Education

PHSC names four finalists in its search for a president

August 22, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) has announced its four finalists in the search for a new president, to replace Dr. Timothy Beard who is retiring in January 2024.

A presidential search committee made up of business leaders, community representatives and faculty and staff members from PHSC have selected these finalists to succeed Beard and to become the college’s fifth president.

The finalists are: Gilbert L. Evans Jr., J.D., Ph.D; Eric Hall, Ed.D; Jesse D. Pisors, Ed.D; and, Saul Reyes, Ed.D.

The finalists will be introduced during a town hall at the PHSC Instructional Performing Arts Center in Wesley Chapel on Sept. 6, according to a news release from the state college. (More details will come soon regarding the town hall meeting.)

The candidates will tour PHSC’s five campuses on Sept. 7, providing a chance for them to meet faculty and staff members.

The PHSC District Board of Trustees will make the final selection, expected later in September.

The search committee selected the finalists from among 50 of the most qualified candidates provided by Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting firm, the release said.

“This search committee has meticulously reviewed all applicants and we are confident PHSC’s District Board of Trustees’ final selection is amongst these distinguished candidates,” John Mitten, PHSC trustee and chair of the PHSC Presidential Search Committee, said in the release.

The college’s news release also provided information about each of the finalists. Here’s a condensed synopsis:

Gilbert L. Evans Jr., J.D., Ph.D.: Evans is a native of Central Florida. He received his Associate in Arts degree from St. Johns River Community College. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in English and educational leadership from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. and J.D. from the University of Florida.

While at the University of Florida, Evans’ Ph.D. dissertation, “Job Satisfaction and Organizational Climate as Perceived by Community College Presidents,” was nominated Dissertation of the Year.

He graduated law school with distinction.

His work also has been published in several professional and educational journals.

He has been at St. Johns River State College for 26 years, serving in various capacities. He currently is vice president for legal affairs/general counsel for the college.

He also served as an attorney at Lowndes, Drosick, Doster, Kantor, and Reed in Orlando, Florida, where he specialized in bankruptcy, family law, and probate. He is a member of the Florida Bar and is a Florida Certified Family Law mediator.

He is married to Detra Nicole Evans, and they have two children, Derrick and D’Asia.

Eric Hall, Ed.D: Hall was raised in Pasco County, and has more than two decades experience serving in executive leadership, with extensive expertise in the fields of education, public safety and public policy.

Currently, he is secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, a position he assumed through a November 2021 appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Previously, he served as the state’s first senior chancellor at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), where he oversaw multiple divisions, including the Florida College System.

Before joining FDOE, he was deputy state superintendent at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where he led multiple divisions and initiatives within North Carolina’s education system.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary science education, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of South Florida.

He serves on several boards and councils including the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, CareerSource Florida Board of Directors, and Special Olympics Florida, among others.

He is the son of two public school teachers. He and his wife, who is a school social worker, have two children.

Jesse Pisors, Ed.D.: Pisors is a seasoned leader in the field of higher education. His 25-year career includes serving as vice president at Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMUSA) and at the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV).

His leadership at TAMUSA showcases his dedication to inclusivity, where more than 75% of the student body is Hispanic and 60% are first-generation students.

During his tenure at UHV, initiatives included restructuring the Office of University Advancement and executing a $13 million campaign, surpassing its goal by 12%.

His work in the University of Houston System’s $1 billion campaign, indicates his involvement on a larger scale.

Pisors holds a Doctor of Education from Texas Tech University, where his dissertation focused on fundraising challenges and expectations facing university presidents.

Fluent in Spanish, he spent three years leading a private K-12 school in Mexico earlier in his career.

He has provided conference presentations and articles to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), presenting at conferences, sharing his insights on various aspects of educational advancement and serving on conference committees.

Pisors also has served on the board for a number of organizations, including Rotary, United Way, the American Heart Association, and the YMCA.

Saul Reyes, Ed.D: Reyes has served as vice president for enrollment management and student affairs of the College of Central Florida since January 2015.

The college, which serves Marion, Citrus and Levy counties consistently has been recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation.

Reyes’s 35-plus years of higher education experience includes 14 ½ years in the Florida College System.

He previously served at Polk State College, as dean of student services and center manager for the JD Alexander Center. Before that, he worked at the University of South Florida.

He’s had extensive involvement in leading student-centered programs and services to promote enrollment, retention, completion, transfer, and employment.

He holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of South Florida and a master’s in counseling from West Virginia University.

He has participated in numerous educational leadership programs.

He serves as board chairman for the Marion County Cultural Alliance and is on the national board for the Higher Education Research and Development Institute.

Reyes, born to Cuban immigrants, is a first-generation American and first in his family to graduate from college.

Reyes and his wife, Sharon, have been married since 1986. They have sons, daughters-in-law and four grandsons.

Published August 23, 2023

Pasco public schools add capacity, make improvements

August 22, 2023 By B.C. Manion

As Pasco County’s public school system begins the academic school year, students aren’t the only ones who are busy in the district.

The school district continues to add, expand and upgrade its facilities to meet current and future needs.

During the 2022-2023 budget year, the district began or completed a number of sizable projects.

