Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Procedure up for discussion after meningitis case at high school

By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County school district is considering whether it should use its automated telephone system to alert parents when a public health issue arises in a school.

District spokeswoman Summer Romagnoli said last week that she would be bringing that idea to Superintendent Heather Fiorentino for the superintendent’s consideration.

The issue of prompt parental notification surfaced after a recent case of bacterial meningitis at Zephyrhills High. While a Zephyrhills student died last week, neither the school nor the health department would confirm the link.

The school district was notified of the confirmed case of meningitis late at night on Feb. 15, Romagnoli said.

The district followed its protocol and alerted the health department, which sent personnel to the school the following morning, Romagnoli said.

The district’s role is to facilitate the health department’s investigation, Romagnoli said.

In a letter from health department officials sent home to parents on Feb. 16, officials informed parents that they were working with school officials “to identify and notify any close contacts where treatment may be recommended.”

The letter went on to say: “The bacteria are not spread by casual contact or simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been (such as by sitting near a person in a classroom, on the bus, or in the cafeteria.)”

Deanna Krautner, a spokeswoman for the county health department, said “We worked with the school district to put the letter together and they gave it to the students to bring home.”

Federal privacy laws about health information and student privacy information forbid the district from providing identifiable information about the student who died, or others who may have been exposed to the disease, Romagnoli said.

Steve Van Gorden, principal at Zephyrhills High, said he understands why parents were so concerned and frustrated. “They just wanted to know what was going on,” he said.

But the district must abide by the law, and in public health issues “the health department dictates the response,” he said.

“Hopefully this is a one and only occurrence,” Van Gorden added.

Romagnoli said health department officials told school district officials that there was no reason to keep anyone out of school because the disease is not easily transmitted.

But after talking to an upset parent who questioned why the district didn’t use its automated telephone system to inform parents, Romagnoli said she would bring that issue to the superintendent’s attention.

When asked whether that would be a good response, Van Gorden said, “It think it’s a very touchy situation,” adding he would follow whatever district officials decide.

Despite concerns raised by parents, Romagnoli said the Zephyrhills High administration followed district protocol.

“They did what they are supposed to do,” Romagnoli said.

— Staff writer Kyle LoJacono contributed to this story.

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County had its first confirmed case of bacterial meningitis this year on Feb. 15. Deanna Krautner, a spokesperson for the county health department, confirmed there was a case of the disease in the Pasco School district.

Dr. David Johnson, director of the county health department, said all forms of meningitis are infections of the brain and spinal cord and is spread by very close person-to-person contact such as kissing and sharing drinks or utensils. He said it is possible for someone to spread the bacterial form by coughing or sneezing, but in rare cases.

“That would be if someone coughed right in someone’s face,” Johnson said. “Not from the other side of the room. It isn’t as contagious as a cold or the flu.”

The most common symptoms of bacterial meningitis are high fever, headaches, stiff neck, but can also cause vomiting, sensitivity to bright lights and sleepiness. The disease can cause damage to the brain and spine and Krautner said about 10 percent of those who get the disease die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Krautner said college students are usually more at risk because they tend to live in close quarters with others in dormitories. Also, pre teenagers and travelers are at a higher risk.

There is a vaccine for some forms of bacterial meningitis, but not all. Johnson said the recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a part of CDC, is for everyone between ages 11-18 get the vaccine.

The best treatment for the bacterial form is with antibiotics. Krautner said the sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

There is no preventative vaccine for viral meningitis, but the symptoms are much more mild with that form of the disease. While it is more common, most people with normal immune systems rarely die from the disease, according to Krautner.

Several viruses can cause viral meningitis, including mumps, measles, chickenpox and the flu, but it is rare for those to progress. Those who catch the virus usually recover in seven to 10 days with rest.

Krautner said the Pasco department investigates all confirmed causes of meningitis, but only the bacterial and two other rare forms are tracked. There were no confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis in the county last year, one each year in 2009 and 2008 and again zero in 2007. There were four cases in 2006. On the state level, 52 people had confirmed infections in 2009.

For more information on the disease, call the Pasco County Health Department at (727) 861-5250. In Hillsborough, call (813) 307-8015.

By Kyle LoJacono

Drivers who frequent SR 56 around Meadow Pointe and Mansfield boulevards in Wesley Chapel will have some relief in navigating the increasingly busy highway.

Robert Shepherd, Pasco County chief project manager, said the county is in the process of installing traffic signals at the intersections of SR 56 and Mansfield and also where the state road ends at Meadow Pointe.

“I think they should be finished on March 1,” Shepherd said.

Shepherd said private developers are putting in the lights at no cost to the county. He said signals usually cost about $180,000 each.

