The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Pasco district pleads with parents to help reduce unruly behaviors at school

By

Disruptive behavior by students continues to pose a challenge in Pasco County Schools — and the school district is hoping that parents and guardians can help play a role in reducing the problem.

Pasco County School Board chairwoman Megan Harding raised the issue during the board’s Nov. 7 meeting.

“Buses are being stopped because of (student) disrespect, the rowdiness on buses. 

“I’ve had teachers reach out to me for behavioral expulsions, for students fighting. 

Pasco County School Board Chairwoman Megan Harding is urging parents to help teach their children proper behavior at school and on buses. She said district staff is frustrated by behavior problems by some that are interfering with other children’s learning. (File)

“The list goes on.

“I’ve talked to Mr. Browning multiple times about this and he knows that his teachers, and staff and admin are frustrated,” Harding said.

She told Browning that she knows he’s going to continue to assess the behavior problem and she’s grateful for that.

However, she added: “But with the many disruptions we’ve had to the learning environment in the past two weeks and the number of teachers who have called, emailed or asked to meet with me about behaviors — it has grown.

“I know we need kids in school.

“But what I’m most worried about, like I’ve mentioned before, are these other kids whose learning is being impacted due to the one or two students who are misbehaving.

“I don’t have all of the answers, but I am willing to help problem-solve and work on this,” the school board chairwoman said.

“Teachers need to teach, bus drivers need to drive their bus, and our students need to go to school to learn.”

Harding continued: “Here’s my plea: Parents and guardians, we need your help.

“Students are sent to school to learn.

“In Pasco, we want your child to get that world-class education that they deserve and we can’t do this without your partnership and help.

“We’ve said it multiple times, but I’m asking you again: Please talk with your children about being respectful. Talk to your children about the importance of their education and how they’re in school to learn.

“Your child’s teacher and school love them. They just want them to be successful.

“Your child’s bus driver needs to get your child to school safely, and on time.

“So, please talk to your child and remind them of the rules of the school because we really can’t do this alone.”

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning chimed in.

He told Harding that her comments are both valuable and valued.

“Student behavior continues to be a challenge for us,” Browning said, particularly on buses and in classrooms.

“We, too, don’t have a solution,” the superintendent said.

“It’s easier to address the secondary students than it is to address the elementary students.

“But I will tell you, we are seeing a significant number of behavioral issues in elementary school.”

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said there’s no excuse for the behavior problems that are persisting in district schools. He said the district is seeing the problems happening with students as young as kindergarten and first grade, and while it’s not an excuse, he believes the lack of socialization during COVID is contributing to the issue.

Unfortunately, he added, the problems are showing up in the kindergarten and first grade levels.

“I’m not making excuses, but I think one of the reasons that we’re seeing this is that these were what I call ‘our COVID kids’ that have not been in a structured environment.

“They’re coming into a structured classroom, where the teacher demands and deserves respect to do his or her job, that is to teach — and to love those kids.

“But I think many times these kids do not know how to behave in a public setting.”

The superintendent continued: “I make no excuses for it.”

He told Harding: “And, you are dead right.

“We, as a district, cannot successfully fulfill our mission — and that is to provide that world-class education unless, and only unless, our parents engage with us, partner with us, in order to set expectations for their children.

“And that is, ‘What does acceptable behavior look like in a classroom setting, or a school setting, a bus setting?’

 “What does it look like?

“There’s got to be consequences for these kids at the home level when parents get reports that their children are acting out.

“We are struggling. We are struggling,” Browning said.

He offered to meet with Harding and with the teachers who she recommends, to help tackle the problem.

He said the district is well aware of the issue.

“My team is working tirelessly. There’s not a meeting that we have that we don’t talk in some way, shape or form, about behaviors of kids in this district.”

At the same time, it’s important to keep things in perspective, Browning said. There is just a small fraction of students who are creating disruptions for large numbers of kids.

Plus, he noted: “We’re not the only district that is dealing with this. There are districts all across Florida and all across the United States, having to deal with behavioral issues.

“We will continue to address this in every way we possibly can.”

Harding said she knows it’s just a small number of students who are disrupting others. But she said, she doesn’t want a small number of kids to impede the learning of others.

Published November 15, 2023

Pasco School Board sticks by the district’s textbook decision

By

The Pasco County School Board has voted to support a hearing officer’s recommendation, in the wake of a complaint lodged against the district’s selection of a textbook.

Jessica Jucusco-Wright, a former district educator, was one of the petitioners who filed an objection regarding instructional material entitled Foundations in Personal Finance, published by the Lamp Group, doing business as Ramsey Solutions.

Objections to the textbook adoption were the subject of a public hearing held on Oct. 10, conducted via Microsoft Teams, by hearing officer James A. Robinson.

Robinson’s Oct. 16 order determined that “petitioners did not demonstrate that the instructional material in question fails to meet one or more criteria for objection” as set forth under state law.

Jucusco-Wright raised objections again at the Pasco School Board’s Nov. 7 meeting.

She told the board that the textbook had not been approved by the state, which means the district is out of compliance.

Jucusco-Wright said: “Our constitution ensures that our Florida students have the right to an equal and uniform education, that is free of discrimination.

