The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Efforts continue to bolster safety in Pasco’s school district

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Efforts to improve the safety and security of Pasco County Schools is an ongoing effort, as the school district works to reduce potential threats throughout the system.

The Pasco School Board recently approved a safety plan that must be submitted to state offices by Nov. 1, outlining steps the district is pursuing to make its campuses safer.

The board approved the plan on Oct. 19, following a closed-door session on school safety. The session was private because of a need for confidentiality relating to security issues.

Entry buzzers have been installed at schools across Pasco County. Visitors push the doorbell and are buzzed in, individually. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Michael Baumaister, the district’s chief of safety and emergency operations, gave a brief overview of the security plan during the board’s meeting.

District has a strong relationship with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the municipal police agencies, Baumaister said. “We work very closely together.”

The district is always looking to improve its safety, but, he added: “I think we’re on the right track.”

“Ever since Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a lot of changes have been made to the school system,” he said, referring to the 2018 Valentine’s Day shooting spree that left 17 dead and 17 injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a community in South Florida.

The public outcry, including persistent student protests, prompted state legislators to mandate safety upgrades on school campuses across Florida. The annual safety plan that must be submitted to the state is one of the requirements of the state legislation.

During the recent board meeting, Baumaister said: “As we move forward, we’re going to start looking strategically at some of our older schools that we may have to add additional things to, to enhance our safety posture.

“We use our best practices. Our security assessments that are done by law enforcement. The assessments that are also done by the school principals. We look at all improvements that are out there — new technologies, and we roll that all up with what we want to move forward with in our planning for the future,” he said.

The district also is continuing to work on various projects.

“As large as a district as we are, things take time, and we are moving along pretty well,” he said.

The district uses a work-order system to make minor repairs at schools, Baumaister said.

He explained: “These are the small projects. You can send a technician out; fix a fence. Repair a camera, things like that.”

The district also continues to add security cameras to schools.

“By the end of next year, we should have cameras in every one of our campuses,” he said.

He noted: “They’re not in the classrooms, they’re in the hallways. So, it just gives us a posture so we can keep eyes on what’s going on.

“If there’s ever an emergency, with our agreement with the sheriff’s office, they can then look in to see what’s going on at that moment, to see what may be happening.

“We took all of these lessons from Marjory Stoneman Douglas and what went on there, and try to learn from it and make improvements in our district, so we never experience anything like that here.”

He also noted that the district is using window security film, to harden the exterior of its schools. The goal is to make it hard for intruders to penetrate.

“If somebody is trying to break a window, they probably don’t have good intentions,” he said.

The security film helps keeps students and staff safe, he said. Also, “it gives time for law enforcement, and for the security guardians and for the SROs (School Resource Officers) to take action and get to the area” where there are attempts being made to penetrate the building.

“Our emergency radio communications, we’re always looking to improve them. We study them. We look for better ways to do it,” he said.

He also noted that the district has completed its project to add a doorbell system for all of its schools.

The doorbell gives school staff the ability to find out who is visiting and why, before allowing access.

Baumaister also emphasized the need to have a plan and to make sure that school staff understands it.

“This way, if something is ever to occur, they already have a plan of action in place.

“We do plan on testing our plans.

“We’re going to do small exercises with the schools, to talk about our plans and make sure that that’s fresh in their minds, and that they are always constantly keeping them updated and keeping them current,” he said.

Published October 27, 2021

Redistricting proposals advance for a vote

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The Pasco County Commission has selected its preferred map for new voting districts for the five seats on its board.

And, the Pasco County School Board is set to make a similar choice at its Nov. 2 meeting.

Both government bodies also are planning public hearings on the issue.

County Administrator Dan Biles said the county’s proposed redistricting map took into account feedback from individual commissioners, geographic features and a need to balance population between districts. (File)

The county commission’s public hearing is being advertised for Dec. 7; the school board’s is expected on Nov. 16.

The school board’s desire to weigh in on the redistricting discussion before the county board made a choice, however, didn’t happen.

The school board had taken up the issue at its Oct. 5 meeting, addressed it again on Oct. 19.

School board member Megan Harding thanked the district’s Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd for trying to arrange an opportunity for the school board and county board to work together on redistricting.

The school board had hoped to establish the same district boundaries as the county commission. That’s what it did the last time redistricting occurred.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get to work with the county,” Harding said. “It’s unfortunate that we now have to have two separate maps.”

Redistricting occurs every 10 years, based on the population figures collected in the decennial census.

The figures are used to apportion the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Florida Legislature redraws the districts from which Florida voters elect their members of their U.S. House of Representatives, state senators and state representatives.

The Florida Constitution also requires county commissions to develop a redistricting plan every decennial census to keep commission districts as nearly as equal in population as practical.

Political observers are keenly interested in the process because the way the lines are drawn can influence outcomes of elections.

In the case of Pasco County’s proposed district lines, County Administrator Dan Biles told the county board at its Oct. 12 meeting: “After we sat down with each of you and each of you gave us feedback of what you’d like to see, with respect to your district, we kind of combined all of that and tried to come up with a compromise map.”

His preferred option, was based on input from each commissioner, consideration of geographic boundaries and the goal of balancing population.

