Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

As Kurt Browning assumes the helm of Pasco County Schools this week, he wants to set a tone of high expectations for both students and staff.

Browning, who defeated incumbent Heather Fiorentino in the primary and write-in candidate Kathy Lambert in the general election, has been working for months to identify changes in the district’s structure, to streamline operations and to better support the system’s goals.

When Browning is making decisions, he said, his driving question will be this: “Is it best for the kids?”

The district must have high expectations for student performance and must focus on preparing its graduates for careers and college.

There are high-paying technical jobs that are being left unfilled or shipped overseas because of a national lack of qualified workers, Browning said. He added, Pasco schools must prepare its students to enable them to lead productive lives.

The district has career academies, but Browning wants to boost their effectiveness. He would like to forge stronger ties with the Pasco Economic Development Council and companies that can provide internships and other opportunities for students.

“We’re going to put a fire under career academies and the whole training piece,” Browning said.

The district must set high expectations for student achievement and do what it takes to help students who are failing, Browning said.

All schools must be expected to perform well, and when schools fall short, the district must use a strategic approach to close the gap, he said. Strategies may include differentiated pay for effective teachers who go to work in low-performing schools and extra help for struggling students, such as literacy and math coaches.

“These kids can learn,” Browning said. “The district has the responsibility to provide the extra help they need.”

It’s essential to focus on what’s good for students when making hiring decisions, dismissing employees, allocating resources, setting calendars and addressing policy issues, Browning said.

Student success is tied to the district’s culture, Browning said.

“I think, in large part, there is very little trust in our district,” he said. He noted there’s been a lack of trust between the superintendent and the school board members, between the superintendent and the superintendent’s staff, between the district staff and principals and between principals and teachers.

Browning said there’s work to be done to build relationships in the district, and part of that will involve improved communications.

“One of the expectations of our management team will be to start their days off in schools,” Browning said. “How do you know how to manage an organization this large if you don’t know what’s going on, out in the organization? You don’t.”

He also plans to meet with district staff in town halls during January.

“Our district employees need to hear from the superintendent,” Browning said. “They need to know my heart on things; they need to know where I’m coming from.”

He also plans to have a meeting with all of the district’s principals at the same time.

“I want them to hear from my lips to their ears what drives me, what motivates me and what my expectations are,” Browning said.

Browning also wants to increase opportunities for communication with parents.

“You can’t send a sheet home in a child’s backpack and expect a parent to read it,” Browning said.

He wants to hold what he calls tele-town halls, where parents will be able to dial in and ask him questions, directly. It would work similarly to a radio talk show, he said.

As for directly educating kids, Browning said he’s not impressed by what he’s heard around the district regarding personal relationships district employees are having with subordinates.

“I’ve heard from teachers across this county that things are going on in our schools that  are distractions to teaching our kids,” Browning said. He added, “These people who get themselves in these relationships, if they think for one minute that it’s quiet, who are they kidding? It’s not healthy for the district, and it’s not best for the kids.

“Some people say, ‘Well, what goes on in my bedroom is none of the district’s business.’ … Let me tell those people something: What goes on in your bedrooms, particularly if it is with other school district employees, affects the way that you manage the school and it is my business,” Browning continued.

He has zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

“I am not putting up with any employee of the district that is going to sexually harass or otherwise harass employees in our district,” Browning said.

Changing the culture won’t happen overnight, he said.

“Trust building, that’s going to come at its own pace. I can’t force people to trust me. I’ve got to demonstrate things to them that show that they can trust me,” he said.

He said establishing that trust is vital to lead effectively: “If I don’t trust you, I am certainly not going to follow you.”

While the superintendent is enthusiastic and confident the district can achieve higher standards, he also realizes that it faces many challenges — including a $23 million deficit that must be plugged for next year’s budget.

He also knows that years of budget cuts have hurt employee morale.

In making cuts, Browning said he wants to have all of his options.

In some cases, he said, it may make sense to spend money now to realize long-term, recurring savings.

