The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Chalk Talk 12/16/2020

By

Leo Sterns (Courtesy of Kathy Castor)

Military academies nominees
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has announced the names of 24 students, representing more than a dozen local high schools, that received nominations for admission into the nation’s military academies: Air Force (USAFA), Navy (USNA), Army (USMA), and Merchant Marine (USMMA), in a news release.

Sohan Khanvilkar

Nominations are earned based upon each student’s interview with Castor’s nomination committee, their academic record, participation in extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership qualities.

Based upon the process established by federal law, all U.S. military academies, except the Coast Guard Academy, require either a service-connected or congressional nomination (from a member of Congress, U.S. senator, or the vice president of the United States).

Nominees who receive an appointment from a U.S. military academy will attend their respective academies in the 2021-2022 school year.

Nominated students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area are Leo Sterns, Gaither High School and Valdosta State (Georgia), USAFA; and Sohan Khanvilkar, Steinbrenner High School, USAFA.

‘The Perfect Storm’
Saint Leo University and FIRST-Florida’s Forensics Institute for Research Security & Tactics will present a look at how officials deployed and the best practices they implemented at “The Perfect Storm 2020: Navigating a Historic Hurricane Season during a Global Pandemic Symposium” on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m., via Zoom.

The free webinar will discuss lessons learned from public safety officials regarding their preparedness and response efforts during the current COVID-19 pandemic and what turned into the most active hurricane season in history.

Federal, state and local officials will exchange perspectives and ideas, and offer the best practices to improve all phases of emergency management.

The event is open to the public, criminal justice and emergency management personnel, Saint Leo students, prospective students, and alumni.

To register, visit SaintLeo.edu/perfectstorm.

Open application windows
The Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice selections for the 2021-2022 school year can be found online at Pasco.k12.fl.us/school_choice_catalog/catalog.

The controlled open enrollment window for elementary and secondary grades opens on Jan. 7 at 8 a.m., and closes on Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Acceptance notifications for secondary grades will be made between Feb. 19 and Feb. 28.

Elementary grades acceptance notifications will be from March 12 and March 26.

To complete a school choice application, a parent must have an active parent account in myStudent.

Water conservation contest
More than 1,700 local students showcased their creativity for conservation during the 11th annual Water Awareness Poster Contest, featuring student artwork from 26 classrooms across 14 elementary schools.

The contest, hosted by Pasco County Utilities and the Florida Government Utility Authority, in collaboration with Pasco County Schools, was aimed at educating future generations about the importance of sustainable water.

This year’s “Drippy’s Big Adventure” detective theme took students on a journey, with mascot Drippy, to solve the mystery of where water comes from, how it’s cleaned and how it arrives in their homes.

Student artwork was judged based on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning standards.

Each award-winning student received a trophy and admission passes from this year’s sponsors: Bricks & Minifigs, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Florida Aquarium, The Lift Adventure Park and Urban Air Adventure Park.

All participants students received a free kid’s meal from Chick-fil-A of Trinity and a free ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery & Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory of Trinity.

Visit WaterContest.org for details on next year’s registration dates, and the winning artwork.

Student achievements
Hanley Riggs, of Lutz, qualified for the fall 2020 Dean’s List at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

These local students graduated from the University of Tampa:

  • Kathryn Adamski, Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations
  • Bryce Benedict, Lutz: Master of Science in Finance
  • Cory Burke, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
  • Mesa Danglert, Lutz: Master of Science in Entrepreneurship
  • Kearsten DeGolyer, Odessa: Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
  • Emma Gombert, Lutz: Master of Business Administration
  • Brooke Santiesteban, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Human Performance
  • Trevor Toma, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Jeffrey Valente, Lutz: Master of Science in Accounting

Victory High School
Victory High School, the first Recovery High School in Tampa Bay, will open on Jan. 6 in the Calvary Chapel Worship Center, 6825 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey. The space will be leased, as the school is not part of the church ministry.

Victory High is a private, nonprofit school for teens in recovery from substance-use disorders or co-occurring disorders, according to the school’s website. And, all staff and volunteers are trained in trauma responsive services.

For information, visit VictoryHighSchool.net, or email .

Learning options go on, in Florida

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Parents will continue to have the choice of keeping their children at home for remote learning through the second semester of the school year.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran made that announcement during a joint news conference on Nov. 30.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning also discussed the state’s new executive order during the Pasco County School Board’s Dec. 1 meeting.

The order “does allow for the continuation of the mySchool Online learning model,” Browning said. “It also does hold school districts harmless, financially, and I would add, with some caveats. We are still working through the details of the order, as it relates to the financial matters.”

The district must submit a plan to the state by Dec. 15, which outlines how it will identify struggling students and provide learning supports.

“Needless to say, staff is working feverishly to not just submit a report, or a plan, but submit a plan that represents how we’re going to support all of our students, and especially the struggling students,” Browning said.

“The plan will require specific steps for progress monitoring,” the superintendent added.

The plan will cover how the district plans to take “even more aggressive steps” in identifying students that are not having success, Browning said.

The district will be making contact with those parents, who then will have a choice between sending their student, or students, back to the traditional brick-and-mortar model, or to continue on with mySchool Online.

