Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

 

By B.C. Manion

 

For decades Pasco County has been viewed as having two primary parts: East Pasco and West Pasco.

Those days are over, said Trey Starkey, chairman of the Pasco Economic Development Council, during a May 24 meeting with the Economic Development Committee of the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce.

“The Wesley Chapel area and Land O’ Lakes are kind of the new zone,” Starkey said, noting those areas used to be considered hinterlands, between county business hubs.

“Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes have become an economic force in Pasco County. We’re now kind of three areas, we’re not two, like we were,” Starkey said.

“I think it is important for groups in the Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes area to understand they have become a rising force – they’re kind spring boarding off the New Tampa growth and up (US) 41.”

As such, the area is gaining in political strength as well, said Starkey, whose wife, Kathryn, is running for a seat on the Pasco County Commission.

“You all are now on the radar screen. You become a voting bloc, too.”

Starkey dropped by the chamber committee’s monthly session to provide an overview of the PEDC’s recent and current initiatives, and a look at where the organization is heading.

“Everybody talks about jobs, jobs, jobs, but to do jobs, jobs, jobs, you’ve got to have education, education, education,” Starkey said.

Along those lines, one of the PEDC’s key initiatives is to create a more engaged relationship between the business community and the career academies in Pasco County Schools.

“We’ve really amped up the education initiatives with the PEDC,” Starkey said.

The economic development council also is establishing stronger ties with the University of South Florida, Saint Leo University and Pasco-Hernando Community College, Starkey said.

“Saint Leo has been magnificent under Art Kirk’s leadership, engaging with us,” Starkey said.

The PEDC is seeking a closer relationship with USF, particularly in the arenas of business incubators and business accelerators, he said.

It also has launched a new microloan program, to help businesses get small loans not available through conventional lenders.

Those efforts follow progress by the PEDC in pushing for a more streamlined county government, Starkey said.

“The first big initiative was a complete rewrite of the development code. It really needed to be rewritten.”

Considerable progress has been made, he said, with the rewrite about 90 percent complete.

The next areas that need reform are the permitting and inspection processes, he said.

“The county is recognizing the problem and getting permit approval times down. My understanding is that we’re down to 12 days now. As a point of reference, it was months.”

Another issue the PEDC believes is vital is Penny for Pasco, a voluntary sales tax hike from 6 cents on the dollar to 7 cents, with proceeds going to public projects. The tax was approved by voters in 2004 and is set to expire in 2014, without a voter referendum to extend it.

“We feel that is incredibly important for that to be approved. We’re eight years into a 10-year run. It has built schools. It has built roads. It has bought environmentally sensitive lands and police cars. It’s done a lot of things that have got to get done,” Starkey said.

“This time they’re adding an economic development incentive slice of the penny,” Starkey said, which could be used to fund such things as additional career academies, business incubators and offsetting impact fees.

 

 

 

Steinbrenner newspaper delivers timely news on a budget

 

By B.C. Manion

 

If readers want to read a story by the staff of the Oracle at Steinbrenner High, their best bet is to check for an online version.

Indeed, that may be their only opportunity to see the piece: Just a select number of stories make it into the school’s print publication.

The newspaper’s model is based partly on a desire to deliver timely news and partly on economics.

Online publication can save printing costs but poses other issues, said Wayne Garcia, executive director of the Florida Scholastic Press Association. Staffers need the technical capability to create websites and handle access issues and the ability to ensure that content is secure, Garcia said.

“The vast majority (of high school newspapers) are still print,” Garcia said, but, “there is talk of going online only.”

At Steinbrenner, the Oracle staff understands the challenge of paying for the print publication. The newspaper is self-sustaining, which requires students to sell advertising to cover printing costs.

It’s not easy.

“I’m the business manager, and we never have any money, ever,” said Savanna Peterson, of the scramble to cover the $700 or so printing tab.

Jake Bittle, a junior who writes reviews, said he feels Peterson’s pain, although he doesn’t sell ads anymore. “My least favorite thing is having to listen to the stress that the ad people have to go through,” he said.

