The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Chalk Talk 08/16/2023

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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.

(Courtesy of Sky Strategic Marketing)

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

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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

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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

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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.

All Pasco school district eighth-graders will be able to take free PSAT 8/9 

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The Pasco County School Board has decided to give all eighth-graders in the district an opportunity to take the PSAT 8/9 for free.

The decision followed questions raised by school board member Colleen Beaudoin regarding the value of adding another test that she said would result in a loss of valuable instructional time for teachers.

District staff asked the school board to provide free PSAT 8/9 tests for eighth-graders, across-the-board.

The agenda item notes that the test provides early feedback on knowledge in areas that matter most for college and career readiness, including reading math, writing and language sections.

Vanessa Hilton, the district’s chief academic officer, explained the request this way: “We have tried to provide this opportunity for students, but there’s a little bit of inequity — or a lot of inequity in our district.

“We’ve been able to use Title 1 funds to administer at Title 1 schools,” Hilton said.

Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin questioned whether it was worth the loss of instructional time to give district eighth-graders the option to take the PSAT 8/9 test. (File)

Title 1 schools are those that have a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.

In other schools, the test was administered based on parents requesting it and paying for it, Hilton said. 

“What we didn’t want to happen is to continue that inequity. This is a way for us to create that opportunity, across-the-board,” Hilton said. “Rather than have it be, really just if you happen to know.”

But Beaudoin wasn’t so sure that the PSAT 8/9’s value outstrips preserving the instructional time it would replace.

“The PSAT is practice for the SAT, right? We do provide that opportunity at 10th grade, for all of our 10th-graders. That’s where they can qualify for National Merit Scholarships.

“It is available for ninth-graders and 11th-graders to take it at school, as well.

“I’m struggling to find where the value is, to do a pre-test for a pre-test, with the middle school.

“I’m concerned about the loss of instructional time. It’s 145 minutes, that’s two to three class periods. We already give so many assessments, that we should know where our kids are. Our teachers are giving assessments. We have the FAST test given three times a year.

“I don’t like the idea of losing more instructional time and adding in another test for kids, when we are already pushing forward with giving kids opportunities. We’re trying to get everyone to Algebra 1 in eighth grade.

“I just don’t understand why we would take away these easy three class periods, and whether it’s optional or not, we know that if half the class is going to take a test, they’re not going to be teaching the half that remain,” Beaudoin said.

But board members Cynthia Armstrong and Alison Crumbley said they think the PSAT provides  valuable information for students, parents and district staff.

“This would be more of a nationally normed test,” Armstrong said.

“That is correct,” Hilton responded.

“That’s where I see the value of it. It’s really going to compare them with students all across the United States to see where they stand,” Armstrong said.

Pasco County School Board member Cynthia Armstrong believes parents, students and district staff would benefit from information that would be provided by results from PSAT 8/9 tests.

“This is actually a test that would be meaningful to parents. Parents are going to use it because it gives them a benchmark that they can work with their kids on, because it is a nationally normed test. This gives parents something they can understand. They can see how their kids compare to students across the nation.

“I think it’s not only a tool for the schools, but I also think it’s a tool for the parents — that they can easily understand. Because how they perform on state standards, in their minds (parents’) doesn’t necessarily translate into how they’re going to perform in college.”

Crumbley added: “To Mrs. Armstrong’s points, you are getting a national gauge in a test — a lot of these kids are going to have to take the SAT a few years later. Well, they get to try the test because it’s very similar. They also get to see where they rank on national standards, which I think is very important. And, they identify weaknesses on another type of test that is different than the Florida (state) and the course tests.

“This is a whole different realm … that I think is important for the student, in particular, for the student that’s going on to college. They get to see where they are strong and where they are weak.

“This gives them a really good indication.”

Marcy Hetzler-Nettles, assistant superintendent for middle schools, said the results provide guidance to students and to parents on the accelerated coursework students could take in high school.

“The other information they do receive is more interest-based and aptitude-based, outside of academics, so that might lead them to a field of study that they hadn’t considered previously,” Hetlzer-Nettles added.

Superintendent Kurt Browning vigorously advocated for adding the opportunity to take the PSAT for all eighth-graders.

“The thing that excites me about the PSAT in eighth grade is that it does help us identify those students earlier for advanced coursework, before they get into high school and they start setting their high school trajectory, if you will.

“The value that we get from administering the PSAT in eighth grade exceeds the downside of that lost instructional time.”

Browning also noted that the information that’s gleaned from the PSAT is good for all students, not just some students.

The district has allocated $68,000 of its general revenue fund to cover the cost of the test.

