The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Chalk Talk 07/20/2022

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Shining a light on hatred
Students are shining a light on antisemitism with a new art exhibit, ‘Shine a Light Youth Art Contest,’ produced by the Tampa JCCs & Federation. The contest included a Junior Division (fourth- through seventh-graders) and a Senior Division (eighth- through 12th-graders). The exhibit is helping to raise awareness about antisemitism, share educational resources and empower individuals to stand against the hatred of Jewish people, through the power of art. The winning artwork can be found in the lobby of the Tampa Municipal Office Building, 306 E. Jackson St., in Tampa, through Aug. 8. The exhibit’s next stop will be the Tampa International Airport in late fall.

Citizens’ Academy is back
Pasco County Schools is accepting applications for the third year of its Citizens’ Academy, to give members of the public an in-depth insider’s look at every aspect of the school district.

The academy will consist of eight monthly meetings; the first class will be on Aug. 18. Five meetings will take place during the day, and three meetings will be in the evening.

Sessions will be a combination of informational lessons, tours and classroom presentations.

Participants will visit several of Pasco County’s diverse schools; meet with district leaders, school personnel, and principals; and learn about special programs, curriculum, athletics, budget, student nutrition, school safety initiatives and more.

The academy class will have 30 members to 50 members from the community. Graduation is set for April 27.

Anyone interested can apply online by July 24, at PascoSchools.org/comm/page/ca.

Those selected will be notified by email the week of July 25.

Human trafficking webinar
Saint Leo University and Pasco F1RST will offer a free, online webinar about fighting human trafficking, on July 26 at 7 p.m.

“Danger! Social Media Recruitment is on the Rise Since COVID-19” will be presented by the Mel Greene Institute to Combat Human Trafficking.

The guest speaker will be Marina Anderson, regional human trafficking coordinator for the northeast and northwest regions for the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Anderson is a recognized expert in safety methodology, providing training and mentoring to child protective investigators and the Child Protective Investigations Section in law enforcement agencies.

For information on how to register, email Karin May at .

Wiregrass Round-Up
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a “Freshman & New to Wiregrass Round-Up” on July 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Student drop-off begins at 8:45 a.m.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet some of the teachers, tour the school, and create a freshman memory box to take home. A pizza lunch will be provided.

For more information and to register, visit WRHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Free Early Childhood tuition
Fred K. Marchman Technical College will offer free tuition to enable potential early learning teachers to be trained and certified, in an effort to address the shortage of teachers working in private child care in Pasco County.

The free tuition is made possible through a federal Preschool Development Grant in the amount of $524,212 awarded to the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties Inc., the release said.

“This opportunity addresses a critical need in our community,” said Tonia Shook, director of Marchman Technical College, in the release.

“The grant benefits our students, as it provides monetary incentives to complete their education, enter the field, and advance their career,” said Shook.

More information is available online at tinyurl.com/7uwz6u7c.

Student graduates
These local students graduated from The University of Tampa:

  • Sarah Aledo-Cubano, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Allied Health (Dean’s List)
  • Joseph Allen, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Finance
  • Mackenzie Allen, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Marketing
  • Jaime Banks, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Finance
  • Himanshu Bhatt, Odessa: Master of Business Administration in Executive
  • Alyssa Cabrera, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre (Dean’s List)
  • Leigh Dittman, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Dean’s List)
  • Noah Doble, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Economics (Dean’s List)
  • Cheyenne Dula, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations
  • Liam Fennel, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
  • Rye Gapinski, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Applied Sociology
  • Ellen Hannaman, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Marketing
  • Emalee Jansen, Lutz: Master of Science in Accounting
  • Kristina Layton, Lutz: Master of Science in Nursing
  • Joshua Luther, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (Dean’s List)
  • Sarah Miranda, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Connor Molloy, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems
  • Samuel Neal, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Media and Culture
  • Carly Peirano, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
  • Trevor Puleo, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology
  • Michael Recenello, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Finance
  • Sydney Rose, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems
  • Maxim Stepanets, Lutz: Master of Science in Finance
  • Kayla Wittyngham, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Dean’s List)

Other local graduates include Steve Luttrull, of Lutz, who earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, Kentucky; and Nathan Shane, of Lutz, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina.

Volunteers needed
AdventHealth Center Ice is looking for volunteers for the U.S. Figure Skating 2022 National Showcase, Aug. 1 through Aug. 6.

Available opportunities include: spotlight operators; performer check-in; registration assistance; and assistance with performers on and off the ice.

Necessary training will be provided prior to the event.

Students can receive applicable volunteer hours for the Bright Futures program.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/2j66krk4.

Student recognitions
These local students have been named to the Dean’s List at their respective schools:

  • Hunter Balistreri, Odessa: University of Tampa
  • Cole Benjamin, Odessa: University of Tampa
  • Braden Contreras, Lutz: Florida Institute of Technology
  • Robert Cooper, Lutz: University of Tampa
  • Jacqueline Figueredo, Lutz: Florida Institute of Technology
  • Alyssa Gomez, Odessa: University of Tampa
  • Julianne Grega, Lutz: University of Tampa
  • Lilly Kiester, Lutz: University of Tampa
  • Hope Lelekacs, Odessa: University of Tampa
  • Brandy Lindauer, Land O’ Lakes: Saint Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota
  • Michelle Loefstrand, Odessa: University of Tampa
  • Madison McElhone, Lutz: University of Tampa
  • Zoe Papageorgiou, Odessa: University of Tampa
  • Vasant Ramnarine, Lutz: Florida Institute of Technology
  • Gage Robinson, Lutz: University of Tampa
  • Indraneel Raut, Wesley Chapel: Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota
  • Angelina Santana, Lutz: University of Tampa
  • Jacob Statman, Lutz: Rochester Institute of Technology, New York

Physicals & backpacks
Premier Community HealthCare will offer $15 back-to-school physicals through Aug. 31, on Mondays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students can receive complete physical examinations, state-required screenings, and a free backpack with starter supplies. (Backpacks are available for all school-aged students, while supplies last.)

