The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Chalk Talk 06/01/2022

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Cambridge recognition
San Antonio Elementary School has been recognized by Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International) as a Demonstration Center, an honor that means it can serve as a model for the prestigious program, according to a news release.

Demonstration Centers are qualified to host showcase events for teacheres, school administrators, and district leaders from around the nation who are interested in learning about Cambridge International.

Cambridge International is dedicated to helping schools deliver the best education possible by providing comprehensive support, including teacher professional development and training, classroom resources, and membership of a global learning community, the release said.

“This is a huge honor for San Antonio Elementary School and for our entire school district,” said Kurt Browning, Pasco superintendent of schools, in the release.

“This speaks volumes about the quality of our teachers and the leadership here. The opportunity this provides our students is incredible,” said Browning.

Pasco Middle School also has been honored as a Demonstration Center.

Visit CambridgeInternational.org for more information.

Finance Challenge
Land O’ Lakes High School is one of the top four teams in the United States for essential skills in personal finance, after winning the Florida state championship and national semifinal rounds in the National Personal Finance Challenge, according to a news release.

The team scored an all-expense-paid trip to New York City on June 5, to compete with three other teams in the national finals.

Organized by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), the Finance Challenge allows high school students to demonstrate mastery of earning, spending, saving, investing, and managing credit and risk.

Only 24 states require students to take a course in personal finance to graduate, according to the CEE and its 2022 Survey of the States.

The Land O’ Lakes team includes Andrew Domonkos, Allen Ho, Rishabh Kanodia and William Shelton, coached by teacher Andrew Camp.

Summer meals program
Pasco County Schools Summer Food Service program will begin on June 6 and continue 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 Street, 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 .

Student achievements
• Roland Anthony Chacon, of Lutz, earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Mars Hill University, North Carolina.
• Tyler Jacob Lala, of Odessa, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Mars Hill University.
• Madison Nichols, of Odessa, was named to the Dean’s List at Nazareth College, Rochester, New York.
• Dylan Schaffer, of Lutz, earned a spot on the Dean’s List at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri.

Award recipients
Pasco-Hernando State College announced the recipients of the annual NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence Awards.

The 2022 honorees include: Julie Hendrickson, associate professor and department chair, biological services; VickieAnn Laubach, Ed.D., assistant professor, nursing, and simulation coordinator, health and nursing programs; and Curtis Scaglione, professor and program director, information technology.

NISOD’s awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.

“Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” said Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD executive director, in a news release.

The NISOD membership organization is committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning and leadership at community and technical colleges.

For information, visit NISOD.org.

Chalk Talk 05/25/2022

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Kylie Culver, Saint Leo University Class of 2022 valedictorian, addresses graduating students on May 14. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo awards degrees
More than 1,200 students earned degrees from Saint Leo University, during two commencement ceremonies on May 14, according to a news release. Doctoral, master, bachelor and associate degrees were awarded.

Kylie Culver, of Tampa, served as valedictorian of the Class of 2022. In her commencement address, Culver noted how the graduates successfully completed their degree programs through a global health crisis.

“The Class of 2022 has been through a lot,” said Culver in the release.

“Not only did we have the regular challenges that come with being college students – making sure we got good grades, making friends, managing our time, and social lives, but we also have the additional challenge of living through a pandemic,” noted Culver.

Salutatorian for the class was David Pacheco, of Brentwood, New York.

Free summer program
The City of Zephyrhills will present the 2022 Free Summer Recreation Program from May 31 to July 7, Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

The program is limited to 120 students who have completed any grade in kindergarten through fifth grade, in 2021-2022.

For information and to register, visit www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us/225/Summer-Recreation-Information.

Student achievements

  • Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed new initiates from 78 universities. These local students were inducted: Jenna Boudrea (Lutz), University of South Florida; Madelynne Eash (Odessa), Jacksonville University; Hannah Everich (Lutz), University of South Florida; Dylan Gellett (Lutz), University of South Florida; Andrew Nissensohn (Lutz), Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia; and Zachary Rashas (Lutz), University of South Florida.
  • Andrea Denton, of Wesley Chapel, was recognized to the President’s List at Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas.
  • Timothy Elko, of Lutz, earned a Master of Science from the University of Mississippi Graduate School. Elko majored in sports analytics.
  • Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee, has recognized Danielle Frances and Jenna Freligh, both of Lutz, to the Dean’s List.
  • Wolfang Louk, of Lutz, and Faith Quinn and Grace Quinn, of Wesley Chapel, were named to the Dean’s List at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas.
  • Southern New Hampshire University named these local students to its President’s List: Jennifer Nalley, Odessa; Masum Rahman, Odessa; and Allie Ungerecht, Lutz.
  • Madison Nichols, of Odessa, earned a bachelor degree in psychology, at Nazareth College, Rochester, New York
  • Sean Saccomanno, of Land O’ Lakes, was recognized to the Dean’s List at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.

