Education

Chalk Talk 09/29/2021

September 28, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Board reappointment
Gov. Ron DeSantis has reappointed Marilyn Pearson-Adams to the Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT). Pearson-Adams is the president and owner of Century 21 Alliance Realty of Spring Hill. She is the current chair of the PHSC DBOT, chair of the Florida Realtors’ Legislative Think Tank, and a past chair of the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce. Pearson-Adams was inducted into the National Association of Realtors Hall of Fame in 2020.

Vaccination incentives
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) has rolled out a new incentive program that provides an opportunity for HCC students vaccinated against COVID-19 to receive $300 in rent credit to be used toward on-campus student housing and a $2,000 incentive, according to a news release.

“We want everyone on campus to feel safe, and that includes not just our students, but our faculty and staff as well. The vaccines have proven to be safe and the best defense against the virus. These new incentives are an added measure to ensure our students are taking every action available to keep not just themselves safe, but our entire community safe, too,” said Dr. Ken Atwater, HCC president, in the release.

All residents of Hawks Landing, the student-affiliated housing located on the HCC Dale Mabry Campus, who show proof of full vaccination by Oct. 31 will receive a $300 rent credit for the month of November.

Currently enrolled HCC students who show proof of full vaccination by Nov. 5 will be entered into a drawing to win an incentive of $2,000. Fifty students will be awarded through the raffle and will be notified by Nov. 30.

Instructions on how to submit proof of vaccination status will be communicated to students directly via their HCC student email, HawkMail.

Mini-seminar offered
Saint Leo University’s Tampa Education Center will host a free, hybrid mini-seminar about Social Emotional Learning (SEL), for parents and guardians of children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

The seminar, “Social Emotional Learning: Tools for Parents/Guardians of K-5 Learners,” will be on Oct. 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the center and via Zoom. A limited number of people will be able to attend in person.

Those attending can learn how to help children make good decisions and have positive classroom experiences.

Topics will include the use of children’s books/literature through the instructional practice of “Read-Alouds,” to engage children in conversation about social emotional learning topics.

There also will be discussion on the stages of learning to understand how children develop socially and emotionally, as well as hands-on culturally responsive activities.

For information, email , or call (813) 226-2777.

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: Oct. 6, 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.

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.

Substitute teachers needed
Pasco County Schools currently is hiring substitute teachers.

A high school diploma is required.

Apply at ESS Pasco County, Jobs.willsubplus.com/jobs?districtIds=1466.

Email Jenny Hacker at for additional questions.

Governor wants to end Florida’s high-stakes testing

September 21, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a legislative proposal that will eliminate the Common Core- based, end-of-year Florida Statewide Assessment (FSA), according to a news release from his office.

Instead, the governor is proposing a new accountability measure known as the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (F.A.S.T), which will monitor student progress and foster individual growth, according to the Sept. 14 news release.

By creating F.A.S.T., Florida would become the first state in the nation to fully implement progress monitoring, instead of end-of-year standardized testing.

“Florida’s education focus should be students’ growth and how we restore the conversation between parents and teachers in support of students’ growth,” DeSantis said, in the release. “In this final step to eradicate Common Core from our assessments, our administration is implementing the lessons learned from progress monitoring both during the state’s recovery and from our districts and schools that were already showing how we can better support students reaching their own unique growth goals.”

DeSantis made this announcement with Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, and was joined by several teachers and students from High Point Elementary School who have already benefited from utilizing the progress monitoring approach.

“Each year, Governor DeSantis’ administration has been committed to a data-driven approach to constantly improving how Florida provides supports to its teachers and turns the focus of education to how we impact our students, especially those representing achievement gaps,” Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said, in the release.

The new approach calls for:

Minimizing the stress of testing to three much shorter tests in the Fall, Winter and Spring that will inform students, teachers and parents about students’ growth.
Reducing testing time an average of 75% through progress monitoring, increasing time for teaching and providing more timely, usable feedback to help students reach their unique goals.

At the Pasco County School Board’s Sept. 14 meeting, Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, applauded DeSantis’ push regarding state testing.

