Education

Mask mandate dropped in Pasco, Hillsborough public schools

July 13, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Students returning to public schools in Pasco and Hillsborough counties will not be required to wear masks.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning took a moment at the school board’s July 6 meeting to reiterate the Pasco district’s position.

“I’ve been getting a number of emails from folks, across the district, that I guess are still concerned that I’m going to have staff and students in masks.

“I am not going to have students in masks, come the beginning of the school year.

“I think it’s been patently clear by this district that masks would be optional starting in August.

“I think it’s even more clear with the remarks made by our governor that there would be no masks in school. So, they’ve removed that decision from local school districts,” Browning said.

“So, I just want to make it abundantly clear that we will not have masks required in Pasco schools.

“We will, however, continue to monitor COVID and COVID data, with the Delta variant that’s out there,” Browning added.

Hillsborough County public schools also has announced that it would drop the mask mandate.

Gov. Ron DeSantis told the Florida Board of Education at its June 10 meeting that most of the state’s school districts had already decided that “kids should be able to go to school normally, they should not be forced to wear masks.

“I think that that’s important that we do that statewide,” he said.

However, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, updated on July 9, for COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools says: “Masks should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated.”

The guidance continues: “Consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors and in crowded settings, when physical distancing cannot be maintained.”

The CDC “recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully reopen while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as indoor masking.”

Published July 14, 2021

Chalk Talk 07/14/2021

July 13, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Monika Perez

Pepin Academies names new COO
Pepin Academies has named Monika Perez as its chief operating officer (COO), to oversee its three campuses in Hillsborough and Pasco counties that serve students with learning and learning-related disabilities. She will oversee internal operations across the Pepin campuses, and implement program and facility expansions.

This newly created position comes as part of Pepin Academies’ long-term development plan.

Perez has served Pepin Academies for the past 17 years.

She began her career with the schools as director of Pepin Academy High School, then a ninth through 12th grade charter school, in 2004, and has assumed roles as assistant principal and principal, as well.

Perez received a Bachelor of Science in communication disorders from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Education in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.

In addition to her roles at Pepin, she also has served on numerous charter school application review committees to advance educational choice in the community.

Her service to Pepin Academies and the community earned her Pepin’s Peregrine Falcon Outstanding Employee award in 2017.

For more information about the schools, visit PepinAcademies.com.

Super Saturday
Saint Leo University will host Super Saturday on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at University Campus, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Students committed to joining Saint Leo for the fall semester, as well as those who are still making a college decision, can acquaint themselves with the school’s academics, community, and student services, while completing preparations for August classes.

Admission to the event is free. Family and friends can attend.

The event will include games, novelties, crafts, music, food trucks, prizes and a large giveaway.

A VIP reception for the incoming class will provide guests with the chance to meet future classmates and other Saint Leo families.

Those attending will have access to class registration, financial aid meetings, department presentations, housing selection, parking registration, student ID photos, tours, residence hall walk-throughs, and more.

Students also can bring transcripts for the final round of the fall 2021 instant admission sessions, complete an on-site application, take placement exams, submit a deposit, and meet with staff from various departments.

The use of face coverings or masks is required for all individuals who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 while on campus.

To register for Super Saturday, visit SaintLeo.edu/visit-campus.

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

B.E.S.T. Academy back on campus
AdventHealth Tampa on June 29 welcomed students from the Brain Expansions Scholastic Training (B.E.S.T.) Academy back on campus for the first time since the pandemic.

The high school students learned hands-only CPR, experienced a coding exercise, and heard from an AdventHealth heart surgeon.

The summer program provides students with hands-on clinical experience in the hospital setting, and teaches students the skills to continue their education and pursue future careers in health care.

To learn more about the academy, visit BestMedicalAcademy.org.

Constitution seminar
Saint Leo University’s Department of Criminal Justice will host its Summer Institute seminar program, with four days focused on a discussion of “The Constitution, Social Justice, and Modern America.”