“We’ve got to look long term at what our expenditures are for energy,” Browning said. Purchasing equipment now could yield years of lower costs, he said. The same may be true for irrigation systems. The district may also explore the potential of purchasing some natural gas-powered buses, he said.

Browning said he decided to run for the superintendent’s job because he was encouraged to do so by people across Pasco County.

“What I do bring to the table, I think, is a steady hand,” Browning said. “I bring the ability to care about people. I was born here. I was raised here. I want to make a difference.”

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Land O’ Lakes boys cross country team had its best state performance in three years, and the Gators credited their 11th-place finish to someone watching from the sidelines.

The inspiration came from Steven Barnabei.

The junior had been Land O’ Lakes’ No. 5 runner and a team captain this season, but he was given a devastating diagnosis less than a month ago.

Barnabei had a brain tumor that needed to be removed immediately. He had surgery Nov. 2, the same day the Gators were competing at districts.

“It was really a shock for all of us,” said junior Travis Nichols. “You don’t expect something like that to happen and right at districts. It was just a big blow for the team.”

The squad dedicated the season to Barnabei and wore a patch with his initials during regionals.

“They came out to my house, all of them, the day before regionals,” Barnabei said. “At first I didn’t know what was going on. When they said they’d be wearing the patch and dedicating the season, I was really surprised.”

It was Barnabei’s turn to surprise his teammates by making the trip to the Class 3A meet at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee for states.

“We’re glad he could make it,” said Land O’ Lakes coach Kris Keppel. “He and his mom (Mary Anne) needed a break.”

Keppel said his running group and his Gators are helping Barnabei’s family during the holidays because Mary Anne had two jobs, but has been without work the last two weeks while caring for her son.

“It’s really been an inspirational story,” Keppel said while fighting tears. “We help them, they help us in spirit to run the best race. I think for the most part we did that today. … Steven is like the son I never had. I take him home after practice. To have him here is great.”

Barnabei had one last piece of inspiration for his teammates — a prerace speech.

“I told them to focus and use everything they’ve learned throughout the season,” Barnabei said. “I told them to focus on the race and have a sharp mind even when you don’t think they need it. They all did that. … They’ve run like this before, but for them to heed the words that I told them last night and be able to focus today is really amazing.”

Nichols, who finished 12th by completing the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes 57 seconds, said he thought of what Barnabei was going through during the race.

“It was all for him,” Nichols said. “He went through more pain than any of us going through brain surgery, so the least we could do is run well for him.”

Teammate Tyler Stahl (17th, 16:02) added, “I had some major pain running today, but then I thought about Steven and what he’s going through and everything he’s endured, and what I did was nothing compared to that.”

Barnabei said he has seen a lot of progress since the surgery.

“Right after, I couldn’t really talk much or hold a fork or knife or anything,” Barnabei said. “Now I can write again, and obviously well enough to come out here and cheer on my teammates. … I’m hoping I’ll be able to go back to school in about a week. Right now it’s hectic, but once I get everything back to normal I’ll be glad.”

As for the race, Land O’ Lakes changed its training this year by taking every three weeks off to be fresh for postseason.

“I think that definitely helped us,” Nichols said. “We were more energized. We took every third race off, and the past week we eased it up so we could run well at states.”

Keppel was happy to have two runners in the top 20 and believes top 10 and a spot on the podium is the next step.

“We were hoping that one of them would get on the podium, but we have next year to look forward to that,” Keppel said. “Both of them will be on the podium next year.”

The Gators will return five of their top seven runners, including the entire top three. Keppel sees good things on the horizon.

“This is the third year of our building process,” Keppel said. “Next year is going to be hopefully our year. Continue to build some depth. … It’s been a good year, and I’m glad we finished on a good note.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

Lutz members will be replaced by career staff

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously Nov. 15 to staff the Lutz Volunteer Fire Station with career firefighters, despite pleas from the community and supporters.

The county will take control of the Lutz station, along with its other two remaining volunteer associations, on Jan. 1 as part of a new program.