Kids Tag Art fundraiser
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan presented the results of its first ever Kids Tag Art Program to the Hillsborough County School Board. The inaugural event raised $33,769, and will provide $1,200 for art supplies and materials to each participating eleentary school, according to a news release.

The Kids Art Program is a creative fundraiser that gives Title I, fifth-grade elementary school students the opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities by designing front license vanity plates in art class.

The plate designs are printed on metal plates, and then sold to family, friends and to the public.

Proceeds from the plate sales and sponsorships go back to the participating schools, to help support their arts program.

Humanitarian Awards
High school students throughout Pasco County recently were honored during the Florida Holocaust Museum’s 2022 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award event.

The award recognizes the outstanding humanitarian actions of high school juniors who have worked to better the lives of others at their schools and in their communities.

“These students are already leaders, being honored for their acts of kindness and for making a difference in our community,” said Superintendent Kurt Browning in a news release.

The winners in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, are: McKenna Yingling, Cypress Creek High School; Aross Adhikary, Land O’ Lakes High; Johana Morales, Pasco High; Benjamin Borton, Sunlake High; Angelica Chirino, Wesley Chapel High; Kate Niehoff, Wiregrass Ranch High; and Jamarius Giles, Zephyrhills High.

Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its board meeting on June 21 at 6 p.m., at the North Campus.

Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing. Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.

For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on Policies and Procedures, Public Disclosures.

Planet Fitness offers pass
Planet Fitness is offering a High School Summer Pass program through Aug. 31, for all high-schoolers ages 14 to 19.

Students will be able to work out at no cost, at any Planet Fitness location.

The fitness center aims to help teenagers stay physically and mentally fit over the summer, by providing a way to exercise for free while school is out.

The program, which used to be called the Teen Summer Challenge, first launched in 2019, and more than 900,000 teens signed up.

To encourage teens to take advantage of the program, all participants automatically will be entered into a sweepstakes awarding one person, in each state, with a $500 scholarship.

Additionally, one grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded at the end of the summer.

The scholarships can be used for academic or athletic activities, or other programs.

Teens can preregister for the program online at PlanetFitness.com/summerpass.

Pasco Schools begin ramping up ‘engagement’ efforts

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When it comes to engaging with families and the community, there are some bright spots in Pasco County Schools — but there’s no consistency.

Alison Crumbley

The issue exists throughout the district, and at every level, those are some of the key findings in a report shared with the Pasco County School Board at a workshop in April.

The district has identified community engagement as one of its top priorities and, as it attempts to make improvements, it has been working with TNTP, a national consulting company.

A Landscape Analysis has been done to get to know Pasco and its needs.

“Every community is unique,” said Janet King, of TNTP.

“So, we really need to start by understanding the place’s unique history, needs and priorities.

“Even within a district, communities are not monolithic, so it’s really important to look across a county and to understand that different parts of a county have different ways of accessing information, and different challenges and different resources that we need to understand before we build any kind of plan or solution.

“Finally, without this understanding, any improvement efforts are not likely to last because it’s not responsive to what families and community members most want and need, and works for them,” she said.

The Landscape Analysis included:

  • Market research: Taking a deep look into Pasco’s unique history, demographics, landscape and growth patterns
  • Asset mapping: Peeling back the layers of who’s doing great work in Pasco and who could be great potential partners
  • Insights Survey: Surveyed 38 representative schools, using TNTP’s survey, to enable the results to be benchmarked nationally
  • Listening Tour: Conducted focus groups, one-on-one sessions and superintendent-led sessions. In short, the sessions asked: “What are your experiences? What’s working? What can be improved?”

The efforts included:

  • 5,397 caregiver/stakeholder surveys
  • Eight parent/caregiver focus groups, including two conducted in Spanish
  • 42 community stakeholder interviews
  • Five student focus groups
  • Four teacher focus groups
  • Five superintendent-led listening tour sessions

In total, the efforts have included more than 70 hours of listening, said TNTP’s King, who shared findings from TNTP’s work during an April workshop with Pasco County School Board.

Colleen Beaudoin

Vanessa Hilton, the district’s chief academic officer, said TNTP was brought in to help the district to develop its capacity to improve its efforts regarding community engagement.

The district also formed its own Community Engagement Task Force, made up of district personnel representing different departments, roles and responsibilities. The task force includes school board member Alison Crumbley and assistant superintendent Dr. Kim Moore.

Hilton said the district realizes “we have lots of bright spots around the district in regards to our school efforts, but not yet, an intentional, meaningful strategy from the district level.”

Efforts to establish authentic engagement are important because it has a real impact on student achievement, King said.

“Research shows that when families and communities are engaged, it makes a real difference for students. Increased family engagement has been linked to higher test scores, increased school readiness, better attendance and decreased suspension rates for students,” she said.

Assistant Superintendent Moore noted that some of the school system’s challenges stem from its rampant growth. In the 1999-2000 school year, the school district’s enrollment was 46,458; now, its 82,377.