If they want to continue remote learning, they must make that affirmative choice.

“That is going to add another level of complexity,” Browning said.

“I will tell you, there will be a district-wide approach to this. There will not be different procedures in different schools,” the superintendent said. The procedure for identifying struggling students and notifying parents will be the same, he explained.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin asked the district to provide additional support for secondary teachers who are in schools where a significant number of notifications will have to be made.

Browning responded: “That is one of the issues that we’re trying to figure out.”

The district also is working on the best approach for notifications to parents.

“Do we send a certified letter home to moms and dads, with a return receipt, so we have written confirmation that they received it. Do we make phone calls? Who makes those phone calls? What information are we sharing with them? What is the measure of success?

“Those are all issues that we’re having to deal with, with guidance from Tallahassee,” Browning said.

While the district works this out, some other district tasks are being put on hold, he added.

Beaudoin said her perception of the press conference was that the state would like to get students back into traditional classrooms.

Browning agreed: “We do know that the Commissioner (Corcoran) was pretty clear yesterday, in his assessment about kids that are struggling: They need to be back in bricks-and-mortar environment.”

But, Browning said he’s pleased the state is continuing to give parents the choice.

“I will tell you that I understand, with where we find ourselves with COVID, particularly on Dec. 1, 2020, I understand why there are parents that do not want to come back into a bricks-and-mortar environment,” he said.

The superintendent went on: “The numbers, because of the measures and steps that we’ve taken as a district, have been relatively low.”

In fact, the number of positive cases among students is about ½ of 1%, he said.

In large part, the cases on campus are not resulting from spread at school, but are originating elsewhere, Browning said.

At one high school, for example, about a dozen students were sent home that were directly tied to a birthday party, he said.

“You go to parks and ballfields, and you will see full parks and ballfields — and I might add, with no masks, or very few masks,” the superintendent said.

Browning also noted that he’s been in constant contact with Mike Napier, the health officer for the Florida Department of Health — Pasco County.

“He’s concerned about the direction that we’re headed — not we, as a district, but we, as a community, are headed with COVID cases,” Browning said.

Board member Beaudoin urged parents to help ensure their children’s success.

Browning said the district needs to give assurances to Tallahassee that it is adding additional supports, and those supports, he said won’t be cheap.

“Miss (Olga) Swinson (chief finance officer), and I, and others — we talk about the funding piece and how we are going to be able to get the dollars that we’re going to need to have in order to provide these supports that the department expects us to provide to these students,” he said. “It’s a sticky wicket.”

School board member Alison Crumbley said the district needs to analyze why students are struggling. “We need to break it down,” she said.

Published December 09, 2020

Chalk Talk 12/09/2020

By

Ask a college student
The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host “Ask a College Student” on Dec. 11 at 4 p.m., through Zoom, for teens in grades eight to 12.

A panel of current students from a variety of colleges, majors and experiences will answer any questions participants may have.

Registration is required. Zoom meeting details will be emailed the day before the event.

For information and to register, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or .

‘The Perfect Storm’
Saint Leo University and FIRST-Florida’s Forensics Institute for Research Security & Tactics will present a look at how officials deployed and the best practices they implemented at “The Perfect Storm 2020: Navigating a Historic Hurricane Season during a Global Pandemic Symposium” on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m., via Zoom.

The free webinar will discuss lessons learned from public safety officials regarding their preparedness and response efforts during the current COVID-19 pandemic and what turned into the most active hurricane season in history.

Federal, state and local officials will exchange perspectives and ideas, and offer the best practices to improve all phases of emergency management.

The event is open to the public, criminal justice and emergency management personnel, Saint Leo students, prospective students, and alumni.

To register, visit SaintLeo.edu/perfectstorm.

Wreath challenge
The Florida Aquarium’s inaugural “Upcycled Wreath Challenge: Conservation Connections” is a platform for youth to learn about critical environmental issues impacting our planet through a creative art format.

All schools in Hillsborough County can participate.

Each upcycled wreath will focus on one of the aquarium’s conservation priorities and be made entirely of reused/repurposed items or materials.
Guests can then come to see the wreath in the aquarium’s CIBC Aquatic Lounge, in the Mosaic Center.

The challenge runs through Jan. 3.

For information, visit FlAquarium.org.

Drone ban in school zones
The Pasco County School Board has adopted a policy that prohibits the unauthorized operation of small unmanned vehicles – typically referred to as drones – on property that is leased, owned or contracted for by the board.

The ban is in effect at all times.

The superintendent may authorize the use of drones.

Also, pursuant to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) administrative policies, the board prohibits the operation of drones at FHSAA events conducted on property owned or leased or contracted for by the board. District officials may deny admission or entry to anyone attempting to use a drone until the event has been completed.

To be authorized to operate a drone, a staff member or administrator or other individual under contract with the board must have a remote pilot certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. The drone also must be registered and properly marked.

Anyone who is authorized to operate a drone also must comply with applicable regulations.

Limited crowdfunding
The Pasco County School Board has adopted a policy that applies to any form of crowdfunding within the district.