Those included:

Construction of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
Traffic improvements at Oakstead Elementary
Traffic improvements at River Ridge Middle and River Ridge High
Food service renovations at Moon Lake Elementary
Safety and security improvements at various schools
Completion of Locke Early Learning Academy
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects at various schools

The district’s 2023-2024 capital budget includes these major projects:

Construction of Kirkland Ranch K-8
An addition of a classroom wing at Starkey Ranch K-8
Construction of Gulf High School
Design and construction of a new K-8 school in southwest Land O’ Lakes
Design and construction of West Zephyrhills Elementary School
Construction of the Angeline Athletic Complex
Design and construction of the cafeteria and an additional classroom wing at Pasco High School
Structural upgrades and roofing design and construction at Marchman Technical College

Kirkland Ranch K-8 is taking shape on a campus it will share with Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, off Curley Road in Wesley Chapel. The new K-8 school is slated to open next school year. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

A look at construction activities involving a charter school that will be operated by Dayspring Academy, and an athletics facility that will be used by Angeline Academy of Innovation. The site is off U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes.

Projects included in the district’s new budget were outlined during a Pasco County School Board workshop held July 18.

In addition to outlining proposed projects for the coming budget year, the district also included its 10-year capital plan summary, for 2023 to 2033, in a 51-page report provided in the board’s workshop agenda materials.

That report notes that “capital needs continue to outpace revenues, expanding the potential need for debt issuance.”

It also notes that the district’s current debt is $574.4 million.

On a bright note, the district’s local capital collections are increasing because of a 17.5% increase in the tax roll. That tax roll is projected to be $54.9 billion, which will generate approximately $79 million, according to the report.

Also, recent Penny for Pasco collections remain at their highest level since the Penny for Pasco began. The revenues are projected to be $48.3 million for 2023-2024.

The district’s capital budget for 2023-2024 includes about $241.5 million for construction projects. Those break down this way:

$210.7 million for new schools
$22 million for major remodeling projects
$462,000 for cafeteria renovations
$6.3 million for HVAC Repairs & Replace
$2.1 million for traffic improvements

The budget also includes about $16.2 million for maintenance projects. Those include:

$226,680 for fire alarm systems
$382,066 for flooring renovations
$67,480 for generator replacements
$4.9 million for other renovations
$134,288 for outside improvements
$475,000 for exterior painting
$1.1 million for pavement sealing
$8.6 million for roofing
$272,085 for water and sewer

Other capital projects include:

$2.2 million for athletics
$4.5 million for buses and motor vehicles
$113,340 for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act
$235,000 for compliance with environmental regulations
$120,000 for energy retrofit programs
$180,876 for fencing
$67,480 for Habitat for Humanity

The budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year includes carryover funding, as well as new funding.

Chalk Talk 08/23/2023

August 22, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Southport Springs Golf & Country Club collected school supplies and set up a makeshift store for teachers to shop in prior to the new school year. (Courtesy of Joe Grigelevich)

‘Christmas In July’ benefits teachers
Residents of Southport Springs Golf & Country Club in Zephyrhills had their annual ‘Christmas In July’ on Aug. 8 to collect much-needed school supplies for the teachers at Chester Taylor Elementary and the new school year.

The community set up a Christmas tree in the lobby decorated with handmade ornaments that had various school supplies written on them. Residents would take one or more of the ornaments and purchase the needed items.

Members of Southport’s Women’s club delivered four truckloads of supplies to the school and were greeted by school principal Julie Marks. Marks, along with club members, set up the school’s media center with all of the supplies and invited the teachers to the center to shop for their classrooms.

“It’s an annual event that everyone at Southport really looks forward to,” club leader Carol Dziki said. “We’re thrilled that we’re able to lend a helping hand to our hardworking and dedicated teachers here at our local elementary school.”

Local firm Davron collected more than 2,000 school supply items to benefit Christian Social Services in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Davron)

Annual tradition helps Christian Social Services
Davron, a Land O’ Lakes-based executive search and outplacement firm, hosted a back-to-school supply drive to benefit Christian Social Services (CSS), a nonprofit that provides food, clothing and other services to disadvantaged families in Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties.

Davron collected more than 2,000 individual items, filled 200 backpacks, and donated $2,500 to CSS.

The back-to-school drive has become an annual tradition for Davron and its employees. “We are proud to be able to support Christian Social Services and the important work they do,” said David Coreen, president of Davron, in a news release. “We know that these donations will make a real difference in the lives of children in Pasco,” said Coreen.

To help CSS, those interested can donate school supplies, food pantry items, or make financial contributions through its website, at CSS-helpinghands.org. The nonprofit relies on the generosity of local churches and private donors, and also welcomes volunteers.

Donations currently are being accepted Tuesdays through Fridays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Student Life Retreat
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) hosted its annual Student Life Retreat at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3.

This year’s retreat themed “Level Up” focused on building student skills that will assist them in future academic and life endeavors. The event highlighted ways to level up skill sets of executing, influencing, strategic thinking and relationship building.

New to this year’s event was an opening community resource expo featuring more than 50 booths where students could get resources and network with local colleges and universities, businesses and nonprofit organizations, and PHSC groups and clubs.