Getting local businesses to advertise is a challenge, especially when larger publications compete for the same ad dollar, said Kyle Dunn, the newspaper’s editor in chief. It’s especially difficult when businesses are struggling, he said.

The newspaper sells online advertising, but as an add-on for its print deals.

“Not enough people read our online edition to merit pay-per-clicks,” Dunn explained.

Adviser James Flaskamp said some parents question why students have to sell advertising, but it gives students a strong dose of reality.

“If we don’t have the money in the account, we can’t go to print,” Flaskamp said.

When the newspaper added its online model this year, it reduced the number of issues it prints from eight to four. On the up side, online news is more timely. The staff frequently updates the online version, with Jeff Odom, the sports editor, known for constantly churning out fresh content.

With fewer issues, the print version becomes a “best of” edition, chock full of good work.

“What goes into the print edition is a mixture of what’s timely and what’s most prominent,” Dunn said.

The hybrid delivery mirrors today’s news industry. The vast majority of newspapers publish online, have a print product and update their online stories.

The Oracle also has a level of autonomy that goes beyond what’s possible for some high school publications. While some principals require prior review of the newspaper before it goes to press, that isn’t true at Steinbrenner.

The newspaper’s staff confers with administrators on occasion on sensitive stories. But in those cases, administrators generally just want to be sure the stories are accurate, fair and balanced, Flaskamp said.

“It’s really one of those situations where they trust us, based on our track record. They trust the kids to do what they need to do and to be ethical about it and to be accurate,” Flaskamp said.

“I have to applaud our administration for allowing that to happen. At so many schools where the administrators don’t allow that to happen, the kids aren’t really engaging in journalism, they’re engaging in public relations for the school,” Flaskamp said.

Garcia said it’s not uncommon for high school newspapers to print without prior review, but added, “the majority of publications have some level of review.”

In school newspapers without prior review, Garcia said, trust has been established between administrators and the newspaper’s adviser, and the principal has an understanding of the First Amendment.

Oracle staffers come up with ideas in class, figure out angles to pursue and consider visuals and design to give the story its best presentation.

“I’m a big proponent of the conversational pitch, almost Socratic method of just saying, ‘Why do you think such-and-such is the proper angle to go about with this story, what do you think is the merit of this story?’ ” Dunn said.

Dunn doesn’t believe in top-down decision-making.

“I can’t know everything that’s going on in school, which is why we have the diverse staff that we do,” Dunn said. Sometimes a staffer pitches an idea and Dunn questions its relevance until the rest of the staff reacts by outlining reasons for going after the story. In those cases, Dunn said, he’s happy to acknowledge he’s wrong.

The best stories come from paying attention to campus chatter, said Natalie Barman, the paper’s opinion editor. “A lot of our story ideas are generated from listening, just hearing what’s going on,” she said.

In choosing center spreads, the staff bases decisions “less on timeliness and more on hard-hitting stories that affect teens today,” said Erica Everett, who edits the two-page spreads.

In one issue, for instance, the centerpiece package explored body image and how people perceive themselves in today’s society. Another focused on campus traffic safety.

Megan Varde, who works on graphics, said she asks these questions: “Does this appeal to readers? Is it easy to read? Is it easy to understand and does it go with the story?”

Flaskamp said he’s lucky to work with the Oracle staff.

“I’ve been blessed with this group of kids. They are fantastic. They all work really, really hard,” he said. “You have to love it enough to put in the hours.”

 

He predicts Zephyrhills will reap benefits

By B.C. Manion

Incoming House Speaker Will Weatherford predicts the satellite campus in Wesley Chapel for financial services giant Raymond James will have a tremendous ripple effect.

“It’s going to change the game,” Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said during a May 24 morning chat over coffee at the Golden Corral in Zephyrhills.

“They’re going to start construction this fall,” Weatherford said. “They’re going to build up to somewhere between 500,000 and 1 million square feet eventually there. That’s massive.”

Weatherford told the crowd of about 40 that opportunities and jobs should open up for residents throughout the area.

