The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Pasco adds new virtual school, while state sees its operations suffer

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They didn’t like it, but the Pasco County School Board earlier this month approved the application of a virtual charter school that was once under state investigation.

In a 3-1 vote, with Alison Crumbley dissenting, the board allowed the Southwest Florida Virtual Charter Board to open a virtual charter school in Pasco County — as long as the school meets stringent quality guidelines.

Science teacher Stephanie Carter prepares to give a virtual class through her laptop and tablet computer setup as part of the first day of school for Pasco eSchool last year. Joining Carter are, from left, Chinese language teacher Kim Giorgio, English and language arts teacher Heather Kline, and music and physical education teacher Kristi Duffy. (Photo courtesy of Pasco eSchool)
Science teacher Stephanie Carter prepares to give a virtual class through her laptop and tablet computer setup as part of the first day of school for Pasco eSchool last year. Joining Carter are, from left, Chinese language teacher Kim Giorgio, English and language arts teacher Heather Kline, and music and physical education teacher Kristi Duffy. (Photo courtesy of Pasco eSchool)

It turned a rather significant page in the evolution of virtual education with the expansion of such services in the county. But then the landscape shifted significantly when the state-run Florida Virtual School announced massive layoffs after an enrollment drop and changes to how the state funds it.

The future of educating students no matter where they are is at a precipice, and virtual education must find a way to not only survive, but thrive, says Pasco eSchool principal Joanne Glenn.

“It’s a great choice option for a variety of families in a variety of circumstances,” Glenn said.

Virtual schools are typically done through a computer and Internet connection, and were designed for students who were geographically challenged to get specific coursework from a bricks and mortar operation. Today, however, these types of schools are being used more and more by students looking to supplement what they’re already doing in an actual school classroom.

“Students in kind of a traditional setting began to supplement their instruction through virtual schools,” Glenn said. “They can take courses to recover credits, or even take courses that can accelerate their workload, to help them complete graduation requirements in their off time, so they can free up space to do a dual enrollment court or advanced placement.”

Pasco started its eSchool in 2009, and last year serviced 5,500 semester courses for 2,300 students.  And that’s just for middle school and high school. The elementary eSchool has about 100 students — a smaller number because it requires not only the regular involvement of the student and teacher, but a parent as well.

Although interest in virtual schools continues to grow each year, the charter operation offered by the Southwest Florida Virtual Charter Board was met with so much skepticism from the board when it was first introduced last spring that they denied the request.

Southwest Florida Virtual appealed that decision to Florida’s Department of Education, prompting school board members to reconsider without risking a lengthy legal battle.

An investigation concluded Southwest Florida Virtual hired only certified teachers in Seminole County, but concerns remain.

“Student achievement, or the lack thereof, is something we are very worried about,” said Nancy Scowcroft, supervisor of charter schools for Pasco County. “Their school grades are not being posted on the Department of Education’s website, which means they are appealing. I don’t know what these scores look like, but apparently they are not where they want to be.”

The county maintains oversight of charter schools to make sure they are meeting specific criteria. With bricks and mortar schools, it means just traveling to different parts of the county when needed. However, to see what’s happening with Florida Virtual Academy of Pasco County, as this new school will be called, it will require regular trips to Daytona Beach.

“That means spending more money just to keep an eye on everything,” Scowcroft said.

Jeff Kwitowski, a spokesman for Virginia-based K12 Inc., which calls itself the “vendor” for the charter school operations in Florida, points to the fact that the previous claims against the school were unsubstantiated. And even if there was an issue of teachers lacking certification for their particular subject matter, it’s not against the law.

The state department of education reports more than 8,700 teachers in Florida’s schools are teaching courses outside their subject certification, Kwitowski said in a statement. He added that Seminole County, which made the complaint, admitted to having 100 teachers without proper certification in the 2011-12 school year alone.

“K12 had only three teachers whose certifications were ‘out-of-field,’ and they were quickly corrected,” Kwitowski said.

Some of the demand for virtual schools will now be shared by both Florida Virtual Academy and Pasco eSchool. And that alone could very well create a strong future for this newer type of learning, eSchool principal Glenn said, especially since taking at least one virtual course is a graduation requirement for the Class of 2015.

“This is the way a lot of employers are delivering on-the-job training now and professional development, and it’s also something that is happening more and more in post-secondary schools, colleges and universities,” Glenn said. “This gives all of our students a chance to have that first experience in a supported environment. So once they get out there in the real world, they’ll be ready.”

