Education

Chalk Talk 02/09/2022

February 8, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Immigrant scholarships
TheDream.US, a college access program for immigrant youth, is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Applications are open to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS, who came to the United States before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2016.

TheDream.US offers the national scholarship to undocumented first-time college students or community college graduates living in Florida to attend one of these Partner Colleges: University of Central Florida, Valencia College, Broward College, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, Palm Beach State College, University of South Florida, and Florida Atlantic University.

Students can receive up to $37,000 for tuition, fees, books and supplies for a bachelor’s degree.

Application deadline is Feb. 28.

For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit TheDream.US/scholarships/.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Applicants must be at least a junior in college; be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida, and have at least a C average or above for the previous year; have been a resident of Florida for two years; and demonstrate a financial need.

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Applications, as well as additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information, can be found online at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2022 FSASE Scholarship Application under the Newsworthy tab on the homepage.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will be personally interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Action board scholarships
The Hillsborough County Community Action Board Scholarships are now available to Hillsborough County students who want to continue their post-secondary education.

The scholarships can be used at trade schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and are awarded to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden of tuition.

All applicants must follow specific criteria.

Interested students should read through the full Community Action Board Scholarship Application Package (visit tinyurl.com/2p95vwc6) before applying online, to ensure all documents are complete and requirements are met.

A full list of required documents can be found in the online package.

Students can apply online at tinyurl.com/yc46uy6p, once all the information and documents have been collected.

Applications are due by March 18.

For information and questions, call 813-272-5074, ext. 55316.

5 for 5 Dinner
The Republican Party of Pasco (RPOP) Scholarship Committee will host the return of its 5 for 5 Dinner on March 24, at Timber Greens Golf & Country Club in New Port Richey.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco will be the master of ceremony, and Chef Adam and Sous-Chefs Sen. Danny Burgess, Rep. Randy Maggard, Clerk of Court Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, and Pasco Commissioners Ron Oakley and Kathryn Starkey will prepare a five-course meal.

Sponsorships and single tickets are available. The money raised will benefit the RPOP Scholarship Fund to award five $1,000 scholarships to seniors applying from any Pasco high school, private, charter or home-school.

Students must attend an accredited Florida college, university or technical/vocational school.

Applications are online at PascoGOP.com/rpop-scholarship/, or at the student’s school Career Resource Center office.

Deadline for application submission for review is March 25.

Scholarships will be awarded in the spring.

For more information on applications, tickets or sponsorships for the dinner, call the Republican Party office at 727-863-5400; Sandy Graves at 813-817-3011; or Jean Nathe at 813-783-4364.

Historians conference
Members of local historical societies, researchers, museum curators, and college students are invited by the Florida Conference of Historians to attend the group’s annual meeting on Feb. 25 through Feb. 27, on the campus of Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Early registration is open until Feb. 18, with advance fees starting at $40 for college students.

There will be an opening reception on Feb. 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn-Tampa Wesley Chapel.

A sampling of subjects from the conference program includes:

Panel discussions on various parts of Florida history including Civil War legacy and the Civil War battle of Olustee
Teaching history and the current Florida Civic Literacy Exam
The life of Florida author Zora Neale Hurston
Food topics and agriculture
New studies on slavery in the antebellum South and various works about race, ethnicity, social groups and gender topics over time
Urban development/transportation, the environment, and more

For program details and registration, visit FloridaConferenceOfHistorians.org/annual-meeting.html.

Information about the school’s COVID-19 protocols can be found online at SaintLeo.edu/protect-the-pride.

For information or special accommodations, contact Megan Case at 352-588-8401 or .

Child care opens
St. Clement’s Academy, a school-readiness provider, will open for full-time, affordable child care, for children ages 2 to 6, beginning in March, according to a news release. The hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The academy is a new facility on the campus of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 706 W. 113th Ave., in Tampa.

The academy, which uses the Funny Daffer curriculum, will offer safety and parent-friendly features, including a parent communication app; shared videos and pictures of the children; and digital documentation.

Parents will receive regular progress reports and at-home activity content, linking to Brightwheel.