“I would argue that this text wholeheartedly discriminates against our students who live in a low socioeconomic condition. It also does not align with the new Florida standards, due to the lack of math literacy.

“Our district has ceded that that will be supported in previous courses. However, our proficiency rate in eighth-grade math right now is 55%,” she said.

She said teachers and students need support, but added: “this would be like offering them saltwater in the desert.

“This would not be an appropriate instructional material that would actually meet the overall standard.”

She also questioned the amount of money the district is spending on the textbook adoption, noting she had heard it was more than half-a-million dollars.

Lea Mitchell, director of the office for leading and learning, told the board that a hearing officer ruled that the district was within procedural guidelines that had been set forth by the state DOE.

“I would say in response to the public comment, there is absolutely accuracy in the fact the misalignment of state timelines puts every single school district in the state of Florida in a very hard position. Deleting course codes, making new graduation requirements, all in the midst of annual adoptions really does put us in a position where we have to make decisions for what’s best for our students in the moment,” she said.

She said the figures relating to around $600,000 were based on a five-year contract.

“Given the August decision of the State Board of Education, related to those course codes, it would not be our intention to enter into a five-year contract, knowing that the state is deleting courses and adding new ones.

“We do feel very confident that we are in compliance with state rules related to instructional materials. We’re well within our rights and terms of what we are up to.

“But I don’t disagree that there is a lot of misalignments in our state policies and practices that put us in a position where we are moving forward in adoptions, while also the state is making new graduation requirements and new course codes,” Mitchell said.

“Moving forward, as a district, we have made the decision — and you guys, also — to postpone all adoptions until the year after the adoption cycle at the state level, so that we never again are in a position to be in this cross-section.

“I will say though that it does hit our pocketbooks, in that all adoption cycles are within contracts and it creates what’s called gap years and you are out of contract, sometimes paying, double, triple and quadruple the costs.

“It is a convergence of many, many different complex issues that put us here today. But I do stand before you and say, I do believe we are well within the procedures, the regulations, the safeguards. And, I do believe that the department and the teachers will do their very best to pursue the standards of the courses they’re in right now, for this specific set of materials,” Mitchell said.

School board member Cynthia Armstrong added: “We had to go through the adoption of something to use for this year because the state did not release the standards in time for us to do anything.”

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning noted the board’s vote was being taken in regard to adopting the hearing officer’s recommendation.

The superintendent said the hearing officer reviewed whether the school district followed state law and board policy.

“The hearing officer found that we had, as a district. You’re just adopting that report, that recommendation from the hearing officer,” Browning said.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the hearing officer’s recommendation, which says, in part, that the board should “enter a final order denying the petitions and proceeding with the adoption process in accordance with school board policy and applicable law, as recommended by the superintendent.”

Published November 15, 2023

Report shares insights about Pasco Schools’ progress

By

As a routine matter, Pasco County School Board members deliver reports during board meetings on the various committees on which they serve.

During the board’s Nov. 7 meeting, board member Colleen Beaudoin briefed her colleagues on some of the highlights from a recent District Vision and Success Plan meeting.

The report revealed that the district is making progress in some areas, having difficulties in others, and looking for new approaches, too.

For instance, Beaudoin said: “Under (the category of) employee success, retention is still a struggle. We discussed exit survey data and ways to get more specific information.

Pasco School Board member Colleen Beaudoin briefed her colleagues on a number of district successes and challenges during the board’s Nov. 7 meeting. (File)

“HERQ (The Office for Human Resources and Educator Quality) will try to do more phone surveys with the instructional staff.

“Teaching is a hard job and many are leaving the profession.

“It can be especially challenging at schools with large numbers of new teachers because they don’t have — they may not have — an experienced teacher on their teams to collaborate with.

“So, of course our administrators are stepping in and other people are covering. But it is still a struggle.

“So, we need to focus on the things we do have control over, like addressing the workload and the behaviors that we’ve discussed many times.

“The paid internship pilot program has helped. We hired 90% of the participants, so that’s good — over 20.

“We also added 36 more TPG Cultural Exchange teachers,” she said, referring to a U.S. State Department program that allows qualified educators to teach in the United States for up to five years.

Beaudoin also noted there are ongoing efforts to increase the pool of available substitute teachers and to recruit substitute teachers who may be interested in pursuing teaching full-time.

“We’re waiting on details from the DOE (Department of Education) about the new teacher apprenticeship program — that’s the new certification program. We’ll move forward on that when we know more,” she added.

In the category of taxpayer value, Beaudoin said the district continues to monitor and diversify its investments, when it can.

She also noted that the district’s buses that operate using compressed natural gas (CNG) are saving the school system money because the fuel is less expensive.

The district also continues to meet its goal of having at least a 5% fund balance, and its bond ratings are good and even have been upgraded.

But Beaudoin added: “The capital budget is challenging because construction costs, like everything else, have increased significantly.

“For example, we’re talking about the new school opening.

“School furniture has doubled, and even, tripled in costs.”

In another focus area — excellence in student achievement — Beaudoin said the emphasis of leadership walk-throughs this year will be on observing the work that students are doing.

“They’re looking at the rigor of the work students are completing.