“Earlier today, we did get some good news delivered by the governor. The Department of Education has decided that this will be the last year for the high-stakes FSA testing.

“This will go a long way of relieving teachers of the stress that has been born for years, related to these tests.

“This is something that educators and unions have advocated for, for many years.

“Other methods of assessment will be in play, so there will still be accountability, but this is a historic event in Florida education,” Peace said.

Published September 22, 2021

Worker shortage takes a toll on Pasco schools

September 21, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools has been struggling to fill bus driver, custodial, food service and instructional vacancies — prompting school board member Colleen Beaudoin to seek relief for overburdened workers.

Although the numbers fluctuate from day to day, a recent report showed that the district had roughly 155 instructional vacancies and 348 non-instructional vacancies, according to Steve Hegarty, the district’s public information officer. The non-instructional vacancies include 100 bus driver openings.

“Our folks are really under a lot of stress,” Beaudoin said, during the school board’s Sept. 14 meeting. “We must do something. Our folks need help”

Pasco County school board member Colleen Beaudoin is seeking relief for district employees who are feeling the stress of worker shortages. (File)

The district has added positions, but is having trouble filling them, she said.

“Grants that were supposed to provide for more nurses to help with contact tracing — people are not taking these jobs. It is stretching our folks too thin.

“On top of that, people are calling our schools and berating whoever answers the phone because they are upset that buses are late.

“Bus drivers have been yelled at. Please consider that you are yelling at the people who are showing up for our kids.

“This problem is not unique to schools, nor is it unique to Pasco County.

“I’ve been to restaurants where there are only two servers at work, and they’re understaffed too.

“We need to be thanking and supporting the people who are showing up,” Beaudoin said.

“Superintendent (Kurt) Browning, I know that you are aware of the stress on our employees.

“Please continue to brainstorm ways to take some things off their plates, prioritize, and let’s try to get them some relief.

“There’s a lot of smart people in this room. I’m just asking you to revisit and remove any unnecessary paperwork, or anything else you can do, to provide some relief,” Beaudoin said.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco(USEP), told school board members that he’s been hearing mixed reviews about how the school year is going so far, from school district employees.

“Some who were teaching MSOL (My School Online) last year are glad to be back with students; some teachers are scared to death to be in a classroom with unmasked students, but have no other prudent option.

“We all expected better for this year, but that hasn’t happened. Judgment and emotions have eroded to all-time lows in many cases, and people are at political war with each other.

“Some teachers have expressed that with quarantined students, political disarray and mental frustration running wild, delivering instruction is taking a severe hit in the classroom.

“There’s so much confusion about COVID and so much changing information, it is near impossible to make an informed decision on anything.

“I think it would behoove us all, superintendent, board members, staff, USEP and district employees, alike, to take a step back and see just exactly where we’re at.

“There are many states where schools have not been open for some time, and student learning has been halted. That is not so in Florida.

“We seem to have a balance of keeping our schools and businesses open, and moving our economy forward.

“Are things perfect? No, not at all. Is there room for improvement? Absolutely.

“And, much of that improvement can start with us.

“Instead of hollering at the bus driver for being an hour late, how about if we thanked them for being willing to go the extra mile to see that our kiddos get to school and home safely.

“Some of them are running three and four runs.

“Instead of railing at the teacher for not getting right back to the student on quarantine, why not exercise some compassion and restraint, and try to understand that providing makeup instruction for students has now become a full-time job.

“Maybe a thank you to the teacher or bus driver would be more appropriate,” Peace said.

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, has been keeping board members informed about the district’s efforts to fill bus driver, custodial and food service vacancies.

And, she repeatedly expressed her gratitude for employees working in departments with significant staffing shortages.

“We’ve had a lot patience and partnerships at schools, as we work through all of this,” Kuhn said.

“We do have some silver linings. HR (Human Resources) has been a wonderful partner in helping us to recruit, and some new ideas, to help as much as possible. And our schools are stepping in,” Kuhn said, during a recent meeting.