Before fielding questions at the event hosted by the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, Weatherford outlined some of the state’s difficulties and strengths.

“We have gone through probably the most challenging time that the state of Florida has ever had, it has almost been unparalleled except for the Great Depression,” Weatherford said.

“When I got elected in 2006, the unemployment rate was 4 percent. Four years later, it was 12 percent. We are seeing those numbers come back down. We’re now back down to about 9.5,” he said.

There are other challenges, too.

“Fifty percent of all Floridians are underwater in their mortgages still. That is a very staggering number,” he said. “By the way, I could be one of those people.

“We are now spending more money on Medicaid in the state of Florida than we spend on education, for the first time ever. That means we’re spending more money on healthcare for people who can’t afford it, who are below the poverty line, than we’re spending on investing in the next generation of our students and our kids. That’s a problem,” Weatherford added.

Most of the state’s unemployed are people without a high school diploma, Weatherford said. And, when those people are working, they command considerably lower salaries than their counterparts with college degrees.

“The link between the jobs and our economy and our talent pool are so closely parallel, there’s nothing more important for the future of our state – and where we’re going – than the infrastructure in our education system.

“The top 10 jobs in demand in 2010 did not exist in 2004. None of them,” he said, so education is critical to meet the changing demands of the workplace.

Despite Florida’s challenges, Weatherford remains optimistic about its future. Some states are raising taxes, borrowing money and losing population, Weatherford said. Not Florida. It balances its budget every year and it’s growing.

“Today, in the state of Florida, 350 people are moving here every day,” Weatherford said. “At the boom, it was 1,200. On the low end, two years ago, it was about 30 people a day.”

Weatherford said the book “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand, reflects his political philosophy.

“There’s a part in that book where there’s this place called Atlantis, where all of the entrepreneurs go to because they’re basically being pushed out. Government is killing their business with regulations and taxes and they’re able to find solace in a new place,” he said.

Weatherford said he wants Florida to be the place people come when they can’t afford to live in California or New York, or find the environment to be too burdensome for their businesses in Michigan or Ohio.

After speaking, he fielded questions.

Beverly Ledbetter, an adjunct instructor at Saint Leo University, asked about the heavy emphasis on the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test), which she said produces “cookie-cutter teaching” and “cookie-cutter students.” She wants the state to invest more in education and emphasize creative thinking.

Weatherford said he favors phasing out the FCAT, which he characterized as a high-stakes, one-time exam, in favor of end-of-course exams. Assessments are needed, he said, to make sure the state gets a return on its investment and that students improve.

Rachel Rigsby Lare, of Rigsby’s Auto Salvage, suggested an internship program for adults on unemployment to give them new job skills. Weatherford liked the idea and asked her to send him more details.

 

Graduates head into future

 

By B.C. Manion

 

They are members of the portable generation.

They carry their music on iPods, do class assignments on laptops and talk to each other by texting on cellphones.

During their lifetime, they’ve welcomed a new millennium and witnessed the election of the nation’s first African-American president.

And, they’ve been subjected to unprecedented levels of standardized testing, all in the name of educational accountability.

These are the kids who face skyrocketing college costs at a time when many of their parents have seen their personal wealth flattened by the Recession.

And, if the pundits are right, they are the first generation that faces a future when they won’t do as well as their parents, or live as long.

As the world continues to change around them, these high school seniors will pause to reflect and celebrate, for they are the members of the Class of 2012 and their graduation season is in full swing.

An estimated 15,400 seniors will be marching to Pomp and Circumstance at commencement ceremonies for public high schools in Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

Seniors from Gaither, Steinbrenner, Freedom and Wharton in northern Hillsborough County will be accepting their diplomas at ceremonies for Hillsborough County public schools.

Meanwhile seniors from Sunlake, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Pasco and Zephyrhills high schools will be shifting the tassels on their graduation caps at commencement ceremonies for Central Pasco and East Pasco schools.

About 130 other seniors are in the Class of 2012 at the four private high schools serving the communities of Trinity, Odessa, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

Two of those private schools – Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill and Carrollwood Day School in north Tampa – already have completed graduation ceremonies.