The annual retreat is open to all PHSC students with an emphasis on those about to enter the college environment. This year, nearly 100 students stayed on site throughout the three-day retreat to participate in team-building exercises, attend workshops, and hear from keynote speaker Derrick Brooks.

Electrical line program
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) and Tampa Electric (TECO) have partnered to invest in the new Electrical Line Worker Program through the HCC Foundation and the Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education, according to a news release. Program training will take place on the HCC Brandon Campus and starts this fall.

TECO has pledged more than $300,000 annually for scholarships and relevant program equipment for the training.

Qualifying students will have the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills needed to pursue a career in the electric utility industry as a line worker trainee. The program will include 420 hours of training over a four-month period.

Upon completion, students will earn certifications in OSHA 10-hour, Bucket Truck Rescue, CPR & AED, Pole Top Rescue, and First Aid. Students who complete the program will have a chance to interview with TECO for an entry-level electrical line worker position.

For information and to apply, visit TampaTraining.com/Electrical-Line-Worker.

Florida school system one of the best
The personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2023’s States with the Best & Worst School Systems, according to a news release.

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key measures of quality and safety. The data set ranges from pupil-teacher ratio and dropout rate to media standardized-test scores.

Florida ranked as follows (1=Best; 25=Average):

First – Existence of Digital Learning Plan
Seventh – Reading Test Scores
Eighth – Bullying Incidence Rate
Ninth – Dropout Rate
15th – Percent of Threatened/Injured High School Students
17th – Math Test Scores

To view the full report, visit WalletHub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335.

Pasco’s Angeline Academy begins its inaugural year

August 15, 2023 By Mike Camunas

JoAnne Glenn began ordering furniture months ago.

“That was the first thing I was doing once I got the job,” said Glenn, who is Angeline Academy of Innovation’s first principal.

First, it was about ordering furniture, then devices and equipment for the school and classrooms.

Angeline Academy of Innovation seventh-grader Gabrielle Laiso, 11, exits her parents’ car to enter Pasco County’s newest school in Land O’ Lakes on the first day of school on Aug. 10. The $52.7-million magnet school opened for sixth- through 10th-graders, but will be phasing in grades 11 and 12. JoAnne Glenn is the school’s first principal. (Mike Camunas)

“After those first two big purchases, it was then getting the books and then hiring the teachers, so it would all be ready for today,” Glenn said, as she and her staff of teachers, administrators, bookkeepers, secretaries and more welcomed hundreds of students to the county’s newest magnet school, which had its first opening day on Aug. 10.

The $52.7-million school, which ultimately will serve students in grades six through 12, is in the heart of the emerging community of Angeline, where Moffitt Cancer Research Center is developing its Pasco campus.

Before school started, cars lined the road out to Ridge Road as Glenn and Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning ushered in students through the front doors.

“The excitement for the teachers and students is palpable because we’ve spent months preparing for today,” Glenn said. “We finally have our students here, and you can’t beat (this feeling).”

The academy, at 8916 Angeline Way, is on an 18.8-acre site, which is south of State Road 52, north of the Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard.

Angeline Academy of Innovation Principal JoAnne Glenn welcomes students to inside Pasco County’s $52.7-million magnet school, which had its inaugural opening day on Aug. 10.

It is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) magnet school that features four primary career academies at the high school level.

It will have a Biodesign Academy; a Computer Science and Applied Cybersecurity Academy; an Engineering and Applied Robotics Academy; and, an Entrepreneurship Academy. Students can pursue other pathways, which will enable them to leave school to become their own businesses and be their own bosses.

There are two primary magnet pathways at the middle school. They’re broad and intended to support the work in each of the high school pathways.

“I spent months interviewing and selecting teachers who believe in our mission about cultivating curiosity, encouraging students to explore,” Glenn said. “We’ve attracted students who are interested in technology, engineering, science, math — and to bring those two key groups together and get started, the sky’s the limit!”

Angeline Academy is the third school of this type in Pasco, joining its sister institutions: Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation in Wesley Chapel and Wendell Krinn Technical High in New Port Richey.

Angeline Academy of Innovation sixth-grader Isaiah Upshaw, left, and Pasco County eSchool Assistant Principal Erin Senior work on finding out the location of Upshaw’s first class on the first day of school on Aug. 10.

The school is expected to have strong partnerships with both Moffitt and with Pasco-Hernando State College.

Unlike its sister schools, Angeline Academy will, in fact, have athletic teams. The teams — named the Archers — will play on fields still being constructed on a parcel of land in front of the Land O’ Lakes subdivision, Tierra Del Sol, just off U.S. 41.

“That was actually one of the first calls I got,” Glenn admitted. “Our district was hearing from parents that they didn’t want their kids to have to choose between a magnet school or sports. I think sports are great for kids and I’m excited to have those athletic fields open, and it gives a little more importance to our colors and mascot — the Archers!”

Glenn — who was named Pasco County Schools’ Principal of the Year in 2019 and the 2020 Digital Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals — is ready to see what the school year brings.

“Literally, since November, I have been completely engrossed with the nitty-gritty,” said Glenn, who helped open Wharton High in 1997 and Pasco’s eSchool in 2009. “It was a lot of fun to look through it all, go over everything, from the equipment, to the teachers we wanted to hire.