To schedule an appointment at one of Premier’s eight locations, visit PremierHC.org, or call 352-518-2000.

New schools being planned in Pasco

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Pasco County is on the grow and the public school district is planning to increase its capacity.

The Pasco County School Board recently approved the district’s five-year school plant survey, which includes existing conditions and recommended plans.

Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, slated to open this fall, is one of the new schools on the list.

It’s a magnet school that will specialize in preparing students in career fields and technical trades such as automotive maintenance and repair, including diesel; biomedical sciences; building trades and construction technology; cybersecurity; digital media and multimedia design; engineering and robotics; welding; electricity; and, patient care technology.

Kirkland Academy of Innovation is a magnet school that will open in the fall in Wesley Chapel. It will feature a curriculum that allows students to earn a standard diploma, while having the opportunity to earn industry certifications in an array of technical fields. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Students attending the new high school are primarily coming from Wesley Chapel High, Pasco High, Zephyrhills, some from Wiregrass Ranch, and some from Cypress Creek, according to Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district.

Kirkland Ranch K-8, another school on the list, is expected to begin construction soon.

“As soon as they’re done with the Academy of Innovation, they’re moving to the back of this property. That’s going to be a magnet. Similarly, we expect that to have impact on primarily the east side. Weightman, John Long, Centennial (middle schools),” Williams said.

The elementary school students primarily will come from “Watergrass, Wesley Chapel, San Antonio, and even farther out, Double Branch, Seven Oaks, Wiregrass, that whole region,” he said.

The school plant survey also includes a number of other projects that are either planned soon, or are on a longer horizon.

A 6-12 STEM magnet school, in the emerging community of Angeline in Land O’ Lakes, is a four-story building under construction near Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco Campus.

The school is expected to open in the fall of 2023, and the school district is delighted by the partnerships it anticipates with Moffitt.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity we’ll have for our students there,” Williams said.

That school also will be the district’s tallest school, the planning director said, noting there is no other four-story school in the system.

A new traditional K-8 is planned on the south side of State Road 54, across the road from the Ballantrae subdivision. The school will be built behind a Ballantrae office complex.

This magnet school, for students in grades six through 12, is expected to open in the fall of 2023. It will feature partnerships with Moffitt Cancer Center, which plans to create its Pasco County campus nearby. It also will be the tallest school in the Pasco County system.

Other plans call for a school campus in the new Two Rivers development off State Road 56, near Morris Bridge Road.

A site has been identified for the campus, but the school district hasn’t purchased it yet, Williams said. The site likely will be co-located with a regional park.

“We have done some preliminary thinking of how that might look. Because we’re going to have a whole campus there, probably K-8 and a high school, along with the park,” he said.

It’s not clear yet whether there will be a joint-use library, although it’s a possibility, he said.

“What are we going to be sharing? Certainly, we’ll be sharing the (athletic)  fields and the parking,” Williams said.

The planning director noted that projects listed in the district’s five-year plan are subject to change because available funding will be influenced by the collection of impact fees, whether the extension of the Penny for Pasco infrastructure surtax is approved by voters, local capital millage funds, and the overall economy.

If there’s a recession, for instance, there will be less construction activity and fewer revenues collected through impact fees.

Also, voters will decide in November whether to extend the Penny for Pasco surtax for 15 additional years.

That being said, a number of  other projects within the Laker/Lutz News coverage area are on the five-year list:

• Starkey Ranch K-8: Expansion for 400 student stations
Work is starting on that immediately, Williams said. When the district opened the school, it knew that the Starkey Ranch development would grow, but it turned out that the magnet school also attracted students who had been attending private schools and charter schools, Williams said.

• West Zephyrhills Elementary: Expansion for 400 student stations
If Penny for Pasco passes, the remodeling of West Zephyrhills Elementary will likely be one of the first projects that’s completed, Williams said. That project would include additional capacity.

• Pasco Senior High: Expansion for 400 student stations
When the first Penny for Pasco passed, the district did a significant project at Pasco Senior High, Williams said. That work did not include substantial work in the cafeteria or kitchen.

The conceptual plan for this project calls for tearing down the one-story building and constructing a two-story structure. The first floor would contain a kitchen and larger cafeteria. The second floor would be classrooms, Williams said. The media center likely would be remodeled, too, he said.

In addition to district projects, Williams said there’s also an expectation of some charter school expansions, as well as some new charter schools that will come online in the next few years.