New River Branch Library stays open, but budget issues remain

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Patrons of New River Branch Library can breathe a sigh of relief.

The Pasco County Commission voted unanimously last week to keep open both the Wesley Chapel library as well as the Centennial Park Branch Library in Holiday.

The decision came after library supporters reminded commissioners how important those libraries are in the communities where they operate.

One woman described the New River Branch as having the welcoming feel conveyed on the television sitcom “Cheers,” saying it’s a place “where everyone knows your name.”

She told commissioners that the library is a community gathering spot, serving everyone “from the tiniest child up through seniors.”

Diane Halterman, a former county library system branch manager from Zephyrhills, also weighed in on the topic.

“When I moved here in 1985, I was appalled that there were no public libraries on the east side of the county, except for the very, very tiny one in Zephyrhills,” she said. “And Dade City’s library was also very small. I saw the bond issue coming to the county and was thrilled to see libraries go up.”

Closing the New River branch would pose a hardship for many young families in Zephyrhills, who work in the service industry and can’t afford to have computers in their homes, Halterman said.

Gail Stout, chairwoman of the county’s library advisory board, told commissioners the per capita spending on libraries is $12.07 in Pasco County, compared to the state average of $25 per capita.

“You certainly are getting a huge bang for your buck in this portion of your budget,” Stout said.

Bob Robertson, also of Zephyrhills, joined with other speakers in describing New River as being a central part of the community’s fabric.

“The activities that go on there well exceed the books on the racks,” Robertson said. “I think it would be a very sad thing, if we were to close that library.”

Nancy Fredericks, administrator for Pasco County libraries, said closing the two libraries would cause more than 18 layoffs and yield about $776,875 in savings.

It quickly became clear that commissioners had no interest in closing the libraries. Even Schrader said he raised the issue because he wanted to be sure the county explored all of its options.

Commissioner Jack Mariano adamantly opposed any library closings.

“I just would love to see this conversation stop right now,” he said, urging commissioners to send a clear message that all county libraries will remain open.

“I think the libraries are very important for the county. Children have to take online courses. If they don’t have a computer at home, where are they going to go?” Mariano said.

Closing libraries would be a step in the wrong direction, he added.

“I just think we’re really hurting quality of life. There are better ways to go,” Mariano said.

Commissioners Pat Mulieri, Kathryn Starkey and Henry Wilson made it clear they were against the idea.

“We all have to decide what kind of community we want to live in,” Starkey said. “Having a quality place takes some investment. This is, to me, a real turning point in Pasco County.”

Despite that sentiment, Schrader countered that the commissioners are still going to need to find places to save money, or residents will get bigger tax bills in the mail later.

“In less than a month, on Sept. 10, we have the first public hearing,” he said. “Staff needs some direction from this board where you’re going to cut and where you’re going to raise taxes.”

Commissioners have been hearing plenty from people who don’t want a tax hike.

But Mulieri asked how well those louder voices are being represented.

“How many people did you hear from?” she said. “Twenty-five? Thirty? Fifty? There’s 478,000 people in Pasco County. Most people like the idea that we have a fee for services. But they also want their library.”

Starkey and Mariano noted that quality of life has an impact on the county’s economic prospects.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people who don’t want any raise in the taxes. I’ve heard from a lot more that say they want a quality place to live,” Starkey said.

“We can’t attract businesses here, when they drive by shuttered parks, shuttered libraries, roads full of potholes, snipe signs and garbage everywhere because we aren’t taking care of our backyard,” she said.

 

Chalk Talk

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Adults-only Spelling Bee
The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties Inc. found out who was “Smarter than a Preschooler” during its first adults-only spelling bee on Aug. 1 at the Suncoast Dance Party Center, 13383 County Line Road in Spring Hill. Twelve teams of four spellers went head-to-head in the competition with three rounds of increasingly difficult words. The winning team of Kierczynski and Associates received the Ultimate Speller trophy by correctly spelling the word “ululation.” The trophy will be passed on to future spelling bee winners year after year.

Thomas, Janssen on Virginia Tech Dean List
Two local students enrolled at Virginia Tech were named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2013 semester. Junior Christine Thomas and Senior Eliana Janssen are both from Lutz and majoring in agribusiness in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. To quality, students must attempt at least 12 credit hours and earn a 3.4 grade point average during the semester.