“That growth puts a strain on our resources. It puts a strain on how we operate as a school district,” Moore said.

“We have to look at putting in systems so our community feels that they can come in and interact with us, and be an authentic partner with us,” Moore said.

“Many of our community leaders, they want to partner with us. They don’t know how. They don’t where to go, to connect with us,” she said.

Cynthia Armstrong

They call the district and they get passed from one person to the next.

“That increases their level of frustration and then they give up. They want to work with us. They want to support our students,” Moore said.

Steve Hegarty, public information officer for Pasco County Schools, said, in general, the district pushes out information. And, when it seeks feedback, it doesn’t routinely reach back and let people know what it did with the feedback it received.

The lack of systemwide expectation for school-based family engagement has resulted in inconsistent experiences for families, Hegarty said.

One of the issues is the variety of tools that is used to communicate with parents.

The variety of communication methods and styles can be confusing.

“If you’re a parent with three kids in the system, you might have three different ways that you’re being communicated with,” Hegarty said, adding that can be frustrating for parents.

School board member Crumbley said improving community engagement is crucial.

“This is really such important work because it touches everything we do in the school district. Everything. It really does. It has so much to do with the success of our students and our families,” Crumbley said.

She’s particularly alarmed by the survey results that reveal the connection in secondary is far below the national average.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said she wasn’t surprised by the findings, noting these issues have persisted for years.

She suggested the district build on what’s working.

Beaudoin also pointed out the need to devise training that is focused and avoids wasting staff time.

Kurt Browning

School board member Megan Harding asked: “If we’re trying to engage the community, shouldn’t we have some parents on that task force as well? We need to be sure that we are listening to those groups.”

Harding likes the idea of holding town hall meetings, to add a forum for engagement.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said when people want to know more about a school, they’ll visit its website.

She’s visited nearly all of them and she’s not impressed by the inconsistency she found.

“There’s nobody in charge of the websites at the schools. It’s whoever has an interest in it.

“That just doesn’t work, from what I saw,” she said.

While one school may offer a plethora of information; another might just say when lunch money is due.

Both Armstrong and member Allen Altman also said greater efforts are needed to inform the general public — who do not have children in school — about accomplishments within the district.

When he talks to people who don’t have students in the district, Altman said that many have no clue about the positive things that are happening. Instead, they only know the negative news they’ve read or heard.

Shifting mindset
Superintendent Kurt Browning agrees that much work lies ahead, and added that establishing authentic community engagement will require a broad-scale commitment.

“It cannot be just a small group of people in this district running, managing the community engagement work. It has got to be a districtwide effort. Not only that, but I’ll also say, community-wide.

“Beyond setting clear expectations, the district needs to develop tools and provide training, to shift the mindset,” the superintendent said.

The effort needs to involve “all district staff, whether you’re a bus driver, an entry operator, a school teacher, a principal, a superintendent,” Browning said.

Efforts to develop a plan of action are under way and more details are expected in June.

Community Engagement in Pasco Schools

Some key findings

  • Many community leaders want to partner with the district, but don’t know where to go or what the district needs.
  • District communication practices with community leaders tend to be one-way; stakeholders want more transparency and opportunities to provide feedback.
  • Where there are bright spots, there are not system-wide expectations for school-based family engagement, resulting in inconsistent experiences for families.
  • A lot of information is provided to caregivers at the school level, but it is not streamlined, consistent or focused on how they can support their student.
  • Parents want to know what their children are learning and how they can help.

Issues identified
Comments contained in TNTP’s report reveal the school district has myriad issues, when it comes to communication and engagement.

Here are some comments from the report:

  • “It is great to know that it is blue T-shirt day, but I want to know what my children (are) learning and how they are doing.” (Elementary and middle school caregiver)
  • “I left voicemails and never got a response. As a community partner, that is disappointing. I hope that they are not missing other opportunities.” (Community organization staff member)
  • “Sometimes community input and engagement is more of a ‘checking a box’ exercise, rather than meaningful participation.” (Community Engagement Task Force member)
  • “Each teacher communicates differently. There are many portals, that we, as parents, have to access.” (Elementary school caregiver)
  • “The communications from teachers are inconsistent.” (Elementary school parent)
  • “I wish the teachers all shared a cohesive communication standard.” (Caregiver)
  • “We should have town halls and be asked: ‘What do you think?’” (Community leader)

Source: TNTP Community Engagement report

Published May 18, 2022

Ms. Staney retires for a second time, this time at 75

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As staff members arrive at Sand Pine Elementary each day, they know one thing for certain: Corey Staney already will be there.

The 75-year-old second-grade teacher is first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at the end of the day.

“Her work ethic — it’s legendary,” said Shay Peck, a fellow second-grade teacher.

Ms. Staney is also known for her warmth.

