Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

The Pasco County School Board wants more information before they decide on superintendent Kurt Browning’s proposal to eliminate school media specialists and literacy coaches.

Browning’s package of proposed budget cuts calls for eliminating 56.5 media specialist positions and 33 literacy coaches in district elementary, middle and high schools to save more than $4.8 million.

But at an April 16 budget workshop, school board members made it clear that they want to discuss the issue in greater detail.

During its board meeting that night, members voted to discuss the issue on May 7 when Browning is expected to provide more detailed information about positions that would be assigned to serve more than one school.

The media specialists and literacy coaches are included in the 260.5 positions Browning has proposed to eliminate to help plug a $19 million budget hole.

School board member Joanne Hurley told Browning she’s not comfortable with his proposal regarding the media specialists and literacy coaches.

As the district faces tougher academic standards, it’s important to provide school-based support, Hurley said, in an interview after the workshop.

“They’re taking away two very valuable resources,” Hurley said. “Those people do have direct contact with students.”

Board member Alison Crumbley wants to hear more details of Browning’s planned approach.

“I want to know what the specific plan is and how it relates to the students and student success,” she said, after the workshop. She wants to know “what the exact impact will be on our students.”

Board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong also wants more details.

“I’m looking forward to hearing the proposal that the superintendent’s office is going to bring to us,” she said in an interview after the workshop.

Board member Steve Luikart has a plan of his own. In an interview after the workshop, he said he’d like to see a slower transition than the one Browning has proposed.

At the workshop, Browning reminded board members that any reduction in his proposed cuts would require finding equivalent cuts elsewhere.

Browning also asked for direction in the approach he should use in balancing the district’s budget.

“Does the board want me to use nonrecurring revenue to balance the budget, or do you want me to find an additional $5 million in cuts?” Browning said.

Browning said he’d like to get away from using nonrecurring funds, which was a common practice in years past.

Board members concurred.

“I think the time has come where we really can’t do that again,” Hurley said.

Armstrong added, “At some point it’s just irresponsible to keep raiding the funds.”

Browning also informed the board that his proposed budget does not meet the state’s class size requirements. His proposal would save $4.033 million, but it would cost the district $213,000 in penalties for failing to meet the mandate.

Browning also said his team is “going to go back in and assess the number of APs (assistant principals) at our schools.”

Acknowledging that reducing the number of APs may not be popular, Browning said, “This is going to be shared pain-making.”

Luikart, a former AP, said he doesn’t see how the district can afford to make cuts in that area.

Browning said he hopes people whose positions are cut will be able to find new roles within the district as vacancies arise because of retirements or resignations.

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Eleven Gaither High students have joined the elite ranks of the school’s Honor Circle, a tradition that began two decades ago.

Family, friends, Gaither administrators and faculty members looked on as this year’s honorees were recognized during an April 15 ceremony.

One by one, the inductees placed their photographs and name cards into a glass cabinet, in a prominent spot in the school’s main corridor.

Jacqueline Lawson, valedictorian of the Class of 2013, had the distinction of placing her photograph, biography and name card on the top shelf.

On a lower shelf are the photographs and name cards of the next 10-highest ranked students in the class: salutatorian Riley Walman, Anoosha Kishore, Davie Chen, Monica Tromer, Emily Daboll, Logan Marshall, Jessica Whittington, Amber Razzano, Allison Stern-Harbutte and Charlotte Mallardi.

As each student approached the case, Gaither principal Marie Whelan and Ken Adum, the school’s principal from 1993 to 2003, shook the student’s hand and offered congratulations.

Whelan invited Adum to the ceremony, but she had an ulterior motive in bringing back the former principal. She wanted to celebrate Honor Circle’s 20th anniversary and to recognize Adum for establishing it.

To show her appreciation, Whelan unveiled a plaque honoring Adum. She also gave him a miniature version to have for his home.

The tokens of appreciation came as a surprise to Adum.

“Normally, I would wear a tie and a suit,” said Adum, who was wearing khaki slacks and a polo shirt.