Wait-list spots are available. Mention The Laker/Lutz News and the academy will waive its registration fee, the release says.

For information and to schedule a tour, call 813-932-6204.

Chalk Talk 02/02/2022

February 1, 2022 By Mary Rathman

The academy is a new facility on the campus of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 706 W. 113th Ave., in Tampa.

Parents will receive regular progress reports and at-home activity content, linking to Brightwheel.

Wait-list spots are available. Mention The Laker/Lutz News and the academy will waive its registration fee, the release says.

For information and to schedule a tour, call 813-932-6204.

Family Fest & Health Fair
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host a free Family Fun Festival and Health Fair at the school’s New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road, on Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Festivities will include music, food, campus tours, children’s activities, crafts, games, prizes and giveaways.

Information on PHSC programs, financial aid, scholarships, student activities and athletics also will be provided; and application fees for college admission will be waived for prospective students in attendance.

Students under the age of 18 interested in applying at PHSC must be present along with a parent or guardian.

The free event, sponsored by the Musunuru family, will be hosted in recognition of Pasco County’s Rao Musunuru, M.D. Day, established on Feb. 1, 2014 by the Pasco County Commission to honor the nationally renowned, Hudson-based cardiologist and his many initiatives to support community health.

Organizations providing health care, mental health services, diet and fitness programs, or any service related to community wellness can reserve a free table for the event’s Health Fair online at tinyurl.com/ya6cfur2.

To register for the event, visit PHSC.edu/about/events.

Flexible-start classes
Registration for Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) spring flex-start semester is underway, with an offering of more than 1,000 classes.

The flex-start schedule offers a variety of start dates, times and modalities, including on campus, online, and live online, to ensure that students have the flexibility they need.

Students can earn credits applicable to any of HCC’s associate in arts and associate in science degrees, college credit and postsecondary adult vocational credits.

Tuition assistance also is available.

Flex-start semester dates are: Feb. 7 (12-week classes); Feb. 14 (10-week classes and five-week classes); March 8 (eight-week classes); and March 29 (five-week classes).

For information, visit HCCfl.edu/flexstart.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will personally be interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Action board scholarships
The Hillsborough County Community Action Board Scholarships are now available to Hillsborough County students who want to continue their post-secondary education.

The scholarships can be used at trade schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and are awarded to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden of tuition.

All applicants must follow specific criteria.

A full list of required documents can be found in the online package.

Students can apply online at tinyurl.com/yc46uy6p, once all the information and documents have been collected.

Applications are due by March 18.

For information and questions, call 813-272-5074, ext. 55316.

Student achievements

Rebecca Bach, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Missouri State University, Springfield
Jennifer Clifford, of Lutz, and Christian Hewett and Jack Houser, both of Odessa: Dean’s List at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Emmah Federman, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
Jenna Freligh, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee
Trevina Jason-Vikram, of Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List at Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota
Emily Leonard, of Wesley Chapel: President’s List at Mercer University, Macon, Georgia
Brady Lindauer, of Land O’ Lakes: Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota
Bryce Lowe, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Lunide Orleus, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee
Emily Ymiolek, of Lutz: President’s List at The University of Alabama

Union leader urges kindness and respect, during trying times

January 25, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Celebrating excellence is a routine part of Pasco County School Board meetings.

Outstanding teachers are singled out.

Special achievements are acknowledged.

“We hear of wonderful accomplishments by students and teachers, remarkable things that have been done despite all of the obstacles of COVID, and related issues being thrown at them.

“This is truly awesome, and we should be proud and recognize those people and those situations,” said Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco.

“However, I’m going to ask you to focus for a few minutes on the other side — that is equally prevalent, at our worksites.

“We recently heard that in a “Thought Exchange Survey,” parents, students, the community and staff all had mental health as a Top 5 priority.

“Employees are being mentally taxed, to the utmost, in trying to perform their jobs.

“Staff shortages showed up as (No.) 1 and (No.) 2, by both groups.

“We can’t get enough individuals to fill all allocations, so others are being asked, and expected, to do more.

“Substitutes are not available to fill in for all those out for illness or for quarantine.