Long-term school plans
These Pasco County school district projects are possibilities within the next 10 years:
• Classroom wing at these schools: Wiregrass Ranch High; Centennial Middle; and, Chester Taylor and West Zephyrhills elementary schools
• New K-8 school: Villages of Pasadena Hills and in Two Rivers
• New high schools in Bexley Ranch and in Odessa area

Source: Pasco County Schools

Published July 13, 2022

Chalk Talk 07/13/2022

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(Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

Essay contest winner announced
Alyssa Gardiner, a student at River Ridge High School’s New Teacher Academy, was selected as the winner in the Pasco County Tax Collector’s essay contest. Gardiner wrote about the expansion needs and environmental challenges associated with the Ridge Road Extension. ‘The New Teacher Academy has given me, as well as many other students, an abundance of opportunities….Participating in this contest was a special opportunity that I have never had before. I was able to connect with this essay because I love writing, while also connecting with the community,’ said Gardiner in a news release. Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano presented Gardiner with a $500 Visa gift card.

Open registration
Registration for Hillsborough County’s after-school programming is now open.

The two-week sessions, offered through Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, run from the end of the school day until 6 p.m., for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Parks & Recreation also has inclusive and adaptive after-school programs for those with special needs.

Activities include indoor and outdoor games, athletic leagues including flag football, soccer and basketball, and a character-building curriculum.

The cost is $76, or $60 with a reduced lunch letter, or $40 with a free lunch letter.

The programs follow the Hillsborough County School District calendar.

For information or to register, visit HCFLGov.net/AfterSchool.

Camden Moors (Courtesy of Foote Communications)

Eschool student scholar
Camden Moors, a Pasco Eschool student from Land O’ Lakes, was honored as a 2022 Denny’s Hungry for Education Scholar during a special virtual program.

Denny’s scholarship program recognizes and rewards students who show initiative and creativity in helping Denny’s bring communities together.

Partnering with 11 leading nonprofit, minority advocacy organizations, Denny’s awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships this year to deserving elementary, high school and college students.

Moors, selected by Partners for Youth with Disabilities, said in a news release, “To help bring the commuity together, connecting food waste with homeless shelters, food banks and direct to the needy willing to pick it up would most certainly help bring the community together. We all need to have a hand in helping solve hunger in our communities.”

The virtual celebration focused on the winners, along with their family and friends, and can be viewed at DennysHungryForEducation.com.

School Supply Drive
Florida Avenue Brewing Co., 2029 Arrow Grass Drive in Wesley Chapel, will host a School Supply Drive from July 18 through July 27.

Taproom guests, age 21 and older, will have the opportunity to donate $4 toward the purchase of school supplies for Wise Supplies, a free school supply center in Land O’ Lakes for economically challenged students, founded by the Pasco Eduction Foundation.

Each $4 donation will include a free pint, one per guest, one per day.

Stuff the Backpack
The team at First National Bank of Pasco is hosting a Stuff the Backpack Drive through July 22, at all four of its county branches.

Items that are needed include: pencils/pens; scissors; ear buds (wired); spiral notebooks; folders; paper; glue sticks; colored pencils/crayons; liquid soap; Ziploc bags; Kleenex; highlighters; erasers; pencil boxes; rulers; and hand sanitizer.

Monetary donations will be used to purchase additional school supplies.

Back to School event
The Church at Myrtle Lake, 2017 Reigler Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host a Back to School Drive-Thru on July 23 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Children in kindergarten through 12th grade must be in attendance to receive one free backpack and school items, while supplies last.

For information, visit MyrtleLake.org.

Freshman Round-Up
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a “Freshman & New to Wiregrass Round-Up” on July 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Student drop-off begins at 8:45 a.m.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet some of the teachers, tour the school, and create a freshman memory box to take home. A pizza lunch will be provided.

For more information and to register, visit WRHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.

ABC Program
All five offices of the Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano will accept donations during July for the Pasco County School District’s ABC (Assist, Believe & Care) Program.

The program 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.

Monetary donations go into a fund that teachers can use when they see or learn of a need a child may have.

For information and office locations, contact Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at 727-847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Volunteers needed
AdventHealth Center Ice is looking for volunteers for the U.S. Figure Skating 2022 National Showcase, Aug. 1 through Aug. 6.

Available opportunities include: spotlight operators; performer check-in; registration assistance; and assistance with performers on and off the ice.

Necessary training will be provided prior to the event.

Students can receive applicable volunteer hours for the Bright Futures program.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/2j66krk4.

Physicals & backpacks
Premier Community HealthCare will offer $15 back-to-school physicals through Aug. 31, on Mondays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students can receive complete physical examinations, state-required screenings, and a free backpack with starter supplies. (Backpacks are available for all school-aged students, while supplies last.)

To schedule an appointment at one of Premier’s eight locations, visit PremierHC.org, or call 352-518-2000.

Poster contest winners
Pasco County Utilities, the Florida Govermental Utility Authority and Pasco County Schools hosted its 13th annual Water Awareness Poster Contest for students in Pasco elementary schools. The theme was “Do Your Part, Be Water Smart.”

Judges used science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning standards to choose the top posters.

Winning posters are on display in the lobbies of the West and East Pasco Government Centers.

These students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area came out on top, in their respective grade levels:

  • First Grade: Jayden Chavez, first place; Ezhil Vashisht, second place; and Rishaan Gandhi, third place, all from Odessa Elementary
  • Second Grade: Anderson F., first place; Judy Ahmed, second place; and Elle Patel, third place, all from Countryside Montessori
  • Fourth Grade: Mariska Jarboe, first place, and Adelee Buntin, second place, both from Wesley Chapel Elementary
  • Fifth Grade: Payton Burton, first place, Lake Myrtle Elementary; Jazmin Ayo, second place, San Antonio Elementary; and Gian Figueroa, third place, Wesley Chapel Elementary
  • Honorable Mention “Hope the Dolphin’s Choice” was awarded to Max Weiss, Wesley Chapel Elementary.