Lutz Volunteer Fire Association president Jay Muffly said there isn’t anything the stations can do to change the commissioners’ ruling. He added that the community’s Independence Day celebration, which will celebrate Lutz’s centennial in 2013, could see some major changes next year.

“I really don’t know what to say,” Muffly said. “I guess the county and (Hillsborough County Fire Rescue) want to go in a different direction. You know, I don’t know how it will all turn out, but it just doesn’t look good, I’ll tell you that.”

Under the county’s new plan known as the Reserve Responder Program, 78 new career firefighting jobs have been added to replace the volunteers.

It is part of an approved $5.24 million budget, which is how much it will cost to add the new jobs.

The commissioners said volunteers will still be utilized to work with the career staffers, but not on the scale they have been for the last few decades. They said the hope is that, under the new program, those working as volunteers can gain more experience and increase their safety procedures by re-applying to the new reserve responder program. There, former volunteers can work with larger staffs in a path to becoming career firefighters, if they desire.

According to the 14-page document outlining the plan, reserve responders can also continue to help with community events like the Lutz Independence Day celebration.

In October, the county released an audit showing many volunteer stations in decline financially. While county leaders questioned the value of the volunteer association model, the Lutz association brought in $85,508 in membership dues, donations and community support.

Those volunteering at the Lutz station had hoped the continuous widespread support from the community would sway the county’s opinion, but in the end it did not.

Muffly said the Lutz station has been “one of the two best volunteer fire associations in the county” since it opened its doors in 1952. But with the massive changes looming in January, he said the landscape will be forever changed.

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

A number of civic clubs, businesses and religious organizations have stepped forward to help brighten the holidays for others.

The help comes in many forms in North Hillsborough and Central and East Pasco counties.

It comes as a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all of the trimmings, as a yoga class to support the troops and in toy collections and food drives to bring holiday cheer to the less fortunate.

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon is hosting its third annual Turkey Gobble, but this year it will be at a different venue.

The civic group has teamed with Helping Hands Pantry at Lutheran Atonement Church, 29617 SR 54 in Wesley Chapel, which will be hosting the event.

Hot meals will be served on Thanksgiving Day for those in need. The dinners will consist of turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, vegetables, rolls and pie and will be served from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event is open to all in need, including the elderly, shut-ins, unemployed, underemployed and the homeless. Reserve a meal by calling Ken Chase at (813) 760-1775 or stop in to the Helping Hands Pantry on Wednesday for more information.

While the Rotary Club works to feed people on Thanksgiving, Keystone Community Church is again collecting food and new toys at a Metropolitan Ministries Tent on its grounds, at SR 54 and US 41.

This is the fourth year the church has collected toys and food to help those in need at the holidays. It is accepting nonperishable food, new toys and monetary donations from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 21 to help others at Thanksgiving. It will reopen the tent to accept donations from Dec. 15 through Dec. 23. Collection hours on those days are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

While many people will be watching parades or gearing up for a big feast on Thanksgiving, Sun Yoga, 19025 Geraci Road in Lutz, is inviting people to drop by for a yoga class to put their holiday stress on hold while supporting the troops and veterans at the same time.

The business will offer a yoga class from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 22, with donations going to BOOTSTRAP, an online program aimed at helping heal troops through yoga.

The class will be taught by a certified, experienced yoga teacher. The practice is accessible to nearly everyone, even if you’ve never done yoga before.

No preregistration is necessary. For more information, call Sun Yoga at (813) 471-7064, or visit www.sunyogatampa.com. For more information on BOOTSTRAP, visit www.bootstrapUSA.com.

Meanwhile, Cornerstone Air Conditioning & Heating, 3800 US 41 in Land O’ Lakes, is a drop-off place for Toys for Tots. Those donating a new toy valued at $10 or more will receive a voucher from Cornerstone valued at $30 off any repair, which will be valid for one year. The company is also collecting canned foods for a food drive.

Cornerstone’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Another local Toys for Tots drop-off point is CinéBistro at Grove 16. It will be accepting donations through Dec. 16.

People interested in donating can bring unopened, unwrapped toys for children up to age 12 to the theater. No donations of fake weapons or food will be accepted.