“Students are being shuffled, to meet the needs for supervision, often at the expense of quality instruction.

“This all affects morale and performance.

“Employees have given and given, until — in some cases — there’s no more to give,” the union leader said.

“Your recent Gallup Survey showed 56% of the district’s employees are either not engaged or actively disengaged. That’s an astounding number of people just going through the motions.

“Forty-four percent of those surveyed said they haven’t (received) praise or recognition for their work.

“Where’s our compassion for those who are front-line workers in an ongoing medical crisis?

“Forty-one percent say they don’t necessarily feel their opinion is important.

“Why is it so difficult for us to perform temperature checks, if you will, to see where people are at?

“Thirty-four percent of the employees surveyed expressed little, to no, satisfaction with their job.

“Sixty-five percent of our schools, according to the survey, fell into the two lowest levels of the survey results.

“These numbers indicate that we need to do more,” Peace said.

Salary improvements in the district, although better — are not keeping up with surrounding counties, the union leader continued.

“When will we take the next step and put together a ballot initiative to help hire and retain quality employees?” Peace asked.

Rising number of resignations, retirements
Peace also noted that the union tracks the number of district hires and the number of employees who leave.

“To date, according to our records, the district has hired almost 1,400 new employees this year. In the board packets, there are two to four pages, sometimes more, of retirements or resignations. In tonight’s board packet alone, there are 101 retirements or resignations, with only 10 of those being 15-plus year employees.

“We have got to do a better job of taking care of people to retain quality individuals working with our students.

“We need to do a better job of standing up for all employees. Every job in this district is important and plays an integral part in the students’ educational opportunity. Take away any of those positions, and students will suffer.

“Therefore, every individual should be treated with kindness, respect and compassion — especially in these trying times,” Peace said.

He urged those listening to take a moment for introspection.

“Please, take a step back and look where you are — and where we all need to be,” Peace said.

His words stirred a response from the district’s elected leaders.

School board member Megan Harding said she’s heard the word “burnout” being used by district personnel.

“It’s very real now, in our district, and really, in our nation,” Harding said. “Our teachers and staff are really feeling alone and overwhelmed.

“Many of them are leaving the profession or moving schools (transferring),” she said.

She noted that district pay is brought up frequently, but added she couldn’t talk about that because the district and union are in the midst of negotiations.

However, Harding added: “I just want to reiterate that I really hope we’re working on a plan that will pay our employees a wage that they truly deserve.

“My heart can’t take another teacher, bus driver or staff calling me, or emailing me that they aren’t making enough to pay their rent or their child’s day care.

“I’m tired of seeing our highly effective teachers leaving Title 1 schools, and I’m sad seeing and hearing my peers getting burned out,” Harding said.

Harding also requested that a closed-door workshop be scheduled soon, so board members can discuss issues that are subject to negotiations.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin raised a concern about how staff are being treated, as they go about performing their jobs.

“They’ve all been working hard and doing a tremendous job,” Beaudoin said. “Particularly challenging has been the increase in anger directed at them.

“I want to thank our teachers, our leaders, our bus drivers, all of our staff for continuing to remain focused on our students and I want to thank the parents, who are supportive and respectful in communicating with our employees.

“I hope that in 2022 we can bring back civility to our schools and community,” she said.

Beaudoin also mentioned an initiative she read about that’s being done elsewhere. It involves a business owner who stepped forward to help the school district by providing paid time off for his staff, so they can provide volunteer help in the district.

She asked Pasco school district leaders to look into reaching out to local companies and service clubs to see if a similar program can be initiated here.

School board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong empathized with Peace’s message.

“Just to put it in simplistic terms: COVID, the flu, colds — are really kicking the butt of the whole community, especially in the school system where we’re in close quarters of all of our students.

“We really are working hard to do whatever we can.

“We really appreciate everyone — from teachers to administrators to the people in cafeterias, the bus drivers, the maintenance people — that play such a vital role in everything we do.

“We’re having to work through these issues,” Armstrong said.

“My heart goes out to them because I know how frustrating it is — not to feel that you’re able to do your job like you’re used to doing it, because of all of these demands.