“We also have a mini call center. We have started a mini one that involves district secretaries that are answering the phones for the garages because we have anyone who can drive a bus, driving a bus right now. It’s all hands on deck for the transportation department.

Kuhn said her own assistant, “has taken the brunt of those calls.”

Published September 22, 2021

Pushing to expand early childhood offerings

September 21, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County School board member Colleen Beaudoin made an impassioned plea during the board’s Sept. 14 meeting to increase the district’s early childhood learning opportunities.

She observed that she’d recently attended a Head Start meeting, and she noted that as of August, Head Start’s enrollment was 530, and Early Head Start’s enrollment was 107.

She praised the efforts of district staff in the early childhood programs but, she said, there are 299 children on the Head Start waiting list and 132 on the Early Head Start waiting list.

Beaudoin noted that the district has made great strides, overall, in expanding its programs and offerings.

“We have more students taking advanced academics, and career and technical courses, and they aren’t just taking these courses. Our students are excelling, when given this opportunity,” she said.

But Beaudoin emphasized that all district students should have these opportunities.

“This includes students who are living in poverty and students whose parents don’t know the options that are offered. This includes kids whose parents, grandparents, guardians and other caregivers are working at night and can’t sit at the kitchen table every night helping their kids,” Beaudoin said.

It includes students with disabilities, she said.

“I read somewhere once that when children are young, their intelligence can mask their disability. And when they are older, their disability can mask the intelligence. I know this is true.

“I’m including the kids with limited English proficiency.

“This is about all our kids. We cannot let these students slip through the cracks.

If the district wants to expand educational opportunities for all students, it needs to start when they are young, she said.

“We have students in this county who begin kindergarten already at a disadvantage compared to some of their peers,” Beaudoin said.

“The further a student falls behind, the harder it is for them to catch up. The gap continues to widen, if not addressed.

“It’s much easier and less costly to provide supports and interventions to 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds than it is to a high school student sitting in an algebra class, who’s lacking good number sense,” said Beaudoin.

“I know we are working on expanding early childhood programs,” she said, and she urged the district to invest more in those efforts.

“Four-hundred-and-thirty-one students on waiting lists for Head Start and Early Head Start is sad and unacceptable. We’ve got to find a way to reach these students, and that’s where I’d like us to focus our time and more of our funding,” Beaudoin said.

Published September 22, 2021

Chalk Talk 09/22/2021

September 21, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Substitute teachers needed
Pasco County Schools currently is hiring substitute teachers. A high school diploma is required.

Apply at ESS Pasco County, Jobs.willsubplus.com/jobs?districtIds=1466.

Email Jenny Hacker at for additional questions.

COVID notices changed
Pasco County Schools has changed the way it notifies parents of positive cases being reported at the district’s middle and high schools.

As of Sept. 13, the district stopped sending daily notifications regarding a positive case being reported at its secondary schools.

“Given the nature of middle school and high school schedules, a handful of positive cases often resulted in notifications going school-wide, with some parents receiving multiple notifications of possible exposure,” according to the email the district sent to parents.

“This change pertains to middle school and high school only. Daily notifications will continue at the elementary school level,” the email added.

While the district stopped sending those daily notifications, anyone interested in finding out positive cases at any particular school can visit the school district’s COVID-19 Daily Report, which is listed on the district’s website, at Pasco.k12.fl.us.

The report lists each school alphabetically and provides the number of staff or student cases for that day.

Student attends space program
Rocco Pupello, of Lutz, attended the Advanced Space Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, in Huntsville, Alabama.

The weeklong educational Space Camp program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and problem-solving.

Rocco spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated space mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the moon or mars.

Space Camp uses astronaut training techniques to engage trainees in real-world applications of STEM subjects.

Students also sleep in quarters designed to resemble the ISS and train in simulators like those used by NASA.

Student achievements
• These local students, all from Lutz, were named to the summer President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University: Joel Gomez Ruiz, Felicia Shingles and Allie Ungerecht.
• Nathan Shane, of Lutz, was recognized for his academic achievements during the spring semester at The Citadel. Gold stars are awarded to cadets and students who achieve a 3.7 GPA or higher. The individuals who achieve gold-star recognition also are placed on The Citadel’s Dean’s List.