“In the past, the focus has been a lot on what the teachers were doing,” she explained.

“The district teams are reviewing the data to determine the different areas of need. It could be more training. It could be instructional materials.”

On a bright note, the district has reported a decrease in the number of course failures at the sixth- and ninth-grade levels.

But Beaudoin noted: “Students skipping class was a significant issue across secondary schools last year.

“The Student Code of Conduct committee made revisions to address this and the district will monitor the impact of the strategies that are being implemented this year,” she added.

Another piece of good news is that the number of college credits earned by Pasco students has increased over 38% during the past five years, and there’s been a significant increase in the number of students earning industry certifications.

There’s been a 499% gain in elementary students enrolled in accelerated mathematics programs and 64% increase at the secondary level.

However, Beaudoin asked the district to take a look at one impact that’s resulted from the acceleration in mathematics at the secondary level.

“With all of the focus on accelerated math, we have students who are finishing their math progression early — before their senior year.

“We want to give them more opportunities for more rigorous programs, and there are things available through dual enrollment,” she said.

But some students simply don’t want to take another math course.

This can hurt students when they’re applying to college — if they choose not to pursue rigorous programming their senior year, said Beaudoin, who teaches mathematics at the University of Tampa.

“It can also hurt them — and I can speak firsthand to this — when they take a year off from math, and then they have to take math in college. It’s really difficult. It makes it harder when they take that year off.”

She said the district needs to find a way to offer students something they are interested in learning.

“We need to come up with some things, and ways to encourage them,” she said.

She also noted that she knows this is a struggle at the high schools because she’s heard about it from principals.

Superintendent Kurt Browning told Beaudoin that a school board workshop is scheduled for Dec. 19 to discuss advanced academics.

He said he would get with district staff to include this topic at that meeting.

“It is an issue. We know it’s an issue. We will attempt to address that at the workshop,” Browning said. 

Published November 15, 2023

Chalk Talk 11/15/2023

By

Center builds respect, understanding
The community came together on Oct. 26 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Saint Leo University’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies (CCJS) and to present the 19th Eternal Light Award to Rabbi David Fox Sandmel, PhD., at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center in Tampa.

Rabbi David Sandmel speaks at the CCJS Eternal Light Award Celebration. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

The event recognized the work of Saint Leo’s CCJS to build mutual respect and understanding between Catholics, Jews and all people of goodwill.

Guest speakers included Joseph Probasco, attorney and board member of the Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation; Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg; Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida and a trustee of the university; Dr. Matthew Tapie, director of CCJS; and Father Dennis McManus, a consultant for Jewish Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Rabbi David Mayan, associate director of the center, introduced award winner Rabbi David Fox Sandmel, who was recognized for his dedication, outstanding contributions and lifelong commitment to the cause of Catholic-Jewish relations.

Sandmel’s keynote address was “Why Catholic-Jewish Relations Matter Today.” He also commented on what is happening in the world and noted he recently participated in the recent international conference in Rome organized by the CCJS.

“Let’s continue to support this organization (CCJS),” Sandmel said in his acceptance, and he encouraged everyone to continue to build friendships.

Learning Academy opens
Pasco County Schools has announced the opening of the Mittye P. Locke Early Learning Academy, at 4339 Evans Ave., in New Port Richey, on the former Mittye P. Locke Elementary School site.

The school was named in honor of the esteemed longtime principal, Mittye P. Locke, and is set to become a cornerstone in the community’s efforts to provide young learners with a solid educational foundation, according to a news release.

The grand opening ceremony brought together students, parents, staff and Pasco County Schools officials for a ribbon-cutting, special guests, and a performance by the Eaglets, the academy’s children’s choir.

The learning academy is designed to serve Pasco County children ages 3 to 5 and offers a wide range of programs, including the Head Start Program, exceptional classes, and the voluntary pre-kindergarten program (VPK). The school also provides complimentary breakfast and lunch daily.

The new facility features 10 well-equipped classrooms that can accommodate up to 18 students each. The curriculum emphasizes literacy, mathematics, creative arts, and scientific exploration through meaningful play, ensuring a holistic and engaging learning experience for young learners, the release says.

Flexible enrollment options are available, including a full-day option for VPK.

Before parents can apply for enrollment, a valid VPK Certificate of Eligibility must be obtained from the Pasco Hernando Early Learning Coalition.

To learn more, visit Lela.pasco.k12.fl.us, or call the academy directly at 727-246-5352.

New Honor Society members
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, has inducted these new members: Caitlyn Culpepper, Odessa; Joseph Pereira, Lutz; and Gabriella Sanabria, Lutz.

Holiday Card Lane
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is calling on local schools and artists to collaborate in reimagining its Holiday Card Lane for this and future generations. The cards adorn the paths of Sims Park in downtown New Port Richey throughout the holiday season and are sponsored by local Pasco County businesses.

The chamber is seeking creative ideas and expertise:

  • Material innovation: Looking for environmentally friendly materials to replace the heavy plywood traditionally used. The new materials should be sustainable, transportable and weather-resistant.
  • Artistic Expression: Looking for artists to infuse their unique styles and celebrate the spirit of the season while incorporating sustainable themes.
  • Community Involvement: This is an opportunity for schools and artists to gain exposure and engage with the local community.