The other private schools — Land O’ Lakes Christian School and Academy at the Lakes, both in Land O’ Lakes — are set to honor their graduates in the coming week.

The venues for the ceremonies vary widely.

Land O’ Lakes Christian School will hold is graduation at the First Baptist Church of Lane O’ Lakes, while the Academy at the Lakes will honor its Class of 2012 in the school’s gymnasium.

Other settings for commencement ceremonies are the W.F. Edwards Stadium in Dade City, Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa and the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in east Tampa.

Many graduates have gone far beyond the call of duty, demonstrating their commitment to learning by achieving grade point averages well beyond the 4.0 that comes from getting straight As in traditional courses.

Those students embraced more rigorous courses, including Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses that can earn them college credit during high school.

Cory Goldman, of Wharton High, had the highest GPA in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, attaining a GPA of 7.52. Sophia Sokolowski, valedictorian at Academy at the Lakes, which uses a cumulative numerical ranking in place of GPA, attained a cumulative numerical average of 98.7.

As these seniors wrap up their high school academic career, many look ahead with big dreams. One wants to study neuroscience, another anthropology. Others want to pursue careers in chemical engineering, marketing, education, marine biology and international affairs.

Some plan to attend exclusive colleges in faraway places. Others will stick closer to home.

For now, though, it’s time to march with their classmates, pose for pictures and cherish the time they have with their friends before setting off on their own paths.

 

 

Grand opening for Dade City ReStore

The Dade City ReStore, 15029 US 301 in Dade City, is having its grand opening from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 2. Refreshments will be provided, and shoppers will receive a gift with each purchase, while supplies last.

 

Divining the secrets of communication

Pasco-Hernando Community College’s corporate training department is offering a class to help people communicate more intelligently.

The Communications Intelligence course will be held on June 21 and June 28, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce, 15588 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, and June 19 and June 26, from 8 a.m. to noon in room A164 at the Dade City campus of PHCC, 36727 Blanton Road.

The course is open to the community.

Each participant will undergo a personal assessment to learn in detail the nature of his or her communication style.

Each person also will learn how to effectively communicate with all types of people, situations and events.

Telephone calls, emails, in-person meetings, negotiations, hiring, networking, texting and even voice mails will become easier.

During the course, participants will learn how to:

–Deal with difficult people

— Save time and aggravation in communicating

–Build teams

They also will acquire the tools of a communications professional and learn strategies for dealing with people of every communications style.

The tuition for the course is $189 per person, or $159 for chamber members or groups of four or more. To register of for more information call (727) 816-3123 or email .

 

PEDC gets new secretary/treasurer

Lex Smith of SunTrust Bank has been appointed the secretary/treasurer of the Pasco Economic Development Council’s Board of Directors.

Smith, a resident of Dade City, has been appointed to fill the seat for the remainder of the 2011-12 fiscal year.

Smith already is actively engaged in economic development circles in Pasco County.

He is board chairman and executive committee chairman for the Pasco Hernando Workforce Board and is a member of the PEDC board.

He is senior vice president for SunTrust Bank and currently works in the Tampa Region Wealth & Investment Management line of business.

Smith recently was selected for the Tampa Bay Partnership CEO Direct program, which will allow him to gain a regional perspective on economic development issues and connect with other business leaders to help Tampa Bay and Pasco County reach their potential.

 

New real estate office

Homeward Real Estate has a new office at 24704 SR 54, at the entrance to the Carpenter’s Run subdivision in Lutz. The office had its grand opening on May 23.

John Montesano, the broker, has two additional offices in South Tampa and Carrollwood.

The agents working out of the Lutz office are Kim Murray Bell, Mary Ann Carroll,

Ken Carter, Barbara and Dan Janzen, Stephanie Meid, Sharon Molnar, Kim

Monday and Jim McKnight.

 

Maronda opens new model home

Maronda Homes, which builds residences throughout the Tampa Bay area, has opened its  Valencia model home in the community of Abbey Glenn, just off SR 52 near John S. Burks Memorial Park.