Museum offers free day to teachers
The Henry B. Plant Museum will offer free admission to teachers and their families on Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can explore the museum at their leisure, take a self-guided audio tour or participate in a walk-through at 1 p.m. There will be a screening of the historical video “Florida’s First Magic Kingdom.” The museum is at 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., in Tampa. For information, visit plantmuseum.com.

Visit The Reading Corner
The Reading Corner, a new private school at 1800 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house on Aug. 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Enrollment spots are open in various age groups in classes for children age 3 through fifth grade. For information on tuition, email , or call (813) 909-9204.

New principal for Wiregrass Ranch
Robyn White has been named principal at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel. Robyn White began her career as a Pinellas County teacher in 1986 and has been the assistant principal at Wiregrass since 2006. She succeeds Ray Bonti, who was promoted to an administrative position at the district offices.

PHCC looking for singers
Pasco-Hernando Community College is looking for experienced singers to join the College/Community Chorus program. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning Aug. 20. The chorus meets in the Performing Arts Center building on the PHCC West Campus in New Port Richey. The chorus is offered through the college’s continuing education department. Tuition fee for the chorus is $29 for the fall semester and includes music. For information, email .

MOSI hosts home-school educators
MOSI is hosting a free day of fun and exploration in its exhibits and Kids in Charge area for local home-schoolers on Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proof of home schooling is required. Those attending can meet the MOSI home-school educators and discuss program options, view an educational IMAX film for $4.95, and visit the sea monster exhibit for $10. MOSI is at 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa. For information, call (813) 987-6000, or visit www.mosi.org.

Remington College gives haircuts
Throughout the month of August, Remington College Tampa Campus is offering a free haircut for children younger than 17. Instructors and students in the Remington College cosmetology program provide the haircuts. Adults who bring in a donation of school supplies can also get a free salon service. Choices include a haircut, manicure or pedicure. Remington College is at 6302 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 400, Tampa. For information or an appointment, call (813) 316-4470, or visit remingtoncosmo.com.

Grant provides for scholarships
The Pasco-Hernando Community College Foundation recently received a $40,000 grant from the Edward K. Roberts Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
The contribution provided scholarships to PHCC students in summer 2013 and will continue to provide scholarships to fall term PHCC students. Per the donor’s wishes, preference will be given to part-time students who may not qualify for other financial aid.
Roberts was a generous lifelong donor to PHCC. He relocated to Sarasota, and upon his death in 2009, established the fund. The PHCC Foundation was one of the organizations specified to be eligible for distributions from the Fund.
For more information about the PHCC Foundation, please call (727) 816-3410, or visit www.phcc.edu/foundation.

Thomas Rhoades makes Dean’s List
Thomas D. Rhoades of Lutz was among 332 students named to the Dean’s Recognized List at Benedictine University for the spring 2013 semester.
The list recognizes part-time students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher.
Benedictine University is an independent Roman Catholic institution in Lisle, Ill.

Open house at Double Branch
Double Branch Elementary will have an open house Sept. 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. for kindergarteners to second graders, and from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. for those in grades 3-5. The PTA will conduct a general assembly meeting in the cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. Spirit items will be available. The school is at 31500 Chancey Road in Wesley Chapel. For information, call (813) 346-0400.

American Board programs
According to the 2012 Florida Vital Signs report, only 22 percent of Florida eighth-graders have a math teacher who majored in the subject they teach. Only 43 percent of eighth-graders have a science teacher who majored in the subject they teach. This summer, the American Board, a teacher certification nonprofit, is aiming to alleviate this issue by helping career-changing professionals bring their experience and expertise to local classrooms. The board assists career-changers, subject area experts, recent college graduates and others with a bachelor’s degree to earn full teacher certification by offering programs online so candidates can work at their own pace. The board is hosting informational sessions in August for those interested. To learn more, visit http://www.abcte.org/drupal/teach/events.

Social work program gets accreditation
Saint Leo University announced its master of social work program has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education, just four years after the technologically innovative program was launched.
The accreditation assures workplaces, prospective students and the general public that the Saint Leo program meets the teaching and curricular standards established by the profession. Through the accredited program, master of social work graduates are eligible to take the examination to become licensed clinical social workers.

Lee on Dean’s List at Eckerd
Laura Lee of Lutz has been named to Eckerd College’s Dean’s List for the spring 2013 semester. Lee is majoring in American Studies. To qualify, students must complete at least four courses with a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. Eckerd College is at 4200 54th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg.