To see all the winning entries, visit WaterContest.org.

Published July 13, 2022

Chalk Talk 07/06/2022

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From left: William Shelton, Rishabh Kanodia, Andrew Domonkos and Allen Ho. (Courtesy of Council for Economic Education)

First-place honors
Students from Land O’ Lakes High School earned first-place honors in the final round of the National Personal Finance Challenge in New York City, a competition organized by the Council for Economic Education (CEE).

The team of William Shelton, Rishabh Kanodia, Andrew Domonkos and Allen Ho, coached by Andrew Camp, demonstrated a winning knowledge of personal finance that sets young people on paths to lifelong success, according to a news release.

“You don’t learn about managing your money just by wishing, or about making complex economic choices just by following the news. It’s tough to thrive if you don’t understand,” said Nan J. Morrison, president and CEO of CEE, in the release.

“The students from Land O’ Lakes and all the teams who competed this year demonstrated an extraordinary level of knowledge in part because their schools offer classes in these life-essential topics,” said Morrison.

Each student on the first-place team receives a $2,000 cash prize.

Student graduates

  • Andrea Renee Denton, Wesley Chapel: Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care, magna cum laude, Midwestern State University, Texas
  • Kyle Dontas, Lutz: Master of Business Administration, Quinnipiac University, Connecticut
  • Sydney Fleeman, Odessa: Dean’s List and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Valdosta State University, Georgia
  • Melissa Garcia, Land O’ Lakes: Bachelor of Arts in Pyschology, Flagler College
  • Tyler Heldt, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering, Marietta College, Ohio
  • Jasmine Jenkins, Lutz: Graduted from Troy University, Alabama
  • Angela Marshall, Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List and Master’s Degree from Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Shea McCurty, Lutz: Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
  • Madelaine Mejia, Land O’ Lakes: Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications/PR, Flagler College
  • Silvia Quezada, Land O’ Lakes High: awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Marian University E.S. Witchger School of Engineering, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Rylind Breann Robinson, Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List and Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Shorter University, Georgia
  • Karyn Savage, San Antonio: Master’s Degree in Education Hearing Impaired, Flagler College

ABC Program
All five offices of the Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano will accept donations during July for the Pasco County School District’s ABC (Assist, Believe & Care) Program.

The program 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.

Monetary donations go into a fund that teachers can use when they see or learn of a need a child may have.

For information and office locations, contact Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector, at 727-847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Dean’s List recognitions

  • Emersen Angel, Lutz: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Anthony Rocco Becht, Wesley Chapel: Iowa State University
  • Matthew Durrance, Lutz: South Dakota State University
  • Molly Flanagan, Lutz: Norwich University, Vermont
  • Angelica C. Gonzalez, Lutz: Iowa State University
  • Madeline Griggs, Odessa: The University of Alabama
  • Christian Hewitt, Odessa: The University of Alabama
  • Jack Houser, Odessa, The University of Alabama
  • Alexandra Jason, New Port Richey: Norwich University
  • Peter Katsaros, Odessa: The University of Alabama
  • Noah Kilpatrick, Lutz: The University of Alabama
  • Andrea Lefebvre, Odessa: Valdosta State University
  • Brianna Pearson, Lutz: The College of Saint Rose, New York
  • Leia Randall, Land O’Lakes: University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
  • Angelo Sardegna, Lutz: Curry College, Massachusetts
  • Christiana Till, Odessa: The University of Alabama
  • Allison Trask, Lutz: Harding University, Arkansas
  • Emily Ymiolek, Lutz: The University of Alabama

Note: Emily Leonard, of Wesley Chapel, has been named to the President’s List at Mercer University, Georgia.

New campus president
Dr. Larissa Baia of Lakes Region Community College has joined Hillsborough Community College (HCC) as the Ybor City Campus president.

She succeeds Dr. Ginger Clark who retired in fall 2021 and Dustin Lemke who served in an interim capacity.

Dr. Baia brings more than two decades of experience in higher education to HCC, having served in executive-level positions in higher education, including her most recent position as president of Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, New Hampshire.

She is a graduate of Brandeis University and the University of Florida, receiving her Master’s in Latin American Studies and Ph.D. in political science from the latter.

Dr. Baia will assume her position at HCC on Aug. 15.

Money tip for students
The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) is encouraging students to become familiar with how credit scores work.

A credit score is a three-digit number that has a long-lasting effect on a person’s buying power.

Building a good credit score enables a person to tap into resources to buy a car or a house, or any other expensive need.

A bad credit score can make all transactions or loans more difficult and more expensive.

The most widely accepted scoring method comes from FICO, according to the KHEAA.

A FICO score ranges from 300 to 850 and is made up of these items:

  • 35% is based on payment history: Early payments will have a higher number than on-time payments, which will have a higher score than late payments.
  • 30% is based on outstanding debt: Outstanding debt is how much is owed on loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc. Having a lot of credit cards can hurt the score, expecially if it is near a borrowing limit.
  • 15% is based on the length of time a person has credit: The longer a person has been borrowing and making payments on time, the better the score.
  • 10% is based on new credit: Opening several new accounts will have a negative effect on a score. And the more inquiries that are on a credit report in a year, the lower the score will be.
  • 10% is based on the types of credit a person has: It helps to have a mix of loan types. If a person has a credit card, an installment loan will even out the credit.