Artists, schools or anyone who fits the bill should reach out to the chamber at 727-842-7651. Ideas, suggestions and contributions are welcome.

Digital literacy
The national nonprofit Connected Nation (CN), in partnership with AT&T, has brought Digital Literacy Learning Workshops and job fairs to those who may not know where to start or understand how technology can help them.

Since September 2022, CN has organized 330 workshops and/or classes and 59 job fairs — training 2,236 people in 21 different states, according to a news release.

Each workshop or class is taught by digital literacy experts and is focused on one of six topics: Computer Basics, Internet Basics, Email Basics, Cybersecurity, Video Conferencing, and Mobile Device Basics.

The workshops are part of CN’s mission to expand internet access and advance digital literacy across America. The classes are made possible as part of AT&T Connecting Learning and AT&T’s commitment to help narrow the Digital Divide, the release says.

CN is looking to partner with more local community and state organizations to host in-person and virtual workshops.

To learn more, visit ConnectedNation.org/digital-literacy-workshops/.

Fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)’s annual Fish Art Contest is now open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. In partnership with Wildlife Forever, FWC announced a second annual category for a Florida Native Fish Award, in addition to the national Fish Art Contest that students can qualify for by submitting a Florida native species from the specified list below.

Grade brackets awards will be kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade, and 10th through 12th grade.

Students can submit an original piece of physical artwork featuring any fish including one or more of these Florida native species from the same category:

  • Category 1: Freshwater: largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, channel catfish, Florida gar, chain pickerel, bowfin
  • Category 2: Saltwater: snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, tarpon, mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel, hogfish, queen snapper, black grouper

Digital artwork will not be accepted. Students also must submit a piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades four to 12) and a Florida State-Fish Art Contest entry form. The deadline to enter is Feb. 28.

To enter, visit WildlifeForever.org/home/fish-art/fish-entry-forms/florida-entry-forms/.

Pasco school board approves dress code change

By

The Pasco County School Board has revised its student dress code to remove the phrase that requires a student’s blouse to “extend to the waist.”

But it’s unlikely that the vote will be the end of district discussion on the issue.

A specific committee will likely review the issue during an update of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year.

The school board voted 4-0 to approve the dress code for next school year during its Oct. 17 meeting. Board chairwoman Megan Harding was absent.

The Pasco County School Board has altered the district’s dress code to delete a phrase that required blouses to ‘extend to the waist.’ But discussions over appropriate student attire are expected to resume again next year, during the update of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year. (File)

The dress code change drew considerable debate during previous board discussions, with Harding and school board member Cynthia Armstrong wanting to keep the requirement and school board members Colleen Beaudoin, Alison Crumbley and Al Hernandez favoring the change.

At the Oct. 3 public hearing, two speakers raised objections to the proposed dress code.

Pat Rogers, who frequently appears at board meetings to question various policies, told the board: “This morning, on my way here, I saw a very young girl walking down the sidewalk going to her school with shorts with legs that were maybe this long on them,” she said, indicating a couple of inches.

“Granted, she was young, but that was still too short for school.

“That’s fine for when you are playing at home and out in the yard, but at school, I think there needs to be a length, like 2 inches above the knee or something. So that these short shorts are not being worn around in school because they’re just as distracting as everything else, especially when you get to the young teen boys, the pre-teens.

“Anyway, that needs to be taken care of. The dress code to me is still kind of vague,” she said.

She thinks the code needs more clarity so parents know precisely what the rules are, instead of trying to guess.

“I know you guys can do a better job than this,” she said.

In previous discussions regarding the dress code, Beaudoin urged her colleagues to remove the phrase “extend to the waist” regarding blouses.

Like her colleagues, Beaudoin said she’d like to see students dress professionally and appropriately, but she noted that she believes that ultimately that’s a parental right and responsibility.

Beaudoin also pointed to community norms and said the type of clothing being discussed is socially acceptable.

Plus, she said there are more important issues for the board’s focus, and the dress code is not a barrier to education.

But Nancy Christian, of Land O’ Lakes, told board members that she strongly disagreed with Beaudoin’s rationale.

Christian said she’s a mother and grandmother, a frequent school and community volunteer, a retired bus driver from another district, and a barber.

In those roles, she said she’s come into contact with young people of all ages for many years.

She told the board: “Clothing makes a difference. Certain clothing isn’t appropriate for school. Bare midriffs, bare backs and exposed cleavage isn’t appropriate for the classroom or walking around school.

“It can be distracting, and what is the purpose of such attire?

“A student’s clothing affects their attitude for the good or the bad. Maybe not so much from kindergarten to fourth grade, but after that it depends on the child, but it starts to make a difference.”

“Part of the parents’ responsibility is to teach their child the rules and how to follow them,” Christian said.

Board members said they received feedback on both sides of the issue.

During the Oct. 17 meeting, Armstrong said: “I just want to say that I really appreciate all of the emails I received, and the calls and the discussions about the dress code.

“As you know, I was the one who added on, ‘extend to the waist’ for the shirt.”

“I thought it was pretty clear what that meant, but apparently it was not.