Incumbent school board member Alison Crumbley would have been carved out of her district, if the school board had adopted the map that the Pasco County Commission has proposed under its redistricting plan.

“What we tried to do was follow major arterials, collectors, as best we could,” Biles said.

“I know it’s not necessarily perfect, but it’s what we could do best to balance the population across the county, based on the feedback you gave us and make it reasonably easy to describe what your district boundaries are to the members of the public,” he said.

He also noted: “The difference between the largest and the smallest district is less than 2%.”

Commissioner Mike Moore made a motion to approve Biles’ preferred option, which was approved unanimously by the board.

The board is scheduled to have a public hearing and vote on the proposed map at its Dec. 7 meeting, at 1:30 p.m., in New Port Richey.

After the vote, Commission Chairman Ron Oakley invited Gadd, who was in the audience, to address the county board.

Gadd told commissioners: “What I have to say is now irrelevant. In all deference to Mr. Biles, because I know he worked hard in putting this together.”

Gadd told the county board that the school board and county commission met in a workshop on Aug. 16, 2011, regarding the last redistricting effort.

“We adopted the same districts. The school board did that by resolution,” Gadd said.

The board was interested in taking the same approach, but didn’t have the opportunity, Gadd added.

“We thought it was a good idea to have commission districts and school board districts that were the same. In the past, we cooperated on that,” Gadd said.

The county’s proposed map won’t work for the school board because it carves school board member Alison Crumbley out of her district, he said.

“I think it’s unfortunate that the school board and the county didn’t meet to discuss this issue, prior to that decision being made,” he said.

Some county board members said it appeared that a small tweak might be able to resolve the issue, but Gadd said: “None of our school board members have seen these maps. I don’t know what any of them think of these maps.”

School Board Attorney Dennis Alfonso and Superintendent Kurt Browning addressed the issue during the school board’s Oct. 19 meeting.

Alfonso told the board that the county’s proposed map can’t be used by the school board “because it would be contrary to the law.” He explained that a map cannot affect an incumbent’s position.

Proposed maps have been circulated to board members, Browning said.

The issue will be discussed at the board’s Nov. 2 meeting, and the proposed maps will be published as part of that agenda, the superintendent said.

Browning said based on the board’s Nov. 2 action, a resolution and map will be placed on the board’s Nov. 16 meeting, to set the new districts for each of the five school board members.

By the numbers

Proposed commission districts:
District 1: 113,431
District 2: 112,918
District 3: 111,299
District 4: 111,763
District 5: 112,480
Total Pasco County population: 561,891
Average population per district: 112,378

Pasco County, census data
Total population, 2020: 561,891
Total population, 2010: 464,697
Numeric change between 2010 and 2020: 97,194
Percent change: +20.9%

Published October 27, 2021

Chalk Talk 10/27/2021

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Law enforcement graduates
Law enforcement officers from five Florida counties, who make up the 22nd cohort of Saint Leo University’s Command Officer Management Program, received their diplomas on Sept. 16.

The 22nd cohort of Saint Leo University’s Command Officer Management Program. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony.

The Saint Leo program was designed to provide onsite education that prepares law enforcement officers for the transition to command staff, by addressing areas such as leadership, ethics, human resources, critical incident management, and other relevant administrative competencies.

The 18-credit hour certificate program consists of six courses during six months (three terms) for undergraduate or graduate academic credits.

Class graduates and their agencies are:

  • Citrus County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Bobby Price
  • Lake County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Timothy Beary, Sgt. Robert Casaburi, Sgt. Brian Forst, Sgt. Gerald Green, Sgt. David McDaniel, Sgt. Nate Pickens, Lt. Elvin Rodriguez (class president), Cpl. Bret Rutzebeck, Cpl. Keith Sommer and Sgt. Billy Walls
  • Pasco County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Eric Cayer and Lt. Luby Fields
  • Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office: Lt. Joseph Mitchell and Lt. Ivan Nelson
  • Sumter County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Dave Clark and Sgt. Clinton Hayes

Saint Leo is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS).

For more information on the program, contact Nikki Heister at or 352-588-8487.

Saint Leo food drive
Saint Leo University’s Tampa Education Center will collect food from Nov. 1 through Nov. 18 for Metropolitan Ministries, whose mission is to care for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, according to a news release.

Saint Leo University-Tampa is in the former Berriman-Morgan Cigar Factory building, at 1403 N. Howard Ave., in Tampa.

Canned goods and nonperishable food may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For information, contact Rod Kirkwood at or 813-743-3228.

Drive-Thru Reading
Staff members from the New River Library and the Hugh Embry Library will greet students at Rodney B. Cox Elementary’s “Fall into Reading Drive-Thru Festival” on Nov. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the school, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City.

Students can receive goodies to encourage reading and learning.

For information, call 813-788-6375.

Rabbi to speak
The Saint Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies will host a free lecture on Nov. 4 starting at 7 p.m., at Congregation Schaarai Zedek, 3303 W. Swann Ave., in Tampa.

The guest speaker will be Rabbi Dr. David Novak from the University of Toronto, on the topic of “Is There a Universal Moral Law? Natural Law in the Catholic and Jewish Traditions.”