For more information, visit KHEAA.com.

Dayspring Academy is planning a school in Angeline

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The Pasco County School Board and Creation Foundation, doing business as Dayspring Academy, plan to work together on a new elementary charter school to serve an emerging community in Central Pasco.

The Pasco County School Board approved an agreement at its June 21 meeting, which sets the stage for a new elementary school for 600 students to be built in Angeline, in an area just south of State Road 52 and west of Sunlake Boulevard, according to an agreement in the board’s agenda packet.

Dayspring and the school board have agreed to fund the project through impact fees. The school will serve kindergarten through fifth grade students.

“Dayspring and the school board desire to partner with each other in this endeavor and as such will work to blend the charter school program and curriculum with the future board STEM 6-12 magnet,” the agreement says. The objective is to open the school in 2024.

The agreement also spells out how construction should proceed, how payments will be made, and so on.

Angeline is a new development spanning 6,200 acres, which is south of State Road 52 and east of the Suncoast Parkway. The new 6-12 magnet school already is under construction in the heart of a town center that is near Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

That campus is expected to become a magnet for world-class cancer researchers and life science companies.

The board approved the agreement as part of its consent agenda, meaning it was approved with a number of other agenda items without board discussion.

Published June 29, 2022

Chalk Talk 06/29/2022

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Congratulating more 2022 graduates

Luke Romesburg is an Eagle Scout from Troop 12 and a graduate of Steinbrenner High School’s Class of 2022. He’s an avid fisherman and aspires to be a paramedic and firefighter. (Courtesy of Cindy Romesburg)
Camellia Moors graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, with a bachelor degree from the School of Public and International Affairs. She is a 2018 graduate from Land O’ Lakes High School’s International Baccalaureate program. She plans to work in Washington D.C. (Courtesy of Christine Moors)
Jillian Marie Jasinski graduated cum laude with the Land O’ Lakes High School Class of 2022. She will attend the University of South Florida and will major in English Literature. She loves to read, write, and drive her friends to new restaurant hot spots. (Courtesy of Michelle Jasinski)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading assessments
Fifty-three percent of Pasco County’s third graders passed the state’s reading test this year, a passing rate that matched the state average and was higher than all but one Tampa Bay area school district, according to a news release.

The statewide trend was a dip in scores this year, and Pasco was no exception.

Pasco’s overall passing rate last year was 56%.

State officials offered perspective on the overall decreases, pointing out that this year’s third-graders were first graders when the pandemic disrupted schooling.

“This group of third graders has had a lot to overcome,” said Pasco Superintendent Kurt Browning, in the release.

“I’m proud of them for holding their own and outperforming so many of their peers. We still have a lot of work to do, and I know our students and teachers are up to the challenge,” said Browning.

Trinity Elementary School posted an 83% passing rate, up from 69% last year.

Sanders Memorial posted an 82% passing rate.

Starkey Ranch K-8, which opened this year, posted a 76% passing rate, and Connerton Elementary posted an improvement of a 75% passing rate, up from 54% last year.

School district results can be found online at the Florida Department of Education website, at FLDOE.org, and click on Accountability and then Assessments.

Woman’s club awards scholarships
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club announced its 2022 annual scholarships, awarded to nine students.

The Lutz Volunteer Fire Department Endowment Fund scholarships of $2,500 each were given to Luke Romesburg, Briana Macumber, Camilla Quiniero and Ian Beilfuss.

The woman’s club scholarships of $1,500 each were awarded to Cayman Nash Garcia, Emelina Brown, Dylan Mazard and Madison Stysly.

Little Women of Lutz member Ashlyn Turnage received the Club Special Achievement Award of $1,500.

From left: Luke Romesburg, Briana Macumber and Ian Beilfuss, and club president Elayne Bassinger. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)
From left: Linda Mitchell, Ashlyn Turnage and club president Elayne Bassinger.
From left: Cayman Nash Garcia, Emelina Brown and Dylan Mazard, and club president Elayne Bassinger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Leo fills Cohn chair
The Saint Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies (CCJS) has appointed Rabbi David Maayan as its inaugural Maureen and Douglas Cohn Visiting Chair in Jewish Thought and assistant director of CCJS. Maayan will join Saint Leo in August, according to a news release.

The Cohn Chair is a two-year visiting appointment with the possibility of a third-year renewal as full-time faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The chair also represents the establishment of Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University.

Maayan comes to Saint Leo from Boston College where he was a teaching fellow and instructor of Judaism and Christianity in Dialogue for the past academic year.

He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in religion with a focus in Jewish mysticism from Oberlin College in Ohio, earned his master’s in Jewish studies from Hebrew College, and is a doctoral degree candidate in comparative theology at Boston College.

“I have always firmly believed in the importance of community educational opportunities, including the art of teaching which fosters spaces in which people can meet, discuss, and exchange ideas in a spirit of creativity and mutual understanding,” said Maayan in the release.

Free English/Spanish classes
ReDefiners World Languages provides free English and Spanish classes for parents and caregivers in Hillsborough County. All classes take place at the seven Children’s Board Family Resource Centers.

The program offers these language courses to develop skills critical to today’s workforce, and to enhance opportunities to foster and develop social and cultural competencies within families and communities.

Classes are now enrolling.

Participants can expect an eight-week series with classes meeting one time per week, for one-hour class periods.

All curricular materials are aligned with World-Readiness Standards for Language Learning, and the adult English curriculum aligns with standards for workforce development.