“I do feel like we’ve opened up this discussion about ‘What is appropriate attire for a learning environment? How do we prepare our students to participate in the workforce after they leave school?’

“So, I’m hoping this discussion will continue when we have the committee meet for the next Code of Student Conduct next year and that they will consider some of the suggestions that we received in our emails about how maybe that could be better worded to avoid some of the controversy over it, and to make sure that it was clear and concise.”

Board member Crumbley agreed the discussion should continue next year.

She said she appreciated the comments she received on the issue.

“I see all of the sides. I think it was a good conversation.

“I believe our objective will be to maybe turn this over to a special task force within the Code of Conduct Committee,” Crumbley said, noting that the group can look at the suggestions and emails that came in, in preparation for the 2024-2025 school year.

Published November 08, 2023

These two Pasco students stand out from the crowd

By

The Pasco County School Board recently celebrated two student standouts.

Leah Ifill, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, is the district’s U.S. Presidential Scholar nominee, and Miguel Rosario, a senior at Cypress Creek High School, is the district’s U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.

The scholar program, established in 1964, recognizes and honors superior high school seniors.

Diamela Vergne, assistant principal at Wiregrass Ranch High, wrote the submission on behalf of Ifill.

Wiregrass Ranch High School student Leah Ifill is Pasco County’s Nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. From left: Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, Leah Ifill and Pasco County Schools Vice Chairwoman Alison Crumbley. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

In part, this is what she said: “Leah is well-rounded, hardworking, kind and an extremely driven student. She successfully and with great ease balances her multiple responsibilities, inside and outside of school, all while ensuring she tends to physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social well-being.

“Leah was out of school for two months during her freshman year. During that time, she had to re-learn how to do many things.

“Leah has been dancing since she was 2, learning how to dance before she could fully speak.

“Having to re-learn things, she was forced to stop dancing for an entire year. She was stripped of her only passion.

“It was during this time that she was introduced to musical theater, which became her new passion.

“She was forever changed, but it allowed her to become someone she thought she could never be.

“Eventually, she was able to land main roles in shows, through perseverance and hard work.

“The journey from dance to musical theater has been transformative. This could have been a setback, but it became a catalyst for her success. It taught her resilience, determination and the importance of pursuing her life’s passions.

“Leah currently has 111 approved community service hours. These hours have been completed in a variety of environments. 

“She has volunteered at Toys for Tots, distributing toys during the holidays. She also volunteers at the nursery from her church. She volunteers at the community theater, and at Wiregrass Ranch freshman orientation. She also sings the National Anthem at various events at her high school campus.

“She is an active member of the student council, as well.”

The assistant principal also noted that Ifill is enrolled in several Advanced Placement (AP) courses, as well as courses in the arts. She also is a member of concert chorus, social manager for the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Thespian president of Troupe 7142.

Rosario is the district’s Presidential Scholars nominee in Career and Technical Education.

Nathan Baker, the Career and Technical Education teacher at the Coyote Engineering Academy, wrote this about Miguel: “Miguel is the best student I’ve had within the last five years within the engineering academy at Cypress Creek High School.

Cypress Creek High School student Miguel Rosario was recognized as Pasco County Schools’ nominee for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education Program. From left: Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, Miguel Rosario and Pasco County Schools Vice Chairwoman Alison Crumbley.

“His intelligence and natural abilities are just phenomenal. He is currently taking AP calculus BC and AP computer science.

“Miguel has also spread his wings in other directions besides academia. He is very active in the student government association, a member of the Spirit Club, captain of the varsity soccer team and has a part-time job.

“I’ve watched Miguel demonstrate an atmosphere of mutual respect, hard work, good sportsmanship, prioritization and time management.

“Miguel is selfless and always willing to lend a hand. Miguel will make an amazing computer engineer one day. He has all of the characteristics necessary for success, including high intelligence, a strong work ethic, amazing problem-solving skills and the desire to succeed.

“He has excelled at every challenge given to him within the engineering program, including thermal dynamics, electricity, fluid dynamics, robotics, programming and team leadership.

“He has a gift for envisioning a solution to a problem and optimizing that solution. Whether it is a complicated mathematical problem, or a robotics program that needs to be written, I’ve never known Miguel not to succeed.

“Miguel was chosen as the outstanding student of engineering his freshman year and likely would have won it multiple times, except Cypress Creek High School limits ninth through 11th graders to winning it only once to spread the award around.

“He has earned numerous Student of the Week awards, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program, and recognized as being a member of multiple honor societies.

“Miguel has continued to add new tools to his technical toolbox. He spent a year in the Pasco Youth Leadership Program to learn about leadership, inspiring others and the projects taking place throughout the county.”

Baker noted that Rosario continues to add new programming languages to his arsenal.

“He is hands-on and can always be found tinkering with something in the lab.

“By spending time in the Pasco Youth Leadership Program and tutoring, it is evident that Miguel inspires others to be the best and instills in them a sense of duty to achieve more than they believe they can achieve.

“Miguel Rosario is the total package. He is highly intelligent, demonstrates common sense and possesses an amazing level of mechanical, hands-on ability and has limitless determination.

“He is truly the real deal.

“I could never ask for a better student,” Baker wrote.