Course review
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is receiving excellent reviews of its college-readiness course called Journey to Success, according to a news release.

As part of the college’s reaccreditation effort with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, this Quality Enhancement Plan helps students with improving several key areas: Problem-solving, time management, intellectual openness, and persistence.

The planning and implementation of this student experience began in 2018.

Journey to Success is a first-year, first-semester experience currently open to all students, and in the future, will be a mandatory course in the Associate in Arts degree program.

The target student population includes part-time or full-time students who are attending PHSC for the first time, have earned six or fewer credit hours from an accredited institution of higher education, and are enrolled in coursework that leads to an Associate in Arts degree.

With Journey to Success, students have consistently indicated in three semesters of data that by the end of the semester, they feel better prepared than at the beginning of the semester in the four focus areas of college readiness.

To read the full, published article and learn more about Journey to Success, visit PHSC.edu, and click on the “In the News” section.

4-H program has begun
Pasco County Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program will run through Aug. 31, 2022. Children ages 5 to 18 can participate in county, district, state, regional and national level 4-H clubs, events and activities.

Members join community clubs where they work with fellow volunteers to complete projects, community service, camps and workshops. Project areas include: Leadership, environmental science, animal science, robotics, sewing, art, fishing and more.

The cost to join is $15 for ages 5 to 7 and $25 for ages 8 to 18.

For more information or to join a club, call 352-518-0156, or email .

For more information about the Florida 4-H program, visit Florida4H.ifas.ufl.edu.

Upcoming early release dates are: Oct. 6, 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.

Pasco County is adding two new elementary magnets

September 14, 2021 By B.C. Manion

During the past few years, Pasco County Schools has been adding to its slate of educational choices for parents and students, and two new options will become available in the 2022-2023 school year.

Centennial Elementary in Dade City and James M. Marlowe Elementary in New Port Richey are slated to become STEAM magnet schools.

The acronym STEAM means the schools will have an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

As magnet schools, Centennial and Marlowe will not have traditional boundaries.

The school district will use its school choice program, known as Pasco Pathways, to assign students to the schools.

Parent meetings will be held in October, to provide additional information.

Centennial’s meeting is set for Oct. 12 and Marlowe’s is set for Oct. 5. (Check with schools for additional details.)

As a result of dropping their traditional boundaries, the geographic areas currently zoned to the schools must be absorbed by other schools.

The Pasco County School Board will have public hearings on the proposed boundary changes for the schools on Nov. 16 and on Dec. 14.

Centennial and Marlowe will pattern themselves after Sanders Memorial Elementary, at 5126 School Road, in Land O’ Lakes.

Sanders Elementary recently was named a nationally certified magnet school by Magnet Schools of America. The distinction signifies that Sanders meets rigorous standards that define high-quality schools, according to a school district news release.

Centennial Middle and Bayonet Point Middle, which are middle magnet schools focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also were named nationally certified magnet schools by the same organization.

In general, magnet schools feature themes and courses that are designed to attract students from outside traditional school boundaries.

Sanders Elementary became the district’s first magnet school in 2015, when it reopened, following a massive renovation. Most of the students attending Sanders live in the central part of Pasco County.

Centennial Elementary will provide a convenient option for students and families in East Pasco, to explore the same educational opportunities as those offered at Sanders. Marlowe will do the same in West Pasco.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning briefed the school board members at their Sept. 7 morning meeting, on the process the district will use, leading up to the switch. He said communications would be sent to families later in the day.

Centennial Elementary Principal Gretchen Rudolph-Fladd explained how the transition will work in a letter to parents, posted on the school’s website.

In part, she told parents: “Making a transition like this requires several steps. Some are significant, while others are formalities that have no impact on students.”

She posted some frequently asked questions and answers to those queries, too.