“Kids here are going to be solving the world’s problems, I really believe that,” Glenn added. “I’m excited that my teachers, in this setting, will be able to use their time and expertise a little differently than in a traditional setting.”

Published August 16, 2023

Students of Angeline Academy of Innovation, also known as the Archers, make their way to their first class on the first day of school at Pasco County’s newest school in Land O’ Lakes.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is all smiles as he welcomes students to the county’s newest school: Angeline Academy of Innovation in Land O’ Lakes.

Angeline Academy of Innovation is Pasco County’s newest magnet school. The $52.7-million school ultimately will serve sixth-graders through 12th-graders, but opened its doors for the first time this year with students in grades six through 10.

Angeline Academy of Innovation in Land O’ Lakes has its mascot: the Archers.

Angeline Academy of Innovation students head into Pasco County’s newest $52.7-million school in Land O’ Lakes.

Schools across the region ring in a new school year

August 15, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Schools across The Laker/Lutz News region have begun or will soon begin the 2023-2024 academic year.

First-year crossing guard Patricia Welch holds traffic on Weeks Boulevard, as Lake Myrtle Elementary students exit their school on Aug. 10, the first day back in classrooms for Pasco County. (Mike Camunas)

Students in the Pasco and Hillsborough public school districts had their first day of school on Aug. 10.

Many scenes playing out across the Pasco school district were similar to ones that happen every school year.

Kids were hopping on their bikes to ride to campus, following the lead of crossing guards at crosswalks, or boarding a school bus.

Schools used signs to help welcome their first-day crowds.

Arriving students were eager to catch up with old friends and begin to make new ones.

This year, free breakfasts and lunches are being served in Pasco district schools.

The school board also has tightened up rules regarding the use of electronic devices.

New to the district this year is Angeline Academy of Innovation, a magnet school in Land O’ Lakes that welcomed its inaugural crop of students.

And those arriving at Land O’ Lakes High School, at Gator Lane and U.S. 41, found a host of improvements aimed at making it easier for them to get around.

Of course, it almost goes without saying that schools are in the business of helping individuals to expand their horizons through learning.

We, at The Laker/Lutz News, are extending our best wishes to all students, teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, other district staffers, school administrators, elected school district leaders, and parents for a 2023-2024 school year that’s stimulating, safe and fulfilling.

Published August 16, 2023

Lake Myrtle Elementary fifth-grader Kendall Cave, 10, walks her bike across Weeks Boulevard on Aug. 10, the official first day of school for Pasco County. Kendall, and thousands of other students made their way back to their respective elementary, middle and high schools throughout the district. This school year marked the inaugural year for Angeline Academy of Innovation, a magnet school in Land O’ Lakes.

Lake Myrtle Elementary kindergarten teacher Angela Proietto leads 5-year-old Liam Webb to his parents, who are eager to greet him following his first day of school.

Pine View Middle students climb aboard their departing school bus following the first day of school in Pasco County on Aug. 10 in Land O’ Lakes.

Students at Pine View Middle in Land O’ Lakes wait to board their buses after school, on the first day of the 2023-2024 school year.

This sign, at Pine View Middle School, offers students and staff a warm welcome, as they arrive at the Land O’ Lakes campus for the first day of school.

Nicole Well, a first grade teacher at Lake Myrtle Elementary, hugs her son, Christopher, who is a third-grader, after the first day of school in Pasco County.

Land O’ Lakes fourth-year crossing guard Carlos Tavarez holds up traffic on Parkway Boulevard, as Pine View Middle students head home after their first day of school.

Lake Myrtle Elementary students in Land O’ Lakes are heading home, finishing up Day One of the 2023-2024 school year.

Lots of children rode their bicycles to school for the beginning of a new academic year at Lake Myrtle Elementary, in Land O’ Lakes.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel High charter approved

August 15, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Pasco County School Board has approved a charter application for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel High School, at 33347 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel.

The approval is for a five-year period, which began July 1 and runs through June 30, 2028.

The approval includes a provision that the term shall be automatically extended on a month-to-month basis until the charter has been renewed, non-renewed, or terminated by the sponsor, according to background materials in the Pasco County School Board’s July 25 agenda packet.

The school is authorized to serve students in grades nine through 12.

The following is the student enrollment capacity by year:

Year 1 (2023-2024): Grade nine up to a maximum of 200 students
Year 2 (2024-2025): Grades nine to 10 up to a maximum of 550 students
Year 3 (2025-2026): Grades nine to 11 up to a maximum of 900 students
Year 4 (2026-2027): Grades nine to 12 up to a maximum of 1,250 students
Year 5 (2027-2028): Grades nine to 12 up to a maximum of 1,400 students

The charter approval allows the school to recruit throughout all segments of the community, using direct mailings, public advertisement, information in the local and community press, and informational meetings at various locations and in English or other languages, as appropriate.

If the number of applications exceeds the capacity of the program, class, grade level, or building, all applicants shall have an equal chance of being admitted through a random selection process.

Students at the school also are eligible to participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at the public school to which the student would be otherwise assigned, the background materials say.