Those donating will qualify for prize drawings. Each donation valued at $15 or more, with proof of a receipt, will allow the donor to receive a complimentary appetizer.

CinéBistro is at Grove 16 is at 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd. in Wesley Chapel.

CenterState Bank in Dade City is again hosting a Christmas party for orphans, fulfilling wish lists and bringing orphans from the Florida Baptist Children’s Home to the bank for a 5 p.m. party on Dec. 18. The bank could use some help in fulfilling the wish lists. Anyone who wishes to help by providing presents, or helping with the party, should call Bonnie Krummen at (352) 521-0715. Café 9212 in Dade City has volunteered to donate food and cater the event.

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

She’s just 11 years old, but Avalon Theisen already knows what she wants on her license plate when she’s old enough to drive — Nat Geo.

That’s because the Lutz girl has a thing for the environment — frogs, in particular — and she wants to become a National Geographic explorer when she grows up.

Of course, she would be willing to work for The Discovery Channel or Animal Planet, too.

She just wants to spend her time exploring in the field and sharing her discoveries with an audience.

It may seem like somewhat of a stretch for a sixth-grader to be thinking this way, but in a sense, it’s simply an extension of what she already does — just on a grander scale.

The home-schooled girl recently was named one of 10 national winners of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, which was established by author T.A. Barron in 2001 to spotlight young people whose stories will inspire others.

The honor included $2,500 and a trip to New York, where she participated in interviews with more than 20 television stations and three radio stations. Avalon said she enjoyed her trip to New York and taking part in the press interviews, adding that it showed her the importance of being prepared.

The recognition was based on work she does with Conserve it Forward, an organization she founded to inspire others to take care of the environment.

Avalon is passionate about frogs and began her work to protect them at 9 years old.

She organizes annual Save The Frogs days in Tampa Bay. Avalon takes part in frog listening walks and records frog calls to share with scientists.

Avalon describes her philosophy about conservation on her website, conserveitforward.org, this way: “Find a project you love, act on it, share it with others … that’s how you conserve it forward.”

Avalon said she began developing an interest in frogs when she was 8 and was taking a class from George Heinrich, a herpetologist who nominated her for the award.

“I started going to these frog listening hikes and workshops,” Avalon said. “I was learning how to identify frogs and their calls and their sounds. Then I became a citizen scientist and recording what I was hearing.”

She also got involved with an organization called Friendly Water for the World, which helps people get clean, safe drinking water through biosand water filters.

Next, Avalon started making items she could sell to buy filters so others could get clean drinking water. She also began taking classes at a nature preserve called Camp Bayou Learning Center.

“Eventually all of the things started fitting together and then came Conserve it Forward,” said Avalon, crediting her mom, Deborah, for helping her come up with the name for the nonprofit organization.

Avalon said she’s keenly interested in frogs because they are an indicator species.

“They help us to know about the health of the environment,” Avalon said. She added, “They have permeable skin, which allows chemicals, water, gas and all different kinds of things to pass through it easily. So, if a frog was in or near a lake, and say that lake has been polluted by pesticides running off from people’s yards into the lake, then that frog or frogs, the population of amphibians, will probably die out, disappear.

“You know something is wrong with the environment because they are usually one of the first creatures to disappear,” Avalon continued.

Frogs are also an important part of the food chain, Avalon said: “Their tadpoles help keep the water clean by feeding on algae.”

Plus, she said, “They help keep the insect population down.”

Avalon said she’d like to reach out to teach people of all ages about the importance of protecting the environment.

She’s already given a number of talks to groups at zoos and nature preserves and spoken at a GreenTrends conference in Palm Beach Gardens. Avalon also took part in the Atlanta Earth Day Cleanup Challenge at Centennial Olympic Park.

One of Avalon’s next projects will be to write a storybook that emphasizes conservation, which she will be using to teach a nature class for younger kids. She plans to include interactive elements to encourage audience participation as she reads along.

Avalon is home schooled, but that’s a bit of a misnomer, said her mom, Deborah.