Criminal justice faculty and guest speakers will delve into several constitutional amendments, and the contemporary discussions and legal arguments about how the amendments are interpreted.

The institute is scheduled for July 19 through July 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., each day.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Those who attend will be issued a certificate, upon completion of the seminar.

To sign up, email , with the words “2021 Summer Institute” in the email subject line, to request a Zoom registration link.

Course fee adjustments
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its July 20 board meeting at 6 p.m., at the West Campus in New Port Richey.

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.

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.

Employment Fair
Pasco County Schools will host its sixth annual Pasco Community Public Employment Fair on July 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Ave., in Hudson.

Those in attendance can meet managers from Pasco County Schools, Pasco County Emergency Services, Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco County Tax Collector, Pasco Board of County Commissioners, and more.

Capstone program grant
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) celebrated the success of the Achievement Capstone Program, a scholarship program that grants financial assistance to high-achieving, underrepresented college graduates of historically Black colleges and universities and predominantly Black institutions.

The NMSC joined the UNCF at Clark Atlanta University, to commemorate the scholarship’s five-year milestone, where NMSC President Timothy E. McGuire presented UNCF President Dr. Michael L. Lomax with an additional $2.1 million grant for the program.

“UNCF is honored to continue the legacy of a program that has meant so much to Black college students who struggled to finance their higher education,” said Lomax, in a news release.

“I am proud of the work that UNCF has done with this program in helping ensure a college degree is not only a dream but a possibility.”

McGuire added that NMSC is proud of its partnership with UNCF and the work and stewardship to carry on the name, mission and legacy of the National Achievement Scholarship Program, which has recognized and honored many Black American scholars since the first awards were presented in 1965.

“We believe this further investment in the Achievement Capstone Program is proof of our great confidence in UNCF to carry on this important mission for many years to come,” said McGuire, in the release.

Chalk Talk 07/07/2021

July 6, 2021 By Mary Rathman

High marks for PHSC president
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) president Timothy Beard earned near-perfect scores on his annual review by the college’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT), according to a news release.

The College Board of Trustees gave him an overall average score of 4.95 out of 5, noting Beard’s excellent communications with the DBOT and community stakeholders, as well as administrators on the college’s administrative leadership team.

Marilyn Pearson-Adams, DBOT chair, summarized the review comments in a letter to the trustees, noting in the release that “Dr. Beard’s personal and professional demeanor have positively impacted his performance as president and consequently facilitated the college being one of the premier institutions in the Florida College System.”

Beard exceeded performance standards in all areas of the evaluation.

He earned a 4.86 for board relations; a 4.88 for community, state and national relations; a 5.0 for fiscal accountability; a 4.99 for leadership; and a 5.0 for accountability.

Beard is starting the second year of a three-year contract awarded last year by the college trustees after he demonstrated his ability to grow as a leader, embrace a style of leadership that promotes transparency, collaboration and clear communication.

ABC Program
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices will collect donations during the month of July in support of the Pasco County Schools’ ABC (Assist, Believe & Care) Program.

The ABC 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.

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

For information about the charitable giving programs at the tax collector’s office, contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Free vaccinations
The Florida Department of Health – Pasco County is teaming up with Pasco County Schools and Health Hero to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to Pasco County students age 12 and older.

The free vaccinations also will be made available to children’s eligible family members.

Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to receive the vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed at several school locations around the county.

Appointments are required to ensure a smooth and efficient experience.

July 12:

J.W. Mitchell High School, 2323 Little Road, Trinity – 8 a.m. to noon, in the cafeteria. Enter the school from Photonics Drive and park in the first parking lot on the right.

July 13:

Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes – 8 a.m. to noon. Park in the student parking area.

July 14:

Pasco High School, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City – 8 a.m. to noon. From State Road 52, pull in after the tennis courts and park in the staff or gym parking lot.
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel – 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park in the faculty parking lot and take the sidewalk between Building 300 and the main office.