Private school lays the groundwork for its future

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Academy at the Lakes, central Pasco County’s private school that hugs both sides of Collier Parkway off SR 54, is getting a lot larger, growing by more than 46 acres.

The school has purchased a large chunk of land near its existing campus that has belonged to the pioneer MacManus family for decades, with an eye toward a major campus expansion in the coming years.

Dr. Lou MacManus, right, shares stories about growing up on the land she recently sold to Academy at the Lakes, with former Academy board chair Cynthia Martin and current headmaster Mark Heller. MacManus’ childhood home looms in the background. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Dr. Lou MacManus, right, shares stories about growing up on the land she recently sold to Academy at the Lakes, with former Academy board chair Cynthia Martin and current headmaster Mark Heller. MacManus’ childhood home looms in the background. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

The land grab is four times larger than the school’s existing campus, and allows Academy at the Lakes to extend its reach to 20 Mile Level Road with a total of nearly 60 acres of land.

“About six years ago, my sister and I, and our brother, started talking about what we wanted to do with this land,” said Dr. Lou MacManus. A retired surgeon who lived for decades in Ohio and Tennessee, MacManus grew up in a modest house built a year before she was born on the property now owned by Academy at the Lakes. She shares many memories of her childhood on the land with her sister, University of South Florida professor Susan MacManus, as well as her late brother, Dr. H. Cameron MacManus, who was killed in a plane crash last spring.

“There’s been a lot of changes here since we were kids, and many of them good changes,” MacManus said. “But we didn’t want to see a bunch of homes on this land.”

MAKING IT WORK
Academy at the Lakes had plans to expand for the last two years, but the deal to purchase this piece of MacManus land came together only recently, thanks to the work of the MacManus family, as well as the Academy’s head of school Mark Heller and then board of trustees chair Cynthia Miller.

“The MacManuses have been very interested in seeing the future of their parents’ and grandparents’ land used for something productive and positive for the community,” Heller said. “They could’ve easily sold this land to a developer for a lot more money. But instead, decided that they should take a philanthropic route, and dedicate this land to the same thing they have always dedicated their lives to: education.”

Academy at the Lakes is paying slightly more than $2 million for the land, equating to a little less than $44,000 per acre. MacManus set up a charitable remainder annuity trust, which holds the 16-year mortgage for the property. Excluding any interest or other fees, that will cost the growing school approximately $10,500 per month on average.

While it might seem high, Heller sees it as an investment in the future for a school that is key to the economic growth in central Pasco County.

“The north side of the county is growing so fast, certainly now that construction and homebuilding is picking back up again,” Heller said. “The north side is going to be burgeoning again, just like it did 10 years ago, and we’re going to be able to grow with that community, and provide resources to that growing community.”

There are no immediate plans to build on the land, but it is something the school expects to do at some point to accommodate student needs, Heller said. In the meantime, some of the older students will tend to the land and learn how to grow oranges and take part in other agricultural activities. Food raised will be donated to local charities.

Heller talked about expansion in August 2011 when he said Academy at the Lakes should explore ways that would set it up for the next 100 years.

“This is something that could absolutely transform the footprint and the presence of the school,” Heller said at the time.

What happens is up to the school’s board of trustees, but there are many possibilities. One could include integrating the entire campus into one site, instead of having the younger and older students divided physically by Collier Parkway. The land could also become a sports complex center, among other things.

“There’s just so much that we can do that we haven’t really even talked about yet,” Heller said.

NEVER FORGET HISTORY
The matriarch of the MacManus family had always pushed education on her children, explaining why Lou MacManus and her siblings all reached doctorate levels in their schooling. Knowing that the farm she worked so hard to build would now be used for educating hundreds of young people — not just three — would make her mother proud, MacManus said.

“Education was so big for us growing up, and we were always out learning everything,” MacManus said. “We spent a lot of times outdoors, and didn’t watch much TV. We were doing sports, riding bicycles, and I even had a horse.”

The 2,200-square-foot house that served as the MacManus home for more than half a century still stands on the property. There are trees in front where the young MacManus children would hang their wet clothes after swimming in the nearby lake.

“We were together and outside from dawn until dusk,” MacManus said. “We spent our days swimming in the lake and roaming around the orange groves.”

And while the lake may no longer be a place where young people can just jump in, the land will be there to help educate many generations to come.