Here’s an excerpt of those FAQs. (To see the FAQs in their entirety, visit the school’s website at https://cenes.pasco.k12.fl.us).

Will our school have to close?
Technically, it will, but it will not impact students because it will close at the end of the 2021-2022 school year and will reopen at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.

Will parents have to apply to have their student remain at the school?
Yes, parents will need to make that desire known by applying via School Choice. Children currently attending the school will have “preferred” status and there is every expectation they will be able to remain at the school.

Why is a rezoning necessary?
Magnet schools do not have traditional zones, so nearby attendance zones will expand to include Centennial’s current attendance zone.

Will the current teachers lose their jobs?
No one will lose their job as a result of the transition to a STEAM magnet. However, staff changes will result. The expectation is that most teachers will remain, but others have opted to pursue a teaching position at a different school. Teachers wishing to transfer to a more traditional position will be able to do so.

Published September 15, 2021

Chalk Talk 09/15/2021

September 14, 2021 By Mary Rathman

High school fishing program
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) 2021-2022 High School Fishing Program offers high school fishing clubs or teams the opportunity to teach fisheries conservation, practice fishing skills and apply for the Florida R3 Fishing Grant Program.

The program is focused on recruiting new anglers to ensure the future of fishing in Florida.

The Florida Sport Fish Restoration R3 Fishing Grant will award up to 30 high school fishing clubs or teams $500 to assist with club expenses and the purchase of fishing licenses or gear for participants.

Participating clubs and teams will receive an updated educational curriculum comprised of lessons and activities on fisheries conservation and resource management, plus a chance to win prizes by completing a conservation project.

The grant program is open to freshwater or saltwater fishing clubs or teams at public, private and charter high schools throughout Florida.

To be considered for the grant, clubs or teams must have a minimum of five members and be represented by a school faculty member or parent who will follow the provided instructor’s manual.

The application can be found online at MyFWC.com/HSF, under “Florida’s R3 Fishing Grant Program.”

The deadline to submit an application is Sept. 17 at 5 p.m.

Fee adjustments review
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider the approval of proposed adjusted course-related fees at its Sept. 21 board meeting, at 6 p.m., via Zoom.

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/policies-and-procedures/public-disclosure.

Magnet schools recognized
Three Pasco County schools have been recognized as nationally certified magnet schools, which means they have met the rigorous standards that define high-quality magnet programs.

The schools are Bayonet Point Middle and Centennial Middle, both of which are STEM magnet schools, and Sanders Memorial Elementary School, a STEAM magnet school.

Magnet Schools of America, the national association of magnet and theme-based schools, created the national certification process to recognize the nation’s exemplary magnet schools and to help them continue providing high-quality magnet programs, according to a press release.

Magnet schools are those that offer specialized courses in themes that are designed to attract students from outside the traditional school boundaries.

“This is a tremendous honor for our magnet schools,” said Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning, in the release.

“The staff at each school should be very proud, and I know parents will be pleased to know that their schools have met the highest standards of excellence,” said Browning.

Student achievements

Austin Cambas, of Lutz, received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration from The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
Shane McBride, of Wesley Chapel, was named to the summer Dean’s List at Columbia College of Missouri.

Working while in college
Working while going to college can pay off in several ways, according to The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).

The KHEAA states, in a news release, that earning money while in school, building a resume and learning to work well on a team can help a student after graduation.

One benefit is learning the importance of time management by having to juggle classes, study time, work and other parts of life in general.

Being employed can help to build a network of contacts and references that can aid in a future job search, too.

However, there can be possible drawbacks.

Working and going to school, especially if a student has a full-time job and a full schedule of classes, can cut into study time. The combination of work and school also can reduce downtime, which is needed to stay healthy — an important part of being a good student and employee, as well.

Before signing up for additional work hours or additional classes, a student should make sure there is still time to take care of one’s self.

For more information on KHEAA services, visit KHEAA.com.

Upcoming early release dates are: Oct. 6, 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.

Education award
The Center for Education Reform (CER) will accept applications for and award a $1 million prize to an education provider, exceptional group of people, or organization that demonstrated accomplishment during COVID-19 and seeks to expand its work throughout the coming year, in the U.S.