Parents are encouraged to fill out the online registration available from the school district website (Pasco.k12.fl.us), and select from the available dates, times and locations.

An individual registration form must be completed for the student and every additional family member.

Back-to-School fundraiser
Pasco County Property Appraiser Mike Wells, and entrepreneur and philanthropist Jacques Hakim have partnered with the Pasco Sheriff’s Charities and the YMCA of the Suncoast James P. Gills Family Branch to launch “Step up for Pasco Students,” a back-to-school fundraiser, for students in Pasco County schools.

Every $10 donated can buy a new pair of quality shoes for a child in need.

The goal is to collect 5,000 pairs by July 18.

Sponsorship levels also are available.

To donate, visit bit.ly/PascoSheriffCharities or YMCASuncoast.org/stepup.

Employment Fair
Pasco County Schools will host its sixth annual Pasco Community Public Employment Fair on July 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Ave., in Hudson.

Those in attendance can meet managers from Pasco County Schools, Pasco County Emergency Services, Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco County Tax Collector, Pasco Board of County Commissioners, and more.

Summer food service
Pasco County School’s Summer Food Service program will continue through July 27, at selected school campuses and at bus stop locations around the county.

All school location meal packs will contain seven breakfasts and seven lunches, and will be provided curbside on Tuesdays only, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., to anyone age 18 and younger.

East Pasco school sites include: Cypress Creek High, Double Branch Elementary, New River Elementary, Pasco High, Quail Hollow Elementary, R.B. Cox Elementary, R.B. Stewart Middle, San Antonio Elementary, Sand Pine Elementary, Watergrass Elementary, Wesley Chapel Elementary, Wesley Chapel High, West Zephyrhills Elementary, Wiregrass Ranch High and Woodland Elementary.

In Central Pasco: Connerton Elementary, Lake Myrtle Elementary, Oakstead Elementary, Odessa Elementary, Sanders Memorial and Sunlake High.

Students attending PLACE (Pasco Learning and Activity Centers of Enrichment) or Extended School Year programs at the schools will receive their meals on campus and are not eligible to participate in curbside meal pickup.

School bus stops will distribute meal packs on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For bus stop locations and menus, and to participate in the meal pickups, visit tinyurl.com/3mp6x4dh.

For questions, email .

Unlimited bus rides
Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) Department buses on regular routes all summer for just $20.

The special student rate is effective now through Aug. 31.

The Summer Haul Pass can be purchased at these locations:

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Office, West and East Pasco Government Centers
Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores in Dade City, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel
PCPT Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., Port Richey
All Pasco County Libraries

For information about the pass, bus routes and schedules, visit RidePCPT.com.

Chalk Talk 06/30/2021

June 29, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Back row, from left: Karynn Edouard, coach Patricia Sherburne, OM mascot Omer, Abbie Sherburne, Mira Marks, coach Allison Marks, Adalyn Resch and Isabella Vizcaino. Front row: Mackenzie Sherburne, Mariah Rojas and Mackenna Marks (Courtesy of Allison Marks)

Students shine in world competition
The fifth-grade Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team from Connerton Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes won third place in its division at the OM World Finals Competition in Orlando. This was the first team in Pasco County to ever place in the top three at the World competition, according to an email from coach Allison Marks.

Marks, parent of two girls on the team, and Patricia Sherburne, second-grade teacher, coached the students.

The fifth-graders created a town called Choco Ville, a chocolate-themed town with chocolate-themed characters, in which a villain (Vanillian) tried to destroy the town with a ‘vanillacane’ (vanilla hurricane). The town’s superhero, Daffy Taffy, saved the day, and helped to unite the cocoa beans and vanilla beans.

The set for Choco Ville was constructed of cardboard boxes, paint, shopping bags, candy wrappers, paper towel tubes, cotton balls, coffee filters, painted paper plates, tootsie roll wrappers, bubble wrap and ice cream containers — all of which were made to look like various candy discs, ice cream cone shapes and more.