Another guest speaker, Dr. Vincent Lloyd, will follow Novak’s address and the two will share some reflections.

To attend, reserve a seat online at Zedek.org/ccjs.

Honor Society hosts fundraiser
The Martinez Middle School National Junior Honor Society will host a donation drive to benefit Hope Children’s Home, on Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Stonebrier basketball gazebo, 3741 W. County Line Road in Lutz.

Guests can bring a blanket or lawn chair, and eat, relax and listen to live music with local metal band, Actual Purgatory. The Bacon Boss food truck will be on site from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Kona Ice will be on site from noon to 2 p.m.

Accepted donations include: Nonperishable items (such as canned veggies, box/bag cereal, canned soup); household items (such as paper plates/bowls, aluminum foil, dryer sheets); school supplies (such as white board cleaner, binders, post-its); and, gently used clothes/shoes for boys and girls ages newborn to 18 years old.

For questions and a more detailed list of acceptable donations, email Annie Hayman at .

Chalk Talk 10/20/2021

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Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Alfonso (Courtesy of Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach)

Land O’ Lakes native part of ‘Silent Service’
Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Alfonso, a 2015 Sunlake High School graduate, joined the Navy five years ago.

Today, Alfonso serves aboard the USS Alaska, one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered submarines, as an electronics technician (navigation). His responsibilities include operating a nuclear reactor and performing maintenance on the equipment that monitors the reactor, according to a news release.

Known as America’s “Silent Service,” the Navy’s submarine force operates a large fleet of technically advanced vessels. These submarines are capable of conducting rapid defensive and offensive operations around the world, in furtherance of U.S. national security.

“I joined the Navy for the travel and career opportunities, as well as to make new friends,” said Alfonso, in the release.

According to Alfonso, the values required to succeed in the military are similar to those found in Land O’ Lakes.

“Land O’ Lakes taught me to have a positive attitude and keep an open mind,” said Alfonso.

Program & lab fees meeting
The Hillsborough Community College District Board of Trustees will meet on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m., at the Dr. Gwendolyn Stephenson District Administration Center board room, 39 Columbia Drive in Tampa, to consider a new program fee and lab fee increase.

The proposed fees are limited to covering costs incurred by the college and will not generate a profit.

The new fees, if approved, will go into effect in fall 2022.

To see the press release in full, visit News.hccfl.edu/press-releases.

Comments on the new fees may be sent to , and then will be shared during the meeting.

Merit semifinalists
Pasco County is home to seven National Merit semifinalists from five high schools.

These students are among 16,000 high school seniors nationwide competing for about 7,500 scholarships worth about $30 million.

  • J.W. Mitchell High School: Leonid Alexeyev and Jacob Bolton
  • Land O’ Lakes High: Sohan Malladi and Daniel J. Urbonas
  • Pasco High: Kenneth P. Chew
  • Sunlake High: Louis E. Cohen
  • Wiregrass Ranch: Eric T. Reichard

Scholarship selection weighs a student’s academic record, SAT or ACT scores, participation in school activities, community service, leadership, employment, awards, and other honors and distinctions.

Students also must receive a recommendation from a high school official, and write an essay.

New administrator
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) has named Alysen Heil, Ed.D., as dean of workforce development and career and technical education, according to a news release.

Heil’s experience at PHSC includes roles as the assistant dean of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs and, more recently, assistant dean of workforce programs, career and technical education.

She formerly was a mathematics instructor/chair and co-coordinator of Achieving the Dream and quality enhancement plan (QEP) at Athens Technical College in Georgia, where she was employed for 15 years.

Heil earned an Ed.D. (Doctoral Degree in education) in occupational studies from the University of Georgia; a Master of Science in mathematics from the University of Central Florida; and a Bachelor of Science in secondary education mathematics from the University of South Alabama.

Early release days
Pasco County Schools again will utilize a monthly, early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.

Upcoming early release dates are: Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 9 and April 13.

On each of these days, students will be released two hours early.

The bell times, including the early release times for each school, can be found online at Pasco.k12.fl.us/site/pcs_bell_schedule.

Moffitt and Pasco Schools have big plans

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Pasco County Schools and Moffitt Cancer Center envision great possibilities of working together when the school district builds its planned 6-12 magnet STEAM school on land near Moffitt’s planned campus in Land O’ Lakes.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, recently updated the school board about a meeting between school district and Moffitt staff members.

“We had our first real, live, meeting with the administrative staff of Moffitt Cancer Center. And, it went really very, very well,” Gadd told the school board on Oct. 5.

“On the Angeline property, as the crow flies, is kind of back behind Land O’ Lakes High School, Moffitt is putting in a hospital and a big research center, and we have a school right across the street,” Gadd said.

“That school, we’ll start construction on that, I think, about mid-October. We’ll probably be the first building up out there. And, we are currently working with Moffitt and Pasco-Hernando State College to develop a very unique school setting.”

The campus will serve students in grades six through 12.

“More than likely, the upper classmen will have an opportunity to interact in the Moffitt hospital, with Moffitt researchers; (and) participate in apprentice programs and internships.