The 1,194-square-foot home is a three-bedroom, two-bath design with a two-car garage, and a base price of $117,900, said Gregg Carlson, president of Maronda Homes Inc. of the Suncoast. The model is located at 13423 Kent Bradley St.

Model center hours are Monday, from noon to 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information call (352) 521-3284 or visit marondahomes.com.

 

Ballantrae office building sold

A 4,000-square-foot office building at 17807 Hunting Bow Circle, in Lutz, has been sold for $265,000 to HSW Associates.

The vanilla shell building is in the Ballantrae Professional Park. Dennis Bush and Frank Boullosa of the Ross Realty Group represented Florida Capital Bank, which sold the building.

 

Gulfside names new managers

Gulfside Regional Hospice has appointed Robert Bolan as its new manager for the Lutz Thrift Shoppe and has named Jo Debolt, as its new assistant store manager.

Gulfside’s Lutz Thrift Shoppe is located at 21780 SR 54, about a mile east of US 41. Donations of clothes, household items and books are accepted daily during business hours at the Lutz store, and pickups can be scheduled for larger furniture items by calling the store at (813) 909-0485.

For more information about Gulfside Regional Hospice, call (727) 845-5707 or visit www.GRHospice.org.

 

Scott names local men for two boards

Gov. Rick Scott has named James H. Kimbrough, of Crystal River, to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. Kimbrough has been the vice chairman of the Tampa region for SunTrust Bank since 1967. He has served on a number of local and state committees and boards. Kimbrough is filling a vacancy created by the resignation of  Shawn E. Harrison. His term will end Sept. 20.

Scott also appointed John T. Vogel, of San Antonio, to serve on the state’s Acquisition and Restoration Council. Vogel is the president of Natural Resource Planning Services Inc. He succeeds Elizabeth Ball and his term ends on March 1, 2016.

 

Capri Pizza ribbon cutting

Capri Pizza & More, 7825 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills, had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 23.

 

 

 

 

Math whiz kids at New River Elementary

New River Elementary students have won first place in Pasco County for the third consecutive year in a competition to solve mathematical problems.

The school, located in Wesley Chapel, was named top school (K-8) in the county, in the national First in Math program.

New River also had the best fifth-grade team, third-grade team, second-grade team and combined kindergarten and first-grade team.

In this program, students practice their problem solving skills , while earning virtual stickers. The stickers add up to points and students are awarded “Player of the Day” recognition.

Assistant principal Clara Craig also awarded the Golden Calculator weekly to teams achieving significant growth.

Individual students at New River also were recognized for their achievements. They were: Brig Rufe in fifth-grade; Davien Worrels in third-grade; and, Beck Rufe in first grade.

Brig Rufe was the top overall player in Pasco County and No. 10 in the state.

The students at New River solved a total of more than 1.8 million math problems correctly.

 

PHCC named among top 120

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has named Pasco-Hernando Community College among the nation’s top 120 community colleges, making the college eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The Aspen Institute identified the 120 community colleges—10 percent of all institutions—using a formula that assesses performance and improvement in four areas: graduation rates, degrees awarded, student retention rates, and equity in student outcomes.

The colleges will now compete for the honor following a yearlong research process into how well their students learn, complete degrees, and get jobs with competitive wages after graduating. Prizewinners will be announced in March.

For more information on the Aspen Institute, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

 

Land O’ Lakes Christian wins honors at national contest

Students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School fared well in the 35th annual American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) National Competition held at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. in April.

An estimated 1,800 students and sponsors from 47 states participated in the AACS National Competition, after capturing top honors in their state competitions.

These awards were won by Land O’ Lakes Christian School students:

–First place: Olivia de la Rosa, Bible teaching

–First place: Katie Frazier, creative writing: poetry

–First place: Jared Mancini, declamation

–Third place: Vickie Frazier, oil painting

–Third place: Tim Pemberton, physics testing

Jared Mancini also had the honor of presenting his winning piece before the awards night crowd of more than 3,000.