The action, adopted by the board at its Nov. 17 meeting, applies whether the benefit is to a specific classroom, grade level, department, school, or academic or extracurricular activity.

The policy defines crowdfunding as “the solicitation of funds or resources from individuals and/or organizations to support identified activities or projects that enhance the educational program or a specific cause approved by the district.”

Such solicitations typically are from a large number of people or organizations, using internet-based technologies.

The policy allows crowdfunding, but only with specific, prior approval by the superintendent.

It also says that “all crowdfunding activities shall protect the privacy of students, children, and young adults” in accordance with board policies, district guidelines, and applicable state and federal laws.

The policy also says that materials, supplies, equipment, and other proceeds of the crowdfunding activity shall become the property of the district, or school.

Also, any benefit to an individual employee derived from crowdfunding activities must comply with board policy, related to gifts and compensation, as well as applicable laws and state ethics rules.

The policy also prohibits cash or equivalent payment to district personnel.

And, all crowdfunding activities are subject to the district’s fundraising and other financial control procedures.

‘Type’ capsule contest
The Pasco County Library Cooperative is sponsoring a 2020 “Type Capsule” Essay Contest through Dec. 31, for grades three to five.

Because 2020 has been a historic year, students are asked to answer this question: “If you made a time capsule, what would you want to share about the year with future generations?”

The essay can discuss something the child experienced during 2020 and explain why it is worth remembering.

Submission deadline is 11:59 p.m., on Dec. 31.

Third-graders should write at least three paragraphs; fourth-graders, four paragraphs; and fifth-graders, five paragraphs.

Essays should not be more than three pages of writing. The student also can include images, but the images must be on separate pages from the writing itself.

For more details and guidelines, visit PascoLibraries.evanced.info/signup.

Chalk Talk 12/02/2020

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Saint Leo University hosted an early tree lighting on Nov. 18. (Courtesy of Sam Gonzalez, Saint Leo University)

Christmas season kick-off
Saint Leo University kicked off the Christmas season on Nov. 18 – a little early this year – in order for students, faculty and staff to celebrate together before Thanksgiving break.

The last two weeks of the fall semester will be completed online, Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, and many students will not be on campus.

Saint Leo University’s manger awaits the Christ child.

The Saint Leo community was joined by members of the Pasco County community for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at University Campus, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Father Randall Meissen, university chaplain, blessed the university’s Christmas tree and nativity as the university prepares for Advent.

Student Government Union President Ashley Butler read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke 2: 1-14, and students, faculty and staff provided Christmas music.

Leadership webinar
Saint Leo University’s Tapia College of Business will present a free virtual Leadership Re-Imagined Webinar on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m., entitled “Finding Strategic Flexibility to Power Through the Pandemic and Beyond,” to assist small businesses.

The discussion will take a closer look at how businesses are thinking and acting differently, and why flexibility is an indispensable mindset.

The guest speakers will be Dr. Drew Gold, associate professor of management for the Tapia College of Business, and Brian Quinn, chief development officer for Domio Inc.

To register, visit www.SaintLeo.edu/business-events.

For information, email Kim Bulmanski at .

College essay tips
The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a live event, “College Essays for Teens,” on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m., to discuss the best tips and methods to writing college essays.

The program is for teens in grades eight to 12. There will be a Q&A session after the presentation.

Registration is required. Zoom meeting details will be sent out the day before the event.

For information, call Amaris Papadopoulos at (727) 861-3020.

Ask a college student
The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host “Ask a College Student” on Dec. 11 at 4 p.m., through Zoom, for teens in grades eight to 12.

A panel of current students from a variety of colleges, majors and experiences will answer any questions participants may have.

Registration is required. Zoom meeting details will be emailed the day before the event.

For information and to register, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at (727) 861-3020 or .

Wreath challenge
The Florida Aquarium’s inaugural “Upcycled Wreath Challenge: Conservation Connections” is a platform for youth to learn about critical environmental issues impacting our planet through a creative art format.

All schools in Hillsborough County can participate.

Each upcycled wreath will focus on one of the aquarium’s conservation priorities and be made entirely of reused/repurposed items or materials.
Guests can then come to see the wreath in the aquarium’s CIBC Aquatic Lounge, in the Mosaic Center.

The challenge runs from Dec. 6 through Jan. 3.

For information, visit FlAquarium.org.

New nursing program
Saint Leo University will launch a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program starting in the 2021 fall semester, its University Campus. The program is designed to prepare students for generalist nursing practice within complex health care systems.

The limited-access program will be accepting new students into pre-nursing coursework in arts and sciences during the first two years, including courses in anatomy, microbiology, math, writing, ethics and psychology. Students can then apply to the nursing program during their sophomore year to begin the nursing-major courses in year three.

The application process is competitive and limited spaces are available for the BSN program. This program format will allow for potential transfer students and second-degree students who may want to pursue their BSN degree in a shorter time-frame to consider Saint Leo.

There is a growing need for nurses in the coming years as a result of the rapidly aging U.S. population and a simultaneous number of nurses retiring.

The global pandemic continues to support this urgent need for licensed nurses in the field as the health care system undergoes a major transformation in structure and groundbreaking technology advances.