“It would be something that is very unique to the Pasco school system,” Gadd said, noting that Dr. Kim Moore, assistant superintendent who oversees the district’s career and technical programs, was at the meeting, as well as Dr. Monica Ilse, assistant superintendent for high schools, and Steve Hegarty, public information officer.

“We had a very, very positive reception from the Moffitt folks,” Gadd said.

In remarks to her school board colleagues, Cynthia Armstrong said it’s exciting “that we’re going to have a magnet school right next to their campus, which is going to be huge. So, we’re very excited about that.”

That meeting was a follow-up to a previous session between Gadd and Dr. Patrick Hwu, president and CEO of Moffitt.

Gadd previously briefed school board members about his meeting with Hwu.

During that briefing, Gadd told board members that he’d “heard through the grapevine that he (Hwu) was a big supporter of education, public education.”

But Gadd added: “My meeting with him was beyond expectations. I went there with a few ideas and he had hundreds of ideas about how our new STEM magnet in the Angeline area could be a partner with Moffitt.”

Gadd noted: “We’d have to work through all kinds of legal issues, as he and I discussed, but having students actually sit in, participate in procedures, surgeries, internships. Having graduate students and doctors actually come to the school building and teach courses and work with us, district-wide on virtual programs for kids, who are in nursing programs, health programs, biomedical engineering and those kinds of things.

“He was exuberant, and we made arrangements to connect my staff with his staff. I am really looking forward to the potential we have to work with Moffitt,” Gadd said.

Funding for the construction of the district’s planned 6-12 school in Land O’ Lakes was approved on Oct. 5, when the school board adjourned, then reconvened as the Pasco County School Board Leasing Corporation to approve $85 million in financing that will pay for the lease‐purchase financing of that school, and projects Hudson and Gulf high schools.

The new Angeline mixed-use community — which is being billed as a wellness-themed community — will be developed on thousands of acres of land, east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52.

Moffitt plans to create a massive research and corporate innovation district.

Site entitlements for Moffitt’s project, which encompass 24 million square feet, include plans for a hospital, research and development space, office, manufacturing, laboratories, pharmacies, educational facility/university, hotel, and commercial space. The multiyear, multiphase project is expected to create 14,500 jobs.

The school district’s new school in Angeline will be designed for 1,694 student stations, which at 90% capacity translates to about 1,530 students, according to a previous report in The Laker/Lutz News.

The school board hired Ajax Building Company at its Sept. 15, 2020 meeting to do pre-construction work at the 6-12 STEAM school site.

The school is planned on an 18.8-acre site within Angeline, south of State Road 52, north of the future Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard, according to Ajax’s website.

“Campus plans include a one-story administration area, a one-story dining and multipurpose area with a full kitchen, two-story media, band and art areas, and a four-story classroom wing, with all areas connected by a one-story and two-story atrium/central corridor, the website post says.

The site development also includes “walkway canopies, aluminum shade system, fencing, walking trail, sidewalks, chiller/generator plan, site lighting, underground utilities, landscaping and irrigation,” according to information posted by Ajax.

Harvard Jolly is the architect on the school district project.

Published October 13, 2021

Pasco School Board wants in on redistricting talks

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Pasco County is in the midst of its redistricting process and the school board is interested in being involved.

On Oct. 5, the school board asked its attorney, Dennis Alfonso, to reach out to the county to let them know of their interest.

The request came after Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent, said he’d had some discussions with members of the Pasco County Commission and learned “they are actively involved in redrawing those boundaries.”

Redistricting occurs every 10 years, following the completion of the United States decennial census.

Changes to district maps are made based on changes to the population, but the way the lines are drawn in redistricting can have a significant influence regarding whom is elected to a particular office. So, those interested in the political process tend to keep a close eye on redistricting.

When the redistricting issue surfaced at the school board meeting, Alfonso noted: “Just to remind the board that we’re not bound by whatever redistricting is done by the county, but as a historical practice, it’s been practical for the board to just accept those districts.

“It’s not required by law, so the board, could in fact, draw its own boundaries, if it chose to do that.

“Either way, I’ll at least reach out and speak with the county attorney’s office to say, ‘Hey, we’re aware of this and we want to know whether or not we’re invited to participate in the discussions,’” Alfonso said.

School board chairman Allen Altman responded: “We went through that process 10 years ago. We cooperated together,” and noted that historically that’s been the case.

Altman told Alfonso: “If you would reach out to them on behalf of the board, let them know that we’d like to see what they are working on and participate in the process.

“My understanding is that they are the recipient of the (U.S. Census) information, and that it flows through them. And, we have heard nothing, so communication would be appreciated,” Altman said.

School board member Alison Crumbley added: “As I recall, 10 years ago, we had a co-meeting with them.”

Altman responded: “We did. So, we will go to work on that.”

Superintendent Kurt Browning announced that the district just completed its reaccreditation process, which occurs every five years.

It will be receiving the full report in coming weeks, but the district has been informed that it will recommend a continued system accreditation, Browning said.

“It is all about continuous improvement, how we become a better district,” he added.

In his remarks to the school board, Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, noted that negotiations continue between the union and the district.