The classes are free, with funding from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County.

To enroll, visit Redefinerswl.org/learn-in-tampa-florida, or call 813-530-2313.

Pasco Schools seek solutions for disrespect, disruption

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An increasing number of fights in Pasco County Schools prompted Superintendent Kurt Browning to issue a warning to students and parents in March.

In essence, that message was: Fighting will not be allowed in district schools. If it happens, principals should refer students engaged in fighting for expulsion.

In a videotape announcing the crackdown, Browning said it’s not that the district wants to exclude students from school but that it simply will not tolerate that type of behavior.

Browning said the increasing number of fights indicated that the district had been too lenient.

At the Pasco County School Board’s June 7 meeting, Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong asked Browning: “Was our crackdown on fighting effective?”

Megan Harding

The superintendent responded: “Yes, it was. I don’t have the exact numbers, but I do know our numbers dropped significantly for the fourth quarter, after I made my announcement: I wasn’t playing.

“Staff has asked me: Is that going to be in place for next year?

“The answer is yes. It’s going to be in place next year, and we’re going to continue pushing it out and letting parents know that we’re not playing and you need to have conversations with your children about what appropriate behavior is, in a public setting.

“One fight and you will be put up for expulsion. It’s that simple.

“Harsh? Maybe. It depends on if you are a parent or a student or the teacher that is having to deal with, or the administrator that’s having to deal with it.

“For our teachers and administrators, it may not seem harsh enough.

“I do believe that it takes kind of a drastic step to get the attention of families and kids, to let them know that we are here to educate children. We are not here to referee fights.

“Unfortunately, where society has placed us, we often times play the role of a parent and that’s with the help of the state Legislature because they continue to require schools to do so many things that I believe ought to be being done at home, but they’re not. That’s another story, for another day.”

School board member Megan Harding said she understands there are tougher rules in place regarding fighting, but she wants to know how the district will address other behaviors that also are unacceptable.

“There are a lot of behaviors that need to be addressed, not only at the secondary level, but the elementary level, as well,” Harding said.

“I’ve heard stories of children throwing chairs, yelling, screaming and causing disruption. I’ve also seen students who are upset and leave the classroom, and support staff and admin are having to follow that child around.”

Megan asked if the board could have a discussion on that topic.

Armstrong agreed that the issue needs attention. “I think that’s a topic that we’re all interested in and it’s certainly a concern of the teachers and parents,” she said.

Browning responded: “Discipline continues to be a challenge. I will continue to say that it all starts in the home. It doesn’t start in the school. It starts in our homes. It manifests itself in our schools, and yet we’re the ones left to deal with the behaviors of these kids. Not all of our kids are ill-behaved. It’s usually a smaller group of kids that tend to consume the majority of time of our administrators and teachers,” he said.

“We continue to work on that. I will tell you, finding solutions is like nailing Jello to a tree. It’s near impossible to do that because the problem is so big, it is so complex and there’s not one single answer to it,” he said.

Browning noted that dealing with fighting it is easier mete out discipline.

“You have videos, in almost every school. You can see it. There’s no shadow of a doubt who hit whom,” Browning said.

But when it comes to disrespect, to cursing, to bad behavior — it’s difficult, Browning said.

“Our goal is not to place kids outside of school. It does not serve the child well. It does not serve the family well. It does not serve our community well, when we put kids out of school.

“But, we’ve got to make sure for those children who are disruptive, there’s some consequence for their behavior, so we can educate the ones who want to be in school,” Browning said.

The superintendent told the board that staff would provide an update when it had some firm ideas for addressing the issue.

Published June 22, 2022

Chalk Talk 06/22/2022

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From left: Heather Wallen; Melonie Monson; award recipients Erin Caffarelli, Diya Patel, Natalie O’Donovan, Emily Kirk, Emile Limoges and Madison Poe; Dr. Randy Stovall; and, Vicki Wiggins. (Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

A night of excellence
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce awarded $3,000 in scholarships to six Zephyrhills High School seniors at the school’s Night of Excellence Academic Awards Ceremony. Recipients of the scholarships were selected based on community service, presentation, character, and academic achievement.

These students each received $500 for the chamber’s Academic and Vocational Scholarships:

  • Erin Caffarelli plans to attend Pasco-Hernando State College and major in automotive engineering/technology.
  • Emily Kirk will attend Saint Leo University to major in sport business and marketing.
  • Emile Limoges plans to attend Black Hawk East College and major in agriculture science.
  • Natalie O’Donovan will attend Saint Leo University to major in elementary education.
  • Diya Patel has not yet decided on a college, but plans to major in pre-med.
  • Madison Poe will attend the University of Florida and focus on a degree in biology.

Community Job Fair
Pasco County Schools will host its seventh annual Pasco Community Job Fair on June 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Zephyrhills High School, 6335 12th St.

Participants can meet hiring managers from district departments, Pasco County Emergency Services, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Tax Collector, Pasco County BOCC, military branches, and more.

Job opportunities will be available in these areas: bus drivers, food service, information services/help desk, custodian, skilled trades, finance services, customer services, mechanics, and more.

Register online at EventBrite.com.

School Choice open
Pasco County Schools’ Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice application windows for the 2022-2023 school year close on June 24 at 4:30 p.m. Visit Pasco.k12.fl.u3/ed_choice.

