36
Linda Jack (Dem)
Amber Mariano (Rep), incumbent

District 38
Danny Burgess (Rep), incumbent
David ‘TK’ Hayes, (NPA)

U.S. House of Representatives
District 12
Gus Michael Bilirakis (Rep), incumbent
Chris Hunter (Dem)
Stephen M. Perenich (Dem)
Angelika Purkis (Dem)
Robert Matthew Tager (Dem)

Mosquito Control, Seat 2 candidates
Andy Carney, Matthew Skeeter Abbott, Cory P. Sommers and Chris Tyler have qualified for this nonpartisan race.

Political meetings

Land O’ Lakes Democrats
The Land O Lakes Democratic Club will meet July 11 at 6:30 p.m. The featured guest will be Chris Hunter, former FBI agent, federal prosecutor, and now a candidate for U.S. Congress. The club also will be talking about boosting voter turnout. The club meets at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 108, in Lutz.

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet July 12 at 6:30 p.m., at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley will speak about the many layers of security protecting the Pasco County voting system, as well as changes in voting laws since the last election. Admission is free, all are welcome, and coffee and homemade desserts will be served. For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813 or .

Published July 4, 2018

Raises unlikely this year in Pasco County Schools

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Pasco County School Board members have expressed a desire to give teachers a raise, but according to Superintendent Kurt Browning, there’s no money available to make that happen.

Browning’s remarks came during a budget workshop last week in the board room at the district’s headquarters in Land O’ Lakes.

Olga Swinson, the district’s chief financial officer, provided a run-through of budget numbers for board members — noting that these numbers will change before the board’s next budget workshop, which is set for July 24.

However, based on what the district knows now, there’s a projected deficit of about $1.2 million, she said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning
(Randy Underhill)

Based on that, the district will have to find cuts to balance the budget before the board takes its first vote on the budget July 31, Browning said.

“I think what we’re all looking for here is where we can find money for teacher raises because we all said that was a priority for us,” said board member Colleen Beaudoin.

Swinson responded: “Obviously, we didn’t get enough money for salary raises.”

Beaudoin noted: “I’m concerned that we’re losing good people.”

The district needs to look at such issues as how much it costs to hire, onboard, train and support new staff when it loses current employees, Beaudoin said.

“What’s our risk/reward? What’s our return on investment?” the school board member asked.

The district also needs to consider issues such as “the time it takes to get someone to their peak performance,” Beaudoin continued. “Not increasing salaries is hurting us in other ways.”

Board vice chairwoman Alison Crumbley agreed: “It has a snowball effect.”

Browning said: “I would love to find money for salary increases for instructional, SRPs, administrators, everybody.”

But, the superintendent said the state did not provide enough money to make that happen.

He noted that Hillsborough County’s school district is providing large salary increases, but it is cutting hundreds of jobs to cover the costs.

“I, as a superintendent, am not ready to make a recommendation to this board that we start cutting positions, critical positions in the schools, to give raises to remaining staff,” Browning said.

“We’re not cutting positions this year. Everybody, and I’ll just say it, ought to be thankful they have a job, based on the funding we received from the state.

“It’s unfortunate that they did not provide the dollars that we needed in order to continue to improve salaries,” the superintendent said.

State lawmakers claim that they provided record funding for school districts, Browning said, “what they stop short of saying is they’re also telling you how to spend it.

“If you look at that, almost $4 million is going to the safe school allocation and the mental health,” he said.

Plus, about $5.3 million of the state funding is going to charter schools.

Browning said the district’s salaries have improved in recent years, but the funding is not there to improve them again this year.

But, he acknowledged Beaudoin’s and Crumbley’s concerns.

“We know we’ve got to get our salaries competitive. I know that,” Browning said.

Published June 27, 2018