Upper-level nursing courses will commence in the fall semester of 2023, and the university anticipates having 48 spots for students in the first group admitted. Students will participate in theory, simulation, lab, and clinical experiences at a variety of health care and community agencies. The program will prepare graduates who can provide safe, quality care with an emphasis on wellness.

Another advantage offered at the Saint Leo campus includes the Anatomage Table, a 3-D educational display system that is usually found only in medical schools. The table displays actual X-rays of the human body and can be operated by touch-screen mode to help teach students in anatomy and physiology classes the various systems (respiratory, vascular, etc.) and structures they need to know as nurses.

The BSN will be available for undergraduate students only at Saint Leo’s residential University Campus. Students applying for the fall semester will receive automatic scholarship consideration.

The new BSN program has received approval from the Florida State Board of Nursing and is pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Applications are currently being accepted.

For more information, email , call (352) 588-8283, or visit SaintLeo.edu/bachelor-nursing-program.

Mask mandate continues in Pasco schools

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The Pasco County School Board has extended the district’s mask policy through the end of the school year.

The action came during the board’s Nov. 17 meeting, at the recommendation of Superintendent Kurt Browning.

It also followed an afternoon workshop involving Pasco County Schools staff and the Florida Department of Health-Pasco County, covering the district’s response to COVID-19.

Pasco County School Board member Megan Harding supports keeping masks in schools for now, but wants the district to move away from that — if conditions improve to the point where that would be safe. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

According to agenda materials, the proposed rule “is required to protect the health, safety and welfare of students and staff.”

It “mandates and requires that all employees, contractors, visitors, and students wear a mask or other face covering while on school property and/or engaged in school activities.”

The policy also “requires that proper social distancing must always be observed to the maximum extent possible.” Also, “whenever feasible and possible, students, staff, and visitors must remain six (6) feet away from persons that are not members of their household.”

School board member Megan Harding addressed the issue during the board’s evening session.

“I know that COVID-19 is real,” Harding said. “People in our community have suffered from it. People in my family have suffered from it and people in our school family have suffered from it.

“There no manual that has taught us how to run our school district during a pandemic. Our superintendent and staff have done an amazing, amazing job in making sure our students and teachers are the safest that they can be. Our principals have been tasked with a huge undertaking to keep their students and staff safe. Hours upon hours of work, and for that I am so grateful.

“I truly believe that we have done a great job of keeping our schools open and functioning for our students.

“Nobody likes wearing a mask. They’re uncomfortable, and our students can’t see their teachers or principals’ smiling faces.

“While many students aren’t struggling with keeping them on, I have seen firsthand, the added layer of stress, making sure they are properly being worn, and the reminders that teachers are faced with having to give their students, daily.

“However, it is our job to keep our students safe, and our staff safe, along with ensuring they receive the world-class education they deserve.

“I’m not a doctor or a health official. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is still recommending that masks are worn, local government still has a mandate in place and our local health officials are recommending we still wear them.

“We saw that today, in the workshop — all of the data. We know that we can’t properly social distance our students in the classroom, and the cafeterias and the hallways, due to square footage. This is another layer of protection.

“I want our teachers to feel supported and safe, when they’re coming to work. “And, I want our students to feel safe coming to school,” she said, and she wants parents to know that their children are safe.

“Mr. Browning, we’ve done such an amazing job in including our parents in many of our discussions around COVID-19, and for that I’m thankful.

“We’ve allowed our parents to choose whether it felt safe enough to send their child back to brick-and-mortar, or whether they wanted to do MySchool Online. I truly hope that we continue, with the support of the health department — that we keep our parents involved in those conversations,” she said.

Harding said she knows that COVID fatigue is real, and she would like to see the district move toward allowing: students to collaborate more; live performances with limited audiences; staff breakfasts; and, group staff meetings.

She said she understands that any changes must be done safely.

However, she added: “I really want our children to go to school. I want our children to participate in sports, the arts, field trips and events, but most importantly, I want our children to be safe.”

She asked for assurances that the district could change its policy if conditions improve, and she was assured that it could.

She’s in favor of relaxing the rule, as soon as it’s safe to do so.

“I don’t want our students to go to school forever with a mask on,” Harding said.

Boundaries to be set soon for Starkey Ranch K-8

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The Pasco County School Board is scheduled to set boundaries for the new Starkey Ranch K-8 school at the board’s Dec. 1 meeting.

The school — part of a complex that includes a theater, library and cultural center — is scheduled to open in the 2021-2022 school year.

The board held a public hearing on the proposed boundaries during its Nov. 17 meeting, with no one stepping forward to offer public comment.

“Starkey Ranch K-8 is built to house about 1,500 students. Initially, the school will open with kindergarten through seventh-grade students. The plan is to grandfather rising eighth-graders to their existing school,” Chris Williams, the district’s planning director told the school board during the public hearing.

“Staff put together a plan to rezone about 450 students from Longleaf and Odessa elementary schools to Starkey Ranch.

“In addition, approximately 100 students from River Ridge Middle School are proposed to be rezoned to Starkey Ranch,” he said, noting the students assigned to Starkey Ranch K-8 live in the development.