“As Mr. Peace said, ‘Do that temperature check with your colleagues: How are you doing today?’

“See if there is not something, or a word, that we can say to make the situation better and help each other out in these trying times,” the board chairwoman said.

Published January 26, 2022

Bus driver shortages continue

January 25, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools changed its school starting and ending times at the beginning of the second semester because a bus driver shortage was causing many students to arrive to school late.

Now, despite those shifts, the district is facing the same problem for a different reason — now the bus driver shortage is largely due to drivers calling out — because they are ill, or can’t work because of some other reason.

Betsy Kuhn, the district’s assistant superintendent for support services, explained the situation during the Pasco County School Board’s Jan. 18 meeting.

Buses continue to arrive late to Pasco County schools, despite a major shift that changed started and ending times across the school districts. Officials cite a high number of bus drivers calling out from work for the current issue and noted the problem would be worse, if the district had not made the scheduling shift. (File)

“Under last semester’s three-tier system, we had 424 routes and we were 59 regular drivers short. We had 40 relief drivers,” Kuhn said.

By changing its system, the district cut the number of routes it needed to cover by 57.

“We’re now short 39 drivers and were able to add four relief drivers, bringing our total up to 44 relief drivers,” Kuhn said.

“We have six new drivers coming out of class this Friday and we have another class starting on Jan. 31,” Kuhn said.

The district continues to seek additional drivers.

“I actually spoke with a parent today about a late bus situation and she ended up becoming a recruit for us, for a part-time driver position,” Kuhn said. “So, we’re continuing to work with HR, to get the word out about opportunities in transportation.”

The district also is focusing on retention, Kuhn said.

“If you look at the numbers on paper, we are in a good position,” she said.

The problem is the high number of call-outs.

“We should be able to cover the open positions with relief drivers and office staff; unfortunately, our call-outs started at 23 on Jan. 4, the first day back.”

She noted the number has steadily climbed, from 23 to 33 to 41 to 45, during the first week of school in the second semester. The second week it was 43, 41, 49, 40 and 47.

On Jan. 18, the district had 48 driver call-outs and 23 assistant driver call-outs, Kuhn said.

She added: “So, that is very, very high and has resulted in buses that are later than we would like.”

The current situation has meant that while we have seen some positive results in some parts of the county that were previously hit hard, we are now seeing issues in other parts of the county.

“For example, buses served by Southeast Garage over in the Zephyrhills area have had a very difficult last few weeks due to those illnesses and call-outs.

“And so, we’ve had coverage that has been very difficult to cobble together and maintain,” Kuhn said.

“Many of our issues with late buses will not resolve, if we continue to have this high number of call-outs.

“I’ve spoken to my counterparts in other districts and they, too, are facing similar issues.

“One of them, in particular, said to me, it’s like September all over again. It does feel like that,” Kuhn said, but she added, the shift in start and end times did provide some relief.

“I want to thank our drivers, assistants, garage staff, schools and, of course, students and families for their patience,” Kuhn said.

“We have garage staff who are working to improve and work through any routing issues, but we do have a very high number of call-outs right now and we’re hopeful that that number will decline quickly, so that we can make this system work.”

School board member Alison Crumbley expressed her appreciation for teachers and other district staff, “and, in particular, right now, our bus drivers.

“It’s a tough time for them. I just want everybody to just hang in there a little bit longer.

“I wish I was at liberty to say things we are working on, but I’m not at this time,” Crumbley said, making an indirect reference to items that must be negotiated between the school board and the United School Employees of Pasco, the union representing district employees.

Crumbley added: “They (bus drivers) are so vital and so important to us right now. If we can’t get them (students) to school, there is no school.”

Published January 26, 2022

Chalk Talk 01/26/2022

January 25, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Festivities will include music, food, campus tours, children’s activities, crafts, games, prizes and giveaways.

Students under the age of 18 interested in applying at PHSC must be present along with a parent or guardian.

To register for the event, visit PHSC.edu/about/events.

Open House
Land O’ Lakes Christian School, 5105 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house on Jan. 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The school encompasses PK3 through 12th grade.