After the ceremony, Adum explained why he started Honor Circle.

“When I first came here, they didn’t have any academic trophy cases. It was all athletics. I wanted a trophy case for academics,” Adum said.

Adum said he hoped that students would see the case and think to themselves, “I’ve got a shot to be in that case.”

That’s what happened with Jacqueline’s older sister Jessica saw the cabinet.

Jessica pointed to the photo of the valedictorian and said she wanted hers to be in that spot one day, recalled her mom Lisa Lawson.

Jessica graduated at the top of her class in 2010, and now her younger sister is doing the same thing this year.

Their mother thanked Adum for inspiring students to strive for academic success.

Jerry Murray, a science teacher who worked with Adum for 15 years, was pleased to see his former boss honored.

Murray said that Adum was a huge supporter of academic achievement and always encouraged teachers to grow so they could share their knowledge with the students.

Adum’s creation of the Honor Circle was a variation on a theme of a previous program he launched when he was principal at Adams Junior High in Forest Hills, which is now a middle school.

Adum’s wife, Linda, who also was surprised by Whelan’s gesture, was happy to see her husband honored and was sure that he was gratified: “He’ll cherish that.”

 

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Caitlin Ruddy cannot recall any stage in her life when music didn’t matter, and at this point, the 22-year-old said her entire world revolves around it.

The soprano, a Land O’ Lakes native, will soon be showcasing her talent at three upcoming spring concerts of the Tampa Bay Symphony, under the baton of Mark Sforzini, the symphony’s new music director.

Ruddy, a coloratura soprano, will be a featured performer because she was the symphony’s Young Artist Competition winner. She will sing una voce poco fa, an aria from The Barber of Seville by Rossini.

The University of Florida (UF) senior said she found out about the young artist competition when she was searching online for opportunities.

She said five artists were invited to do a live audition, and she was thrilled when she emerged as the winner.

“It wasn’t just vocalists,” Ruddy said. She noted, “Every one was really talented.”

She was surprised and delighted when she learned that she’d won. Her family and neighbors, who were there, were also excited, Ruddy said.

The piece she will be performing is difficult, Ruddy said, but she’s eager to take it on.

The character she’s portraying is feisty, Ruddy said, “So, I have fun with it.”

The young woman began singing when she was a girl and joined her first choir while in third grade at Denham Oaks Elementary.

She performed through her adolescence and teenage years at Pine View Middle, Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake high schools. She has also taken part in productions by Arts in Motion, a youth community theater group.

Ruddy has appeared in musical theater productions, but has focused primarily on opera since entering college. She’s performed in four operas at UF.

Ruddy said her mom has been an influence in her musical life because she also sings and has always been supportive. They’ve done duets at church and at her aunt’s wedding, she said.

Ruddy appreciates singers who have expressive voices in any musical genre. Some singers she admires most include Ann Netrebko, Kathleen Battle, Audra McDonald and Julie Andrews.

Although she considers herself to be somewhat introverted, Ruddy doesn’t give that impression when she appears on stage.

“I really just love performing,” Ruddy said.

She strives to engage the audience, and her goal is to make them feel the emotion that her piece conveys: “It’s really important to make your audience feel something.”

To help her deliver a song effectively, Ruddy said she does her homework.

“It’s good to know the context of whatever piece I’m singing,” she said, explaining that helps her elicit the proper emotion.

She is typically singing in a foreign language, so Ruddy makes sure she knows the translations and the proper pronunciation of the words.

Ruddy also pays attention to the clues that the music presents, she said.

The vocal line can say one thing, while the musical line says another, she said: “It adds to the whole complexity of it. … It’s kind of like real life, where nothing is black and white. Everything has nuances.”

Ruddy has studied Italian, but is not fluent. She also has learned the rules of diction in French and German.

Ruddy, who plans to pursue her Master of Music at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., is the daughter of Gail and Bob Ruddy.

Besides singing, she also enjoys acting and dancing. Ruddy believes all of those skills will be useful as she pursues a performing career, which she hopes lasts many years.