“She’s on location in the field, in a co-op, in a class or online,” said Deborah, who drives her daughter to the various learning venues. They also travel to other locales such as Costa Rica to expand Avalon’s educational opportunities.

When Deborah heard that her daughter had won the Gloria Barron Prize, she was delighted.

“I was so proud. I was really surprised because when you look at the kids who have won in previous years, it blows you away,” Deborah said.

It proves that someone with a passion can make a true difference, Deborah said.

“You don’t have to be an expert,” Deborah said. “You don’t have to have 18 degrees to help. You just have to have the heart to do it.”

Deborah also believes that her daughter has the potential for reaching a wide audience with her message, one day.

“When she’s in front of a camera or in front of an audience, that’s when she seems to be the most comfortable, or her best,” Deborah said.

For more information about Avalon and the projects she’s involved with, visit  www.ConserveItForward.org.

 

Help the world by helping frogs*

—Pick up trash.

—Reduce chemical use.

—Pet frog tip: Get captive bred, not wild caught.

—Have a pet cat? Make sure it stays indoors.

—Learning anatomy: Choose digital frog dissection.

—Become a frog listening volunteer.

—Never let your pet frog loose in the wild.

—Create a frog habitat in your yard.

*Source: Conserve it Forward, Making the world a better place

 

Avalon’s list of honors

2012 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

2012 Robert Bateman Get to Know Grand Prize Winner in video category (Wild Neighbors)

2012 Save the Frogs Day Award

2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award

2011 Everything Is Possible Award by Friendly Water for the World

2011 International Eco Hero Award by Action for Nature

2011 Nate the Newt Award for amphibian conservation by Save the Frogs

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

Superstorm Sandy may have slammed into far away parts of the country, but the destruction touched hearts and spurred people into action here.

Glenn Gibson, general manager of Wesley Chapel Nissan, and David Capovilla, a Rebuild America Auto Program Representative, drove to New Jersey to deliver generators and gasoline to Sandy victims.

Gibson later went back to New Jersey with Troy Stevenson, Robert Regan and David Keller, who also work at the dealership, to deliver a truckload of supplies the business collected to help the ravaged area.

Wesley Chapel Nissan, 28519 SR 54, worked in conjunction with the Wesley Chapel Lions Club to bring in the supplies, said Stevenson, who is the president of the club. The supplies were delivered to the Toms River Lions Club in Toms River, N.J., he added.

Items they delivered included blankets, warm winter clothing, new underwear, nonperishable foods, batteries, feminine hygiene products, diapers for children and adults, toiletries, small flashlights, first aid supplies and other goods.

It took the four men two days to drive to New Jersey, Stevenson said. “We set up a muster point” where they gave out items and accepted donations from other people who wanted to help, he said.

“It was 32 degrees,” Stevenson said, noting he was freezing cold. “We worked the first 24 hours straight.”

The quartet flew back to Florida with expenses covered by Lions Club International, Stevenson said.

They aren’t the only ones whose hearts were touched by the devastation.

Another group also supported by the dealership and the Wesley Chapel Lions Club, as well as the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, the Pasco-Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Bridgeway Church headed to New Jersey on Nov. 19 to deliver supplies and to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for storm victims.

The group drove two trucks full of supplies, said John Jay Anglada, who was among those making the trip. They brought clothing, furniture, diapers and toothbrushes. They also took cookies and cold medicines that were donated by Support Our Troops.

They expect to feed Thanksgiving dinner to about 200 people, Anglada said.

Other local efforts included work by Kristin Green, owner of Monkey Bizness at The Shops at Wiregrass, and by Lori Malott, of A & A Boutique, 2553 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., to collect supplies and ship them to Sandy victims.

New Walk Church of Zephyrhills, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, also had a Jersey Shore Disaster Relief Drive, coordinated by Matt and Elenya Hulbert.

The church collected supplies, including warm clothing, socks, towels, clothes, adult diapers, baby diapers, food, baby food, pet food and other supplies and loaded the items onto a truck. They were delivered to the Monmouth and Middlesex counties in New Jersey.