The STOP Award for Education will reward education that is Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless.

The application window is open now and closes on Oct. 6 at 11:59 p.m., EST.

“We are on the hunt for great, successful entrepreneurs and innovators who have been educating our kids during COVID, and didn’t skip a beat to give parents what they want and children what they need during the pandemic,” said Jeanne Allen, CER founder and CEO, in a news release.

In addition to the $1 million prize, CER also is supporting several new micro-schools in underserved communities.

For more information, visit StopAward.com.

Chalk Talk 09/08/2021

September 7, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Saint Leo University’s ‘For Those Who Serve’ sculpture, to honor the U.S. military, is in Dempsey Plaza, next to the Student Activities Building. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo recognized
U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) has named Saint Leo University as one of the nation’s Best of the Best 2021 Top Veteran-Friendly Schools.

USVM polled hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies for this year’s Best of the Best evaluations, which in addition to educational institutions, also lists top veteran-friendly employers, initiatives, and government agencies. More than 375 companies and institutions participated, according to a news release.

Saint Leo University served as a military college in its past, and in 1973, the then-college began offering courses on military bases in Avon Park and at MacDill Air Force Base.

Saint Leo welcomed military students and student-veterans who were returning from Vietnam, at a time when other colleges shunned them.

The school offers a variety of programming for these students, including Mindful Monday (guided meditation via Zoom) and Transition Tuesday, which provides information about making the transition from being in the military to being a college student.

Saint Leo designs veteran-specific activities to support student-veterans.

In addition to more than 6,000 veterans currently being served by Saint Leo University, many of the faculty and staff are military-affiliated.

The STOP Award for Education will reward education that is Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless.

The application window will be open Sept. 8 and closes on Oct. 6 at 11:59 p.m., EST.

In addition to the $1 million prize, CER also is supporting several new micro-schools in underserved communities.

For more information, visit StopAward.com.

Homeschoolers info
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host “Homeschoolers Destination: Information” on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m.

Every other week, the center will use activities related to different content areas to discover monthly themes.

The theme for September will be “Great Growers,” and will include fruits and vegetables to explore the world of growing.

Registration is required. Masks are recommended, but not mandated.

To register, visit PascoLibraries.org.

For questions, call 727-815-7126.

Academic honors
These local students have been named to the Dean’s List at the Florida Institute of Technology:

Theodore Martin, Hudson; Jacqueline Figueredo, Lutz; Max Martino, Lutz; Andrew Ekblad, New Port Richey; Ian Ragan, New Port Richey; Zachary Watson, Trinity; Alexis Clark, Trinity; and Tyler Vermillion, Trinity.

New board members
Victory High School, in New Port Richey, has added new members to its board of directors.

Dr. David Barzelay was named the board chair. He brings more than 49 years of teaching, grant writing, leadership and chaplaincy to the position.

Barzelay has experience in writing curriculum, preparing and conducting training sessions for staff, and planning budgets and maintaining fiscal responsibility.

His contributions also include fundraising efforts in securing federal, state and local grants.

Dean Chung is now a board member. He has more than 30 years of experience in the corporate and nonprofit management sectors.

From IBM to volunteering with Pasco-Hernando SCORE, Chung brings his leadership, consulting and fundraising efforts to the board of directors.

He has been a supporter of Victory High School since its beginning.

Apprenticeship program
Pasco-Hernando State College (PSHC) has increased opportunities for students seeking a nontraditional college experience and looking to pursue a certification in the workforce.

Through its Workforce Education department, and in partnership with the Bay Area Apartment Association (BAAA), PHSC now offers an Apartment Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program.

The program is registered by the state for veterans training under the GI Bill, and is designed for varying groups of individuals, including those leaving the military, graduating high school or college, or switching careers due to COVID-19.

Through the apprenticeship program, students will be placed with a property management company, where they can receive paid on-the-job training, as well as classroom and hands-on training.