Much-needed supplies head to schools before Aug. 19 opening

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Pasco County Schools is set to approve a budget valued at more than $1 billion. Yet, the hundreds of teachers who lead classrooms in the district regularly find themselves without much-needed supplies as simple as notebooks and pencils.

And that’s where United Way of Pasco County steps in.

Cindy Greyard, right, a teacher at Fox Hollow Elementary School, helps unload boxes of school supplies at Pine View Middle School last week as part of the annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers event organized by Pasco County Schools and the United Way of Pasco County. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Cindy Greyard, right, a teacher at Fox Hollow Elementary School, helps unload boxes of school supplies at Pine View Middle School last week as part of the annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers event organized by Pasco County Schools and the United Way of Pasco County. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

The charity and service group collected more than 10,000 school supply items recently as part of its annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers campaign. The effort is designed to bring the community together, stocking classrooms and giving a helping hand to the men and women responsible for ensuring the education of our young future leaders.

“Teachers spend between $400 and $1,000 out of their own pocket to supply their classrooms,” said Stefanie Pontlitz, director of development for the local United Way office. “After hearing that, we really wanted to try and assess their needs, because it not only helps the teachers, it helps the students, and it helps learning. And that helps keep the focus on the classroom.”

This year, United Way and Pasco County Schools will reach out to 770 teachers in 80 of its schools to help supply their classrooms with essential items. They’ll use supplies collected from 14 buses parked at Publix and Walmart locations throughout the county during Florida’s annual tax-free holiday.

With school ready to start on Aug. 19, the district is looking for everything they can to help. That includes $1,000 thanks to a small church congregation in Trinity that took a bit of a unique approach.

“If you see someone in need, and it’s within your power to help them, let’s do so,” said Pastor Clayton Bell, who leads Trinity New Life Church at Trinity Elementary School on Duck Slough Boulevard.

For the second year in a row, Bell interrupted his regular Sunday morning sermon at the young church to convince his flock to get in their cars and head straight to the nearby Walmart. There, the church shopped together, leaving with several carts full of supplies.

“Pasco is a very heavy-education county, and we have a lot of teachers and home-school moms in our church,” Bell said. “Teachers have to do so much out of their own pocket, and we wanted to do something that would help them.”

The effort also got support from local Rotary clubs, as well as teachers themselves, volunteering at drop-off points around the county. Moving company Two Men and a Truck will deliver supplies to west Pasco schools, while the United Way will take care of the eastern side of the county.

Among the volunteers was Pasco Schools superintendent Kurt Browning, who not only donated his own box of supplies, but also worked tirelessly to help organize everything as they were brought into the Pine View Middle School gymnasium.

“It’s a great partnership, and the United Way has been a catalyst to really lead the effort,” Browning said. “But my thanks goes out to all the people that contributed their hard-earned dollars to make sure our kids have what they need to start school here.”

This year slightly less than $40,000 in donations came in, topping last year’s total of around $35,000, and the increase was needed since 80 more names were added to the teacher list.

“This is our county’s future,” Pontlitz said. “We want to support the future, and we want to support our teachers.”

Honoring the 50th anniversary of The March on Washington

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If you were there when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream Speech,” Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries would love to hear from you.

The library staff is looking for people like Bill McCloud, a resident of Odessa, who was there at the pivotal event on the mall in Washington, D.C.

“I was a private in the Army,” recalled McCloud, now 68. “I think there was all this concern that there was going to be a riot,” he said.

Instead, the Aug. 28, 1963 event was a nonviolent demonstration, which attracted about 250,000 people to demonstrate their support for economic and racial equality.

“It was overwhelming for me to see such a number of people,” McCloud said.

“It was just a great event that really helped change some of the dynamics of America,” said McCloud, who noted that he had no idea at the time how significant it would be.

The library system is creating a video history of local residents, like McCloud, who participated in the historic 1963 March on Washington.

From now through Aug. 16, library personnel will be available to digitally record the memories of local residents who attended the event that drew 250,000 people to Washington, D.C. The system decided to collect the stories and to have a special event to share them because, as staff member Stacey Jurewicz put it, “we didn’t want to lose this opportunity.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his stirring ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during the 1963 March on Washington. (Photo courtesy of WEDU PBS)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his stirring ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during the 1963 March on Washington. (Photo courtesy of WEDU PBS)

The video histories will be featured along with an afternoon of freedom songs at the West Tampa Branch Library, 2312 Union St. in Tampa, on Aug. 24 at 2:30 p.m.