(Courtesy of Renee Gerstein, Saint Leo University)

Key to the city awarded
Saint Leo University President Jeffrey D. Senese (center) received the key to the City of Tampa in May. Senese accepted the key on behalf of the university, which was a gift from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. Presenting the key were John Bennett, chief of staff for the city and mayor (left), and Tampa Police Department Assistant Chief of Operations Lee Bercaw. The presentation followed a doctoral hooding ceremony in which both Bennett and Bercaw received their Doctor of Criminal Justice hoods in advance of graduating from Saint Leo on May 14, with doctoral degrees.

Saint Leo admissions event
Saint Leo University will host “The Mane Event” on June 25 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for new and prospective undergraduate students. This is the last chance for incoming students to experience the university and its campus.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore Saint Leo’s academics, community and student services, while completing preparations for August classes.

The day will include class registration, financial aid meetings, department presentations, housing selection, parking registration, student ID photos, tours, residence hall walk-throughs, and more.

Students and their families can bring transcripts for the final round of Fall 2022 instant admission sessions, complete an on-site application, take placement exams, submit their deposit, and meet faculty and staff from various departments.

There also will be food trucks, prizes, music and giveaways.

Register online at SaintLeo.edu/mane-event.

For information, contact the Office of Admissions at 352-588-8283 or .

National Merit winners
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners, chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The finalists were judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

These students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were named $2,500 winners:

  • Daniel J. Urbonas, Land O’ Lakes (Land O’ Lakes High School). Probable career field: Computer Science
  • Lauren E. Novorska, Lutz (Hillsborough High). Probable career field: Law

The NMSC also announced the winners of the National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.

  • Aahan Dwivedi, Land O’ Lakes (Hillsborough High): University of Florida, physics
  • Leo P. Melson, Lutz (Middleton High): University of Central Florida, computer engineering
  • Lily Viet, Lutz, (King High): University of South Florida, biomedicine
  • Kenneth P. Chew, Wesley Chapel (Pasco High): University of Florida, computer programming

Teacher appreciation
Sonic Drive-In donated $1.5 million to help fund local education needs through DonorsChoose, a national nonprofit that allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom requests submitted by teachers.

As part of Sonic’s ongoing Limeades for Learning initiative, the brand matched 50% of each donation made to teacher requests on DonorsChoose for Teacher Appreciation Day, according to a news release.

These Land O’ Lakes teachers received funding:

  • Monique Large, Countryside Montessori Charter School, for the project SOLO Time, for grades six to eight
  • Brittany Leidel at Sanders Memorial Elementary, for the project Organize and Appreciate, for prekindergarten through second grade

Dade City teachers who received funding were:

  • Jo Ann Fiscus, Pasco Elementary, for the project Scribble and Write in Kindergarten, for prekindergarten through second grade
  • Julie Pitts, Pasco Elementary, for the project Reading Fun in First Grade, for prekindergarten through second grade
  • In Odessa, Josh Arnold at Walker Middle School, received funding for two projects: Pencils and More, and Class Store Supplies, for grades six to eight.

Summer meals program
Pasco County Schools Summer Food Service program continues through July 29.

Breakfasts and lunches will be provided Monday through Thursday to anyone age 18 and younger, at various West Pasco, Central Pasco and East Pasco schools.

Students attending PLACE or Extended School Year programs will receive meals on campus while attending the program.

For school locations, visit Connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/summerfoodpasco/site-locations/.

Additionally, buses will be available at these locations, also Monday through Thursday:

  • Hilltop Landings Apartments, 37611 Colina Drive, Dade City
  • Resurrection House Park, 37124 Lock St., Dade City
  • Trilby United Methodist Church, 37504 Trilby Road, Dade City
  • Zephyrhills YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills
  • Crystal Springs Community Center, 1655 Partridge Blvd., Zephyrhills

For questions and information, email .

Voters set to vote in primary election on proposed tax for school pay

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Voters are scheduled to decide the fate of a referendum for school pay raises on the Aug. 23 primary ballot.

The Pasco County Commission approved the Pasco County School Board’s request to place the ballot question on the primary ballot, as part of the county board’s consent agenda. Items on that agenda are approved in a single motion, without discussion.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, before the board’s vote, speakers urged the board to place the ballot issue on the general election ballot in November.

Erin Pike, representing Pasco Watch, urged the board to abide by a new state law, which takes effect on Oct. 1 and requires such referendum questions to be placed on the general election ballot.

“This will give you a true voice of the community,” Pike said.

“It’s well-known that a third of the voters show up for primaries, compared to general elections. There’s plenty of data to show that.

“All voices should be heard, as much as possible, to make sure the will of the people is heard and that’s your responsibility to do so. Vote no, on knowingly and willingly allowing the majority to not be heard.

“If you vote yes for this, you’ll be telling your constituents that you care more about what the school board wants, than making you sure you hear from the overall, collective voices, of Pasco County,” Pike said.

Another speaker, Jim Stanley, of Odessa, raised similar concerns.

“This legislation (H.B. 777) passed by nearly unanimous votes, in both houses of the Legislature and signed by Gov. DeSantis. Think about that. Nearly unanimous vote in the legislature is rare. You can hardly get both parties to agree today is Tuesday.

“But they came together and recognized the importance of having all voters weigh in on proposals to increase property taxes.

“The Legislature passed this bill because they know that general elections have three to five times the turnouts of primary votes and a tax which affects everyone, should be voted on by everyone,” Stanley said.

Other speakers raised similar concerns.