“With the Starkey Ranch development continuing to build houses for the next couple of years, we expect growth of about 200 K-8 students per year, so with growth, we anticipate approximately 750 K-7 (kindergarten through seventh grade) zoned students upon opening.

“That leaves quite a few seats open for magnet school. However, we will be working to make sure we keep seats available and open for growth, in that area,” Williams added.

District staff had an open house to explain the boundary proposals, and also accepted comments via the district’s Let’s Talk portal, Williams said.

Six comments were received via Let’s Talk.

“One person requested Asturia to be zoned for Starkey Ranch; one requested the Woodlands neighborhood of Longleaf to be zoned for Starkey Ranch. Others had questions about Starkey Ranch registration and grade configurations,” Williams said.

The district also is recommending a slight boundary shift affecting the Watergrass and Wesley Chapel elementary schools.

The change is being made as a result of the Epperson Ranch subdivision, Williams said.

“That area of Epperson Ranch being developed goes all of the way up to Tindale Road.

“You’ll also notice a small sliver above Tindale Road that has a few houses. Originally, when we were developing this plan, there were no elementary children who lived there who were attending the zone of Wesley Chapel elementary, but come August, one student did move into that area. We’ve been talking among ourselves. They will be rezoned to Watergrass Elementary, but if they choose to remain at Wesley Chapel Elementary, we plan on accommodating them,” Williams said.

Additionally, Superintendent Kurt Browning does not intend to reset school choice for any of these schools that are affected by the boundary changes and grandfather children in with transportation.

The final public hearing on the proposed boundary changes for Starkey K-8, as well as Watergrass and Wesley Chapel elementary, is set for 9:30 a.m., on Dec. 1, in the board chambers at district headquarters, 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Published November 25, 2020

Chalk Talk 11/25/2020

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Lucy Butler, first place (Courtesy of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office)

Constitution essay winners
Pasco County fifth-graders who entered the eighth annual Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Constitution Essay Contest drew inspiration from culture and history.

Lucy Butler, from Bexley Elementary School, earned top honors in the contest by penning an inspired fan letter to the United States founding document.

Part of Lucy’s essay read: “The U.S. Constitution protects the rights of American citizens. In our country, the government does not hold us back from being free. We can say or write what we want (unless it’s plagiarism), we can choose our religion, and we can protest things that aren’t fair…”

Lucy also backed up her research with a shout-out to the musical “Hamilton,” and Federalist Papers co-authors James Madison and John Jay. She made arguments for the Constitution that resonate with her today.

Derek Knoedler, second place

She wrote, “‘Hamilton’ is my favorite musical, but before I was introduced to it, I really didn’t think about the U.S. Constitution.”

One of the judges wrote that Butler’s introduction paragraph was “interesting and conversational,” and it immediately pulled the reader in.

Essays by Oakstead Elementary 10-year-olds Derek Knoedler and Bethany Fissehaye claimed second and third place, respectively.

Bethany Fissehaye, third place (Courtesy of Abeselom Fissehaye

Derek extolled the virtues of the Constitution’s “building blocks of our governing system,” creating “checks and balances to ensure that no one has too much power.”

For Bethany, the Constitution is personal. She notes the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, and the 13th Amendment abolished slavery. She wrote, “No more African Americans like me must live in such a terrible way.”

The essays that were recognized with honorable mentions were submitted by Saksham Batra, Henry Perez, Heidi Keck, Alyssa Kasubinski, Dequrez Gulley Jr., Kayla Golden and Ashley Parenton.

Pasco Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles said, “Congratulations to all who entered in this extremely difficult year. The courage of so many young people choosing to write and compete when so much seems at loose ends, gives me confidence that the rock of our republic – the Constitution – will make sure we endure.”

Leadership webinar
Saint Leo University’s Tapia College of Business will present a free virtual Leadership Re-Imagined Webinar on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m., entitled “Finding Strategic Flexibility to Power Through the Pandemic and Beyond,” to assist small businesses.

The discussion will take a closer look at how businesses are thinking and acting differently, and why flexibility is an indispensable mindset.

The guest speakers will be Dr. Drew Gold, associate professor of management for the Tapia College of Business, and Brian Quinn, chief development officer for Domio Inc.

To register, visit www.SaintLeo.edu/business-events.

For information, email Kim Bulmanski at .

College essay tips
The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a live event, “College Essays for Teens,” on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m., to discuss the best tips and methods to writing college essays.

The program is for teens in grades eight to 12. There will be a Q&A session after the presentation.

Registration is required. Zoom meeting details will be sent out the day before the event.

For information, call Amaris Papadopoulos at (727) 861-3020.

Health program accepts Pepin
Amidst an unprecedented school year, Pepin Academies hopes to stay one step ahead of illness, helping to stop the spread and keeping more kids healthy with the help of Kinsa smart thermometers, according to a Pepin news release.
As one of the schools accepted into the Lysol + Kinsa FLUency health program, all Pepin Academies families will receive free Kinsa smart thermometers, and will be able to see aggregate, anonymous information on any symptoms and illnesses going around the school.