After the tests are administered and the district collects and analyzes the data, a report will be brought back to the board, Browning said.

Armstrong said she also wants to know how the information from the results will be transmitted to parents.

“This could be a tool that could really help parents understand the capabilities of their child,” Armstrong said.

Published August 02, 2023

Pasco residents to face a higher school tax bill in 2023-2024

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Pasco County homeowners will be paying higher taxes under the school district’s 2023-2024 proposed budget.

The budget includes a 1 mill increase approved by voters to support higher pay for the district’s non-administrative personnel. One mill equals S1 per S1.000 of assessed value.

Kurt Browning, the district’s superintendent detailed some of the $1.9 billion budget’s highlights at the school board’s July 25 meeting.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning detailed some of the highlights in the proposed $1.9 billion budget for the district’s 2023-2024 budget year. (File)

It was the board’s first public hearing on the budget, and no public comment was offered.

The second public hearing is set for Sept. 11 at 6 p.m., at the board’s meeting room at district’s headquarters, at 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The district’s $1.9 billion represents an increase of $178.2 million over last year’s budget. 

The total tax millage proposed for 2023-2024 fiscal year is 6.449 mils, that’s an increase of .933 mills, according to budget materials included in the school board’s July 25 agenda packet.

The district’s general operating budget is approximately $996 million.

The capital budget is $529 million — a reduction of $5.5 million, representing a 1% decrease.

Total tax millage for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is 6.449 mils — that’s an increase of .933 mills.

Under the proposed budget, the homeowner of a $350,000 house — assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption — would pay $2,096 in taxes, which is a $303 increase.

Approximately $53 million is expected to be generated from the voter-approved millage The pay raise generated from the additional millage will be divided among eligible employee groups, according to a summary of the district’s budget. The additional millage is expected to generate $52,672,826, according to district figures.

The budget summary includes this breakdown for distributing the additional funds for salaries:

  • An estimated $28,860,000 will go for instructional personnel pay increases
  • An estimated $10,410,000 will go for school-related personnel increases
  • An estimated $3,730,000 will go for non-instructional non-bargaining pay increases
  • An estimated $880,000 will go for professional-technical employee pay increases

The district’s increased operating expenses include the opening of Angeline Academy of Innovation, a magnet school in the emerging community of Angeline, where Moffitt Cancer Center is planning a sizable Pasco County campus.

Angeline Academy of Innovation ultimately will be for sixth- through 12th-graders, but is opening this year as a school for sixth- through 10th-graders.

The district also transitioned Mittye P. Locke Elementary, in Elfers, to Mittye P. Locke Early Learning Academy. The new center will provide a voluntary prekindergarten program (VPK) for early learners.

The district also will need additional staff to serve increased enrollment, and must spend more on retirement, health care, school resource officer contracts and increased costs for utilities, software licenses, charter school allocations and other needs.

On the capital side of the budget, the district is pursuing a number of projects.

Those include major renovations of West Zephyrhills Elementary School at Starkey Ranch K-8. It also includes construction of Kirkland Ranch K-8, Gulf High School, and the Angeline Athletic complex.

Additional projects include a classroom wing at Pasco High School, a new southwest Land O’ Lakes K-8 school, cafeteria renovations, replacement of HVAC systems, and infrastructure upgrades at various schools.

Pasco Schools Budget
The total budget for all funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is $1,984,819,738. This is an increase of $178,207,508 or 9.9%

  • The General Fund operating budget is approximately $996.2 million, a 17.2% increase over 2022-2023
  • The Capital Projects budget is approximately $529.1 million, a decrease of 1% over 2022-2023

Tax bills
Under the school board’s proposed millage rate,  the owner of a $350,000 house, assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $2,095.93. That’s a $303.23 increase over 2022-2023.

Voter-approved pay increases
The voter-approved millage increase is expected to yield $52,672,826 to pay supplemental salary increases for Pasco County Schools’ non-administrative employees.

Published August 02, 2023

Chalk Talk 08/02/2023

By

Seaman Kyson Huang (Courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Green)

Wesley Chapel native serves in Navy
Submariners make up only 10% of the U.S. Navy’s personnel, but they play a critical role in carrying out one of the Defense Department’s most important missions: strategic deterrence, according to a news release from the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

Seaman Kyson Huang, a native of Wesley Chapel, is one of the sailors continuing a 123-year tradition of service under the sea to help ensure Americans’ safety. Huang joined the Navy one year ago and today serves as an electronics technician aboard the USS Indiana.
“I joined the Navy to see the world and because I have always wanted to serve,” said Huang in the release.