“In opera, your voice keeps maturing as you get older.”

 

If you want to go:

The concerts are 4 p.m. April 28 at the Arts Auditorium on the Clearwater campus of St. Petersburg College, 2465 Drew St.; 8 p.m. April 30 at the Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N in St. Petersburg; and 4 p.m. May 5 at Ferguson Hall, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Place in Tampa.

The tickets at the door are $20 for adults, with free tickets available for students. Students 18 and older must show student identification.

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Maria Zoller isn’t your average teenager.

At 15 years old, the Sunlake High freshman is quickly becoming one of the youngest sensations in the musical genre of opera, and she’s earning national recognition for it too.

Maria was recently one of 20 singers worldwide to earn a scholarship to the California Opera, and has been named one of two southern district finalists for the New York Lyric Opera’s 2013 National Vocal Competition.

She is also the youngest student studying in the precollegiate music program under the University of South Florida (USF)’s renowned vocal director Kyoung Cho.

“This has been so incredible,” Maria said. “It’s such an amazing experience just being a part of the shows and performing. I love it, because singing on stage just makes me feel like I am on top of the world.”

Reaching her dreams once seemed impossible.

Maria was only 3 when she was living in an orphanage in Romania after being given up by her mother at just three months of age.

Her adoptive parents, Susan and Wald Zoller, brought her back to the United States and helped change her life completely.

At first, life in her new home was difficult for Maria, who barely talked. Susan said she would walk around the house with a baby doll whining because of the suffering she endured in the orphanage’s poor conditions.

Then one day, Susan played Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and from there, Maria began humming the tune and eventually knew every word.

Maria never stopped singing, and today can perform in four different languages: English, German, French and Italian.

“I’m very fortunate to be where I am today,” Maria said. “To be able to perform with USF and Dr. Cho, she’s been a big inspiration to me. She helped me find my voice, and she is so supportive and has helped me with so much, and I just love her. She’s a great teacher.”

Maria said students at Sunlake have been very encouraging and some are even curious as to what opera is all about.

“They’re like, ‘I can’t believe you’re singing opera,’ and they love it and want to go to some of my shows,” Maria said. “When I was younger, I would sing opera as well, and my friends, they kind of thought it was a little weird because they’re so used to pop and rap, but I had a passion for opera ever since I was little, and it’s nice to teach them what the music is like because it’s so beautiful, and they have a great understanding for it … and they find it interesting and want to know more about it, and that’s what I’m here to do.”

Aside from performing with students from USF, Maria has also sung at multiple charity events, including a breast cancer awareness concert that featured heavy metal bands.

She said it doesn’t matter where she gets on stage as long as she is able to help others and be an inspiration for those who need it.

“I want to teach people and inspire them through my music,” Maria said. “My ultimate goal is to become a professional opera singer and sing all over stages like the Metropolitan Opera House (in New York), but I really want to inspire many with the beautiful music because I feel like opera is a calming music. It relieves stress, and it’s beautiful. It’s my passion.”

Maria will be performing at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, in the show A Night At the Popera with Klassika, on April 27 at 8 p.m. and April 28 at 2 p.m. For ticket information and more, visit carrollwoodcenter.org/events.

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

With its quaint shops, historic courthouse and collection of restaurants, it’s hard to picture the slice of Americana that is downtown Dade City as a place once characterized by vacant storefronts and buildings falling into disrepair.

But that’s precisely what the place was like in the mid-1980s before Dade City Main Street began the battle to revive the downtown.

“It was right on the verge of dying,” said Pat Weaver, who led the effort to establish Dade City Main Street. “I just couldn’t bear to see it be boarded up. … Dade City was referred to as ‘dead city.’ We decided to do something about it.”

Harsh freezes and the allure of shopping malls had a crippling effect on the district’s vitality, recalled Pete Brock, a member of Dade City Main Street’s founding board.

“Our downtown was in a state of decline,” Brock said.

That organization, which was part of the Florida Main Street Program, ceased operations on March 28. Before then, it served as a catalyst for revitalization and sponsored community events for a quarter-century.