Sand Pine Elementary second-grade teacher Corey Staney, 75, speaks to her classroom about proper grammar and elements of an article during a lesson. Stanley has been an educator for 53 years, has been at Sand Pine since 2007, and plans to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. (Mike Camunas)

“When I first started here (at Sand Pine), I was 25 and she was so welcoming,” Peck said. “She taught me to be kind, always.”

Staney’s presence is comforting, too.

“Every school needs a grandma,” Peck said, jokingly, but also lovingly.

Ms. Staney has been a teacher for 53 years, spending the last 15 at the elementary school tucked inside the Meadow Pointe Community.

Her career as an educator may be coming to an end, but she expects to return again.

Well, in a way.

“Oh, she’s already figured out when she can come back — about a year after retiring — to volunteer,” Sand Pine Principal Christina Twardosz said.

Ms. Staney is invested.

The principal said Ms. Staney is the first to say: “‘They (the kids) need us. I need to be here.

“And she is always here. She’s never sick — basically perfect attendance, but she’s also always there for the kids, academically and emotionally,” Twardosz said.

The principal added: “I mean, she’s been teaching longer than I have been here — not (just) at the school — (but) alive in this world!”

The teacher’s colleague, Nathan Moore, said: “People her age, they’d be out on an island or living it up, but she loves what she does.

“You don’t replace Ms. Staney.

“What’s awesome about her is that she cares about her students like no one I’ve ever seen,” Moore said. “She always has her kids on her mind. That’s her passion to not only help them academically, but as a person — to see them grow to their fullest potential.

“To have her as a mentor, it’s been amazing,” he added.

Ms. Staney began teaching, alongside her husband, Joe — a former teacher and assistant principal — in Worcester, Massachusetts.

They met at Worcester State University, formerly Worcester State College, at a time when Ms. Staney was certain she’d be a teacher for life.

But then she had some second thoughts.

“When I was a sophomore, I said to my dad that I didn’t know if I wanted to be a teacher.

“I even left school.

Longtime elementary school educator Corey Staney, left, speaks with Sand Pine Elementary Principal Christina Twardosz. Staney is 75 years old and has been an educator for 53 years. She plans to retire at the end of this school year.

“I went to work for an insurance company and knew right away that wasn’t for me.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher for sure, so I went back to school, right away, and have been at school ever since.”

After spending 36 years as a teacher in Massachusetts, Ms. Staney and her husband decided in 2005 that they wanted to retire early and move to Florida. The couple had two children and three grandchildren.

The retirement, however, was short-lived.

After being in Florida for just two weeks down here, her husband required quadruple bypass surgery and then an angioplasty soon after.

Ms. Staney had help from her daughter, Lisa, to care for her husband, but she needed to find work and needed medical coverage for her husband.

She tutored in the neighborhood and did the same thing at the nearby Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Meadow Pointe.

That turned into a preschool teaching position and then she joined Sand Pine as a second-grade teacher.

Over the years, she’s touched thousands of lives, and has even kept in touch with some of them.

Students in her class speak highly of Ms. Staney.

“She’s a perfect teacher,” 8-year-old Kaylanis Rodriguez said. “She’s nice and she always makes us learn new things that we always love to learn about.”

“She has a lot of stories,” added 8-year-old Evan Kalojiannis. “I didn’t know she had been a teacher for so long, but she has a lot of funny stories that help us learn.”

Saying goodbye is never easy, Ms. Staney said, adding it will be especially difficult this year.

Teaching children has been such a source of joy for her.

“They’ll just make your whole day,” said Ms. Staney, flashing a broad smile.

“It’s worth it to get up and see the kids first thing in the morning. I loved every minute of it.”

Published May 18, 2022

Pasco schools feeling the pain of rising insurance costs

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As Pasco County Schools seeks out an additional source of funding for employee pay raises, through a voter referendum, it also is dealing with increasing costs for insurance.

During the May 3 Pasco County School Board meeting, Kevin Shibley, assistant superintendent for administration, briefed the board on rising health insurance costs.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he told the board, “obviously changed the dynamics of our health insurance plan fairly significantly.

‘I don’t think there is anybody in the room that is not aware that the property market in Florida is just in utter chaos,’ – School board member Allen Altman (File)

“You will see that we have experienced a drastic increase in claims to the plan; revenues have been stable, which is good, but when claims are increasing and revenue is not, you start to run into deficit issues.

“We do believe that some of this is a result of increased COVID claims, so we have been using some of the federal relief money to plug those holes, but we are also not convinced that all of the increases are a result of COVID claims, so there are some pretty significant discussions happening within the insurance committee right now, to discuss how to handle those recurring claims that will persist, once the COVID claims run out and we stop receiving bills and invoices for those claims.

“For the current fiscal year, cash flow for the health insurance fund is actually negative $9.4 million, so that is a pretty significant deficit.

“Again, a good portion of that is connected to COVID claims that are being paid by the plan, but not all of them are.

“So, we will continue to work with the committee, about not only ways to raise revenue, but also to restructure the plan and the claims liability and make some claims design changes to bring that budget into balance for next year.”