The community was very supportive and cheered the girls on, made donations, and encouraged and prayed for them along the way.

The team’s trophy will be placed on display in the Connerton Elementary office.

Every $10 donated can buy a new pair of quality shoes for a child in need.

The goal is to collect 5,000 pairs by July 18.

Sponsorship levels also are available.

To donate, visit bit.ly/PascoSheriffCharities or YMCASuncoast.org/stepup.

Student achievements
Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, has announced that Molly Grace Flanagan, of Lutz, and Julliet Abel Muriel, of Spring Hill, have been named to the spring Dean’s List.

Muriel also received a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in criminal justice.

Veteran Studies degree
Saint Leo University has created the first undergraduate degree devoted to veteran studies, according to a news release. A Saint Leo minor also is available in the emerging field.

The veteran studies major was developed to allow students the opportunity to study the distinctive lives and cultures formed by military service and by retirement from service — a part of American culture that often is not understood, except in shallow or stereotypic ways.

The major and the minor are intended to remedy that deficit.

The programs are open to both student-veterans and students who are not veterans.

Admissions and enrollment inquiries can be made by calling 877-622-2009, or by emailing .

Financial aid tip
Getting at least some advanced training or education after high school can lead to a future with more opportunities and higher expected income.

Data from the Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey shows that U.S. high school graduates aged 25 and older reported a median income of $31,956 per year, according to a Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) news release. (A median means that half of the people who responded made more than that amount, while half made less.)

Students who had some post-high school education made over $5,000 more per year, while those with two-year degrees made over $7,000 more each year.

The unemployment rates for high school graduates and those with some college or technical training didn’t differ much, 4.8% versus 4.9%. The jobless rate for people with a two-year degree was much lower at 3.3%.

The KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency that helps to improve students’ access to college.

It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy, at no cost to students and parents.

For more about the agency’s services, visit KHEAA.com.

The free vaccinations also will be made available to children’s eligible family members.

Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to receive the vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed at several school locations around the county.

Appointments are required to ensure a smooth and efficient experience.

July 12:

J.W. Mitchell High School, 2323 Little Road, Trinity – 8 a.m. to noon, in the cafeteria. Enter the school from Photonics Drive and park in the first parking lot on the right.

July 13:

Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes – 8 a.m. to noon. Park in the student parking area.

July 14:

Pasco High School, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City – 8 a.m. to noon. From State Road 52, pull in after the tennis courts and park in the staff or gym parking lot.
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel – 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park in the faculty parking lot and take the sidewalk between Building 300 and the main office.

Parents are encouraged to fill out the online registration available from the school district website (Pasco.k12.fl.us), and select from the available dates, times and locations.

An individual registration form must be completed for the student and every additional family member.

Chalk Talk 06/23/2021

June 23, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Wharton High seniors Taryn Bartley, Taylor Kaliszewski, Payton Kenny, Alexandria Massey, Vlada Pitner and Callie Zack were part of the Blue & White staff. Not pictured is senior Fallon Lavine. Kyle LoJacono, adviser, sits at the top. (Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

School paper earns first
Wharton High School’s school newspaper, the Blue & White, was named a Most Outstanding High School Newspaper 2020-2021 by the American Scholastic Association.

“This is the best we’ve ever done in this national competition,” said Kyle LoJacono, Blue & White adviser, in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

“Not only did they (students) create one of the best student-run high school newspapers in the nation, but they did it with half the staff working from home while e-learning, and half in person. That speaks to their dedication and also their ability to communicate and get the job done under less-than-ideal circumstances,” said LoJacono.

Blue & White’s editor-in-chief, Callie Zack, is the third person in her family to be on the newspaper staff at Wharton. LoJacono noted: “We had a great mix of leadership styles.”