“This school year is unlike any other, as our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and its widespread impact,” said Inder Singh, Kinsa founder and CEO. “Never has the need for real-time insights been greater, empowering schools to make data-driven decisions to keep their students healthy and learning. We’re excited to work with Lysol again to bring the free FLUency program to thousands of schools to help provide these insights.”

The FLUency program, now in its sixth year, will help nearly 350,000 families this year across almost 4,000 schools in the United States and Canada.
“The health and well-being of our students and teachers is our top priority, while continuing to support learning and education,” said Catherine Hernandez, registered school nurse for Pepin Academies Tampa. “We are grateful to be part of this innovative program, giving us a look at the trends affecting our classrooms.”

‘Type’ capsule contest
The Pasco County Library Cooperative is sponsoring a 2020 “Type Capsule” Essay Contest through Dec. 31, for grades three to five.

Because 2020 has been a historic year, students are asked to answer this question: “If you made a time capsule, what would you want to share about the year with future generations?”

The essay can discuss something the child experienced during 2020 and explain why it is worth remembering.

Submission deadline is 11:59 p.m., on Dec. 31.

Third-graders should write at least three paragraphs; fourth-graders, four paragraphs; and fifth-graders, five paragraphs.

Essays should not be more than three pages of writing. The student also can include images, but the images must be on separate pages from the writing itself.

For more details and guidelines, visit PascoLibraries.evanced.info/signup.

Fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with Wildlife Forever, will host the Florida State Fish Art Contest.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete in the free contest for a chance to win state and national honors, and prizes. The program is designed to inspire creativity, while encouraging the next generation of anglers and conservationists.

Florida winners will be selected by the FWC in four grade categories: kindergarten through third grade; fourth through sixth grade; seventh through ninth grade; and 10th through 12th grade.

State winners will advance to the national competition to be judged for top prizes, such as Best of Show.

To enter, students should submit their entry consisting of the following:

  • An original horizontal 9-inch by 12-inch piece of artwork featuring any fish from the Official Fish List
  • A piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades four to 12)
  • A Florida State Fish Art Contest entry form

The deadline to enter is March 31.

Participants can mail entries to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Attn: Laura Rambo, Florida Fish Art Contest, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32301.

Entrants also can submit photos or a scanned copy of the entry to .

For complete contest information, entry forms and the Fish On! Lesson Plan, visit StateFishArt.org.

Chalk Talk 11/18/2020

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Largemouth Bass: Jiayi N., 11th Grade, first place, 2019 (Courtesy of Wildlife Forever)

Fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with Wildlife Forever, will host the Florida State Fish Art Contest.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete in the free contest for a chance to win state and national honors, and prizes. The program is designed to inspire creativity, while encouraging the next generation of anglers and conservationists.

Florida winners will be selected by the FWC in four grade categories: kindergarten through third grade; fourth through sixth grade; seventh through ninth grade; and 10th through 12th grade.

State winners will advance to the national competition to be judged for top prizes, such as Best of Show.

Reef Triggerfish: Vivien J., 11th grade, second place, 2019.

To enter, students should submit their entry consisting of the following:

  • An original horizontal 9-inch by 12-inch piece of artwork featuring any fish from the Official Fish List
  • A piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades four to 12)
  • A Florida State Fish Art Contest entry form

The deadline to enter is March 31.

Participants can mail entries to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Attn: Laura Rambo, Florida Fish Art Contest, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32301.

Entrants also can submit photos or a scanned copy of the entry to .

For complete contest information, entry forms and the Fish On! Lesson Plan, visit StateFishArt.org.

Virtual Choice Expo
Hillsborough County Public Schools will host a virtual session entitled “Magnet: Vision 2020 Exploration Nights” on Nov. 19 and Dec. 3.

The Magnet Choice application period runs through Dec. 11.

Students and families can watch live demonstrations, through Zoom, as current students showcase in-demand programs including robotics, performing arts, medical, International Baccalaureate and more.

Students also can learn about the Magnet and Choice Program options.

For a list of Magnet, CTE and Choice options, as well as the application, visit HillsboroughSchools.org/Choice.

School grants awarded
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $97,640.28 in grants to 43 educators within the District as part of the Splash! School grant program.

The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources, in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities, as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns.

Each school district allocates a portion of its annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county.

The District awarded grants to these schools/teachers in Pasco County:

  • Deer Park Elementary School – Jamie Thornton
  • James Irvin Education Center – Dr. Jose Olmo
  • Pasco eSchools – Shamsher Lamba
  • Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel – Rachael Robinson
  • River Ridge High School – Laine Smith
  • Sunlake High School – Kathryn Bylsma/Michelle Hock

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns, and on-site workshops.

Last year’s Splash! grants brought water resources education to 5,478 students throughout the District.

For information, visit WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

Essay contest
The Pasco County Library Cooperative is sponsoring a 2020 “Type Capsule” Essay Contest through Dec. 31, for grades three to five.

Because 2020 has been a historic year, students are asked to answer this question: “If you made a time capsule, what would you want to share about the year with future generations?”

The essay can discuss something the child experienced during 2020 and explain why it is worth remembering.

Submission deadline is 11:59 p.m., on Dec. 31.