One speaker, from Dade City, asked: “Is there an ulterior motive behind it? Is there an attempt to manipulate the system? I pray not.

“My question became, why would we want to present any referendum, much less a tax referendum, on a ballot, when only a small fraction of the electorate will vote?” the speaker continued.

Another speaker, from New Port Richey, told the board: “It doesn’t seem right to me, that we put this on a primary ballot, where there are very few voters engaged, in voting in the election.

“It’s just not fair. It should go before the entire electorate,” she said.

Later on in the meeting, Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder noted that the board had left the issue on its consent agenda, but really didn’t have the option to change the date.

The board’s action to place the school board’s requested ballot initiative was “ministerial” in nature, Steinsnyder said.

“It’s not discretionary. You didn’t have a choice. It had to go on the ballot,” he said.

He also noted that the change in state law takes effect on Oct. 1.

“It is not in effect now, so you can’t rely on legislation that was passed this session. You had no choice but to honor the school board’s wishes and put it on the primary election,” Steinsnyder said.

At an April 5 school board workshop on the topic, it was estimated that a 1 mil increase would yield an average instructional boost of $4,000; for non-instructional, $1,700.

District calculations show that Pasco’s median home cost of $325,000, and assuming a $25,000 homestead exemption, a property owner would pay $300 more per year, if the increase is 1 mil.

Specifically, the ballot question asks for a yes or no vote on whether to levy an additional tax, not to exceed 1 mil,  beginning July 1, 2023 and ending no later than June 30, 2027.

The proceeds, according to the ballot question, will be used “for essential operating expenses to maintain salaries competitive with the market, attract and retain high-quality teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative school support employees.”

Published June 15, 2022

Pasco Schools superintendent won’t seek another term

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Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has announced he will not seek reelection, when his current term ends in 2024.

Browning was elected as superintendent by defeating incumbent Heather Fiorentino in the primary election of 2012 and by defeating write-in candidate Kathy Lambert in the general election.

Before running for superintendent of Pasco Schools, Browning served as Florida’s Secretary of State under governors Rick Scott and Charlie Crist.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning will not seek reelection, when his current term expires in 2024. (File)

Before that, he was Pasco County’s Supervisor of Elections for 26 years.

The schools superintendent announced his decision to not seek a fourth term in a June 2 YouTube video.

Browning said a variety of factors played a role in his decision, including many personal reasons.

“My wife, Kathy, is contemplating retirement and we have grandchildren who live out of state. “We want to be free to visit them more a lot more than we do.

“Some of the reasons are professional. I believe we are nearing the point where we will accomplish many of the goals I set out when I was first elected.

“Another reason? Well, it’s kind of a cliché, but you just know when it’s time.

“I am now in the  middle of my third term as superintendent. When I complete my term at the end of 2024, I will have served for 12 years.

“The tenure of superintendents these days is around five to six years. I can understand why so many of my colleagues move on, after five years or so.

“This job has been challenging and it has been gratifying. I have benefited from a supportive community and a great staff. And, without both, I never would have made it this far,” he said.

“I’m extremely proud of so many things we’ve accomplished. We’ve expanded school choice, with innovative programs.

“We have done an amazing job managing growth.

“We weathered the pandemic better than most.

“And, all along, we kept the finances in order.

“But this is not a time to look backwards.

“I am determined to spend the rest of my term looking forward.

“We have so much more to get done, and I hope my announcement today will instill an even greater sense of urgency.

“I definitely feel that sense of urgency.

“We have work to do and I intend to finish strong,” he said.

When Browning came into office, he said he wanted to create a school system with more choices for parents and students.

During his tenure, the district has expanded educational options for students, by adding more magnet schools and more magnet programs. It also has increased participation rates in rigorous courses.

Under Browning, in concert with the elected school board, the district also has expanded opportunities for students wishing to pursue technical career options.

Some highlights during Browning’s administration include the opening of Starkey Ranch K-8 in Odessa. This was the first district school specifically designed to serve kindergartner through eighth-graders.

Through a collaborative partnership involving the school board, Pasco County and the developer of the Starkey Ranch community, the school was deigned to include a library, open to the public, as well as to students; a theater, which can be used for school and community performances; and, a district park, which provides facilities for both public and student use.

The district also partnered with Pasco-Hernando State College on a project to locate the state college’s  Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) on a campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School, also in Wesley Chapel.

Students in the school system can take advantage of IPAC’s programs and facilities. There’s a direct tie-in to the programming offered by the school district, too. Cypress Creek Middle has a black box theater.

In the coming school year, the school district intends to open Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, also in the Wesley Chapel area. That school will feature a broad range of technical training programs, along with academic offerings.

The district also has begun construction on a 6-12 STEAM magnet (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) school.

The school is being built on a site in the heart of Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

When fully developed the cancer research hub is expected to attract life science companies and researchers from around the world to pursue breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer.

While the district has made strides, it also has faced increasing criticism from speakers during its public school board meetings. Issues sparking controversy have included mask mandates on school campuses, money spent on professional training, textbook selection and the timing of a referendum intended to generate funding for raises for non-administrative district personnel.

On another front, soon after Browning announced his departure in 2024, former State Sen. John Legg pre-filed with the Pasco Supervisor of Elections, declaring his intention to seek the post.

Legg has served in the state’s Senate and in its House of Representatives, and is the co-founder and chief financial officer of Day Spring Academy.

The charter school, which serves pre-school through 12th grade, has five campuses.

Published June 15, 2022