School board member Allen Altman, who serves on the district’s insurance committee told his colleagues: “There will have to be some changes of some sort, and they’re aware of that. Mr. (Don) Peace and his team (from United School Employees of Pasco) are equal partners on that committee, and they’re already cooperatively working toward moving ahead and trying to get ahead of that.”

The news isn’t good on the property insurance front, either, Altman said.

“I don’t think there is anybody in the room that is not aware that the property market in Florida is just in utter chaos,” Altman said.

He said he recently attended a meeting involving the group that represents hundreds of government entities.

“Florida is now viewed as the most difficult state in the union for a municipality or school district or government entity to get insurance. Both property and liability,” Altman said.

On average, reinsurance costs are running about 30% higher. By comparison, Pasco’s increase is expected to be about 9%, Altman said.

“We’re fortunate. There are some other districts, coastal districts, but south of us, that are struggling to even get a renewal offer,” Altman said.

The entire state is grappling with property insurance issues — prompting calls for legislative action to address the problem.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special session of the Legislature, which is scheduled to convene on May 23 and to end on May 27. The purpose of the session to is consider legislation relating property insurance, reinsurance, the Office of Insurance, civil remedies and appropriations.

Published May 18, 2022

Seeking photos of your favorite grad

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It doesn’t matter if your favorite graduate is finishing prekindergarten, wrapping up fifth grade, moving up from middle school, or collecting a high school diploma or bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree — we want to help you celebrate, by sharing your favorite grad’s photo.

All we need is a photo of a happy, touching or funny moment from the big day, or party.

Posed photos or spontaneous photos are fine. If you send a group shot, please ID the people in the photo from left to right; also, please send us an individual shot of the graduate, too, to give us a better chance of being able to include the graduate on our photo page, or pages.

Be sure to include the graduate’s first and last name, and the name of the student’s school.

Feel free to include a sentence or two, about your favorite grad.

And include your contact information, so we can reach back, if we have questions.

Every photo submitted will be considered for publication.

Please send your submissions by June 1 to ">.

We plan to publish our graduation photo package on June 8.

Published May 18, 2022

Chalk Talk 05/18/2022

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From left: Sophie Biddle, Laney Stoss-Cordeiro, Michael McKnight, Michaela Cordeiro and Lex Cordeiro attend the Tampa Bay Homeschool Inclusive Prom. (Courtesy of Denise Mestanza-Taylor)

Inclusive prom fills a need for many
A group of local homeschooling parents banded together to create Tampa Bay’s Homeschool Inclusive Prom, the first of its kind in the area that welcomed LGBTQ+ teens and allies, according to a news release.

Denise Mestanza-Taylor, founder of the prom, saw a need and wanted to make a change.

“As a homeschooling parent of an LGBTQIA+ teen, I wanted to create a safe, welcoming, and affirming space for all teens to formally dress as they identify. Through word of mouth, other homeschool parents stepped up to build something beautiful for our teens,” Mestanza-Taylor said in the release.

Local businesses donated services, too, including event space provided by Metro Inclusive Health; music and entertainment provided by the Rose Dynasty Foundation; and photography by Elizabeth Dugan Creative.

About 100 area homeschool students attended the “Starry Night” prom.

A group of students from Learning Gate Community School took a field trip to Lake Park to help bluebirds. (Courtesy of Joni Hartzler)

Young birders learn about bluebirds
Students from Learning Gate Community School in Lutz recently took a field trip to Lake Park and met with bluebird handlers and monitors, Joni Hatzler and Gary Krotz of Tampa Audubon.

Led by teacher Jim McGinity, students were able to help with the bluebirds’ nesting habits and install a new nest box, adding to the 25 boxes that currently are maintained and monitored at the park.

They also helped by prepping the inside of the new box, installing a predator guard, and securing the box at the needed height and location on a pole.

Tampa Audubon is an active chapter whose mission is to conserve and restore ecosystems, focusing on birds, wildlife and their habitats through education, advocacy and community involvement.

To learn more about Tampa Audubon, visit TampaAudubon.org.

Open house
Fundamental Minds Education Services, 26809 Tanic Drive, Suite 102, in Wesley Chapel, will host an open house on May 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Academic services are offered for kindergarten through 12th-grade students, including tutoring, test preparation, foreign languages (Spanish, French and Chinese), life skills, and elective classes (art, coding/computer science, STEM, and more).

Classes are taught by a certified teacher in a private or small group setting of up to eight students, both in person and virtually.

Summer classes include Academic Preview/Review; Coding; Financial Literacy; Arts & Crafts; and Spanish.

For information, visit FundamentalsMinds.com, or call 813-618-3559.

Parent forum
Lift Up Pasco!, Pasco Advocates PTSA, and Gary Cucchi LLC Florida Educators Insurance will sponsor “Lift Up Pasco! Parents Speak Up” on May 23 at 7 p.m., via Zoom.

The forum will provide information and answers to parents’ questions about the school board’s Aug. 23 ballot referendum, according to a news release.