Published November 08, 2023

Chalk Talk 11/08/2023

By

(Courtesy of Susan and Alan Lee)

Living an integrity-centered life
Skylar Lee, 18, a senior at Cypress Creek High School, has earned the highest recognition the American Heritage Girls (AHG) offers to members — the Stars & Stripes Award. The AHG is a Christian-based Scouting-like program dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.

Award recipients have completed these requirements to achieve the honor:

  • Earning a total of 16 merit badges
  • Having held a leadership position in their Troop for a minimum of six months
  • Planning, developing and providing leadership to others in a 100-plus hour service project
  • Writing a Life Ambition/Spiritual Walk essay and resume
  • Receiving at least three letters of reference
  • Passing a Board of Review

Lee chose to serve Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church (OLOR) by raising more than $17,000 to purchase and set up two custom-made votive stands and kneelers for the church —something the church never had and whose parishioners asked for them.

She has served as flag ceremony coordinator for four years and announcement leader for one year. Lee also has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award six years in a row, including five Gold awards for volunteering more than 1,230 hours over the last five years.

She has earned 29 merit badges, as well as faith-based medals and awards.

During the OLOR project, Lee also served as a teen leader and altar server captain, completed in high school golf (2nd Team All-Conference, ranked 86th in state high school golf), and became a member of the National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars.

She also is a Best Buddies volunteer for special education peers.

Lee is the daughter of Alan and Susan Lee, lives in Lutz and is a member of Our Lady of the Rosary. 

She will be recognized in a Court of Honor Ceremony on Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m., at the Hillside Community Baptist Church in Brooksville.

Pasco Pathways Expo
Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice will host its Pasco Pathways Expo 2023 at two locations:

  • Nov. 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
  • Nov. 16, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Cypress Creek High School, 8701 Old Pasco Road, Wesley Chapel.

For information, to see a list of attending schools, and to register, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/expo/.

(Courtesy of Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Students honored as Citizens of the Month
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has recognized its Student Citizens of the Month for October. Students are chosen by the teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. Back row, from left: Jeremiah Simpkins, Suncoast Credit Union; Lucy Huber, Zephyrhills Airport; Jaxson Nichols, Chester Taylor Elementary; Katie Frier, Zephyrhills Christian Academy; Hailey Dester, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Mayor Melonie Monson; and Ashley Breaux, AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Dade City. Front row, from left: Chick-fil-A cow; Sophia Longsdale, Woodland Elementary; and Daisy Hagler, Heritage Academy. Not pictured: Evan Nicholas, CES Elementary; Rain Pierre, Children’s Educational Services; Liela Villanueva, Stewart Middle School; Brodie Dykes, West Zephyrhills Elementary; and Dylan Fleshood, Zephyrhills High School.

A Taste of OLLI
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of South Florida (OLLI-USF) will host “A Taste of OLLI” on Nov. 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, 4501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Ground Floor Classrooms A-C. This is a free event for individuals ages 50 and older residing in the suburban north Tampa communities to learn more about OLLI-USF and to sample its lifelong learning courses and lectures.

The guest instructors will be Sheryl Long and Robert Jacob, who will present condensed versions of their lectures about “Women Inventors Who Didn’t Make the History Books” and “Florida Pirates: Truth, Legend, Myths,” respectively. Free refreshments also will be offered.

To reserve a spot, call 813-974-5848, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Educator grants
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has awarded $108,304 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program, according to a news release.

The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities, as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns.

Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county.

The following schools/teachers in Pasco County were awarded grants:

  • Dr. Mary Giella Elementary School, Meagan Brinkman
  • East Pasco Education Academy, Dr. Jose Olmo
  • Hudson High School, Shamsher Lamba
  • J.W. Mitchell High School, Dennis Koslin
  • Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, Megan Jungferman
  • Zephyrhills High School, Catherine Sutton

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarine ecosystems, water quality and water conservation.

For more information, visit WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

Helping make an impact in the community

By

Himani Patel just wants to help.

Help the community.

Help people.

Even help her classmates.

So, at the end of her sophomore year at Land O’ Lakes High, Patel founded Impact Service — a volunteering club, run by volunteers for volunteers. The club will help student volunteers connect with meaningful volunteering opportunities that are outside the school, making it easy for members to help the community.

Himani Patel, a senior at Land O’ Lakes High, founded the Impact Service club to serve as a conduit to connect high schoolers with meaningful volunteering opportunities. Since it was founded, it has grown to more than 80 members, who have completed more than 488 service hours. They have helped multiple charities, including Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding Tampa Bay, Akshaya Patra, Mental Health America and American Heart Association. (Mike Camunas)

In less than two years, the club has grown to more than 80 members, who have donated hundreds of service hours to local charity organizations. They have helped Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding Tampa Bay and others.

“We are the middle man. For the lack of a better term, we’re like customer service for our members, making it as easy as possible for them to volunteer or find a place to volunteer,” Patel said. “We have a lot of clubs at school that do volunteering inside the school, like IB (International Baccalaureate) events and prom and things like that, but not many organizations here that make an impact outside of school.

“We’ve strived to create an environment where everyone is genuinely passionate about helping in the community,” she added. “I didn’t create this group for volunteer hours. I created this club for those who are really passionate about helping others less fortunate.”