The county had hoped to have the lights installed when the extension of SR 56 opened, but problems developed with the original construction company. WDG Construction Inc. was removed from the job last year in part because it fell behind schedule.

Pasco replaced WDG with Ripa & Associates. County chief engineer Jim Widman said the replacement company got the road opened in time for the school year. Both Wiregrass Ranch High and John Long Middle are on Mansfield near SR 56.

“That helped because I’m told the school buses mainly use Mansfield to get to and from the schools.” Widman said. “The road let the bus drivers cut out miles from their routes, which saved the county money.”

The large concrete poles needed to hang lights across six lanes of traffic were not available until after the new year. South West Signal, a Tampa-based company, is installing the lights.

Also, the area where SR 56 ends at Meadow Pointe currently has a three-way stop. Shepherd said that intersection has become increasingly busy.

“People in Meadow Pointe are using it to cut down on their travel and people are also using it to avoid the construction to widen State Road 54,” Shepherd said. “When an area isn’t busy a three or four-way stop works fine, but when you get a lot of cars there tend to be more accidents.”

The Meadow Pointe light will also pave the way for the further extension of SR 56 all the way to US 301 in Zephyrhills.

“The long-term plan is to take 54 all the way out east to connect the county,” said Pasco Commissioner Pat Mulieri. “It’s many years off, but that’s the plan.”

Shepherd said the speed limit will be adjusted once the traffic signals open, but was not sure what the new limit would be. Currently the majority of SR 56 has a 55 mph limit, but that is reduced to 50 near the intersection with Mansfield and drops to 40 at the crossing.

By B.C. Manion

Kim Clarke is not the kind of woman who seeks to claim center stage — so the staff at Sand Pine Elementary was especially delighted when the Wesley Chapel woman received Pasco County Schools’ Adult Volunteer of the Year award.

Clarke has been volunteering at the school for seven years. She began when her daughter Katie was in kindergarten. Katie has gone on to middle school and her son, Christopher, is now in fifth grade.

Besides volunteering in the classroom, Clarke has held various offices on the school’s Parent Teacher Association board. She has served as president, treasurer, hospitality chairwoman and historian. This year, she’s second vice president.

Fifth-grade teacher Candi Suarez said Clarke helps in all sorts of ways.

“She is definitely deserving of the honor,” Suarez said.

When the children were reading chapter books that they’d chosen, “she read along with them and coached them through,” Suarez said. She was “very, very, very encouraging. It really made them value literacy.”

Clarke typically volunteers in the school once a week, in addition to her PTA activities.

She’s happy to do whatever the teachers need, she said. For instance, on Friday, Suarez asked her to make some shamrocks and then to put some limericks on them.

No problem. The volunteer got to work.

That’s how she always is, according to the nomination.

“Mrs. Clarke’s quiet, unpretentious demeanor enables her to work well with others and allows for seamless involvement in the classrooms,” the nomination says.

“Mrs. Clarke is a wonderful volunteer and PTA officer and can be counted on in any situation. She works well with students and enjoys being with them.

“She is supportive, caring and helpful.”

On one occasion, she helped a teacher while groups of children read a recipe and followed the directions to make salsa. At the end of the day, Clarke took home the teacher’s dishes to clean them so the teacher wouldn’t have to.

Clarke said she enjoys helping.

“I think if you can, you should,” said Clarke. “My job is flexible, so I can. I know there are a lot of moms who would like to, but they can’t,” said the woman, whose work involves investigating workplace grievances.

Clarke said she comes from a family of teachers and understands that teachers can use as much help as they can get. She knows how much of their personal time they devote and how much of their own money they put into teaching.

“I think my children, especially when they were young, liked having me around.”

School staff members like having her there, too.

“She’s always smiling,” said Judy Griffith, the front office secretary.

“We love her,” said Pat Friz, who handles data entry. When Clarke became the school’s PTA president, Fritz said, “She had big shoes to fill.”

She rose to the challenge, Fritz said. “She did an outstanding job.”

Dr. Jo Ann Daniels wants to inspire others to support the cause

By Elizabeth Gwilt

When Eugene Storch received a phone call last June, he wasn’t expecting the shock of his life.

Storch was informed by his nephew that his San Antonio home had caught on fire, and by the time he had reached the scene, his thoughts went immediately to his three dogs: Peewee, RJ and Lil Jack.

His nephew had managed to snatch one of his dogs off the porch, and fortunately Pasco County Fire Rescue was able to rescue the other two. But when Storch finally got to see his pets, it looked like a tragedy at first.

“I got there and I saw my dogs on the lawn, and they weren’t moving. They looked like they were dead,” Storch said.

The heavy smoke had caused problems for the dogs, but the firefighters were equipped with oxygen masks specially designed for animals, and they were able to resuscitate them before taking them to a veterinarian.