Third-graders should write at least three paragraphs; fourth-graders, four paragraphs; and fifth-graders, five paragraphs.

Essays should not be more than three pages of writing. The student also can include images, but the images must be on separate pages from the writing itself.

For more details and guidelines, visit PascoLibraries.evanced.info/signup.

New financial aid programs
Saint Leo University has created new financial aid programs with the goal to make private university education accessible and affordable during challenging times.

The school’s new Tuition Advantage Program will recognize high-achieving students throughout the state of Florida who demonstrate financial need.

For students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, whose families make an Adjusted Gross Income of less than $50,000 a year (based on 2019 tax return), the program will cover the student’s full tuition after institutional, state and federal funds are applied.

To qualify, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be determined to be Florida residents by Saint Leo’s Student Financial Services Office.

Students who participate in the tuition program are eligible to attend University Campus, the school’s residential campus, for a bachelor degree program at no tuition cost.

The four-year estimated value of a Tuition Advantage financial aid package exceeds $100,000.

The program will help students from lower income families pursue and complete their degrees.

Saint Leo also is offering a new program to provide students with a high school GPA of 2.00 to 2.39 the opportunity to succeed in a private university academic experience.

Through the D2R Associate Degree Program, students can earn an associate degree on their way to obtaining a bachelor degree.

For less than $10,000 in tuition per year, students can earn a degree in one of four programs: Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts, Associate of Arts in Business Administration, Associate of Arts in Information Technology, and Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice.

Saint Leo also has expanded and updated its Catholic Promise Award, and added a new offering — the Global Citizen Award — for international students.

Applications are being accepted for the fall 2021 semester.

For information, email , call (352) 588-8283, or visit SaintLeo.edu/daretoroar.

How Pasco Schools is navigating through COVID-19

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Heading up one of Florida’s largest school districts is certainly a tall task on its own merit — let alone when a world-altering pandemic shocks the system from March onward.

So, it’s understandable if Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning tries to bring some levity to the whole situation.

His humor showed through at a speaking engagement before the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce Oct. 20 breakfast meeting.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was guest speaker at the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting last month at Scotland Yards Golf Club. (File)

“I always look for positive things. I think, ‘You know, I could be the supervisor of elections…’,” quipped Browning, before a crowd of dozens at the Scotland Yards Golf Club in Dade City.

Booming laughter, of course, ensued.

Browning held the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections position for 26 years, from 1980 to 2006.

He later joked and shared an anecdote how he once heard current Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley discuss his various responsibilities and lengthy work schedule.

Browning retorted to Corley: “I don’t ever want to you hear you talk about how hard you work, until you run a school district. You don’t know what hard work is, until you run a school system.”

More seriously, though, Browning told the crowd that the past six months or so have unquestionably been a stressful period for administrators, teachers, parents and students alike. “We have had a rough go,” he said.

The superintendent shared his personal experience of contracting the coronavirus in June.
The moment he received word of his positive COVID-19 test, Browning said, “it was all downhill from there.
“Probably the sickest I’ve ever been, sickest I’ve ever been in my life,” said Browning, noting he still feels some lingering fatigue even today.

“It was bad. It was bad, bad, bad. …I was too sick to even worry about what was going on in the office,” the superintendent said.

He discussed the hurdles that the district overcame to get teachers and students either back in the classroom or learning virtually.

The district gave families three learning options for the 2020-2021 school year:

  • Traditional brick-and-mortar campuses
  • Pasco eSchool virtual education program
  • mySchool Online, a hybrid virtual learning model where students follow a standard school schedule and bell times

One of the most challenging aspects of the first quarter has been the continuous indecisiveness by parents on which learning model to use for their child, he said.

Parents initially choosing a virtual model would flip back to traditional, and vice versa, mainly based on the latest news reports of whether COVID-19 cases were spiking or slowing.

“As we got closer to school, I mean people were just ping-ponging back and forth,” Browning said.

He said he had to plead with parents: “Don’t do that. Just pick a model and stick with it, because it’s not good for your student to keep going back and forth, because they’re going to lose instruction.”

Parent indecisiveness has “settled down a little bit,” but some parents are still “ping-ponging.”

The superintendent also noted that parents who intend to send kids back to brick-and-mortar campuses next semester need to inform his office soon, as preparations are already underway. A hard date for those second semester decisions will be set relatively soon.

“Keep in mind, it’s not as simple as moving kids into a classroom,” said Browning, the changes affect teachers and scheduling, too.

Other school district challenges amid COVID-19
Browning also touched on other challenges brought about by the start the pandemic, such as creating drive-thru sites to provide free meals for needy families.

The district served over 1 million meals, from March through the beginning of the school year in August.

Pasco Schools distributed over 1 million meals to needy families from March through the beginning of the school year in August, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of families who needed help increased drastically, Browning said, particularly among the district’s 36 Title 1 schools — campuses with large concentrations of low-income students.

Many of those students rely on school-provided breakfast and lunch, as oftentimes it’s their only meals of the day, “so it’s important we get the food to them,” Browning said.

The superintendent added the 1 million-plus meal figure is “much higher than we’ve ever served meals before, and I think a lot of that was due to folks having lost jobs, not being able to provide food for their kids.”