It has full accreditation, affordable tuition, character training, college prep classes, fine arts, and athletics.

For information, call 813-995-9040.

Student achievements
These students were named to the fall 2021 Dean’s List at their respective schools:

Madison Nichols, of Odessa, Nazareth College, Rochester, New York
Laurie Schlosser, of Land O’ Lakes, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Timothy Williams, of Lutz, Wheaton College (Illinois)

Afterschool craft
New River and Hugh Embry library staff will visit Rodney B. Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Dade City, on Feb. 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., for an afterschool craft.

For information, call the New River Library at 813-788-6375.

Flexible-start classes
Registration for Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) spring flex-start semester is underway, with an offering of more than 1,000 classes.

The flex-start schedule offers a variety of start dates, times and modalities, including on campus, online, and live online, to ensure that students have the flexibility they need.

Students can earn credits applicable to any of HCC’s associate in arts and associate in science degrees, college credit and postsecondary adult vocational credits.

Tuition assistance also is available.

Flex-start semester dates are: Feb. 7 (12-week classes); Feb. 14 (10-week classes and five-week classes); March 8 (eight-week classes); and March 29 (five-week classes).

For information, visit HCCfl.edu/flexstart.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will personally be interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Chalk Talk 01/19/2022

January 18, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Loan repayments postponed
Borrowers who were able to pause their federal student loan repayment will see their repayments postponed until May 1, according to a Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEEA) news release.

The federal government had intended to have borrowers resume payments in February, but have decided to wait until May because of the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, the release says.

KHEAA advises borrowers to make sure their loan servicer has their current contact information. To find your loan servicer, log into your account at StudentAid.gov, and visit the “My Loan Services” section.

The loan servicer can help if you have trouble restarting repayment of the loan, and help to find a repayment plan that fits your finances.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established to improve students’ access to college, as well as to provide information about financial aid and financial literacy, at no cost to students and parents.

Visit KHEAA.com for more information.

Homeschool program
The Pasco County Library Cooperative’s Mobile Makerspace will join the Elementary Homeschool Program at Starkey Wilderness Park on Jan. 26 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The park’s team members will teach about native plants and the library’s team members will lead a gardening activity using native plant cuttings.

The program is free, but space is limited.

Registration is required for all who will take part, including parents/guardians and children.

Do not register unless you plan to attend; and please cancel the reservation if you no longer can attend.

For information and to register, visit PascoLibraries.org.

Flexible-start classes
Registration for Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) spring flex-start semester is underway, with an offering of more than 1,000 classes.

The flex-start schedule offers a variety of start dates, times and modalities, including on campus, online, and live online, to ensure that students have the flexibility they need.

Students can earn credits applicable to any of HCC’s associate in arts and associate in science degrees, college credit and postsecondary adult vocational credits.

Tuition assistance also is available.

Flex-start semester dates are: Feb. 7 (12-week classes); Feb. 14 (10-week classes and five-week classes); March 8 (eight-week classes); and March 29 (five-week classes).

For information, visit HCCfl.edu/flexstart.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will personally be interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Student achievements

Sydney Fleeman and Andrea Lefebvre, both of Odessa, were named to the Dean’s List at Valdosta State University in Georgia.
Brianna Pearson, of Lutz, earned a place on the Dean’s List at The College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York.
Dylan Schaffer, of Lutz, was named to the Dean’s List at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri.
Allie Ungerecht, of Lutz, was recognized to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University , Manchester.

Filing for student aid
After completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can take other steps to ensure they receive as much money for college as possible, according to a Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) news release.

Once students submit the FAFSA, it takes several days for the application to be processed.

Students should receive and review a Student Aid Report (SAR) that recaps the information from their FAFSA, to be sure it is complete and accurate. If changes need to be made, visit StudentAid.gov and click on Apply for Aid.

The SAR is sent to each college a student lists on the FAFSA. Students should check with the financial aid offices at the schools to which they’ve applied to verify the SAR was received and if the school requires more paperwork.

After completing the FAFSA, students should contact the schools if their family situation changes in a major way.