The apprentices will gain skills in electrical, cabinetry, HVAC diagnosis and repair, punch skills, basic plumbing, appliance repair, exterior maintenance, and more.

For additional information on the program, visit PHSC.edu/apprenticeships, or contact Karen Strouthopoulos at 727-816-3123 or .

Mask ruling has no immediate impact in Pasco schools

August 31, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper has deemed unconstitutional the state’s order to ban local school districts from imposing mandatory facemasks.

Cooper explained his decision in a two-hour announcement from the bench on Aug. 27.

Cooper ruled that school districts can impose mandatory mask mandates, and if challenged, must be granted due process to demonstrate their mask requirement is reasonable.

Taryn Fenske, communications director for Gov. Ron DeSantis, issued this reaction to the ruling: “It’s not surprising that Judge Cooper would rule against parent’s rights and their ability to make the best educational and medical decisions for their family, but instead rule in favor of elected politicians.

“This ruling was made with incoherent justifications, not based in science and facts – frankly not even remotely focused on the merits of the case presented. We are used to the Leon County Circuit Court not following the law and getting reversed on appeal, which is exactly what happened last year in the school reopening case. We will continue to defend the law and parent’s rights in Florida, and will immediately appeal the ruling to the First District Court of Appeals, where we are confident we will prevail on the merits of the case.”

Locally, Judge Cooper’s ruling will have no immediate impact in the Hillsborough or Pasco public school districts.

Hillsborough already has adopted a temporary facemask mandate in its schools which remains in effect through Sept. 17.

The Hillsborough board took that action, despite the governor’s executive order, and subsequent actions taken by the Florida Board of Education and the Florida Department of Education.

DeSantis has stood firm in his position that parents — not local school boards — have the authority to determine whether a student wears a mask in school.

Hillsborough school board members took emergency action to impose a temporary mandatory mask order, with a medical opt-out provision.

In doing so, they joined a number of school districts that defied that order and faced potential financial sanctions.

Cooper enjoined the state from imposing those penalties.

Shortly after Cooper’s ruling, Pasco County Schools issued this statement: “We are aware that Leon County Circuit Judge John C. Cooper has determined that Governor DeSantis’ order banning mask mandates is unconstitutional. At this time the ruling has no impact on Pasco County Schools’ mask-optional policy.

“The Governor’s order remains in effect until the final order is submitted. At that time, the Governor is expected to appeal the decision.

“To summarize: Today’s ruling has no immediate impact on Pasco County Schools. Masks remain optional for students and staff.”

So far this school year, Pasco County Schools has had a combined total of 2,481 student and staff cases, as of the evening of Aug. 27.

As of the same date, that figure stood at a combined total of 5,500 for students and staff in Hillsborough County Schools.

In other pandemic news, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval on Aug. 23 of the Pfizer vaccine for those age 16 and older. The vaccine has emergency use authorization for those age 12 and older.

Experts have said the FDA’s approval could encourage people with vaccine hesitancy to go ahead and get vaccinated.

The pronouncement also could prompt more employers to require employees to get vaccinated.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has announced that city employees have until Sept. 30 to become vaccinated. Those who do not will need to wear an N95 mask and show weekly results from a COVID test.

Pasco County has decided to use a different approach. It is offering $500 in premium pay to every employee who becomes fully vaccinated by Nov. 1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that everyone age 12 and older get vaccinated to lessen the chance of becoming infected. While people may become infected, medical experts and scientists have said they are at much lesser risk of hospitalization or death.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 transmission rate remains high in Florida. Experts attribute that to the infectious delta variant of the disease, which they say is highly contagious.

In the week between Aug. 20 to Aug. 26, Florida recorded 151,749 new COVID-19 cases, with a positivity rate of 16.8%, according to the Florida Department of Health’s website.

Pasco County had 4,433 new cases, with a positivity rate of 21.2%.

Hillsborough County had 11,800 new cases, with a positivity rate of 18.9%.

AdventHealth West Florida Division continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases at its facilities across West Florida and continues to experience a peak of COVID-19 patients, according to an Aug. 27 news release. To date, more than 600 COVID-positive patients are currently hospitalized in the West Florida Division’s 10 hospitals.

AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Zephyrhills have paused all non-time sensitive and non-emergent procedures.

The hospital chain also has limited visitors at numerous locations, including these in and near The Laker/Lutz coverage area: Dade City, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Tampa and Carrollwood. Specifics are available by visiting each hospital’s website.

In other COVID-19 related news, Hillsborough County has issued a news release to inform its water customers that they may notice a temporary change in the taste and odor of their drinking water.

Tampa Bay Water temporarily changed its water treatment process beginning Aug. 26 at its Lithia Hydrogen Sulfide Removal Facility, due to a lack of liquid oxygen deliveries to the facility.

Water provided to Hillsborough County Public Utilities customers will continue to meet all local, state, and federal regulations for drinking water, the news release said.

While consumers may notice a change in taste and odor, the treatment change will not alter the quality of the drinking water, according to the news release.

There is a delivery driver shortage caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the need for available supplies to be diverted to local hospitals, the release explained.

“In addition, Tampa Bay Water is adjusting the regional blend of water sources to accommodate the change in available deliveries of liquid oxygen in the taste and odor,” the release said.

COVID Statistics: Week of Aug. 20 to Aug. 26

Florida
New cases: 151,749
Positivity: 16.8%

Pasco County
New cases: 4,433
Positivity rate: 21.2%

Hillsborough County
New cases: 11,800
Positivity rate: 18.9%

School cases
Cumulative cases, 2021-2022 school year*

Pasco County Schools
2,350 student cases; 491 staff cases

Hillsborough County
4,563 student cases; 947 staff cases

*As of the evening of Aug. 27

Published September 01, 2021

Browning named best FACTE superintendent in Florida

August 31, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has been awarded the top honor among Florida superintendents in the arena of career and technical education.

The award — long delayed because COVID-19 and shipping complications — was delivered to Browning during the Pasco County School Board’s Aug. 17 meeting.

Rob Aguis, director of Fred K. Marchman Technical College, bestowed the award to Browning, on behalf of Marsan Carr, executive director of the Florida Association for Career and Technical Education, known as FACTE.

Aguis told board members that Browning originally was set to receive the award during FACTE’s summer 2020 conference. But that was delayed because of COVID-19.

The conference was held in the fall, but that happened virtually, Aguis said.

Initially, when the trophy was shipped, it arrived in pieces. Then, it was sent listing the wrong county.

But the third time was the charm, and Aguis was finally able to hand it off to Browning.

In doing so, he cited letters of support for Browning, written by Colleen Beaudoin, a school board member and Vanessa Hilton, chief academic officer for the district.

They said, “Mr. Browning’s vision includes providing opportunities for every student to earn industry certification, in addition to providing multiple ways to earn college credit.”

They also noted that under Browning’s leadership, Fred K. Marchman Technical Education Center underwent a $15 million transformation to became Fred K. Marchman Technical College.

Another high point of Browning’s leadership was the conversion of Ridgewood High School into Wendell Krinn Technical High School, a choice school for students who want to earn industry certification, college credits, and be ready to work.

The district also has broken ground on Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation will deliver highly advanced career and technical education programs, to give students a head start on rewarding careers.

In essence, according to Beaudoin and Hilton, Browning, “desires his district to provide a world-class education that ensures each student is a full-option graduate,” with the freedom to choose any path for the future.

In accepting the honor, Browning observed: “Oftentimes, the leader of the district gets recognized for the great work of the district. I will tell you, that it has very little to do with the superintendent of the district, but of the people that make this district what it is today.”

He then went on to reiterate his commitment as the district’s leader.

“I am fiercely dedicated to making sure that each one of our students is prepared for college, or career and life,” he said. “It doesn’t happen by accident. You have to be intentional and you have to be deliberate when you do that.”

He concluded his remarks by expressing enthusiasm for the district’s career, technical and education programs.

“Great days are ahead for us in CTE,” Browning said.

Published September 01, 2021