Published August 16, 2023

Chalk Talk 08/16/2023

August 15, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Edwin Narain (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

New Saint Leo board leadership
The Saint Leo University Board of Trustees announced the appointment of three Tampa Bay area leaders to its executive team, effective July 1. Former Florida legislator Edwin Narain, vice president of external and legislative affairs for AT&T Florida, will served as chair; Noel Boeke, partner with Holland & Knight, will serve as vice chair; and Iskra Sbraccia, Citi compliance sanctions director and global head of CitiScreening content management, will serve as secretary.

Volunteer recruitment
The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will host a Teen Volunteer Recruitment Session on Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m., for students who may need volunteer hours for scholarships.

Teen volunteers will help with upcoming events by preparing and assisting with children’s programs. Members also are being sought to form a teen advisory board to help plan and execute teen programs. All volunteers must submit an application and personal injury waiver, which will be provided at the meeting. Applicants will need to provide their social security number, too.

Pizza will be served. Register for the session by calling 813-780-0064.

Victory High has successful summer
Victory High, a nonprofit private school in Pasco County for teens in recovery from substance-use disorders or co-occurring disorders, reported a successful “Sober Summer,” according to a school email.

The facility provided: 38 hours of individual counseling; 40 hours of academic classes passed; 12 hours of group therapy; 12 hours of visual arts classes; nine hours of trauma informed yoga; and five field trips.

A lifetime of connections was made for the 144 participants that attended.

Ice Cold Air gives back in a big way
For the 16th consecutive year, Ice Cold Air franchisees in Tampa Bay joined together to host a Back to School Supplies Drive and accompanying Back to School Bashes. This year, through the end of July, six franchise locations offered free oil changes in exchange for $20 worth of school supplies donated. It also gave away 50 backpacks with school supplies to pre-registered families. From left: Ashley Butler, Adrien Julious-Butler, Sarah Price, Keith Cox and Brittany Taggett.

School Fishing Club
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2023-2024 School Fishing Club Program is now open for registration.

This annual educational program focuses on teaching youth anglers about best fishing practices to help ensure the future of fishing in Florida.

To register, club sponsors need to apply for a Florida R3 Fishing Grant, which is funded by the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Coastal Conservation Association, and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

The grant will award up to 50 school fishing clubs or teams $500 each to assist with club expenses, such as the purchase of fishing licenses or gear for participants.

The grant application period is open until Sept. 15, but grant funding is not required to participate in the fishing club program.

To be considered for the grant, school fishing clubs or teams must have a minimum of five members and be represented by a school faculty member or parent.

Each participating club will be provided with program curriculum and educational materials. The curriculum consists of lessons and activities on ethical angling, conservation, Florida’s aquatic habitats, basic fishing gear, and general fishing concepts, applicable to both fresh and saltwater fishing.

Additionally, at least one conservation project activity must be completed each school year and is an opportunity for clubs to earn points for a chance to win prizes.

Applications can be found online at MyFWC.com/SFC, by scrolling down to “Florida’s R3 Fishing Grant Program.” The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 15.

Grant applications open
Applications are now open for the 2023 McDonald’s Golden Grants program.

McDonald’s owner/operators across Florida, southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina will select educators, nonprofit organizations, and the like, who represent programs that fuel the imagination, education and growth of students, as recipients of a grant.

This year, 27 Golden Grants will be awarded in the following amounts based on creativity and hands-on application of projects:

Three grants in the amount of $10,000
Seven grants, $5,000
12 grants, $2,500
Five grants, $1,000

Qualifying activities include arts programs, education initiatives, mentorship and empowerment programs, after-school programs, community service, sports activities, and technology.

To apply, visit GoldenGrantsFl.com through Sept. 15. Winners will be announced on Oct. 12.

Shoes & Socks Drive
The eighth annual Two Good Soles Shoes and Socks Drive is underway with Pasco County Government and Constitutional offices working together to collect footwear for kids in Pasco County Schools.

“It’s not just about providing a new pair of shoes and socks to each child in need,” said Paula Baracaldo, Pasco County support services director, in a news release. “It’s about giving them a sense of dignity and security. It’s about enabling Pasco County schoolchildren to focus on things other than basic needs,” said Baracaldo.

The types of new shoes and socks that are needed include:

Children’s shoe sizes 9 and up
Adult shoes in all sizes
Socks in all sizes/neutral colors
Closed-toe shoes only/no flip-flops

Donations can be dropped off in collection boxes at Pasco County Government locations and the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, Property Appraiser, and Tax Collector offices (visit PascoTaxes.com).

All new shoes and socks will be donated to Pasco County Schools at the end of October.

Essay scholarship winners
Negative Population Growth (NPG) leaders announced 18 student winners in its annual Essay Scholarship Contest. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $1,000, to help with a student’s tuition and other expenses.

Graduate students competed for the scholarship awards by writing an original 750-word to 1,000-word essay addressing the provided prompt.

Students were asked to consider a future in the U.S. with an additional 70 million people and to discuss the aspect of their lives that would be most affected by the increase in human population.

They also were asked to include their thoughts on whether or not the U.S. government should encourage policies designed to reduce population growth to a more sustainable level.

High school seniors and undergraduate students competed for the awards by writing an original 450-word to 600-word essay on considering what life in the U.S. would be like with 70 additional people over the course of 40 years and to describe three aspects of their lives that would be most affected by the growth.