Visit KHEAA.com for more information.

Pasco Schools sets up reunification shelter

January 11, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco County Schools has signed a memorandum of understanding with RADDSports Pasco Wiregrass LLC to establish a reunification shelter.

The site will be used in the event an evacuation is required due to an emergency, resulting in students and staff no longer being able to remain in their regular facility, according to the agreement.

The district “will make every effort to notify RADD of evacuation possibilities with as much notice as possible so RADD can close its facility to the public as applicable.

“Contact information between the two parties shall be maintained in a separate appendix and is considered confidential information and is not subject to public disclosure,” according to the agreement.

Under terms of the agreement, RADD will open specific areas of buildings at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, 3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel, to provide bus access, shelter, and assistance to students and staff evacuated during emergency situations.

RADD will be responsible for opening the building and developing procedures for making the building accessible, including restrooms and an area with phone and internet connection, if available, to district administrative personnel.

The district will provide supervision for all students and staff during the time that the facility is used as an emergency shelter site, the agreement adds.

The district also agrees “that it shall exercise reasonable care in the conduct of its activities in said facilities and further agrees to replace or reimburse RADD for any items, materials, equipment or supplies that may be used by the district in the conduct of its sheltering activities.”

Under other provisions in the agreement, the district:

Agrees to accept responsibility for replacing, restoring or repairing damage, upon an itemized written request by RADD
Will reimburse RADD for any bona fide expenditure of personnel required to maintain the facility for reunification sheltering, including overtime costs, upon production of receipts or time sheets
Will provide all releases of information to the press and media

The initial term of the contract is for five years. It will automatically renew — with any modification agreed to by both parties — for an additional five years, unless either party provides a written notice of intent not to renew at least 60 days before the expiration.

Published January 12, 2022

Graduation rates rise in local public schools

January 11, 2022 By B.C. Manion

The graduation rate continues to improve in the Pasco and Hillsborough public school districts.

Pasco County Schools charted a 91% graduation rate in 2021, more than a full point increase over the prior year, according to Pasco school district officials.

Hillsborough County Schools recorded a graduation rate of 89.2% — the highest rate in the district’s history, according to the Hillsborough school district news release.

Pasco’s rate has improved by 15 percentage points since 2013, district officials said in a news release.

“We are seeing steady progress year after year,” Superintendent Kurt Browning said in the release. “I can’t say enough about how hard our students worked during a challenging and unusual school year. All our teachers in elementary, middle, and high school can share the credit because it really takes a team effort to prepare students for college, career, and life.”

Cypress Creek High School had the highest graduation rate of 99.4% and Wesley Chapel High posted a 96.6% rate, an increase of more than 3 percentage points.

Fivay High School had a second year of impressive gains, increasing by 6.7 percentage points, after a gain of 6.4 percentage points the previous year.

Hudson High saw the biggest increase, improving by 10 percentage points — up to 86%.

Pasco school district staff also noted that students who graduated in 2021 did so after a highly unusual year of school due to COVID-19. Many missed significant time in school, either due to illness or due to quarantine requirements, a district news release noted.

Because of the COVID-related disruptions, the state waived state assessments required for graduation for the second year in a row, making it difficult to make historical comparisons, according to the Pasco district’s release.

Hillsborough officials were delighted by the district’s record accomplishment.

Hillsborough high schools within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area fared well.

Wharton High charted a 90.9% graduation rate; Gaither, 92.2%; Freedom, 94.1%; and, Steinbrenner, 97.8%.

Sickles High, which is near the newspaper’s coverage area, charted a graduation rate of 98.4%, the highest among Hillsborough public schools.

“I am so excited for our community and our organization for obtaining the highest graduation rate in district history,” Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis said in the school system’s news release. “This is in direct correlation to the hard work and dedication exhibited by our students, caregivers, teachers, school leaders, school counselors, support professionals, and district staff.”

To view the statewide results, visit the Florida Department of Education web page.

Published January 12, 2022

Chalk Talk 01/12/2022

January 11, 2022 By Mary Rathman

School Choice window open
The Pasco County Schools’ School Choice application window is now open and will close at 4:30 p.m., on Jan. 20.

The Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice application is available for parents via the myStudent parent portal.

Parents who do not have an account can establish a myStudent account by going to the district website, PascoSchools.org, and clicking on the myStudent link.

This will be the only application window for all grade levels, and is for all school choice options, including STEM and STEAM magnet schools, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, International Baccalaureate (IB), and the Cambridge Programme.

Citizens of the Month
Ten students were honored by The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Month program.

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

The chamber has recognized students through this program each month of the school year, for 22 years.

Recipients of the award were: Khamaron Paul and Noah Sublette, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Cordell Hooks and Janice Robles, The Broach School; Emily Lopez and Jomar Ruiz, Heritage Academy; Kira Fasig and Joseph Mohler, Stewart Middle School; Hailey Carter and Ximena Cortez, West Zephyrhills Elementary School.

Fee adjustment meeting
The Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its Jan. 18 board meeting.

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 Disclosure.

Duke Energy awards grants
Duke Energy has awarded a total of $250,000 in grants to support a wide range of education and community assistance initiatives across Florida, according to a news release.

This year’s grant recipients range from local education foundations to community assistance programs that address economic and quality of life issues for students and families, as well as diversity and access to educational and training opportunities.

“These programs are more important than ever, as many students and educators continue to face academic challenges and families across the state struggle to get by,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, in the release.

“Duke Energy Florida is proud to support the organizations that work tirelessly to eliminate barriers and create opportunities for all children, individuals and families to thrive and reach their full potential,” said Seixas.

The list of the 2021 local grant recipients includes: Citrus County Education Foundation, $5,000; Hernando County Education, $5,000; A Gift For Teaching, $50,000; AdventHealth Foundation in Sebring, $15,000; Boys & Girls Club of North Central Florida, $5,000; Boys & Girls Club of Volusia/Flagler County, $5,000; Find, Feed & Restore, $5,000; Lake Wales Care Center, $5,000; Seminole State College Foundation, $15,000; The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, $40,000; United Arts of Central Florida, $50,000; Conservation Corps of the Forgotten and Emerald Coast (Franklin’s Promise Coalition), $5,000; Jefferson County Education Foundation, $5,000; Lafayette Penny Foundation, $5,000; Levy County Schools Foundation, $5,000; Public Education Foundation of Marion County, $5,000; Sumter Education Enhancement Foundation, $5,000; The Education Foundation of Alachua County, $5,000; Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, $5,000; and Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, $10,000.

School district thanks county board for help during COVID-19

January 4, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, and Olga Swinson, the district’s chief finance officer, appeared before the Pasco County Commission at its Dec. 7 meeting, to thank the county for helping the school district when COVID-19 hit.

“Early on in the pandemic, the school system was struggling — trying to figure out how to feed our students and our families; how we could buy devices for kids, so that we could do online learning,” Gadd told the county board.

“I happened to be talking to Commissioner (Commission Chairwoman Kathryn) Starkey and she said, ‘Well, you know we have this CARES Act funding, you might be able to get $1 million of that funding to help out.’”

The acronym CARES stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security.

The school district pulled up the U.S. Treasury document on the implementation of the CARES Act and found out that schools could get funding, Gadd said, so it turned to County Administrator Dan Biles.

Biles informed the district that the county board had authorized him to make sure the district’s request was funded, if it met the criteria.

That resulted in $9 million in funding, Gadd said. “You, the County Commission funded (for) a lot of needs that the school district required (funding for) early on in the pandemic.”

Swinson reported on the specifics to the county board.

“We used the money for the development and implementation of online learning. As you know our students had to take online courses last year.

“About 30% did that from home; the other 70% actually came into our schools.

“We distributed 17,000 computers to our students.

“We also served over 1 million meals to students and families, across the entire county.

“And, we used the money for all of the expenses associated with contact tracing. As you know, we had to do that last year, and we spent a lot of time doing that,” Swinson said.

Starkey, a former school board member responded: “I’m really glad we could help the school district when they needed it because we (the county) got our money so fast.”

Published January 05, 2022