Student achievements

Dean’s List:

Jose Bautista, of Lutz, Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri
Jennifer Clifford, of Lutz, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Moriah Davis, of Lutz, University of Alabama
Sydney Fleeman, of Odessa, Valdosta State University, Georgia
Michelle Graham, of Lutz, Mercer University, Macon, Georgia
Olivia Jablonski, of Odessa, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
Emily Leonard, of Wesley Chapel, Mercer University
Brianna Pearson, of Lutz, The College of Saint Rose, Albany, New York
Angelo Sardegna, of Lutz, Curry College, Milton, Massachusetts
Sierra Sosa, of Odessa, Samford University
Christiana Till, of Odessa, University of Alabama
Troy Tsotsos, of Land O’ Lakes, Mercer University
William Tucker, of Lutz, Samford University

President’s List:

Jack Houser, of Odessa, University of Alabama
Elijah James, of Odessa, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
Emily Ymiolek, of Lutz, University of Alabama

Graduate degrees:

William George Albrecht, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in engineering, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Clare O’Keefe, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in sports management, Endicott College, Beverly, Massachusetts
Royce Pope, of Lutz, Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
Sydnee Turner, of Lutz, Associate of Science in nursing, Lincoln Memorial University, Tampa

Unlimited bus rides
Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) Department buses on regular routes all summer for just $20.

The special student rate is effective now through Aug. 31.

The Summer Haul Pass can be purchased at these locations:

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Office, West and East Pasco Government Centers
Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores in Dade City, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel
PCPT Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., Port Richey
All Pasco County Libraries

For information about the pass, bus routes and schedules, visit RidePCPT.com.

The free vaccinations also will be made available to children’s eligible family members.

Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to receive the vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed at several school locations around the county.

Appointments are required to ensure a smooth and efficient experience.

July 12:

J.W. Mitchell High School, 2323 Little Road, Trinity – 8 a.m. to noon, in the cafeteria. Enter the school from Photonics Drive and park in the first parking lot on the right.

July 13:

Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes – 8 a.m. to noon. Park in the student parking area.

July 14:

Pasco High School, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City – 8 a.m. to noon. From State Road 52, pull in after the tennis courts and park in the staff or gym parking lot.
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel – 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park in the faculty parking lot and take the sidewalk between Building 300 and the main office.

Parents are encouraged to fill out the online registration available from the school district website (Pasco.k12.fl.us), and select from the available dates, times and locations.

An individual registration form must be completed for the student and every additional family member.

Summer food service
Pasco County School’s Summer Food Service program will continue through July 27, at selected school campuses and at bus stop locations around the county.

All school location meal packs will contain seven breakfasts and seven lunches, and will be provided curbside on Tuesdays only, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., to anyone age 18 and younger.

In Central Pasco: Connerton Elementary, Lake Myrtle Elementary, Oakstead Elementary, Odessa Elementary, Sanders Memorial Elementary and Sunlake High.

Students attending PLACE or Extended School Year programs at the schools will receive their meals on campus and are not eligible to participate in curbside meal pickup.

School bus stops will distribute meal packs on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For bus stop locations and menus, and to participate in the meal pickups, visit tinyurl.com/3mp6x4dh.

For questions, email .

Celebrating their rites of passage

June 15, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Liliana Stephenson, Kids R Kids (Courtesy of Julianna Stephenson)

Their milestones sparked joy.

It didn’t matter whether they were wrapping up pre-kindergarten or picking up a master’s degree. They could have been moving up to middle school, or heading off to college.

Whatever they were celebrating, it was a moment of pride — and we thank their loved ones for submitting a photo to us, so we could share that part of their story with our readers.

Two of those pictured here — Roman Boukorras and Rylie Chisholm — are part of The Laker/Lutz News’ family. They are the nephew and niece of Katie Fernandez, an account manager for our newspaper.

Here, without further ado, we celebrate our “graduates.”

Check out all our readers’ submitted photos in the video on our website or at https://www.facebook.com/211702412202894/videos/495085661550698.