“We are hoping to be able to finalize the $1,000 payments to those employees who are not covered by the state (Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 bonus plan) very soon,”  Peace said.

The union also hopes that negotiations will include how the district can move toward “addressing longtime teachers and raising the ceiling on teacher salaries, as these are the leaders and role models we desire to keep in front of our students.”

The union also is interested in lessening the amount of required paperwork.

“Let’s work together to streamline data where we can,” Peace said.

On another topic, the board approved additional spending for extra instructional time to help close achievement gaps for students and to help support students who are below grade level.

In keeping with the grant requirements, the program targets students who are performing below grade level in one or more academic areas, according to agenda background materials.

The extra instruction will be provided from Oct. 18 to March 11.

The elementary extended school day program will focus on reading and mathematics. The secondary extended day program will focus on core content courses.

A total of 11,500 instructional hours will be devoted to elementary students; 2,628 for middle school students and 9,824 hours for high school students.

On another issue, board member Colleen Beaudoin reminded parents that the district’s school choice program, known as Pasco Pathways, will be hosting virtual expos soon to familiarize parents with the various education options available in the district.

The virtual expo for West Pasco is scheduled for Nov. 15 and the virtual expo for East Pasco is set for Nov. 18. Each expo is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Beaudoin said she wanted to draw attention to the expos, to help ensure parents will be able to take advantage of them.

“I frequently have parents say they didn’t know there were certain programs available at schools,” she said.

“I would like to encourage parents to please attend the (virtual) expos and then you’ll learn all of the things that are offered at the different schools, and then you make informed decisions for your students for the year.

“Pasco Pathways is talking about all of the different pathways that your students can take to go through our schools, pre-k through 12. That is school choice.

“That’s a chance to learn about the programs, the opportunities that we have.

“And then, the window to apply for school choice, is Jan. 6, 2022 to Jan. 20,2022, which will be here before you know,” Beaudoin said.

The expos provide a tremendous opportunity for parents to find out about their options, Altman agreed.

“They (school district staff) did an outstanding job putting it (expos) together last year,” Altman said.

The notification and acceptance window for the district’s choice program is Feb. 23 to March 4.

For more information, visit the school district’s website and then go to the Pasco Pathways page.

Published October 13, 2021

Chalk Talk 10/13/2021

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Leadership teams from Saint Leo University and Marymount California University (MCU) gathered on the MCU campus for a ceremonial signing of a merger agreement between the two Catholic institutions. Seated are Jeffrey Senese, Saint Leo University president, left, and Brian Marcotte, Marymount California University president. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Catholic schools merger
Marymount California University (MCU) and Saint Leo University came together to celebrate the signing of an agreement to merge, according to a news release.

The Catholic institutions agreed to join forces to build upon their historic missions and commitment to offer an innovative, values-based learning environment for students.

When MCU officially becomes part of the Florida-based Saint Leo in January 2023, pending all required regulatory and accreditation approvals, students will have access to more degree options, internships, and other educational opportunities and programs.

Brian Marcotte, MCU president, welcomed Jeffrey Senese, Saint Leo president, and the university’s leadership team to the MCU campus in Rancho Palos Verde, along with Mayor Pro Tem David Bradley.

The agreement was approved on July 29, and the leaders conducted a ceremonial signing on Oct. 4.

After the signing, Senese and the Saint Leo team joined MCU students, faculty and staff for a picnic on the California campus.

“As two universities rooted in the Catholic tradition, focused on the future for students, this newly unified community will offer an innovative, values-based learning environment inspired by individuals in pursuit of a greater purpose,” said Senese, in the release.

“Working with Marymount, Saint Leo University looks forward to making an even more meaningful impact on Catholic higher education from coast to coast,” said Senese.

Humanitarian awards
Fourteen high school students from Pasco County Schools were honored during the Florida Holocaust Museum’s 2021 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award event, held virtually this year.

The award recognizes the outstanding humanitarian actions of high school students who have worked to better the lives of others at their schools and in their communities, according to a news release.

The ceremony included brief videos of area school superintendents congratulating the award winners from their school districts.

“Congratulations to all the Pasco students who have been honored with this prestigious award,” said Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning, in a news release.

“It’s so gratifying to know that our teens are being honored for their acts of kindness and for making a difference,” said Browning.

The winners from Pasco County schools are:

  • Emma Wegener, Anclote High
  • James Cleary, Cypress Creek
  • Natalie Smith, Fivay
  • Sabrina Tonello, Gulf
  • Anya Gorgas, Hudson
  • Ashley Colegrove, J.W. Mitchell
  • Zeina Benton, Land O’Lakes
  • McKenzie Pangallo, Pasco
  • Abigail McKone, River Ridge
  • Alesiah Manhoo, Sunlake
  • Liliana Gonzalez, Wendell Krinn Technical
  • Alexi Benitez, Wesley Chapel
  • Elyse Alagal, Wiregrass Ranch
  • Lataisha Paul, Zephyrhills

Program & lab fees meeting
The Hillsborough Community College District Board of Trustees will meet on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m., at the Dr. Gwendolyn Stephenson District Administration Center board room, 39 Columbia Drive in Tampa, to consider a new program fee and lab fee increase, according to a news release.