 

John Long Middle sixth-graders win second place

The John Long Middle School’s sixth-grade team took second place at the Pasco County  Math Bowl competition, and Jackson Trudel took second place individually.

The eighth-grade team came home with third-place honors.

The school also extends its gratitude for the Parent Teacher Student Association for helping John Long Middle to have a great year.

 

Student Pride awards breakfast

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and Mini of Wesley Chapel presented the Student Pride Awards Breakfast to honor outstanding students and athletes from each school in Wesley Chapel.

During the breakfast, the chamber presents scholarships to seniors who have been selected from their schools. This year, 121 students from the 12 Wesley Chapel schools were recognized for their outstanding performance.

The breakfast was held May 1 at the Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel High School.

Four $500 academic scholarships were awarded. They went to David Santacruz and Stephanie Collin, of Wesley Chapel High and Logan Klauder and Fern Powell from Wiregrass Ranch High.

There were four $250 athletic scholarships. They were presented to the athletes of the year from Wesley Chapel High, Keegan Tanner and Ravin Gilbert and Wiregrass Ranch High, Victoria Quaglia and Samuel Hippely.

This year’s scholarships came from Mini of Wesley Chapel, Ierna’s Heating and Cooling, Nova Southeastern University, Wesley Chapel Storage, Tampa Bay Times, Cypress Creek Chiropractic and the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

 

/Lutz woman graduates from Clearwater Christian College

Patricia Buriff of Lutz has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Bible studies from Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater.

Patricia is the daughter of Brent and Deborah Buriff, also of Lutz.

 

MOSI offers price breaks on camps

With just a few weeks left until summer break, the Museum of Science & Industry is offering a 10 percent discount on its Summer Science Camps.

The camps offer hands-on experiments and projects to teach children the wonder of science, technology, engineering and math.

Those taking part will have a chance to build roller coasters, create art with lasers, participate in a battle at Hogwarts, decipher DNA to solve crimes or cook up edible slime, depending on their age group and the week they attend.

Summer camp sessions are available to children in preschool through high school. Multiple week and multiple child discounts are available. Extended care and hot lunches are offered for an additional fee.

The camps begins on June 11. Registration is available at www.mosi.org.

 

Evening of Honor

The annual Honor Day for all African-American Honor Roll students of Pasco County is scheduled for 5 p.m. May 26 in the Center for the Arts auditorium at Wesley Chapel High, 30651 Wells Road.

Each student in grades six through 12 who made the honor roll for any of the first three reporting periods is invited to attend to receive a certificate of recognition. Honor roll students also are encouraged to invite family, friends, neighbors and classmates to the ceremony.

The celebration is open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the program.

For more information, visit HonorDayPasco.org or contact Pastor Mitchell Davis at (813) 996-4168.

 

 

Supporters tout quality of education

By B.C. Manion

 

Backers and opponents paint a very different picture of the future, if a campus for middle and high school students is allowed near the intersection of US 41 and Sunset Lane in Lutz.

Patti Girard, founder of Learning Gate Community School, a charter public school on Hanna Road with satellite space on North Florida Avenue, wants to offer the school’s brand of environmental education to students through grade 12, and to accommodate a larger enrollment.

To accomplish those goals, she proposes to build a new campus on a heavily forested 62-acre site that features freshwater marshes, open lakes and uplands.

The site is uniquely suited for the school’s educational mission, Girard said during a May 14 public hearing on the request before Zoning Hearing Master Steve Luce. The proposed Gates School will emphasize global awareness, arts and innovative thinking, technology and environmental sustainability, said Girard, who founded Learning Gate in 1983.

Learning Gate has received many awards for its educational and environmental programs. Recently, it was one of 78 schools nationwide named a Green Ribbon School, an award that acknowledges achievement in environmental excellence.

The proposed site would provide an ideal environmental framework to accomplish that mission, Girard said, also noting that it has diverse wildlife including owls, birds, tortoises, red-shouldered hawks, deer and Sherman fox squirrels. Another advantage is the parcel’s proximity to Nye Park, Girard added, noting her school would like to work out an agreement with Hillsborough County to use the park for physical education, in exchange for refurbishing the park.