The referendum, which was approved May 3 by the Pasco County School Board, asks voters to allow the board to increase property tax millage by up to one mill with proceeds going exclusively to increase non-administrative employee pay. It would be effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027, unless extended by voters, and the school district would be required to report annually to the public on its expenditures, the release said.

Representatives from Lift Up Pasco!, the political action committee led by school district retirees and established to educate the public about the referendum, and school district experts will present details of the proposal and take questions submitted to the moderator.

Participants need to complete the Pasco Advocates PTSA Google form, at tinyurl.com/yckpcrec, to be admitted into the meeting.

Transfer student info
Saint Leo University welcomes prospective transfer students who recently received their associate degrees from Pasco-Hernando State College.

Saint Leo’s East Pasco Education Center will host a virtual Transfer Student Information Session on May 26 at 6 p.m., for those interested in pursuing a bachelor degree.

Registration is online at tinyurl.com/4hvwwe9w.

For information, contact Matthew Lenihan, center director, at or 352-588-7451.

Free summer program
The City of Zephyrhills will present the 2022 Free Summer Recreation Program from May 31 to July 7, Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

The program is limited to 120 students who have completed any grade in kindergarten through fifth grade, in 2021-2022.

For information and to register, visit www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us/225/Summer-Recreation-Information.

Degree awarded
Kaylyn Burr, of Lutz, received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University-Mankato. Burr graduated summa cum laude.

Planet Fitness offers pass
Planet Fitness is offering a High School Summer Pass program through Aug. 31, for all high-schoolers ages 14 to 19.

Students will be able to work out at no cost, at any Planet Fitness location.

The fitness center aims to help teenagers stay physically and mentally fit over the summer, by providing a way to exercise for free while school is out.

The program, which used to be called the Teen Summer Challenge, first launched in 2019, and more than 900,000 teens signed up.

To encourage teens to take advantage of the program, all participants automatically will be entered into a sweepstakes awarding one person, in each state, with a $500 scholarship.

Additionally, one grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded at the end of the summer.

The scholarships can be used for academic or athletic activities, or other programs.

Teens can preregister for the program online at PlanetFitness.com/summerpass.

School pay raise vote to go on August ballot

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The Pasco County School Board has voted to ask the Pasco County Commission to place a referendum for school district employee pay raises on the Aug. 23 primary ballot.

Initially, the school board had voted to seek to have the question placed on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. But during its May 3 meeting, the board voted to amend its original request.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd suggested the switch, in background materials contained in the board’s agenda packet.

He explained the rationale for the change this way: “I am making this recommendation for two reasons: This will eliminate any confusion between the salary referendum and the local infrastructure surtax (Penny for Pasco) that will be on the general election ballot.

“Additionally, nonpartisan school board races are being held during the August primary and the salary referendum fits well with the school board races.”

There was pushback on the request during the public comment portion of the board’s meeting.

Some parents were skeptical about the shift from the general election to the primary.

One said fewer voters participate in primary elections and thus, the vote will not be truly representative of the community, as a whole.

Another said that rather than raising taxes, there needs to be greater scrutiny in how the district spends its money.

Speakers said they support better pay for district personnel, but not through the referendum.

A representative for a group called Lift Up Pasco said the group is made up of volunteers who support the referendum and will be working to support its passage. They said the additional source of funding will improve education, and thus, will enhance the community, as a whole.

The referendum question asks voters to approve up to a maximum of 1 mil in funding to be designated for improving pay for teachers, bus drivers and other district personnel, except for administrators.

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.”

There also is a requirement for “annual reporting to Pasco County taxpayers for transparency of the use of these funds.”

The board’s vote to pursue up to a full mil, followed persistent requests by Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco (USEP), urging the board to seek the ballot initiative. The union has pledged to give its full support to efforts to secure passage of the referendum.

Board members have said the request is necessary in order for Pasco to recruit, retain and reward district personnel.

They also noted the district is losing personnel to nearby districts that offer better pay. It also is losing staff to burnout, resulting from a combination of additional stress from fatigue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a shortage of district workers.

The shortage of bus drivers prompted the district to change its school ending and starting times for the second semester this year. And, the shortage also was cited by the district as one of the reasons it has decided to end courtesy bus rides, beginning next school year, for sixth- through 12th-graders living within 2 miles of school.

Board members said action is needed because the district is losing too many employees to other districts, or to industry jobs.

In a video released after the board’s action, Superintendent Kurt Browning said the additional source of money is needed.

“For too long, we have struggled to remain competitive with other school districts in the area,” Browning said, in the video.

In other pay-related news
The union and district instructional bargaining teams have reached a tentative agreement for the 2021-2022.

Under that agreement, teachers will receive a one-time lump sum supplement equal to 4% of their salary, and the base teacher salary will be raised to $45,200 in accordance with state statute, according to information posted on the union’s website.