“It was just a day full of surprises for me,” Storch said. “Those masks definitely saved my dogs, and I really appreciate the bravery of the fire department and vet.”

Storch doesn’t see his dogs as just pets, but as part of his family. Since he lives alone, Storch brings along Peewee, a Sharpei, and RJ, who is an unknown mix. The third dog, a Jack Russell named Little Jack, died last year after the rescue from an unrelated incident.

“I bring them hunting with me and they hop in my truck whenever I go anywhere. Those dogs are just really special to me.”

Storch’s dogs might not be here today if it wasn’t for the efforts of Dr. Jo Ann Daniels of Pasco County Veterinary Care on SR 54 in Lutz.

It’s been Daniels’ mission for the past year and a half to raise enough money to buy oxygen masks for animals and donate them to fire departments across the county. Besides funding the masks, she also teaches first responders how to use the oxygen masks properly.

Battalion Chief Brian Rieder of Station 37, who was on scene at the Storch fire, applauds Daniels’ work.

“A dog could absolutely be like a family member or child to several people — and that’s what we are here to do: protect lives,” Rieder said. “We appreciate what Dr. Daniels is trying to accomplish; those masks will make our jobs easier.”

So far, Daniels has responded to a couple of house fires and motor vehicle accidents, and she said the masks are needed at every fire station.

“The specialized oxygen masks are crucial because if you look at a dog’s head versus a human’s head, you’ll notice they aren’t the same shape, and human oxygen masks don’t fit on a dog’s face,” she said. “Also, depending on the breed, the oxygen flow needs to be adjusted to fit their needs.”

The set of three different sized masks will help any breed from Boston terriers to German shepherds. Even cats, ferrets, hamsters and virtually any domesticated animal can use the masks as well.

“It’s rewarding to help animals in distress. I’m a vet, and that’s what we do, but I want the community to get involved too. Right now it’s just my staff and I working on this project, and we really need support,” Daniels said.

She hopes her project will expand, and she’s in the process of making an oxygen mask training DVD so she can distribute them to all the fire departments. Daniels’ goal is to buy 30 more sets of masks, which cost about $100 for a set of three. Currently there are 18 sets in Pasco County.

“We all love animals, and I hope that sponsorships will start coming in once the community realizes the need for these masks,” she said. “I’m willing to volunteer all my time and put in all my effort, but we still need outside help in order to achieve this goal.”

How to help

To learn more about the oxygen masks and how you can help, visit www.centralpascovetcare.com or call (813) 926-1126.

By Kyle LoJacono

New national food standards for public schools may be causing some school districts to radically change their menu options, but Pasco County students have already been sitting down to healthy choices for years.

“We first had bottled water and salads at lunch 10 years ago,” said Emily Mark, one of three dietitians with Pasco County School’s Food and Nutrition Services Department. “We have four or five fruit and vegetable options each day. When I came to the district about eight years ago, I was amazed because here it’s not like the stereotypical school nutrition department.”

Food nutrition manager Suellen Smith has been at Zephyrhills High for 11 years and worked at Pasco High for 11 years before that. She said it is very important for her school to offer nutritious food because some of the children do not get a lot to eat at home.

“We are at more than 55 percent of our kids on free or reduced priced lunches,” Smith said. “Fortunately I’m blessed to have people who work for me who love what they do and the kids here.”

The new guidelines were released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in January and called for, among other things, significant reductions in fats, sugar and salt while increasing whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said his department understands the financial and operation implications of the new rules are great, but thinks the positives outweigh the negatives.

“Raising a healthier generation of kids will require hard work and a commitment of a host of partners,” Vilsack wrote in an e-mail. “We understand that these improved meal standards may present challenges for some school districts, but the new law provides important new resources, technical assistance and flexibility to help schools raise the bar for our kids.”

The new rules start going into place for the 2011-12 school year and will slowly take effect during the next 10 years, but Pasco will not have to make any changes in many areas.

Stephanie Packroll, the department’s nutrition specialist, said Pasco already uses at least 50 percent whole grain flours when making breads, pizza crusts and other starches. The cookies and other sweets also meet the standards for sugar and fat and they also offer fresh fruits and vegetables.

In some cases, Pasco has been doing more than required in the new law.

“Our three dietitians look at our menus every week and analyze the nutrition,” Mark said. “Parents and students can check online each week and see the nutrition of the menu and make choices based on that.”

Mark said the county has always looked to upgrade the nutrition for the students, even if it costs a little more.

“We feed about 60,000 students each day and because the price of fresh fruits and vegetables change all the time, it usually costs more to give them the healthy options,” Mark said. “… We also got rid of a large chocolate chip cookie about four years ago that was a big money maker, but after reviewing it and what we’re trying to do with the department, we decided it wasn’t the best thing to have.”