Those wishing to share their story are asked to call Jurewicz, so she can arrange a time and place for the recording. She can be reached at (813) 273-3652.

The library system isn’t the only local organization honoring the half-century anniversary of that historic day. West Central Florida’s primary PBS station, WEDU, is holding a film screening to honor the event.

The station is hosting a special preview event on Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St. in Tampa. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

Visitors will be able to view a gallery of photos from the 1963 march, meet local residents who took part and see a free preview screening of “The March.”

Seating is limited and reservations are requested. Reservations can be made online at www.wedu.org/themarch.

The program will also air on WEDU-TV on Aug. 27 at 9 p.m., with a block of related programming.

 

Porter campus a possible early voting site

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It won’t open until January, and the midterm elections are even farther off, but the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections is already eyeing Pasco-Hernando Community College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass as a possible early voting site.

Corley mentioned the idea during the monthly meeting of the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting of its economic development committee.

Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley
Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley

After the meeting, Corley said he hasn’t talked with PHCC officials about the potential early voting site, but he thinks it would be a convenient location.

The new satellite campus of PHCC is being built on Mansfield Boulevard, off SR 56, just east of The Shops at Wiregrass.

“It’s a great location, geographically,” Corley said.

New legislation passed during the last session of the Florida Legislature allows supervisors of election more flexibility than they had in the past on where to place early voting sites, Corley said. Before, those sites could only be located at election offices, city halls or libraries.

That meant that Wesley Chapel voters had to go seven miles east to New River Branch Library or almost as far in the other direction to the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library to vote, Corley said.

Corley wants to make it easier for people who live and work in Wesley Chapel to cast their early ballots.

Having an early polling site in Wesley Chapel would make it easier for people to vote before and after work, as well as during lunch, Corley said.

During his talk at the chamber, Corley also noted another change in state law that he thinks is beneficial.

In previous elections, anyone who voted by mail had to sign the outside of the envelope for the vote to be counted, Corley said. Some voters forgot to do so and the votes would not be counted. That affected 109 voters in Pasco during the last election.

Now, thanks to legislation championed by House Speaker Will Weatherford, “they can send an affidavit in affirming they only voted once,” Corley said. “Their vote will count.”

He’s glad the law changed because he thinks every vote is important.

Only 537 votes separated Al Gore and George Bush in 2000, Corley said.

He cited two much closer votes in Zephyrhills.

“We had two annexation elections in Zephyrhills. One where a one-vote difference for won and the other one, one-vote difference against won,” Corley said.

Corley said he thinks it’s interesting to compare voter turnout for presidential elections and midterms.

The midterm election has the governor on the ballot, the entire Cabinet, state representatives, state senate, two county commission seats and three school board seats.

“The county commission and the school board, to me, have more impact on our lives as citizens, than the president,” Corley said.

“Then, why is it when the president is on the ballot, it’s 75 percent and when it’s a midterm – we had 46 percent in 2010. It should almost be the opposite,” Corley said.

Local teens use robot to save the world

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Three local teens are among 10 finalists in an international robotics competition and expect to find out soon if they’ve captured the top prize.

The 14-year-olds — Sean Carr, Ross Edwards and R.J. Walters — just wrapped up the second phase of the X Prize After Earth competition.

The contest winner announcement is scheduled for around Aug. 9.

Sean Carr, R.J. Walters and Ross Edwards are finalists in an international competition that seeks to encourage competitors to think about ecology and robotic design. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
Sean Carr, R.J. Walters and Ross Edwards are finalists in an international competition that seeks to encourage competitors to think about ecology and robotic design. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The competition is based on the movie, “After Earth,” starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith. The sponsor, X Prize Foundation, uses competitions to address “the world’s grand challenges,” according to its website.

In this case, the teams explored ways to make earth more sustainable and how to use robotics to explore the potential for a new settlement for humans.

No matter the outcome, the three young men — who are members of the Trinity Dragons robotics team — said they’ve enjoyed the challenge.

They’ve designed and built a robot that can scoot across a surface, can lift small buckets and deliver them to where they need to go and then can return to its base.

While the robot seemingly acts on its own, it actually completes its work through computer programming and infrared sensors. It carries out its tasks in a fictitious place, called Nova Prime.