The proposed fees are limited to covering costs incurred by the college and will not generate a profit.

The new fees, if approved, will go into effect in fall 2022.

To see the press release in full, visit News.hccfl.edu/press-releases.

Comments on the new fees may be sent to , and then will be shared during the meeting.

Saint Leo names new VP
Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, president of Saint Leo University, announced the appointment of Dr. Mark Gesner as vice president of community engagement and innovation, according to a news release.

Gesner will serve as a member of the university’s senior leadership team.

Particularly focused in the areas of community impact, social entrepreneurism, and professional development, Gesner will be responsible for advancing community engagement at Saint Leo, building community partnerships, creating new initiatives, and serving on various internal and external boards and committees.

Gesner comes to Saint Leo having served as the executive director of the Hub for Innovation and Community Engaged Learning at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“I look forward to building relationships and collaborating with the many businesses and organizations in the Tampa area and beyond,” said Gesner, in the release.

“I hope to explore emerging opportunities and discover powerful ways for Saint Leo University to be a catalyst and partner in yielding positive social and economic impact,” said Gesner.

Business partners looking to partner with Saint Leo can email .

Education options
Many students think of education after high school as the traditional four-year college degree.

However, students who don’t want to go that route have other options from which to choose, according to the KHEAA (Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority).

One option is to get a two-year degree that leads to a job in the workforce.

A second option is a diploma or certificate that takes six to 18 months to finish, then find a job. Students often can take advantage of federal and state financial aid programs to help pay for that training.

Military service is another option students have, which doesn’t mean their education has to stop at high school.

All branches of the service have education options for men and women, either while they are in uniform or after their discharge. Many states have college aid programs for National Guard members.

Service members should contact their unit educational office to discuss student aid options.

For information, visit KHEAA.com.

Early release days
Pasco County Schools again will utilize a monthly, early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.

Upcoming early release dates are: Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 9 and April 13.

On each of these days, students will be released two hours early.

The bell times, including the early release times for each school, can be found online at Pasco.k12.fl.us/site/pcs_bell_schedule.

Chalk Talk 10/06/2021

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ABC Program is a benefit
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices this summer collected donations for the Pasco County School District’s ABC (Assist, Believe & Care) Program.

Veterans Elementary School was one of the recipients of a donation from the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office to benefit students through the school district’s ABC Program. (Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

The program was created to provide financial assistance to students and their families who are experiencing economic hardship, especially when those needs interfere with the student’s ability to be academically successful.

The monies collected go into a fund that teachers can use when they see or learn of a need a child may have.

“The management and staff of each of the five tax collector offices in the county chose which school in their respective community they wanted to donate their funds to,” said Fasano, in a news release.

“Each office earmarked $1,000 for a school in need. In addition, due to the generosity of the community, a sixth school was also the recipient of a $1,000 donation,” commented Fasano.

The schools chosen by each office were:

  • Dade City Office: Rodney Cox Elementary School, Dade City
  • Gulf Harbors Office: Marlowe Elementary, New Port Richey
  • Land O’ Lakes Office: Pine View Elementary, Land O’ Lakes
  • New Port Richey Office: Chasco Elementary, New Port Richey
  • Wesley Chapel Office: Veterans Elementary, Wesley Chapel
  • Additional school: Gulfside Elementary, Holiday

“The strain of COVID only adds to the pressure families are under during these uncertain times. Children without food, adequate clothing or other unmet needs often suffer academically. The ABC Program was designed to help students and their families who are experiencing hardship or crisis,” said Fasano.

For more information, visit PascoTaxes.com.

College Success Awards
Three Pasco County high schools — Land O’ Lakes High, J.W. Mitchell High and Wiregrass Ranch — have been named recipients of the College Success Award, which recognizes high schools for college preparation and enrollment, as well as postsecondary success, according to a news release.

In winning the award, the schools join 1,838 high schools in 25 states that met the standards to earn the Great Schools College Success Award. GreatSchools.org is a nonprofit that provides a wealth of school information to parents and families to help them make informed decisions to guide their students’ futures.

Award-winners are determined by a methodology that evaluates school-level data on college preparation, college enrollment, and college performance.

In addition to a review of overall student college readiness and test scores, the schools are rated on their record of success with students, broken down by demographics, race and ethnicity, socio-economic status, and disability status.

“Congratulations to the high schools that earned this honor,” said Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning, in the release.

“This truly reinforces the district’s vision of students achieving success in college, career and life,” said Browning.

To see a full list of Florida award winners, as well as details on how the schools earned the recognition, visit GreatSchools.org/gk/csa-winners/.

Peace Corps prep partner
The Peace Corps announced the University of South Florida (USF) ranked No. 2 among schools on the agency’s list of top Peace Corps Prep certificate-issuing partners in 2021.

USF issued 58 Peace Corps Prep certificates to the graduating class of 2021.

Two-hundred-fifty students were enrolled in the Peace Corps program during the 2020-2021 academic year.

“At this pivotal time in our history, young people have a crucial role to play,” said Carol Spahn, Peace Corps acting director, in a news release.

“Through the Peace Corps Prep program, these schools have equipped students with the skills and understanding necessary to help communities near and far recover from the multidimensional and global shocks of the pandemic,” said Spahn.