The union and district also have agreed to return to the bargaining table immediately after the ratification of the 2021-2022 contract to begin negotiating additional salary improvements for 2022-2023.

The union and district also have reached a tentative agreement for school-related personnel for the 2021-2022 school year.

The union and district agreed to the 4% supplement for school-related personnel and also agreed to a guaranteed minimum for all school-related personnel.

Also, the parties will immediately open the 2022-2023 contract year to begin to bargain additional recurring raises to deal with compression as the district moves toward the minimum $15 per hour minimum requirement, beginning in October 2022, according to the union’s website.

Published May 11, 2022

Chalk Talk 05/11/2022

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Showering teachers with tokens of appreciation
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has always prioritized education, and supports the local teachers and schools often. Club member Sabrina Scott, center, recently visited the Lutz K-8 School to deliver snacks and treats to PTA representatives, which were distributed to the teachers as small tokens of the club’s gratitude and in commemoration of Teacher Appreciation Week. Similar gifts of appreciation were delivered to the teachers at Connerton Elementary and Miles Elementary, as well. The woman’s club has supported these three schools for many years.

Eighth USF president named
Florida’s Board of Governors has confirmed Rhea Law as the University of South Florida’s (USF) eighth president. Law spent the past eight months serving as interim president, and is the first USF alum to fill the role, according to a University News post.

“Under her leadership, the university recently experienced the most transformational legislative session in USF history, with record-setting investments in operations on all three USF campuses. She also led the effort to complete USF’s new five-year strategic plan, created a collaborative working group to develop a more transparent budget model and has fostered greater communication and collaboration across campuses,” the post said.

Law also is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the USF Law Alumni Society, served as a member of the USF Research Foundation Board, and was named a 2018 Distinguished Alumna by the USF Alumni Association.

Planet Fitness offers pass
Planet Fitness will offer a High School Summer Pass program from May 16 through Aug. 31, for all high-schoolers ages 14 to 19.

Students will be able to work out at no cost, at any Planet Fitness location.

The fitness center aims to help teenagers stay physically and mentally fit over the summer, by providing a way to exercise for free while school is out.

The program, which used to be called the Teen Summer Challenge, first launched in 2019, and more than 900,000 teens signed up.

To encourage teens to take advantage of the program, all participants automatically will be entered into a sweepstakes awarding one person, in each state, with a $500 scholarship.

Additionally, one grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded at the end of the summer.

The scholarships can be used for academic or athletic activities, or other programs.

Teens can preregister for the program online at PlanetFitness.com/summerpass.

Ukulele for home-schoolers
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Ukulele Basics class for home-schoolers on May 17 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Participants can learn the basics during this hands-on workshop, presented by Candy Otte of the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society.

Ukuleles will be provided, but home-schoolers can reserve a ukulele to play at home later.

Masks are recommended, but not required.

Registration is a must, online at PascoLibraries.org.

College prep seminar
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will present “Preparing for College: Academically, Socially and Financially,” on May 17 at 4:30 p.m.

High school and middle school students and families can attend, to learn about the importance of preparing early for college. Topics also will include how to gain acceptance and how to fund the college of your choice.

Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org.

Free summer program
The City of Zephyrhills will present the 2022 Free Summer Recreation Program from May 31 to July 7, Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

The program is limited to 120 students who have completed any grade in kindergarten through fifth grade, in 2021-2022.

For information and to register, visit www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us/225/Summer-Recreation-Information.

Citizens of the Month
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has named 13 students as Citizens of the Month, for March and April.

Students are chosen by the teachers and administrators of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community.

These students received recognition: Ivani Sharrock and Nicholas Dester, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Jordan Reed, The Broach School; Parker Dixon and James Spivey, Chester Taylor Elementary; Evelean Grantham and Lazaro Martin, Heritage Academy; Gissel Garcia-Romero and Lacy Ferris, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Mackenzie Gavin and Nathaniel Fuller, Woodland Elementary; and Annalyse Guash and Brooke Lea, Zephyrhills High.

Student inductions
Rebecca Moore, of Odessa, and Alex Kiester, of Lutz, have been inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Florida Southern College.

Saint Leo awards degrees
Saint Leo University will host a doctoral hooding ceremony on May 13, for more than 40 students receiving degrees in business administration, criminal justice, and education.

Two in-person commencement ceremonies will take place on May 14, at which time degrees (doctoral, master, bachelor and associate) will be awarded to more than 1,200 students.

Kylie Culver will be honored as the Class of 2022 valedictorian, and will deliver the official “farewell.” Culver will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in history, and minors in Spanish and world politics.

The salutatorian is David Pacheco, who will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in computer science, information assurance.

For details on the times and ceremony locations on campus, visit SaintLeo.edu.

To access a livestream, visit the school’s website, where a link will be posted the day of.

Best high schools ranked
U.S. News & World Report has named the best high schools in the Tampa area, as well as national rankings, according to its website, USnews.com.