Patel, an avid volunteer herself, formed Impact Service, knowing there were many who wanted to give back to the community, not just in her high school.

The response was overwhelming.

At more than 80 members, it is one of the school’s largest clubs, plus more than 488 hours were completed by club members last school year.

The club also raised $635 (the most of any organization within the school for donations) within six months and donated to multiple charities, such as Feeding Tampa Bay, Akshaya Patra, Mental Health America and American Heart Association. The club was even invited by Big Brothers Big Sisters to assist in the Gasparilla Publix Run earlier this year.

“We connect them with the organization because I do want people to experience actually going to the Feeding Tampa Bay warehouse and volunteering,” Patel said. “Then, they are putting in the work, sweat and tears and can collaborate with the same passionate people who genuinely want to help the community.

“With some clubs, you always see numbers dwindle, but not us.”

While volunteer hours aren’t required to graduate from high school in Florida, those hours are required in order to be eligible for Bright Futures Scholarships. But Patel said that’s not really the point of the club, nor are members even using Impact Service to log volunteer hours.

In fact, most times, members already have the required hours to be eligible and are volunteering because they genuinely want to.

“Our club helps facilitate students getting volunteer hours because they know we’re getting them to places that are actually focused on making an impact,” she added. “My main thing was I wanted to help my community, so the hours are a side note. “Impact members genuinely want to be involved with these organizations and volunteering,” she said.

With that kind of dedication from Patel and the members, it makes being the club sponsor an easy job — just ask Dora Gallagher.

“Oh, yes, it is super easy because (Patel) is in charge,” said Gallagher, who teaches Spanish. “She does everything. She looks for the places to volunteer, does the contact, sets up the dates and times and informs all the participants. Honestly, I don’t do that much (laughs).

“She is on top of everything and making sure the club is doing exactly what the goal says it is setting out to do.”

Gallagher tells students Impact Service isn’t like other clubs, in that they actually put in the work and set out to help the community in meaningful ways.

“A lot of clubs are just that — a club or a name or don’t do much,” she added. “This one is actually participating in volunteering in several places that make an impact in the community.

“As a teenager, to see her do that, it’s impressive, and I’m impressed to see that they are actually volunteering. Other clubs I have sponsored, which were student-led, didn’t do much — not this one.”

As Patel heads toward graduation in May 2024, she plans to hand off leadership of the club to very capable hands that will continue it when she heads to college.

But that won’t stop Patel, as she plans to turn the club into a 501(c)3 (when she turns 18), so it can be an organization outside the school. She also plans to get Impact Service a website, all the while creating the same type of on-campus club at whichever college she ends up attending.

“I really just want to help people in the community, especially those who are underprivileged, and really, my ultimate goal is work for a nonprofit for underprivileged kids who can’t afford health care,” the IB student said. “The reason I created Impact Service was to help the community.

“Our whole purpose is to make the world a better place.”

Impact Service Club
Details: Founded by Land O’ Lakes High senior Himani Patel, Impact Service was created to connect high schoolers with meaningful volunteering opportunities. The club has donated time and resources to multiple charities, including Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity and Feeding Tampa Bay. The club only includes  Land O’ Lakes High students now, but Patel wants the club to become a community-wide effort, and others are welcome to join.
Membership cost: $15 for entry and shirt
To learn more about Impact Service or to join, email .

Published November 01, 2023

Chalk Talk 11/01/2023

By

(Courtesy of Pasco County)

A campaign good for the ‘sole’
Pasco County government and constitutional offices collected more than 9,000 pairs of shoes and socks for kids in Pasco County schools, during the 2023 Two Good Soles Shoes and Socks Drive. This year’s drive resulted in 3,198 pairs of shoes and 5,939 pairs of socks. The community effort helps students put their best foot forward. Since 2016, the campaign has collected 18,340 pairs of shoes and 45,685 pairs of socks, which social workers distribute to students enrolled in Pasco County Schools.

Sunlake Ravenfest
The Sunlake Academy of Math & Science PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization), 18681 Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, will host a Ravenfest fundraiser on Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fall festival will include inflatable games, vendors, bubbles, food trucks, lawn games, a goat petting zoo, raffle, and face painting. Admission is $5; children age 2 and younger are free. For tickets, visit SunlakePTSO.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/260279.

Robotics Rumblerama
Middle and high school robotic teams will battle it out with their bots at the 2023 Over-Under VEX Robotics Rumblerama Competition on Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey, in the gymnasium. For information, contact Aaron Ellerman at 727-816-3259 or .

Florida Bar competition
The Florida Bar announced its annual High School Appellate Brief Writing & Moot Court Competition, an event that provides a unique experience in the world of law and advocacy.

The opportunity offers high school students the chance to gain a firsthand understanding of the appellate process by engaging in brief writing and oral argument exercises based on a fictitious case, according to a news release.

The competition, sponsored by The Florida Bar’s Law Related Education Committee, is open to high school students across Florida. Students work in teams of two, coached by a teacher or qualified sponsor, to draft a brief for either the petitioner or the respondent, using only the cases, citations, and legal authorities provided in the case problem.