The top certificate-issuing partners, ranked one through 10, are: Virginia Commonwealth University; University of South Florida; University of Florida; Mercer University; Monmouth University; University of California Education Abroad Program; Elon University; University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; Walsh University; and Pacific Lutheran University.

For information about the Peace Corps Prep program at USF, contact Lauren Strange at or 813-974-6148.

Social work conference
Saint Leo University will host its seventh-annual Social Work Conference on Oct. 8, using a virtual platform, for both established professionals and those interested in the field.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Social Workers are Essential.”

Those attending can learn the ways in which social needs and social work practices have evolved and changed since COVID-19.

There will be a keynote panel at 9 a.m.

Other speakers and session presenters will share information on issues including: mental health and substance abuse; trauma and sexual assault response; social work and counseling needs in public schools; patterns evident in school shootings; food insecurity; improving cross-cultural connections; and more.

Sessions will end around 3:30 p.m.

Admission is $20. Admission and continuing education credit will be available for $40 (payment accepted online).

Saint Leo students and alumni will be admitted free, but must register.

To learn more and to register, visit SaintLeo.edu/annual-social-work-conference.

Florida changes COVID student quarantine protocols

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Florida parents now have the power to decide whether a healthy child should be taken out of school because of exposure to COVID-19.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran joined together on Sept. 22, to announce that the Florida Department of Health issued a new rule, empowering families to make that decision.

The new emergency rule, which became effective on Sept. 22, prevents the unnecessary exclusion of healthy students from in-person schooling; safeguards the rights of parents and legal guardians and their children; provides health protocols for symptomatic or COVID-19-positive students; and provides opportunities for parents and legal guardians to choose which protocols to implement when their student has had direct contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, according to a news release posted on the governor’s web page.

“Parents have the right to have their healthy kids in school,” DeSantis said, in the release.

“In-person education is important for students’ well-being, their educational advancement, and their social development. The idea that schools are somehow a big problem when it comes to the spread of the virus has been refuted yet again. Not only is the forced quarantining of healthy children disruptive to a student’s education, but many folks in Florida are not able to work from home. With this rule, we are following a symptom-based approach to quarantining students in Florida.”

The state’s new surgeon general added: “The governor and I share a similar vision of weighing the costs and benefits of public health policies – and our new rule today is an example of that,” Ladapo said, in the release.

“We must make sure that we are doing what is right for parents and for students. There’s not a single high-quality study that shows that any child has ever benefited from forced quarantining policies, but we have seen demonstrable and considerable harm to children. It’s important to respect the rights of parents.”

Corcoran also commented: “What we did over the past year was nothing less than amazing – we gave parents in our state the option to send their children to school for face-to-face instruction with more students, over a longer time than any state in the nation – but we did see massive quarantining,” said Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, father of six kids who missed over 100 days of school last year due to quarantines.

“If you take the number of kids that had to quarantine, and added up the days they missed in school, in the education arena, we would call that a chronic absenteeism pandemic. Now we have the data telling us that factually 98% of those children who quarantined never became symptomatic. That’s why the previous policy didn’t make any sense. This is a brilliant change, and I’m so thankful for this new common-sense rule.”

On another COVID-19-related issue, DeSantis announced that Florida has secured 3,000 doses of monoclonal antibody treatments directly from GlaxoSmithKline, after the Biden Administration cut the supply.

“We should be doing everything we can to get patients monoclonal antibody treatments, not cutting allocations of treatment like the Biden Administration has done,” DeSantis said, in a release on his web page.

Florida has been aggressive in making this treatment available.

Meanwhile, on the issue of Pfizer booster shots, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that these groups of people receive Pfizer booster shots, six months after their initial series of shots:

  • People 65 years and older, and residents in long-term care settings
  • People aged 50 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions
  • People aged 18 to 49 years with underlying medical conditions, based on individual benefits and risks
  • People aged 18 to 64 years who are at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting

According to the CDC, many people now eligible to receive a booster shot received their initial vaccine early in the vaccination program and will benefit from additional protection.

“With the Delta variant’s dominance as the circulating strain and cases of COVID-19 increasing significantly across the United States, a booster shot will help strengthen protection against severe disease in those populations who are at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 or the complications from severe disease,” according to information on the CDC’s website.

The CDC also will evaluate available data in the coming weeks to make additional recommendations for other populations or people who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, the website says.

COVID Numbers

Pasco County Schools*
Student cases: 5,317
Employee cases: 900

Hillsborough County Schools*
Student cases: 9,145
Employee cases: 1,520

*Cumulative for school year, as of Sept. 24

Sources: Pasco County Schools and Hillsborough County Schools

Pasco County*
Cases: 1,851
Positivity rate: 13.8%

Hillsborough County*
Cases: 3,841
Positivity rate: 9.7%

*Week of Sept. 17 to Sept. 23

Source: Florida Department of Health

Published September 29, 2021

School funding issue highlights Pasco legislative delegation

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More than 30 citizens and civic leaders made their voices heard on various hot-button issues during the annual Pasco County Legislative Delegation meeting at Zephyrhills City Hall.