NPG is a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to educating the American public and political leaders regarding the damaging effects of population growth. The organization has worked with teachers nationwide to help bring facts about population to American classrooms.

For more information, visit NPG.org, follow on Facebook @NegativePopulationGrowth or on Twitter @npg.org.

Student achievements

Liam Andrews, Lutz: Dean’s List, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
Charles Clerc, Odessa: Dean’s List, University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi, Maryland
Brent Knox, Lutz: Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega

New school and new rules, as Pasco rings in the 2023-2024 school year

August 8, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Change is in the air, as Pasco County Schools’ students start the 2023-2024 school year this week.

The inaugural crop of students will arrive at Angeline Academy of Innovation, to launch the district’s latest magnet program, at 8916 Angeline School Way, near the Suncoast Parkway and Ridge Road.

The school initially will serve students in grades six through 10, but will phase in 11th and 12th grades.

The first crop of students will arrive this week at Angeline Academy of Innovation, in Central Pasco, as Pasco County Schools begins its 2023-2024 school year. The new magnet school is in the middle of Angeline, a new ‘city’ emerging in Land O’ Lakes, where Moffitt Cancer Center is developing its Pasco County campus. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school is opening in the emerging ‘city’ of Angeline, and will offer curriculum options and learning experiences aimed to help students prepare for an ever-evolving world of work.

The high school will offer career academies, as well as opportunities to merge some fields — enabling students to create a more personalized track.

The school will be near Moffitt Cancer Center’s Pasco County campus, which has been christened Speros FL. The Moffitt campus and surrounding areas in Angeline are expected to attract life science researchers and companies from around the globe.

In addition to opening the new Angeline magnet school, the district will be initiating a new school board policy relating to the use of wireless communications devices (WCDs) on campus.

In essence, the policy requires:

Students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade keep their WCDs on silent mode and completely out of view for the entire school day;
Students in grades six through eight keep their devices on silent mode and out of view throughout the school day, except for during the student’s lunch period, or when expressly authorized by a classroom teacher for a specific instructional activity;
Students in grades nine through 12 keep their devices on silent mode and out of sight for the entire school day, except for during the student’s lunch period, in between class periods or as expressly authorized by a classroom teacher for a specific instructional activity.

As defined by the board’s policy, WCDs include peripheral devices such as headphones, earbuds and watches.

Another big change involves school meals.

The district will be implementing the Community Eligibility Provision for the 2023-2024 school year, which means that all breakfasts and lunches served to the public school district’s students will be free.

No action is required on the family’s part for the students to receive the free meals.

This school year also ushers in the beginning of better pay for the district’s non-administrative employees. Voters backed salary increases for those employees by adopting higher taxes to pay for them.

The voter-approved tax increase allows the district to impose up to a 1 mill increase for up to four years, to provide revenues for the improved pay.

Advocates of the new tax said increased salaries are needed to allow Pasco to compete with other school districts, which offer higher pay.

Another initiative being rolled out this year is a software tool called “Where’s the Bus?”

The tool uses an app that allows parents and schools to know where a bus is located.

Students use a card with a barcode to indicate when they get on the bus and when they get off of it, which lets parents know when they were picked up and dropped off.

Like school districts across the country, Pasco has had a hard time finding enough bus drivers to handle its routes.

Pasco County Schools continues to struggle with a bus driver shortage, but it is planning to deploy a new software tool called ‘Where’s the Bus?’ to help keep parents and schools informed of where a bus is, and the software is expected to provide useful ridership information to help route planning.

The system has used a number of strategies to address the issue, including the change of school start and ending times, combining bus routes, and eliminating “courtesy” riding for secondary students living within 2 miles of school.

During the Pasco County School Board’s Aug. 1 meeting, Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent of support services, told board members: “The news that I have is better than anticipated and significantly better than we’ve had the past two years.”

As of Aug. 1, the district was down 41 driving positions, but had hired 18 relief drivers — leaving a net of 23 positions with no drivers.

“I have spoken to counterparts across the state and some are in significantly worse shape than what we’re in,” she added.

Kuhn expects the new software tool, “Where’s the Bus?” to enable parents and schools to keep track of where buses are, and to help the district track ridership.

The district is rolling out the software tool at one of its garages, initially, but will be spreading it out across the system gradually.

It wants to learn from the initial rollout and then expand its use across the district, Kuhn said.

Parents will be notified when the tool becomes available on buses at their school.

The ridership data will help the district to consolidate routes, which has been its most effective way of addressing the bus driver shortage.

The district now has 274 routes, as compared to 420 routes two years ago, Kuhn said.

Get to school safely
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office offers these tips to help bike riders, pedestrians and drivers stay safe, as the 2023-2024 school year begins:

Those walking, driving or riding their bicycles should slow down and eliminate distractions, such as cellphones, when they are in school zones.
Drivers need to know Florida’s school bus stop sign laws.
Pedestrians and bicyclists should cross at crosswalks, where drivers expect pedestrians to cross. Wait for the crossing guard to indicate when you may pass.
Bicyclists should dismount and walk their bikes through crosswalks.
Follow the directions of a school crossing guard, traffic control officer, deputy or other public safety official present at the intersection.

Stay safe online
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office offers these pointers to help keep students safe online, as another school year begins:

Parents and guardians should talk with students about safe and appropriate behavior online.
Pay attention to what apps students are using. Ask the school’s resource officer for a list of apps that can exploit children.
Consider downloading apps your children are using, to make yourself aware of any potential dangers.
Consider employing parental controls, if available.
Advise your student not to talk to, or add people, in social media apps if they’ve never met them.

It’s important to have open conversations about potential online dangers to help keep students safe.

Published August 09, 2023

Pasco youth influencing change

August 8, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The group became active because of inactivity.

Pasco County STAND Above the Influence, a youth-led coalition that takes on community initiatives such as underage drinking, drug abuse and more, has two divisions, with one on both the east and west side of the county.

East Pasco STAND recently reactivated, after COVID depleted its roster.

President of Pasco County STAND Above the Influence coalition Maddie Horn listens as a fellow member speaks during a youth panel at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus on July 25. STAND will meet monthly to work on community-wide initiatives to address youth drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction, mental health and other issues. (Mike Camunas)

“We did a little recruitment to show (the kids) this is what we’re all about and to come out and see what we do,” said Bonni Snider, one of the four adult mentors and advisors to STAND. She’s been with the group since its formation in 2014.

“And now, we have about seven (members) back on East Pasco STAND.”

The group of middle school and high school members looks to inspire positive change, and cultivate safe and healthy communities. They focus on issues including youth drug use, mental health, underage drinking, impaired driving, tobacco and vaping use, safety, violence and bullying.

At the group meetings, which are typically once a month, the middle school and high school members choose priority initiatives and talk about what actions they want to take within the community.

Meetings typically begin at the start of the school year, Snider said.

The group generally chooses about three priority initiatives, she added.

“One thing we want people to understand about STAND and its youth is that it is entirely youth-led,” Snider said. “When we have our summit meetings, everyone gets together, and when we did, we passed around sticky notes and told them to write down what they wanted to focus on this year. Then, we take votes and narrow down to the top three.

Jaylynn Grady, STAND secretary, speaks at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel during a youth panel discussion for Pasco Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention (ASAP).

“For example, the youth got together, then said what about all the people affected by COVID. Then they said ‘What about all those pets?’ So they did a fundraiser and donated it to a shelter and another one for needy families who needed food around Christmas.”

STAND president Maddie Horn said this year the group’s top three priority issues are youth and mental health; underage drug use; and, abuse and inclusivity.

Horn joined the group nearly five years ago as a way to become active in the community.

“We host summits for youth to come and learn about how to contribute to our initiatives,” Horn said. “We find that, at the beginning, (new members) can be, sometimes, soft-spoken or shy. But once in STAND, they find their confidence and their voice because we tell them that it matters what they do and say — it can and will make a difference.

“All they have to do is show up and be involved.”

STAND vice president Liam Moore agreed.

“Everything falls upon people participating and being active within this community because if you’re not active, how are we going to be able to do anything to make a difference at all?” Moore said. “Most people who join STAND, at the beginning, are very inactive, and what happens — they leave the group or disappear and we never see them again.

“We need teenagers and middle-schoolers to be as active as possible so we can maximize the impact we make in the community. The more kids that get involved with STAND, the more people are going to notice.”

Snider points to Horn as the best example of this.

Jamye Cardello-Peters, a Pasco County STAND member, speaks during a youth panel discussion at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

When Horn joined STAND, Snider said, “I would have said she would have been a viable member, but our president? Back then, I wasn’t so sure.

“She came in and wasn’t sure she could do this,” Snider added. “Now, she’s the president of our STAND coalition and leading in the community and inspiring other members.”

Other members include Kiley Griggs, who has special needs and is passionate about STAND’s initiative regarding inclusivity.

“We need to educate on the intolerance of kids with special needs and disabilities and normalize it,” she said. “Thirty-five years after the ADA (Americans Disability Act) was established and those people, and kids, with special needs are still not normalized. It shouldn’t be that way.”

Snider said getting involved can make a difference, and added that STAND offers an easy way to do that.

“It is vitally important to join and be a part, to reach out, to show up, to be active (with STAND),” Snider said. “The idea as a youth, that they learn that being a part makes a difference, no matter if they have a direct connection (to an issue) or just feel passionate about being a part of something that works to help fellow youth and the community, that’s important as anything.

“And I think that people who join STAND already realize that or come to realize it.”

STAND Above the Influence
Details: STAND Above the Influence is a youth-led coalition that empowers youth to be agents of change by strengthening their voices and educating others to build a healthier community. Its members are made up of middle school and high school students who seek to embrace the voices of youth and to inspire innovative initiatives to address issues, and cultivate safe and healthy communities. The group’s priority issues include youth drug use, mental health, underage drinking, impaired driving, tobacco and vaping use, safety, violence and bullying.
STAND in Pasco County has two coalitions, one in East Pasco and one in West Pasco. The East Pasco Youth Advocacy Meeting is held every third Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at YESS Office Space, 15029 14th St., in Dade City.
Info: Visit EmpoweredCommunities.org/stand/home/, or email advisor Bonni Snider at .

Published August 09, 2023

Chalk Talk 08/09/2023

August 8, 2023 By Mary Rathman

Father Nick Kleespie, OSB, of Saint John’s Abbey, discusses Communicating Benedictine Values at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo discusses Benedictine education
Benedictine Catholic higher education leaders, faculty and staff gathered at Saint Leo University for the Association of Benedictine Colleges and Universities’ (ABCU) annual conference. The week of events also included the Benedictine Leadership Formation Institute and Benedictine Pedagogy Conference, according to a news release.

Saint Leo University was founded in 1889 by sisters, priests and monks of the Order of St. Benedict, and the university’s core values are based on the Rule of St. Benedict and the 10 hallmarks of Benedictine education, focusing on the development of mind, body and spirit.

“Benedictine education is akin to ancient wisdom and traditions in that it stresses the education of the whole person rather than the intellect alone,” the ABCU stated in the release.

This conference differed from traditional academic conferences in that it was organized so that everyone is invited to listen not only to respected elders in the community, but also to listen to the liturgy, said Dr. Thomas Humphries, professor of theology and religion.

“We pray together, eat together and speak together. These are elements of genuine community,” said Humphries in the release.

It was the first time in 24 years that Saint Leo hosted the conference.

Mental health partnership
Hillsborough County Public Schools is partnering with Hazel Health to offer free, virtual mental health services at home and school to all K-8, middle and high school students, with parental consent, as well as free physical health services from home. Hazel Health is a service that connects students with licensed, bilingual, culturally competent therapists for virtual counseling appointments.

The service can help a student build coping skills for a short-term challenge or act as a bridge until students are successfully connected with longer-term resources. Services will be available from home starting Aug. 10, and in-school sessions will roll out in schools from the end of August through October.

Families should be on the lookout for more information from the school district.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/2czh2ada.

Dwarakamaye Bolla, first place, fifth grade (Courtesy of WaterContest.org)

Contest winners announced
Winners have been announced in the 14th annual Water Awareness Poster Contest sponsored by the Florida Governmental Utility Authority and Pasco County Utilities.

Overall, 18 winners across kindergarten through fifth grade were selected from 1,300 posters, 15 elementary schools and 42 participating teachers. The 2023 theme was, ‘We Need Water, Water Needs Us.’

Among the students recognized in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were:

First Grade: Harlow Long, Ezann N. Rabbi and Epshita Garadagari, all from Odessa Elementary
Second Grade: Aadrika Subudhi, Tyler Bennett and Nathanial Chernetsky, Countryside Montessori
Third Grade: Andy Friedman and Evan Corridor, Countryside Montessori
Fourth Grade: Brandon Corona and Ella Taylor, Pine View Elementary
Fifth Grade: Dwarakamaye Bolla, Wesley Chapel Elementary; and Samantha Stone, St. Anthony Catholic School

To view the winning posters in full color, art exhibition dates, and educational materials, visit WaterContest.org.

Make a pencil case
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a craft class on Aug. 12 at 10 a.m., for kindergarten through third grade. Kids can make their own one-of-a-kind pencil case to show off this school year. Participants will use fabric markers and paint, so they should dress in clothing that can get stained. Registration is required. For information, call 727-815-7126.

Homework Help
The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will offer “Homework Help: Kids,” online. The events will explore a variety of digital library resources, with a spotlight on homework help resources. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.

Aug. 15 at 6 p.m., for elementary school students
Aug. 22 at 6 p.m., for middle and high school students

For more information, visit HCPLC.org/HomeworkHelp.

Student achievements

Jackie Figueredo, Lutz: Dean’s List, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne
Makenna E. Larson, Land O’ Lakes: Dean’s List, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Max Martino, Lutz: Dean’s List, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne
Vasant Ramnarine, Lutz: Dean’s List, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne
Leia Randall, Land O’ Lakes: Bachelor of Science-Biology, College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Madison Rooth, Odessa: Dean’s List, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne
Emara Saez, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tuft’s University, Medford, Massachusetts
Dylan Schaffer, Lutz: Dean’s List, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri
Savana Tribbe, Odessa: Dean’s List, Coast Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina
Thea G. Wangsness, Dade City: Dean’s List, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Class Registration Open
The Straz Center Patel Conservatory’s registration is now open for dance, music and theater classes. Fall classes will begin Aug. 28.

Patel offers more than 100 classes, ranging from tap dance to musical theater to improv to trumpet ensemble, for students of all ages and experience levels. New classes this year include Scene Study and Yoga for the Performer. Homeschool classes such as Homeschool Theater and Homeschool Performing Arts are held on Wednesdays.

Some classes require auditions. Registration for auditions can be done online at StrazCenter.org/auditions or by calling 813-222-1040.

Registration for fall classes is online at PatelConservatory.org, through email , in person at the Patel Conservatory Admissions Office, or by calling 813-222-1040.

To arrange a tour, call 813-222-1029 or email .

Stuff the Bus Drive
The Brandon Mall in partnership with Metropolitan Ministries will host its fourth annual “Stuff the Bus” Drive, designed to provide free school supplies, backpacks, uniforms, shoes and other necessities to students and families in need.

Supplies can be donated at the mall, 459 Brandon Town Center Drive in Brandon, at Center Court near Bath & Body Works.

Monetary donations can be made online, at tinyurl.com/2p9xv37m.

Stuff the Bus will accept donations through Aug. 31.