“I also joined because I was always interested in the nuclear field and I wanted to work in a cool environment,” he said.

Growing up in Wesley Chapel, Huang attended Wiregrass Ranch High School and graduated in 2019.

Skills and values similar to those found in Wesley Chapel are similar to those required to succeed in the military, Huang said.

“I learned in my hometown to be less dependent on others and to be self-sufficient,” he said. “If you depend on other people too much, then you get disappointed when they don’t meet those expectations. I also learned to not avoid problems because the problem will always catch up to you.”

Community Newsletter
Pasco County Schools invites families to view its Back to School edition of the Pasco Post, at https://www.smore.com/dpkt5, that is filled with news and updates as the 2023-2024 school year begins. The first day of school is Aug. 10.

The newsletter contains district calendar events; Parent Portal updates; myStudent application; cellphone usage policy; food and nutrition services; school health updates; navigating elementary, middle and high school; Early Childhood opportunities; new transportation tool; and more.

Logan Carbonaro and Logan Koschman, both Kirkland Ranch High School students, put their robot through its paces. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Robotics Camps draws skills
Saint Leo University’s NAO robots were the star teachers during summer robotics camps hosted for high school and middle school students. Each camp was designed for each age/skills level.

High school students were able to learn Python programming and try it out in the school’s Robotics Lab, using the NAO programmable robots.

Students in middle school used Lego Mindstorms kits to learn how to build and program robots.

Dr. Monika Kiss, chair and professor of mathematics in Saint Leo’s College of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Data Science (CARDS), has hosted and taught the camps since 2015. She started the “Girls Can!” camps aimed at exposing more girls to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) experiences.

Free school meals
Pasco County Schools will be implementing the Community Eligibility School Program for the 2023-2024 school year, which means that all breakfasts and lunches served to the public school district’s students will be free, according to Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services in Pasco County Schools. No further action will be required on the family’s part for the students to receive the free meals, Kuhn said.

Student graduates
Georgia Institute of Technology:

  • Daniel Castro, Odessa
  • Jameson Miller, Lutz
  • Peng Zhang, Odessa
  • Tariq Zidan, Lutz

The University of Tampa:

  • Hunter Balistreri, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Finance
  • Camille Gammage, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sociology
  • Alexander Gonzalez, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Finance
  • Julianne Grega, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Design
  • Elis Jones, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Music
  • Jayakrishna Kappaganthula, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology
  • Andrew Kimball, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
  • Jordan Lala, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sociology
  • Julia Madore, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Mitchell Miller, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
  • Emma Morrison, Lutz: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
  • Michael Neff, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Management
  • Victoria Nelson, Lutz: Bachelor of Music in Music Education
  • Sara Nemat, Odessa: Master of Science in Finance
  • Emma Puleo, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Marketing
  • Gage Robinson, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in English
  • Adachi Selas, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
  • Zachary Simone, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Ankur Singh, Lutz: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Adrienne Villanueva, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Maxwell Winston, Odessa: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sociology

Back To School Bash
The Gentlemen’s Quarters, 38435 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills, will host its sixth annual free Back To School Bash on Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for kindergarten through 12th grade. The event will include free haircuts, school supplies, food trucks, arcade games, and bounce house. For information, call 813-715-2039.

FAA Training Program
Pasco-Hernando State College has been selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for participation in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Collegiate Training Initiative program, according to a news release.

This program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones.

In order to qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s or associate degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration, or are working toward a certificate in UAS.

Schools also must provide curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, and federal policies concerning UAS.

The program provides graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to become industry leaders in a variety of unmanned systems-related fields, including UAS and ROV pilots, sensor operators, mission planners and ground technicians, the release said.

The program focuses on problem-solving skills with unmanned systems, provides technical skill proficiency, and practical competency applied training that contributes to the academic knowledge, work attitudes, technical skills and occupation-specific skills in various industries.

For more information about PHSC’s Unmanned Vehicles Systems Operation program, visit PHSC.edu/academics/programs/transportation/unmanned-vehicles.

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.

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.

Summer Haul Bus Pass
Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) buses all summer through Aug. 31 for just $20. The special student-rate passes can be purchased at these places:

  • GoPasco Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., New Port Richey
  • Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office, East/West Pasco Government Centers
  • Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores – New Port Richey, Dade City and Wesley Chapel
  • County libraries, various locations

For more information on the pass and GoPasco bus routes and schedules, visit MyPas.co/SummerBusPass.