The robotics team spent countless hours building and programming the robot, and created Nova Prime from plywood, Spackle, sand, chili powder, paint and plants.

They also produced a video that tells the story of their imaginary world.

The video opens with images of what’s going wrong with earth — traffic jams, billowing smokestacks, parched earth, landfills and a dead bird. It then pans to a view of Carr’s backyard in Lutz, where fish thrive in water tanks, which provide water and nutrients to a flower and vegetable garden in a system, which in turn produces fish and organic vegetables, using very little water.

The video also features a lively musical soundtrack and an entertaining look at the steps the team followed to create and program the robot.

The video also pokes fun at Ray Carr, who is Sean’s dad and the team’s coach. He’s depicted as a lecturer who is boring the team to death.

Other portions of the video show the rover coming together and the construction of Nova Prime.

The team submitted that video recently meeting the contest’s phase two deadline. The video they submitted in June won them the right to compete in the finals.

The contest provides an excellent challenge for the kids, Ray Carr said.

“It’s not just a computer science thing; it’s not just mechanical engineering,” he said. “It’s electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering and a lot of geometry, all at once. They’re not focused on the learning. They’re focused on the goal. They learn along the way. I think that kind of opens up their minds a bit.

“Seeing things run around like that (robot), after you wrote the software, it’s fun,” he added.

Sean Carr said it’s been fun for him, too.

“We work together really well. We have the same common interest in mechanical and software,” Sean Carr said. “We bonded a lot.”

“It makes it even more fun when you’re competing against other people,” said Walters, who was at Ray Carr’s office five hours a day for at least five days a week.

“The robot, I believe, took about 42 hours of work,” Sean Carr said.

Ross took the lead role in designing the robot.

“He’s a Lego genius,” Sean Carr said. “That robot would be nowhere near what it is now without him.”

Walters did the lion’s share of painting and spackling to create Nova Prime and worked on developing the software to make the rover robot work.

“They struggled through a lot of issues,” Ray Carr said. “They struggled through a lot of things to come to the end solution. It didn’t just show up by any means.”

“The compass sensor kept messing up,” Walters said. “The tires were too big and wobbly.”

But they worked through those problems and produced a robot that would follow computer commands.

They also used music to help move their video along, after discovering that none of them particularly excelled at talking directly into the camera.

For making it to the final round, the team received a Lego Mindstorms robotic kit and a Sony Handycam video camera.

If they win the competition, they’ll be highlighted in a special feature about the X Prize After Earth Challenge on the U.S. Blu-ray disc of “After Earth.” They’ll also receive a signed Blu-ray, an “After Earth” poster and other prizes.

Pasco conference proves education is worldwide concern

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Dominic Mukwaya arrived in Pasco County ready to learn. When he left his village in Uganda a month ago, more than 30 members of his extended family joined him at the airport — nearly all of them watching a plane take off for the very first time in their lives.

Not only was it his first plane ride and his first trip to America, but it was also the first time Mukwaya has ever left the Kyotera region of his country, where running water was just introduced last spring, and electricity is still a future goal.

Mark Xing, center, of the Nanshan School District in Shenzhen, China, works with Susan Sanger-Miller from Connerton Elementary, left, and Alissa Lamorand from Anclote Elementary, on some administrative exercises at the International Leadership Fellows Institute in Land O’ Lakes last week. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Mark Xing, center, of the Nanshan School District in Shenzhen, China, works with Susan Sanger-Miller from Connerton Elementary, left, and Alissa Lamorand from Anclote Elementary, on some administrative exercises at the International Leadership Fellows Institute in Land O’ Lakes last week. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Despite that, Mukwaya has schooled more than 650 orphans whose families were ravaged by the HIV epidemic there. He has pushed for more adult education as well — especially for women, who traditionally did not go to school when they were younger.

“Some of the people in my district went to school and were not doing good, and others could not afford to pay for the school fees,” Mukwaya said. “We started a sustainability project where, in the long term, we can help those who might not be able to learn otherwise.”

Mukwaya returned home last weekend after his two-week trip to Land O’ Lakes, participating in the annual International Leadership Fellows Institute from the National Educator Program. That program, based in Denver, chose the Pasco County Schools out of more than a dozen national applicants to host this institute. It’s designed to empower teachers to become strong leaders, and give students equal access to success.