And, as students moved to remote learning, technology became a big challenge.

The district issued about 20,000 laptops and iPads to students for virtual learning purposes.

The school district primarily uses Apple equipment, but district leadership decided to distribute Dell laptops — in order to distribute more laptops. The district could buy three Dell laptops for the cost of one Apple laptop, Browning explained.

“We learned very quickly, if we’re going to get where we need to be with devices for our kids, we’re kind of switching over to Dell devices,” Browning said. “They’re not as sturdy as an Apple, but if a kid drops a Dell and breaks it, throw it in the garbage and buy another one. With an Apple, you have to fix it, and the investment’s too great to do that with.”

Getting remote internet access to students was another necessity and challenge — particularly at the end of last school year.

“You know how many kids in 2020 do not have internet service? A lot,” Browning said.

To solve the problem, the district equipped school buses with hotspots and set them up in school parking lots in remote areas with no internet service, such as Crystal Springs, Lacoochee and Shady Hills.

The concept allowed families to park their cars into school lots for several hours and have children complete necessary schoolwork from there.

“We bought hotspots by the hundreds,” Browning said.

New technical high school underway
Browning went on to discuss the district’s forthcoming technical high school — Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, being built at 9100 Curley Road in Wesley Chapel.

The Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation is being built at 9100 Curley Road in Wesley Chapel. The 184,000-square-foot technical school is expected to serve 1,000 students and is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 school year. The school will prepare students for high-salary, high-skill careers in high-demand areas, such as digital multimedia, engineering and robotics, biomedical sciences, building construction, and cyber security, according to district officials.

The 184,000-square-foot technical school is expected to serve 1,000 students and is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school will prepare students for high-salary, high-skill careers in high-demand areas, such as digital multimedia, engineering and robotics, biomedical sciences, building construction, and cyber security, according to district officials.

A groundbreaking ceremony was celebrated in early September.

Browning believes it’ll be a win for the school district, underscoring the importance of technical and vocational training programs, as well as dual-enrollment opportunities.

“We want our kids to have options, we want our kids to be successful,” said Browning. “We want them to be exposed to diesel mechanics. You know what a good diesel mechanic is paid? You know what a great welder gets paid? Sometimes six figures.”

The school, Browning said, is being constructed “with a lot of non-fixed walls” to allow for ever-changing learning programs that may require more or less space in the future.

“It’s going to be a very functional facility for our kids, and I believe East Pasco deserves that and needs that for our kids,” Browning said.

Kirkland Ranch will primarily pull students from Pasco, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools, but also will be available to “any other kid” from the county that wants to take advantage, Browning said.

Published November 11, 2020

USF urged to continue preparing teachers

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The Pasco County School Board has adopted a resolution urging the University of South Florida to continue teacher preparation programs at all of the university’s campuses.

Board members adopted the resolution at their Nov. 3 meeting, after they and Superintendent Kurt Browning weighed in on the issue.

“We think that it would just be devastating to our programs across the Tampa Bay area for them to close that program down,” Browning said, noting he had joined superintendents from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota for a community conversation to discuss USF’s proposal to end the program.

“I don’t think people on the outside of education fully understand the impact that this is going to have on our district,” Browning said. “We are direct recipients of great teachers who come out of USF.”

School board member Alison Crumbley characterized USF’s decision as “short-sighted.”

Like Browning, she said the district relies on USF’s program.

“Thirty percent of our teachers come from USF,” she said. “It’s just a huge disappointment to me, and letdown for the school districts and taxpayers in the Tampa Bay area that this is the situation,” Crumbley said.

Board Chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin, who herself is a teacher, added: “It’s unfortunate that there’s been a decline nationally, in the number of people pursuing degrees in education. That is the root of the problem.

“What we’re discussing here could be a result of the excessive state mandates, testing, evaluation system and lack of respect teachers are given,” she said.

She added those factors could be deterring people from pursuing a career in education, which Beaudoin described as “a noble profession” that creates “lifelong learners and productive citizens.

“Being a teacher is rewarding and fulfilling. I’ll support anything that provides a pathway for students to enter the career,” she said.

School board member Megan Harding, a graduate from the USF College of Education, said she hopes the college will reconsider.

“Not only does this affect teachers, but it’s also going to affect the children,” her Facebook page says. “We already have a teacher shortage.”

Harding read the resolution, which the board adopted.

The resolution notes that Pasco County Schools hires approximately 525 teachers annually, and the USF undergraduate teacher preparation program contributes more than 30% of those teachers. The resolution also points to the existing statewide teacher shortage.

The resolution asserts “USF’s action will harm not only the school districts in the Tampa Bay region, but also the larger communities they serve, including families sending children to our schools and the business communities served by the graduates of our schools.”

The resolution concludes by pledging the Pasco school board’s support for any and all efforts to maintain USF’s undergraduate teacher preparation programs at all of its campuses, and encourages the college to work closely with Pasco County Schools, and other stakeholders and partners to find an alternative to closing the programs.

Browning said the resolution will be forwarded to the president of USF, the provost and acting dean.

Published November 11, 2020