While Girard paints the image of an idyllic setting for student learning, opponents foresee a very different picture.

They worry about the traffic a school for 1,000 students will generate. They foresee not only traffic jams, but also dangers posed by motorists turning into and out of entrances leading to the school off US 41 and Sunset Lane. They also cite the potential of area wells going dry because of the heavy demand the school will have for water.

Opponents also worry that the number of students and staff members on campus would overwhelm the school’s septic systems. They are concerned about the possibility of flooding due to runoff from the development. And, they complain about the project degrading their general quality of life.

About 50 people turned out to support the request for a special use permit to allow the campus and about 60 people showed up to oppose it.

The hearing master has until June 4 to issue his decision. His finding is final, unless it is appealed within 30 days to the county ‘s Land Use Appeals Board.

The county’s planning and growth management staff found the request can be approved, contingent on conditions to reduce potential impacts. Planning Commission staff found the request consistent with the county’s long-range plan.

Greg Pierce, who lives on Vandervort Road, spoke in support of Learning Gate’s request.

He said the school offers an excellent education, where kids have fun learning.

“This isn’t an average school,” Pierce said, noting he moved to Lutz, so his kids could attend the school He predicts area property values will go up because people will want to live near this new school.

Colleen Kruk of Sunset Manor, lives near the edge of the proposed school campus, and also supports the request.

“Not everybody in my community agrees with me,” Kruk was quick to point out. However, she added, “I think this school is a better alternative than having this property clear-cut.”

Kruk cherishes the pristine condition of the property and nominated it for purchase through the county’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program. The property was rated excellent for its exceptional habitat.

She envisioned the county acquiring the land to extend Nye Park to US 41. The county, however, couldn’t afford the property.

“I think the school will be an asset to Lutz,” Kruk said, noting she thinks the use is far preferable to other types of development that could occur there.

However, Kruk said, the county needs to address the project’s traffic. Other residents near Sunset Lane agreed.

“I know danger when I see it,” said Mike White, a captain with Tampa Fire Rescue, who lives off Sunset Lane.

The campus would generate 2,517 trip ends daily, putting additional strain on the two-lane Sunset Lane, which had 31 accidents last year, according to figures from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, White said.

Complicating matters, Sunset is the only east-west through road in the area, so emergency crews use it to respond to calls, White said.

And, when an accident occurs on Sunset Lane, traffic backs up because there’s no alternative to get to Hanna Road or US 41, area residents said.

The project’s potential impact on water was another concern.

“Will you give us a new well, if it goes dry? Will you give us a new house, if it floods?” Gwen Hassinger asked.

Nearby residents also complained about the change in their quality of life.

Betty McGee and her husband, Gil, have lived two decades on a property approximately 100 feet from a road that would be built to access the school from US 41.

McGee was nearly in tears as she voiced concerns about cars. If the campus is allowed, McGee predicts cars leaking oil and motorists littering the road will replace the pristine beauty she enjoys. She envisions living with fumes and noise.

McGee and other neighbors said they don’t oppose the school, just its location.

Some neighbors questioned why a school that has been nationally acclaimed for its environmental accomplishments would want to destroy wetlands.

Kevin Mineer, a planner for Genesis Group – a consultant working on the school’s request – said the plan requires less than an acre of wetlands destruction for a road that was moved to minimize impacts on adjacent neighbors.

He said the school has far exceeded the county’s setback requirements and is preserving the vast majority of trees on the site.

Transportation experts hired by the school also explained beginning and ending times for classes will be staggered, with classes arriving and departing the campus at 15-minute intervals. Starting times will begin at peak morning traffic and dismissal times will end before the evening rush hour.

Girard also noted that the school is limiting its impacts on the environment by having several smaller buildings scattered on the site, instead of a single large building.

White said he understands why parents would support the school. “We understand that they want their children to go to a good school.”

But most of the students will be coming from the community from outside of Lutz, he and other speakers said.

“When they leave, they get to go home. We’re stuck with this.”