Nathan Reeves, Sunlake High School (Courtesy of Teresa Collins)

Evelyn Hernandez, Zephyrhills High School (Courtesy of Laura Barthle)

Roman Boukorras, Backyard Bears Day School

Rylie Chisholm, St. Joseph Catholic School

Chalk Talk 06/16/2021

June 15, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Nicholas Sobestanovich with his parents, John and Susan, after the undergraduate commencement at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. (Courtesy of the Sobestanovich family)

Academic honors
Nicholas (Niko) Sobestanovich, of Land O’ Lakes, was named salutatorian at Saint Leo University, University Campus in Pasco County.

Sobestanovich earned a Bachelor of Arts in accounting.

He completed a spring internship with Strategis CPAs & Consultants, in Lutz, and accepted a full-time job with the firm as a tax accountant.

Chloe Padron, of Spring Hill, earned the recognition of class valedictorian and was named the winner of the Clara McDonald Olson Scholarship Award, which is given to a University Campus undergrad with the highest grade point average over four years of study.

Padron graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in management.

Both of the students studied in programs offered by the Saint Leo University Tapia College of Business.

Student achievements

Angelica C. Gonzalez, of Lutz, was named to the spring Dean’s List at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Danny Jennings, of Land O’ Lakes, earned a Master of Science in occupational therapy professional development from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Anapaula Rios-Rosales graduated magna cum laude from Saint Leo University and will attend Edward Via College of Osteophathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama.
Megan Rizzi, of Lutz, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina.
Amy Stanton, of Odessa, was recognized to the spring President’s List at Georgia College, Milledgeville, Georgia.

The free vaccinations also will be made available to children’s eligible family members.

Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to receive the vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed at several school locations around the county.

Appointments are required to ensure a smooth and efficient experience.

The dates listed below are for the first and second doses.

On June 21 and July 12:

J.W. Mitchell High School, 2323 Little Road, Trinity – 8 a.m. to noon, in the cafeteria. Enter the school from Photonics Drive and park in the first parking lot on the right.

One June 22 and July 13:

Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., Land O’ Lakes – 8 a.m. to noon. Park in the student parking area.

On June 23 and July 14:

Pasco High School, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City – 8 a.m. to noon. From State Road 52, pull in after the tennis courts and park in the staff or gym parking lot.
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel – 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park in the faculty parking lot and take the sidewalk between Building 300 and the main office.

Parents are encouraged to fill out the online registration available from the school district website (Pasco.k12.fl.us), and select from the available dates, times and locations.

An individual registration form must be completed for the student and every additional family member.

School supply drive
DAVRON, a local executive search and outplacement firm in Land O’ Lakes, will host a school supply drive through June 28, to benefit Christian Social Services (CSS) of Land O’ Lakes.

CSS provides food, clothing, supportive services and Christian hospitality to families and individuals in central Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties.

For each donation, a raffle ticket will be given to be entered into a live drawing for a chance to win prizes from local businesses, such as restaurant gift cards, trampoline park admission tickets, and more.

DAVRON also will host a company fishing tournament for staff, and for every fish caught, DAVRON will donate $10 to CSS.

Donations of school supplies, backpacks and lunch boxes can be dropped off at the DAVRON office, 6753 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Summer food service
Pasco County School’s Summer Food Service program will continue through July 27, at selected school campuses and at bus stop locations around the county.

All school location meal packs will contain seven breakfasts and seven lunches, and will be provided curbside on Tuesdays only, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., to anyone age 18 and younger.

In Central Pasco: Connerton Elementary, Lake Myrtle Elementary, Oakstead Elementary, Odessa Elementary, Sanders Memorial Elementary and Sunlake High.

Students attending PLACE or Extended School Year programs at the schools will receive their meals on campus and are not eligible to participate in curbside meal pickup.

School bus stops will distribute meal packs on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For bus stop locations and menus, and to participate in the meal pickups, visit tinyurl.com/3mp6x4dh.