The top 10 high schools were ranked as follows:

  • Plant High, No. 1 in Tampa; No. 632 in National Rankings
  • Steinbrenner High, No. 2 Tampa; No. 742 National
  • Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High, No. 3 Tampa; No. 790 National
  • Newsome High, No. 4 Tampa; No. 903 National
  • Palm Harbor University High, No. 5 Tampa; No. 985 National
  • Osceola Fundamental High, No. 6 Tampa; No. 1,326 National
  • Robinson High, No. 7 Tampa; No. 1,351 National
  • St. Petersburg Collegiate High, No. 8 Tampa; No. 1,354 National
  • Sickles High, No. 9 Tampa; No. 1,367 National
  • Land O’ Lakes High, No. 10 Tampa; No. 1,380 National

Other area school rankings in Tampa included Wiregrass Ranch High, No. 12; Mitchell High, No. 14; and Sunlake High, No. 15.

Hillsborough Virtual School came in at No. 19 in the Tampa area.

Elected leaders are trying to figure out how to get kids to school safely

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When Pasco County Schools announced it would be dropping courtesy busing for middle and high school students next school year, local residents began seeking other answers from local elected leaders.

The decision affects about 3,000 students, who live closer than 2 miles from school. It doesn’t affect elementary school students.

The district’s rationale for ending the courtesy bus rides is that it will take some of the strain off the bus driver shortage, and should help with getting students to school on time and reducing wait times for students needing to be transported home after school.

Courtesy bus rides are expected to end this fall for sixth- through 12th-graders living within 2 miles of Pasco County Schools. The school district’s decision has prompted discussion among elected leaders of various government boards. (File)

Plus, the state doesn’t pay for those courtesy bus rides.

Since the district’s announcement, the issue has been sparking conversations among other elected government leaders.

During the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting a couple of weeks after the announcement, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore told his MPO board colleagues: “I don’t know if you are, but I’ve gotten several emails from constituents with concerns.

“How is that going to work with our prioritization of sidewalks?” Moore asked other elected members on the board, which is responsible for transportation planning throughout Pasco County.

There are many areas within 2 miles of schools that lack sidewalks, Moore noted. “Students will have to walk in yards or in streets,” he said.

Moore than asked whether there were ways for the county board and the school board to work together to attract funding for additional sidewalks.

Tina Russo, a planner for the MPO, responded: “We feel the urgency. This has been a big discussion with all of our folks in the county, with figuring out the best way to move forward.

“There is a school safety group that meets monthly that discusses several different things, whether it be crossing guards, traffic officers, sidewalks, all of those things.

“Right now, we’re working on a county process of how we’re going to fund sidewalks and rank them, and then go after different pots of funding,” she said.

Russo added: “There’s nothing easy about it.”

Moore said if there any grants available, action is needed now.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Kathryn Starkey agreed solutions must be found.

However, she added: “There has to be a process, where they identify the most critical ones. That’s a lengthy process.”

Right of way must be secured, and in some cases the property owners are unwilling to sell, Moore said. That requires eminent domain — a process the county likes to avoid, he added.

“The most concerning thing is time,” said Camille Hernandez, who was attending her final MPO meeting before leaving her role as mayor of Dade City.

“It takes so long,” she said, to secure funding, acquire right of way and get sidewalks built.

“There really needs to be creative thinking here. We can’t wait,” Hernandez said.

“It’s really going to be an activist kind of movement, in the interim, whether it’s walking groups or biking groups — it’s going to have to be alternative methods,” she said.

Starkey said one potential solution is called a Walking School Bus. Essentially, it’s a group of students walking together to school, chaperoned by volunteer adults.

In addition to concerns raised by the MPO, the issue came up again at the Pasco County Planning Commission meeting, during discussion of a rezoning request.

Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district, was asking whether a proposed project had sidewalks.

That’s a critical issue, Williams said, because of the shortage of bus drivers and the lack of state funding for bus rides within 2 miles of school. The state does allow some bus rides within 2 miles, but the walking conditions must be deemed dangerous by very specific state standards.

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein told the planning board: “The MPO board expressed a great deal of concern about us having inadequate sidewalks to the schools.

“I think it is a high priority for our board (Pasco County Commission) to get that issue dealt with. There is a program called Safe Routes to Schools, but it is a fairly slow process to get sidewalks built.

Goldstein noted that at least one commissioner “said maybe the county should be looking at spending some Penny for Pasco money, as part of the renewal, to prioritize all of these sidewalks and get them built quickly.”

To make that happen, the county would need cooperation from the school district to identify areas where there’s an immediate needs for sidewalks, Goldstein said.

“I would think the voters would support getting these sidewalks built for safe transportation to schools. We just need to know where the proper locations are to do that,” Goldstein said.

Planning board chairman Charles Grey agreed the issue is important.

“It is a valid concern and I think it is something that we, as a county, need to address,” Grey said.

Discussions on the topic are likely to continue within the coming months, before the courtesy bus rides are slated to end in the fall.

Published May 04, 2022