There is one hurdle that will not be as easy. The reduction in salt is something the county is not already meeting, but it is more a factor of being able to get low-sodium options.

“It’s a 10-year plan and the food industry isn’t ready yet,” Mark said. “We are constantly looking for better choices for the kids, but right now this is the greatest challenge. The industry will adjust and we’ll be able to meet the guidelines.”

While making the food healthy is important, Mark said it also has to taste good. To ensure this, the department has frequent tasting of current menu items at the schools and of new options. The most recent testing was at Zephyrhills, where the students sampled chicken patties, pulled pork and other items that may soon be finding their way onto Pasco school menus.

“The students really liked the chicken patties and the pulled pork was good too,” Mark said.

Another tasting was during the Great American Teach-in this year, when Mark visited her daughter Sydney’s second-grade class at Pine View Elementary.

“I still get letters from Sydney’s class with suggestions,” Mark said. “The one I see the most is spaghetti tacos. We’re actually looking at giving it a try in tasting sometime soon.”

People can also suggest new menu options at the department’s website, www.pasco.k12.fl.us/nutrition.

Vegetarians have it easy in Pasco schools

Two years ago, Pasco County School’s Food and Nutrition Services Department was named in the top-five school districts in American for vegetarian food options.

The award was given by peta2, the youth branch of PETA, and it validates something the department strives for.

“We want to give our students choices and good choices,” said Emily Mark, a dietitian in the department. “We always have vegetarian options for the kids above and beyond just a salad and apple for them to eat.”

Mark said almost every food option can be made as a vegetarian alternative, including hamburgers, chicken nuggets and corndogs.

“We do have a variety of salads and sides of fruits and vegetables each day for the kids,” Mark said. “We weren’t even expecting the award, but we weren’t really surprised either because we do everything we can to give the kids options for their lunches.”

Mark said the increase in vegetarian items started many years ago.

“We have a very diverse student population and there was a demand for vegetarian options,” Mark said. “Not just food that didn’t have meat, but vegetarian meals. We always do what we can to accommodate people and I think we’ve done a good job with it.”

One of the vegetarian options is so popular, Mark hesitated to say that it was meatless.

“Our barbecued sandwich, I mean our regular barbecued sandwich is vegetarian,” Mark said. “It is one of our most popular items and I don’t think most of the students know it is vegetarian. We put a lot of time into making it taste good and I think it’s better than any barbecued meat sandwich out there.”

For more information on vegetarian options in Pasco, visit www.pasco.k12.fl.us/nutrition.

By Tammy Sue Struble

A workshop this month will give Zephyrhills residents another chance to review and discuss plans for changes to US 301 through the city.

The Feb. 28 meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at City Hall.

This is part of a series of quarterly meetings where the Florida Department of Transportation and Zephyrhills city officials, businesses and residents come together to discuss changes to US 301 through town.

FDOT’s project manager, Gordana Jovanovic, said they would be bringing their latest information to the meeting. On drastic changes to 301’s route through Zephyrhills proposed by the FDOT several years ago, Todd Vande Berg, Zephyrhills director of development states, “It is still an important issue. People need to keep up to date on what’s going on (with the 301 proposed changes), especially those individuals and businesses along 301. It should be of importance to them.”

The original plan would have turned a portion of US 301 into two one-way roads using the current roadway for northbound lanes and the existing Sixth Street as southbound lanes.

The Zephyrhills community reacted to that original plan and wanted other alternatives.

Jovanovic stated that they are “working closely with the city to incorporate their desires into our design.” She quoted the FDOT’s motto, “The department will provide a safe transportation system that ensures the mobility of people and goods, enhances economic prosperity and preserves the quality of our environment and communities.”

The FDOT had to make proposals to the Federal government regarding the project changes. “Our ideas are being changed at the request of the city and people,” Jovanovic explained.

At the City Hall meeting on Feb. 28, “Discussion will be on the FDOT alternatives verses the City of Zephyrhills’ alternatives,” explained R.J. Keetch, assistant city planner. “They will present the re-evaluation of their findings at the meeting. We need a showing to present Zephyrhills’ public opinion.”

“Hopefully they (FDOT) have completed the majority of their re-evaluation and we will get an updated status. They should have a really good idea of the City’s Preferred Alternative,” said Vande Berg. The CPA is less drastic, planning for improvement in looks and functionality without the speed from six lanes.

Keetch said that several years ago businesses were very much opposed to the original proposal, “We would like to get everyone involved.” He was concerned that those opposed to the original plan should remain involved to keep it from reverting back to that plan.

According to Vande Berg, the FDOT has evaluated the city’s alternative and it looks positive that they would possibly change their original plans if there is enough community support.