For questions, email .

Unlimited bus rides
Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) Department buses on regular routes all summer for just $20.

The special student rate is effective now through Aug. 31.

The Summer Haul Pass can be purchased at these locations:

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Office, West and East Pasco Government Centers
Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores in Dade City, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel
PCPT Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., Port Richey
All Pasco County Libraries

For information about the pass, bus routes and schedules, visit RidePCPT.com.

Electric cooperative donates $400,000 to Kirkland Academy

June 8, 2021 By B.C. Manion

The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) has donated $400,000 to help Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation to purchase equipment for the school, now under construction off Curley Road, in East Pasco.

The donation “represents an investment in the next generation of engineers, IT professionals, electrical linemen, and entrepreneurs,” according to a news release from Pasco County Schools.

This is an aerial view of ongoing work at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, a new high school that will help to prepare students for a wide variety of career paths. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school district plans to open the new school in the fall of 2022. It will offer programs aimed to equip students “with 21st-Century employability skills and entrepreneurial experiences to enhance their long-term career prospects,” the release says.

The school is expected to have an enrollment of 1,000 students.

Its programs will include digital technology, engineering, biomedical science, transportation, building technology and others, the release adds.

The donation from the electric cooperative will go toward buying the equipment needed to prepare Kirkland Academy students for high-skill, high-wage careers.

“With technology rapidly changing particularly in the utility sector, WREC felt it essential to invest in an educational program that focuses on the latest in technology and innovation,” said Billy Brown, the electric cooperative’s chief executive officer.

The 184,000-square-foot school is within the electric cooperative’s five-county service area.

Having one of the largest employers in Pasco County partnering with the school district will help to ensure the success of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Pasco School Superintendent Kurt Browning said in the release.

“We have big plans for the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, and it’s great to see that Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative is as excited about it as we are,” Browning said. “This generous donation will enable students to have the kinds of cutting edge, hands-on educational experiences that will be a distinguishing feature of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.”

At a school board meeting last year, the team working on the design and construction of the school provided details about the site and plans, as well as offering a glimpse of its planned programs.

The 104-acre school site is about 3 miles due east of Interstate 75.

The campus is projected to cost approximately $70 million, according to district officials. And, the school will not have an attendance zone. Like Wendell Krinn Technical High School, the new Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation will attract students based on interest in its varied programs.

It’s at the northwest edge of Kirkland Ranch, on Curley Road, at the eastern edge of Wesley Chapel. It’s about 3 miles north of Watergrass Elementary School.

The site is at more than 40 feet of elevation, and includes an existing pond and oak trees.

A number of career and technical education labs are planned, including those designed for digital media, engineering robotics, biomedical and patient care.

Automotive, diesel, welding, construction, electrical and cybersecurity programs are planned, as well.

The diesel program will be one of a few in the state.

Those programs are in addition to core academic classes and electives.

Students will be able to learn about entrepreneurship and business, as well as foreign language, math and science.

In addition to the high school, the school district is planning for the future. A large portion of the property, east of the high school, has been maintained for a future kindergarten through eighth grade school.

Published June 09, 2021

Saying goodbye to a challenge-filled school year

June 8, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Some Pasco County School board members and the president of the employee union took a few moments during the board’s June 1 meeting to reflect on efforts made during this previous school year — to cope with challenges posed by COVID-19.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, summed up the last school year this way:

“Well, we made it. A most inconvenient, challenge-filled year is now finished.

“We didn’t make it without cost. We lost a few pretty special people along the way.

“There were some students who never really connected, and the mental taxation to all of us was monumental.

“Despite all of this, I thought we planned and executed a pretty remarkable year.

“Compared to districts and states around the country, who never returned to school, Pasco is light years ahead in giving our students the best educational opportunity to move forward, under extraordinary circumstances,” Peace said.

School board member Cynthia Armstrong agreed with Peace’s assessment.