Refining funding for area schools was among the key themes at the Sept. 1 gathering.

The annual event allows residents, elected officials, representatives of city and county governments, and civic organizations to speak directly to their legislators prior to the start of the next legislative session.

The Pasco County Legislative Delegation annual pre-session meeting took place on Sept. 1 inside Zephyrhills City Hall. More than 30 citizens and civic leaders made their voices heard on various hot-button issues, including education, criminal justice, health care, small businesses, nonprofits, environmental and municipal infrastructure. (Kevin Weiss)

Pasco’s delegation includes State Reps. Amber Mariano, Ardian Zika and Randy Maggard; and State Sens. Wilton Simpson (current Senate president), Ed Hooper and Danny Burgess, respectively. Maggard was absent at the delegation meeting.

Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin opened the conversation on education — addressing the delegation on virtual school financing inequities.

Beaudoin asked state leadership to consider an amendment that would strike language from a Florida statute that puts Pasco’s virtual program at a disadvantage to the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) program.

Current law limits Pasco eSchool to earning full-time equivalency (FTE) funding during the 180-day school calendar, while the state’s virtual school can record FTEs throughout the summer,  Beaudoin explained.

This situation hurts students who wish to take online classes during the summer — whether that’s to meet graduation requirements or accelerate their learning, she said.

She also noted that Pasco eSchool offers more than 50 courses that are not available from FLVS, including high-interest electives, dual-enrollment, Advanced Placement, and career and technical courses.

“We want every opportunity to provide choice for our students and families,” said Beaudoin, a University of Tampa math instructor and department of education chair.

Beaudoin put forth three instances of funding being denied students to take district virtual classes.

“Please allow for the same funding that you provide for FLVS.”

United School Employees of Pasco president Don Peace stepped in to raise concerns about the state’s “formulation and categorical restrictions in the teacher salary increase allocation.”

The union leader said he agrees with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to raise the floor on salaries to recruit new teachers.

But, Peace said there needs to be some accommodations for more experienced teachers, particularly regarding salary compression.

The first 15 years of teacher salaries have been compressed in Pasco — meaning that a 15-year teacher makes the same salary as a teacher fresh out of college, Peace said.

Peace suggested altering the state’s teacher salary allocation guidelines. Currently, it calls for 80% of funds to be used for increasing the base salary, with 20% for those already above the base salary.

He suggested that it should be split 50/50, which would allow school boards the ability to raise the ceiling on salaries to recognize long-term employees.

Peace also urged legislators to improve salaries for bus drivers, custodians, food and nutrition services workers and other support staff.

Tammy Rabon-Noyce is the executive director of CLASS Pasco, a nonprofit organization that represents the interests and advocacy for over 260 school principals, assistant principals and staffers.

She emphasized the need for legislators to involve school administrators and organizations such as CLASS Pasco in the drafting of education policies and funding.

She also asked the state to give local districts more freedom in spending decisions.

“We need autonomy over those (state) funds that you all so generously provide to us, and we ask that you consult with us — let us talk you through the implications of policies that you are considering, and tap our expertise,” Rabon-Noyce said.

Other topics included criminal justice, health care, small businesses, nonprofits, environmental and municipal infrastructure.

There was even talk about how the Sunshine State can better position itself to attract more film and television productions.

Tampa-based actor Ray Watters spoke on behalf of Film Florida, a statewide not-for-profit entertainment association.

The longtime professional actor underscored the potential economic windfall if Florida was able to attract more film and production companies.

“It’s really, really disheartening for me to know that Florida is the only state in the southeast, and one of 16 states throughout the U.S., without a program to compete for film and television projects, which puts us at a major competitive disadvantage,” he said.

Watters claimed that Florida has lost out on close to 100 major film and television projects that would’ve equated to over $1.5 billion spent statewide, 125,000 cast and crew jobs, and 250,000 hotel room nights.

A handful of passionate speakers called upon the legislative delegation to institute a statewide anti-tethering law.

Lutz resident Betsy Coville, a veterinarian for over three decades, said anti-tethering legislation promotes public safety and gives law enforcement additional tools to impede dog fighting.

Dog fighting, Coville added, is linked to illegal drugs and money laundering.

She also described the inhumane treatment endured by dogs who are tethered to a stationary object outdoors for lengthy periods.

“A dog on a chain has a very small, lonely world. They eat, sleep and live in the filth where they urinate and defecate,” Coville said.

“They’re at the mercy of rain, cold, heat, and sitting targets for biting insects and predators, both human and animal. They are not a part of a loving family, and rarely have appropriate food, shelter or veterinary care.

“Dogs are social animals and, over time, a lack of companionship and attention leads to fearful, anxious and often aggressive animals.”

Although four hours had been allotted for the legislative delegation meeting, speakers concluded their remarks within two hours.

Each guest speaker had been given three minutes to make their points and requests.

“Believe it or not folks, Pasco County has showed how you do a delegation meeting,” said Burgess the delegation chair, referring to the meeting’s efficiency.

The Florida Legislature kicks off the 2022 regular session on Jan. 11. The fall interim committee meeting schedule began Sept. 20 and runs through early December.

Published September 29, 2021