From the very beginning, Weaver was confident the Main Street program could play a pivotal role in saving her hometown community’s downtown.

It took two years to line everything up to apply to join the state’s Main Street program, Brock said.

Gaining approval for the program required local commitment, including financial and community support. It also involved establishing a board of directors, drafting articles of incorporation and having the willingness to hire a full-time manager, Brock said.

The group also had to demonstrate community backing.

“We raised about $30,000 in six weeks,” Weaver said.

Most cities applying to the state’s Main Street program had to try more than once, Brock said. The Dade City group, however, had done its homework.

“We were accepted on the first go-round,” Brock said.

Brock thinks Dade City’s downtown was a good fit for the program.

“We were fortunate that we had a lot of historic buildings. The town has a natural beauty to it,” Brock said.

Dade City Main Street defined its mission as “a commitment to revitalize and preserve the flavor of small town life and the unique heritage of Dade City, Florida.”

The state’s Main Street program was set up as a three-year program, Brock said. It provided a $10,000 grant and technical assistance.

“They came into the community in those first three years, and they kind of evaluated where we were,” Brock said. “They trained the board. They trained the executive director. We had meetings where we did visioning. We did a lot of work to look at where we were and where we thought we needed to go.”

The board was made up of a cross-section of people to ensure it represented different points of view, Weaver said. She added that it also consisted of those who agreed to play an active role, noting there were no “in-name only” board members.

Brock characterized board members as the community’s “opinion leaders” who had the ability to make things happen.

It didn’t take long to begin having a positive impact, Brock said.

“All of a sudden, some of the merchants wanted to do something about their buildings,” Brock said.

The Gandy building was the first to complete a renovation, Weaver said.

Then Tom Smith and Kevin Roberts completed a $600,000 makeover of the Centennial Building, Brock said.

That stimulated others to get involved, and, within the first 18 months, more than $3 million had been invested in downtown construction and renovation, Brock said.

Dade City’s group worked with civic and service organizations and city and county government leaders, as well as the state’s Main Street program and experts from the University of Florida, to bring about positive change, Brock said.

The restoration of the stately courthouse, which graces the center of downtown, was a huge step in the right direction, Brock said.

“The courthouse was ugly, ugly, ugly,” Weaver said. It had additions that went all of the way out of the sidewalk, she added. “That hodgepodge of additions is gone now, and the historic structure exudes its early 1900s charm.”

The district built on its strengths, Brock said.

“We have this restaurant called Lunch on Limoges. That was really the magnet,” Brock said.

Downtown also became a draw for antiques dealers and boutiques.

The creation of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has also made a sizable impact, Brock said. The CRA established a mechanism for using tax proceeds to help pay for various improvements and beautification projects.

During its quarter-century tenure, Dade City Main Street initiated, played a role or was a catalyst in numerous improvements and activities, such as:

—Renovating the 1912 train depot

—Constructing downtown restrooms

—Sponsoring downtown events like the Fall Scarecrow Festival and the Country Christmas Stroll

—Promoting downtown through billboards, shopping guides, streetlight banners, commemorative postcards and bottles of private label water

—Providing grants to beautify building facades, repaint buildings and purchase decorative streetlights, benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks and newspaper dispensers

—Improving the district’s ambiance with trees and flowering plants in planters.

Brock said the group wanted to go out on a high note when it ceased operations.

“We really do feel that most of the things that we wanted to do have been accomplished in terms of the appearance and vitality,” Brock said. “The one area that we’re a little concerned is the advocacy area. We hope somebody will pick that up.”

John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the group’s decision to disband came after a lengthy run.

“Everything has a life,” Moors said. “My history has been in various hotel companies and municipal governments. So, things change. The one thing that isn’t going to change is that things change. It’s not the change that happens, it’s how you adapt.”

He’s confident the downtown district will continue to thrive.

“We have a great group of merchants in Dade City,” Moors said. “They’re engaged. They’re active. They’re really committed to the betterment of our downtown, and I think it shows when you look at our downtown.”