“It was a tough year. I don’t think any of us ever want to go through anything like this again.

“We still were able to accomplish some amazing things.

“A lot of life lessons were learned by everyone, including the students,” Armstrong said.

“I really want to thank all of the students and staff at all of the schools for everything they did to help keep our students safe this year, (and to) make sure that learning and extracurricular activities continued,” Armstrong said.

Peace echoed that appreciation, giving kudos to teachers, support personnel, district staff, community partners, parents and grandparents for their help during a difficult year.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin also expressed gratitude for the flexibility demonstrated by school leaders, in light of changing circumstances.

“I know it’s not easy, but they have adapted,” Beaudoin said.

Peace said he knows the coming year will be challenging on the financial front, particularly because much of the state money coming to the district must be spent in specific ways.

The union leader also formally requested that USEP be included in discussions over how federal money, provided in COVID-19 relief, is spent in the district.

Regarding district spending, Beaudoin asked if the district can seek to reduce paper costs.

“Can we move more toward using less paper?” Beaudoin said, noting that during the pandemic, the district has increased its use of an electronic learning management system called CANVAS.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district has spent more than $10 million on CANVAS, so he’s a big proponent of using that system.

In conversations, he said, he has asked: “Why should we not, and I use the word, mandate, CANVAS in our schools. And, I still have some pushback. Right, wrong or indifferent. But with a district our size — we’re talking about ninth, 10th largest district in the state — we consume a great deal of paper.”

Browning said he wouldn’t favor going to a paperless system, but agrees the district could use less paper.

Beaudoin agreed: “I’m not advocating for not using any paper. Especially in math, I think it’s really important that kids be able to write on their tests. I wasn’t saying, ‘I don’t want any paper.’ I was just thinking there are some things that you can post.

“I remember in elementary school, my kids coming home with tons of things that could have been in an email, or could have been (on) a half a sheet of paper,” she said.

Browning said the district is making progress on that front. “We’re getting there. Every year, we’re getting better.”

The district is “very sensitive to the amount of materials,” the superintendent said.

As a matter of fact, Browning said he would be meeting with district staff about department budgets following the board meeting to address cuts that will be needed to avoid a deficit in the coming year’s spending plan.

Published June 09, 2021

More scholarships address increased need

June 8, 2021 By Mary Rathman

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has announced a total of $23,950 in scholarship awards for 2021.

From left: Woman’s club scholarship chair Lucy Albury, Alexis Fernandez, Jadon Ferrance, Alissa Vani, Marian Suliman and woman’s club president Annette Bellingar. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

For more than a decade, the club has had the privilege of administering the Lutz Fireman’s Endowment Fund on behalf of the former Lutz Volunteer Fire Department.

Each year, two scholarships were awarded to students who are Lutz residents; however, the former Fireman’s Fund directors recommended that during this challenging pandemic year, the woman’s club double the awards, to four $5,000 scholarships, due to the exceptional need in the community.

From left: Woman’s club president Annette Bellingar, Kaitlyn Sheppard, Clayton Topdemir, Shannon Gordy, and Jay Muffly of the Lutz Fireman’s Endowment Fund.

The four recipients of the 2021 Fireman’s Fund awards are Shannon Gordy, Sunlake High School; Clayton Topdemir, Cypress Creek High; Zachary Maddox, Freedom High; and Kaitlyn Sheppard, Gaither High.

The woman’s club scholarship recipients are Alexis Fernandez, Land O’ Lakes High ($1,100); Jadon Ferrance, Steinbrenner High ($1,100); and Alissa Vani, Steinbrenner High ($1,000).

The club’s Lynn LaFleur Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Marian Suliman, Steinbrenner High ($750).

This group of graduates will soon begin their university studies at various schools, including Florida State University, the University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, George Washington University, the University of Florida, Florida A & M, the University of North Florida, and the University of Central Florida.

Published June 09, 2021