The seminar itself, which also included 20 hand-picked Pasco educators, lasted two weeks. It’s part of the overall institute program designed to operate for the next year, connecting participants not only with face-to-face visits, but also technologically through online communication services like Skype. It’s meant to be a give and take, where these administrators learn from each other, and take all of it back to incorporate into their own classrooms.

“What we have found so far that whether you’re teaching in a major metropolitan area or the jungle by the lake, it’s remarkable the similarities on how schools and classrooms operate,” said Mark Thompson, executive director of NEP. “We found much more in common than we thought.”

The recent conference in Land O’ Lakes was led by Diane Varano, principal of the Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences in Brooklyn. She makes the trip each year to help form new bonds among the education leaders, giving them tools to reinvigorate classrooms.

It’s a much-needed wakeup call for many teachers, who in recent years have complained about being forced to teach to state-mandated tests like the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Instead, the learning process must be more experiential, said Mark Xing, who is the director of teaching affairs for a 2,000-student school system in Shenzhen, China. Located just north of Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a city of more than 10 million people that was an early adopter of capitalism in the traditionally communist country. Because of that, the school there has been working to include both Chinese and American curriculums.

“In China, a lot of parents would like to send their children to study in the United States,” Xing said. “They want their children to know more about American culture, and we actually started this program to meet the parents’ needs.”

There was some concern that requiring both Chinese and American studies for elementary school-aged students might be too much. Instead, Xing has found his students embracing both equally, and that will give them an edge as technology continues to shrink the world and China plays an ever-expanding role in world economics.

Mukwaya’s curriculum also is experience-based, but not quite the same way. In his region, English is being taught as a third language — behind the local Luganda and the regional Swahili. But while math and reading are essential in the learning process for both children and adults, so are vocational skills that will help not only make money for his students, but save money as well.

“We started with writing and reading, and now they are going up to do more functional things like how to weave mats from palm leaves and make bags from banana fibers,” Mukwaya said. “We’re also teaching many of our women how they can save money, and how they can be sustainable financially.”

Both Mukwaya and Xing will return to Land O’ Lakes next year to share progress on changes they’ve instituted because of the program and report back on how well they have worked, with the goal of helping the district’s program to grow and evolve.

“This isn’t just about someone coming here and learning things. We are learning a great deal from them,” Thompson said. “We can teach them some of our best practices when it comes to education, but they are not just learning ours, they are teaching us theirs, too, and that’s the kind of dialogue we want to have.”

New Zephyrhills library will offer more choices for patrons

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Edward Bent will soon bring his young stepdaughter, Calee Heinlein, to a place stocked with more children’s stories than it ever has had.

That’s because city officials in Zephyrhills plan to build a new public library to replace the one that’s just north of city hall on Eighth Street.

The new Zephyrhills library will have a separate room for a larger children’s section. This is the current children's section at the Zephyrhills Public Library. (Photo by Marie Abramov)
The new Zephyrhills library will have a separate room for a larger children’s section. This is the current children’s section at the Zephyrhills Public Library. (Photo by Marie Abramov)

Replicating an architectural style of the early 1900s, the new library will be twice as large as the one used now by residents. It will have more books in all genres, as well as movies, magazines, public-use computers and electronic upgrades.

Blueprints should be complete by October, and building is scheduled to begin in November. Construction could take up to a year.

Bent and his family come to the Zephyrhills library three or four times a week and generally stay about three to four hours each time. Heinlein and her brother play and read in the library’s children’s section.

“I know bringing her here from an early age has really helped her and her developmental skills,” Bent said. “If I had to choose between the money being spent here as opposed to a recreational facility, it’ll definitely be here because this is long-term, sustained knowledge and things that’s gonna help them in the future.”

The estimated cost for the project is up to $1.7 million, financed through Penny for Pasco and private donations, said librarian Vicki Elkins. That will allow the project to start without additional debt, taxes and fees, city officials said.

The new library will be built on the parking lot just north of the current library. It will have an arched entrance, atrium and a white stone foundation. It will have separate rooms for children and certain organizations that might want to have community meetings. The new library will also be equipped with charging stations for electronic devices.

Once it’s completed, the old library building will be razed, and a new parking lot will be built in its place.

Joe DelVecchio, a regular library patron for about four years, thinks an expansion is long overdue.

“We need a bigger one,” DelVecchio. “We need more books. I’m running out of Westerns. I read a lot. It’s gonna help the city.”

–Marie Abramov