District competition winners will advance to the State Finals in Tallahassee, where they will present their arguments before a panel of appellate judges. The highest-scoring teams will proceed to the Final Round, in which they will argue before the Florida Supreme Court. In addition to an overall winner, awards will be presented for the Best Brief and Best Oralist, recognizing both individual and team achievements.

For more information and registration details, visit FloridaBar.org/flmootcourt.

Outstanding youth recognized
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners recognized six outstanding young people on Oct. 18, as the board presented its Youth Excellence and Achievement Awards (YEA! Awards) during its meeting. The YEA! Awards recognize three middle school and three high school students in Hillsborough County who display initiative, innovation, and commitment to themselves and others, while pursuing leadership excellence. This year’s recipients are: 

  • Success Despite Difficult Odds — Gavin Shreeve, Randall Middle School; Caitlin Conrad, Steinbrenner High School
  • Leadership — Nathaniel Freeman, Williams Middle IB School; Hunter Anderson, Durant High School
  • Volunteer or Community Service — Gabrielle Lee, Farnell Middle School; Jayen Patel, Hillsborough High School

For more information, visit HCFLGov.net/YEA.

Free essay review
CollegeConfidential.com, an online platform that leverages the power of community to provide unfiltered guidance on college admissions and higher education, has launched a free essay review service for the 2024-2025 academic year college applicants, according to a news release. The online platform provides the largest college forums in the world, access to thousands of schools (including virtual campus tours), and the collaborative strength of students, families and experts, the release says.

The essay review service is designed to help college-bound students confidently tell their unique stories and convey their personalities, strengths, accomplishments, and the contributions they will make on campus. Key features of the service include:

  • 100% free and accessible to students
  • Essays are reviewed by select community member volunteers who possess decades of experience helping students refine college essays.
  • Essay feedback is secure, private and confidential.
  • Access to additional college application resources
  • Exclusive decision date calendar and helpful college lists

Students interested in using the free essay service should follow these steps: Visit CollegeConfidential.com and register or log in if you have an existing account; join the Students Essay Reviews private group and access the Essay Feedback private community; and follow the instructions to submit an essay help request.

To learn more, visit CollegeConfidential.com.

Union leader says pay improvements in Pasco schools among best in state

By

The leader of the United School Employees of Pasco (USEP) said the county’s school system could be held up as a model for other districts in the state — in terms of pay improvements for teachers and non-administrative personnel.

“We feel that this has been one of the better two-year salary improvements in the state. Thank you to the board for allowing us this opportunity,” Don Peace, USEP’s president said during the Pasco County School Board’s Oct. 17 meeting.

Improved pay for district bus drivers may be helping the district to turn the corner on the shortages. It still reported 27 vacancies last week, but had seven people enrolled in training, the largest number it had in a class in over two years. (Mike Camunas)

“Thanks also to the staff’s negotiating teams, negotiators and superintendent for allowing this to happen,” Peace added.

Peace reported that the negotiating teams for the district and the union have completed the negotiations process on economic issues early in the year for the second year in a row.

“We were able to come to terms on a 3.5% across-the-board increase for all qualified employees,” Peace said.

The settlement, coupled with proceeds from a voter-approved referendum stipend plus last year’s 5.4% increases, combined to create an average increase in compensation to instructional employees of 17.8% over the last 14 months, Peace said.

He characterized that as “an exceptional amount compared to other districts around the state.”

The district’s School Related Personnel, also known as SRPs, saw significant increases, too.

Voters approved a referendum to pay higher taxes to improve the pay for Pasco County Schools’ teachers and non-administrative personnel. The improvement in pay for teachers and school-related personnel over the past two years is among the best in Florida, according to Don Peace, president of United School Employees of Pasco. He thinks the Pasco district could become a model for other districts in the state. (File)

“All told, with the 8.9% average referendum money, combined with the newly negotiated 3.5%, along with last year’s increases, SRP employees have seen salary increases from anywhere from 17.3% to a staggering 41.4% over the last 14 months.” Peace said.

“The economic settlement also included long-awaited athletic and academic supplement increases as well,” Peace said.

As a former coach, he said he knows those supplement increases are long overdue.

“They haven’t been changed in probably 20-something years,” Peace said.

The district also agreed to cover higher costs for employee health insurance, agreed to pay increases to the Florida Retirement System benefits, and to cover the cost of fingerprinting employees. It also will pay a health and wellness incentive for qualified employees.

The district also agreed to preserve a fund to pay teachers who voluntarily give up a planning period to deliver instruction. That fund addresses the void created by a lack of qualified substitutes to teach those classes.

The district also has improved its pay for bus drivers, in its quest to address a shortage of drivers that has been felt across the nation.

Bus drivers and relief drivers each have been moved up a pay grade, plus they received a $1-an- hour wage increase negotiated earlier in the year and a return-to-work incentive due to bus drivers being deemed a critical shortage area.

Peace said that Kevin Shibley, assistant superintendent for administration, reported that improved pay had reduced the number of unfilled positions this year.

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent of support services, said the district has 27 bus driver vacancies right now, which is an improvement over the past. She also said seven people are enrolled for bus driver training — the most the district has had in a single training class during the past two years.

Published October 25, 2023