Pasco school board approves Pepin’s charter school application

By

The Pasco County School Board has approved the charter school application for Pepin Academies Wesley Chapel, to be located at the campus of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

The charter school, which will serve third- through 12th-graders, is scheduled to open in the 2024-2025 school year.

The application clearly states that the school will enroll students with learning or learning-related disabilities and a current Individual Education Plan. The school is focusing on students with learning disabilities in Wesley Chapel, St. Leo, San Antonio, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

The application for the school was submitted by Jeffrey Skowronek on March 10, 2023. The school board approved the application at its July 18 meeting.

The campus will be on land that was acquired for the school through a partnership and memorandum of understanding between Pepin and Pasco County Schools, according to materials in the school board’s agenda packet.

The school will be opened in phases, with maximum enrollments increasing over a period of five years, as follows:

  • Year 1 (2024-2025): 85 students in grades three through six
  • Year 2 (2025-2026): 155 students in grades three through eight
  • Year 3 (2026-2027): 225 students in grades three through 10
  • Year 4 (2027-2028): 255 students in grades three through 11
  • Year 5 (2028-2029): 285 students in grades three through 12

The mission of Pepin Academies Wesley Chapel at Kirkland Ranch is to “empower students with learning disabilities to maximize their potential in a positive therapeutic educational  environment,” the board’s agenda packet said.

In Pepin’s charter application, an evaluation determined that 16 of 22 sections of the application “meet the standard,” and six of the sections “partially meet the standard.” None of the sections were rated as “did not meet the standard,” the budget materials reported.

The application review noted, in part, that Pepin “clearly explains a therapeutic model and classroom environments that cater to the specific needs of their unique student population.”

Also, the “applicant has a clear understanding of the value of making data-driven decisions when setting educational goals,” the evaluation said.

Although a contingent of Pepin representatives attended the board meeting, none of them spoke.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, remarked that the partnership is a unique arrangement among public schools in Florida.

Published July 26, 2023

Chalk Talk 07/26/2023

By

Incredi-Bowl Z’Hills
The fifth annual Incredi-Bowl Z’Hills will take place on July 29 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills, to benefit local youth and education programs, scholarships, and other community service projects.

The event will include prizes for the winning team, a wine raffle, and raffle prizes. Individual play is $45. Team play (five bowlers) is $200. All tickets include two hours of bowling, rentals, and unlimited drinks and food.

Sponsorships are available. For information, call Vicki Wiggins at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce at 813-782-1913.

Back-to-School Drive-Thru
The Church @ Myrtle Lake, 2017 Reigler Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host a Back-to-School Drive-Thru on July 29 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., for kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Backpacks and school supplies will be provided for each child, while supplies last.

For information, visit MyrtleLake.com.

Academy Open House
Prelude Academy of the Arts, 14249 Seventh St., in Dade City, will host a Back-to-School Open House on July 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include light refreshments, a tour of the studio, information about upcoming events, and sign-up for group classes or private lessons.

For information, visit PreludeAcademy.com.

Back-to-School Bash
The sixth annual Bullard Family Foundation’s Back-to-School Bash, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and presented by AdventHealth, Fran Haasch Law Group and Skanska, will return to Raymond James Stadium on July 29.

Guests can pick up a free backpack filled with school supplies, and take advantage of free medical, dental and vision services, as well as complimentary haircuts, food and entertainment. Admission is free and open to the public.

Registration is not required, but families must register for medical, dental and eye care services, online at tinyurl.com/BASHMEDICAL2023.

To register for backpacks, visit tinyurl.com/BASH2023Backpack.

Back to School Bash
Zephyrhills Chick-fil-A, 7490 Gall Blvd., will celebrate its second birthday with a Back to School Bash on July 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This community celebration will include giveaways, games, free health screenings and more. No registration is required.

Erase the Need
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy C. Millan announced the annual school supply drive to “Erase the Need” for teachers and students in Hillsborough County, through the month of July.

Each year, the Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) distributes supplies to serve around 100,000 students, according to a news release. Supplies are available to teachers in Title 1 schools to shop for much needed classroom resources, for free.

Items such as backpacks, pencils, paper, notebooks, and more can help make a big difference in a student’s life.

To find a tax collector’s office near you for donation drop-off, visit HillsTax.org.

To learn more about HEF and how to help, visit EducationFoundation.com.

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 .

Donation Drive
Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices will collect donations in July for the Pasco County School District’s ABC (Assist, Believe & Care) Program. ABC was created to provide financial assistance to students and their families who are experiencing economic hardship, especially when those needs interfere with the student’s ability to be academically successful.

“While the impact of COVID may be lessening, there are still many other challenges caused by these uncertain economic times,” Fasano said, in a news release.

“The strain can be enormous on a family, especially when a parent loses a job, or a single parent is struggling to raise children while doing all they can to make ends meet. Children without food, adequate clothing or other unmet needs often suffer academically,” said Fasano.

Cash donations go into a fund teachers can use when they see or learn of a need a student may have.

The donations can be made at any of the tax collector’s five office locations in Pasco County, or they can be mailed to: Tax Collector Mike Fasano, P.O. Box 276, Dade City, FL 33526. In the check’s memo line, write “Pasco ABC Program.”

For information, call 727-847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Chalk Talk 07/19/2023

By

School Supply Drive
Davron, an executive search and outplacement firm in Land O’ Lakes, is hosting its annual Back-to-School Supply Drive, to benefit Christian Social Services (CSS) of Land O’ Lakes. CSS provides food, clothing and other services for disadvantaged families throughout central Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties.

Needed donations include: pencils/pens/colored pencils; washable markers/Expo markers; pencil sharpeners; crayons; paper; spiral/composition notebooks; safety scissors; Elmer’s glue and glue sticks; folders; calculators; and erasers.

Items can be dropped off at 8429 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Monday through Friday, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., until July 27. 

Donations also can be made through an Amazon wish list, at Amazon.com/registries (search for “Davron”).

Back-to-School Drive-Thru
The Church @ Myrtle Lake, 2017 Reigler Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host a Back-to-School Drive-Thru on July 29 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., for kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Backpacks and school supplies will be provided for each child, while supplies last. For information, visit MyrtleLake.com.

Back-to-School Bash
The sixth annual Bullard Family Foundation’s Back-to-School Bash, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and presented by AdventHealth, Fran Haasch Law Group and Skanska, will return to Raymond James Stadium on July 29.

Guests can pick up a free backpack filled with school supplies, and take advantage of free medical, dental and vision services, as well as complimentary haircuts, food and entertainment.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but families must register for medical, dental and eye care services, online at tinyurl.com/BASHMEDICAL2023. To register for backpacks, visit tinyurl.com/BASH2023Backpack.

Back to School Bash
Zephyrhills Chick-fil-A, 7490 Gall Blvd., will celebrate its second birthday with a Back to School Bash on July 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This community celebration will include giveaways, games, free health screenings and more. No registration is required.

Erase the Need
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy C. Millan announced the annual school supply drive to “Erase the Need” for teachers and students in Hillsborough County, through the month of July.
For almost 35 years the Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF) has been committed to strengthening public education through advocacy, investment of resources, and programs that empower every student to achieve academic and personal success.

Each year, HEF distributes supplies to serve around 100,000 students, according to a news release. Supplies are available to teachers in Title 1 schools to shop for much needed classroom resources, for free.

Items such as backpacks, pencils, paper, notebooks, and more can help make a big difference in a student’s life.

To find a tax collector’s office near you for donation drop-off, visit HillsTax.org.

To learn more about the Hillsborough Education Foundation and how to help, visit EducationFoundation.com.

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 .

Incredi-Bowl Z’Hills
The fifth annual Incredi-Bowl Z’Hills will take place on July 29 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills, to benefit local youth and education programs, scholarships, and other community service projects. The event will include prizes for the winning team, a wine raffle, and raffle prizes.

Individual play is $45. Team play (five bowlers) is $200. All tickets include two hours of bowling, rentals, and unlimited drinks and food.

Sponsorships are available. For information, call Vicki Wiggins at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce at 813-782-1913.

Student achievements

  • Scott Abramson, Odessa: Dean’s List, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington
  • Trinity Alvarez-Wilson, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Skylar Barnes, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Austin Brown, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Averie Bennett, Odessa: Dean’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Hannah Coleman, Lutz: President’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • James Cook, Lutz: Dean’s List, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Matthew Daniels, Lutz: President’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Jamie Denney, Lutz: President’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Colin Frederick Gaynor, Odessa: Dean’s List, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Brett Gwinn, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Joshua Harris, Odessa: Scholastic Honor Roll, Oregon State University
  • Logan Hinsberg, Odessa: Dean’s List, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Graydon Horn, Odessa: Dean’s List, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Noah Kilpatrick, Lutz: Dean’s List, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Brycen Lowe, Lutz: Dean’s List, Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • Jaeden Lowther, Odessa: President’s List, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
  • Ryleigh Mcelroy, Lutz: President’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Miller Raeckers, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Robert Thomas, Lutz: Dean’s List, Tallahassee Community College
  • Christiana Till, Odessa: Dean’s List, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa