The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Pasco County School Board approves $1.5 billion budget

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The Pasco County School Board has adopted a budget of more than $1.5 billion for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

That’s an increase of more than $122 million over last year’s budget, Superintendent Kurt Browning said, during the board’s Sept. 15 meeting.

Browning outlined some key points about the budget.

It includes:

  • $704.3 million in the general operating budget
  • $401.4 million in the capital budget

The total tax millage is 5.922 mills, a decrease of .179 mills. Under the proposed rate, a homeowner of a $175,000 house, after the deduction of the $25,000 homestead, would pay $26.85 less per year than last year.

The general operating budget increased from $666.6 million to $704.3 million. The district received additional funds totaling $24.1 million in state funding.

Out of the $24.1 million:

  • $10.1 million is set aside for School Choice, that is charter schools and scholarships
  • $4.9 million for retirement increases
  • $1.3 million for insurance increases
  • $3.4 million for 68.91 personnel allocations for schools and 5.17 personnel allocations for the district
  • $1.2 million for the continuation of costs related to Project Rise, general paper and dual enrollment
  • $500,000 for property insurance, utilities and school resource officer contract increases

The operating budget includes costs for allocations and operating costs for Cypress Creek Middle School and the midyear opening of Starkey Ranch K-8.

The budget also includes $4.7 million to implement the teacher salary increase allocation. The district will use that allocation, along with funds from fiscal year 2019-2020, of $7.3 million for the Best and Brightest program, to increase the minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers to approximately $45,000 per year.

The budget also includes raises of approximately 1.5% for all remaining staff.

The proposed capital budget of $401.4 million includes:

  • Construction of Starkey Ranch K-8 and Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
  • Major renovations to Northwest Elementary and James M. Marlowe Elementary
  • Construction of a new bus loop at San Antonio Elementary School
  • Cafeteria renovations, replacement of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and infrastructure upgrades at various schools
  • Lease-purchase computers and school buses
  • Completion of the remodeling of Zephyrhills High School

The budget does not reflect the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security, CARES funds, totaling more than $14.4 million, which is being used to pay for expenses related to COVID-19.

There was no public comment or board discussion about the budget, which was approved unanimously by the board.

Published September 23, 2020

Chalk Talk 09/23/2020

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Student achievements
• Kelly McDermott, of Lutz, was recognized on the President’s List at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
• Chase Memmer, of Odessa, was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
• Rachael Williams, of Odessa, received a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Faculty recital
Saint Leo University recorded its annual Fall Faculty Music Recital to share with the public.

The recital is about an hour long and features 12 pieces from a wide range of styles, including Western classical selections and others.

Those interested can watch the video for free on the Saint Leo University Music YouTube Channel.

Career workshop
University of South Florida Career Services will offer a virtual career development workshop, “How to Select Your College Major,” on Sept. 29 at 4 p.m., through Microsoft Teams for teens, grades eight to 12 only.

Registration is required.

For information, email .

Scholarship America
Scholarship America, a nonprofit scholarship and education support organization, is accepting applications through Oct. 15, for the 2021 Scholarship America Dream Award.

The program is open to any college student with financial need, who has overcome barriers and has successfully completed at least one year toward their college education.

The scholarships are inclusive of all types of students, from diverse backgrounds, seeking a two-year or four-year degree.

The scholarships are renewable and increase in amount each year.

Scholarship America has awarded more than $2.3 million to 108 students, with scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 based on financial need.

Eligible students can apply online at LearnMore.scholarsapply.org/dreamaward/.

Upon application, students also will be notified about additional scholarship programs that they may be eligible for.

Social justice series
Saint Leo University will present a “Courageous Conversations” series, examining social justice issues, through Zoom. These free, virtual discussions will look at topics included in Bryan Stevenson’s book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” from different perspectives across multiple disciplines.

The next session is set for Oct. 15, and will focus on social work/social justice. Upcoming conversations include:
• Nov. 19: criminal justice/ethics
• Jan. 21: business/nonprofit organizations
• Feb. 18: religion/spirituality
• March 18: education

All sessions are from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at SaintLeo.zoom.us/j/94551952591.

For information, email Nikki Heister, special programs manager, Department of Public Safety Administration, at .

Reaccreditation issued
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) has received official notice regarding the reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the southern states.

The reaccreditation committee, comprised of educators from throughout the association’s region of 11 states, visited PHSC in October 2019. The committee placed special emphasis on evaluating PHSC’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

During the next five years, PHSC’s QEP, Bridge to Success: The College Readiness Experience, will improve student success by providing engaging, meaningful, and relevant learning experiences in four specific areas of college readiness: problem solving, intellectual openness, time management, and persistence.

Out of 79 standards, PHSC received no recommendations – a rare accomplishment with accreditation outcomes. The college received two recommendations on its QEP based on learning outcomes, which were addressed in the Response Report and accepted by SACSCOC. PHSC’s next reaffirmation of its accreditation will take place in 2030, unless otherwise notified.

Shoe & Sock Drive underway
The fifth annual Two Good Soles Shoe and Sock Drive is underway, as the Pasco County government and constitutional offices work together to collect footwear for kids in Pasco County schools, through Oct. 23.

Donations can be dropped off to the collection boxes at Pasco County Government locations, and the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, Property Appraiser and Tax Collector offices countywide.

Last year’s record-setting drive resulted in 3,057 pairs of shoes and 13,285 pairs of socks.

Items collected will be donated to Pasco County Schools at the end of October, directly benefiting local students.

For information, visit PascoCountyFl.net/civicalerts.

WREC 2021 scholarships
The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) every year offers scholarships to high school students. The students are selected by local guidance counselors and WREC personnel.

Applications for the 2021-2022 school year will be available after Dec. 1, and must be postmarked no later than March 26, 2021.

To apply, students must:

  • be a high school senior and maintain a 2.0 GPA
  • be a dependent of a WREC member
  • be a bona-fide resident within the service area of WREC for at least one year prior to Dec. 31.
  • plan to attend an in-state college, university or technical school full-time (minimum 12 credit hours per semester)
  • keep a 2.0 GPA each semester (or higher if mandated by the institution) to maintain eligibility

Applications can be found at any local WREC office, high school guidance office or online at WREC.net.

Successful candidates will receive $1,375 per semester ($11,000 maximum) for undergraduate studies.

Chalk Talk 09/16/2020

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Lunch program changes
Due to changes in the rules governing the federal school lunch program, Pasco County Schools will make it easier for students, and children age 18 and younger, to receive free meals.

As of Sept. 14, students who attend class on campus still will be able to get meals in the school cafeteria, and now those meals will be free.

And, students who attend school remotely also can continue to receive free school meals on a drive-thru basis.

For students learning through mySchool Online or Pasco eSchool:

  • Sept. 14 through Sept. 17: Daily drive-thru meal distribution will continue at the designated locations and times listed online at tinyurl.com/yxn8ynzv.
  • Sept. 18: The school district will serve a week’s worth of meals (breakfast and lunch) curbside to mySchool Online students, quarantined students, and children in the community age 18 and younger, including Pasco eSchool students. The district will keep the same times already established for curbside feeding. This meal distribution will continue once a week, on Fridays.

Families that want to participate curbside must complete a Meal Reservation Form online at tinyurl.com/y452fbr8.

Parents/guardians no longer have to go to their child’s school; they can pick up meals from the site that is most convenient.

For more information on Pasco’s school meal programs, visit the Food and Nutrition Services  at ConnectPlus.pasco.k12.fl.us/do/fns/.

Grant writing webinar
Saint Leo University will host a free webinar entitled “Grants and COVID-19” on Sept. 18 at noon, through Zoom, for professionals working for human and social service agencies/nonprofits.

The guest speaker will be Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro, Ph.D., an instructor at the Saint Leo University Center for Alternative Pathway Programs.

Valentino-Bottaro will share strategies that can help grant seekers navigate the process in the current climate and locate pertinent information available now.

To register and receive a link for the webinar, visit tinyurl.com/y4olsgor.

Scholarship semifinalists
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The named high school seniors now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for about 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered in the spring.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2021 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and ending in July.

These students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area are semifinalists:

  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School: Faith Quinn and Grace Quinn
  • Freedom High School: Alisha Bhatia and Jack Gardner
  • Land O’ Lakes High School: Ziad El-Rady, Jason Jiang, Naomi John, Prayuj Tuli and Shreyas Varude
  • Mitchell High School: Tatiana Maher
  • Odessa Christian School: Yanni Mazza
  • Steinbrenner High School: Robert Cooper, Devin Deluna, Samuel Glickman, Haarika Gurivireddygari, James Harbour, Advika Jayanti, Elizabeth Kennedy and Emily Rogers
  • Wesley Chapel High School: Allen Felipe
  • Wharton High School: Andrea Molina-Dejesus
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School: Timothy Kovacs and Sara Olson

 

Pasco Announces Major Changes to School Meal Program

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Due to changes in the rules governing the federal school lunch program, Pasco Schools is making it easier than ever for students – and children 18 and under – to receive free meals.

Starting on Monday, September 14, students who attend class on campus will still be able to get meals in the school cafeteria, and now those meals will be free. Also starting on Monday, September 14, students who attend school remotely will still be able to receive school meals on a drive-through basis. Those meals also will be free.

Here’s how the program will work for students who are learning remotely through mySchool Online or Pasco eSchool:

    • Monday, September 14 through Thursday, September 17, the daily drive-through meal distribution will continue at the designated site time – and meals will now be free. Designated locations and times are listed here.
    • On Friday, September 18, the school district will serve a week’s worth of meals (breakfast and lunch) curbside to mySchool Online students, quarantined students, and children in the community 18 years and under. That includes Pasco e-School students. Pasco Schools will keep the same times already established for curbside feeding. Curbside meal distribution will continue once a week on Fridays.
    • Pasco Schools encourages families intending to participate curbside to complete the Meal Reservation Form so they can be best prepared for curbside participation. Parent/guardians no longer have to go to their child’s school; they can pick up meals from the site that is most convenient.

For more information on Pasco’s school meal programs, visit the Food and Nutrition Services web page at: https://connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/do/fns/

Boundary process beginning soon for Starkey K-8

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Construction of the new Starkey K-8 school is well underway, and Pasco County Schools has begun notifying families that may be affected by the boundary changes that will be required to assign students to the school.

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

Significant progress has been made on the construction.

“I drove by Starkey K-8 the other day and it is just incredible how that building has come up out of the ground,” Superintendent Kurt Browning told Pasco County School Board members at their Sept. 1 meeting.

“It is a phenomenal facility,” Browning said. “It’ll be a huge addition to the Starkey Ranch development, so we’re excited about that.”

But, whenever a new school opens, the district must draw new boundaries — a process that can sometimes become controversial.

Browning told board members that the district is preparing to begin the boundary process for Starkey K-8.

“We’ll be communicating with potentially impacted families currently attending Odessa Elementary School, Longleaf Elementary School and River Ridge Middle School, regarding the timeline and the process,” Browning said.

“Our plan is to open the K-8, as a K-7, its first year, and then become a K-8, in its second year,” Browning said, noting that district staff would be sending out communications in the afternoon. following the board meeting.

“I wanted the board to know about it, first,” he said.

Watergrass and Wesley Chapel elementary schools also may see some boundary shifts, Browning said, but he added there are no students currently in the areas that would be affected.

“Proposed maps will be developed this month and a parent night workshop is planned for Oct. 6, at Odessa Elementary School,” Browning said. “The public hearing for the boundaries proposal is planned for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., with final school board action on Dec. 1.

“We’ll continue to communicate with potentially affected families throughout this process and provide opportunities for feedback. And, this time, we’ll be relying heavily on our ‘Let’s Talk.’”

In other news, Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd shared information regarding the district’s inventory of surplus sites that are available for future construction of schools, as the district grows.

There was a time when the district didn’t have any land for future schools, Gadd said, describing how he would drive around the county in his pickup truck searching for acreages with for sale signs.

When he found one, he’d have Chris Williams, the district’s director of planning, check it out.

Over time, the district has acquired a number of sites, through purchases and as part of development orders that require sites to be dedicated for schools, as part of development approvals.

“We now have very tight procedures for receiving land from developers,” Gadd explained to board members.

“We are well-positioned for the future, in terms of building schools and preparing for future growth in this county.”

School board member Alison Crumbley applauded Gadd and other district staffers who have addressed this issue, noting she remembers when the district faced significant challenges in securing affordable land.

Meanwhile, the Pasco County Planning Commission recently took an action that relates to a planned district school site.

Planning commissioners voted on Aug. 27 to recommend the school district’s proposed site for the Kirkland Academy of Innovation, on a 104.4-acre site, southeast of the intersection of Curley Road and Kiefer Road.

The planned project will consist of two buildings, totaling 228,458 square feet.

No one spoke in opposition to the request at the planning commission’s meeting.

Published September 09, 2020

Chalk Talk 09/09/2020

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Student achievements
• Emily Gerber, of Odessa, was selected to the spring Dean’s List at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Gerber is majoring in conservation biology.
• Andrew Oquendo, of Odessa, has been named to the spring Dean’s List at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston. Oquendo is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy.
• Amy Stanton, of Odessa, was named to the summer President’s List at Georgia College in Milledgeville.

MOSI in a Box
MOSI is offering live, virtual hands-on, inquiry-based, STEAM activities and interactive Q&As, available until Dec. 31, for kindergarten through eighth-grade students and their families.

There are three programs offered through Zoom:

  • Planetary Explorers: Choose a mission, design spacecraft and follow in the footsteps of astronauts, engineers and scientists.
  • Mission Health: A Look at the Human Body: Explore the mechanics of bones, muscles, lungs and the heart
  • Forensic Investigators: Gather clues, analyze evidence and make observations to solve a crime

Each program is one hour.

For cost and registration, call (813) 987-6000, or visit MOSI.org.

Gift card drive
United Way of Pasco is hosting a Stuff the Bus Gift Card Drive for Teachers.

Those interested can donate a preloaded gift card from a favorite school supplies retailer, to be delivered to Pasco County school teachers.

Mail gift cards to the United Way of Pasco, 17230 Camelot Court, Land O’ Lakes FL 34638.

Donations also can be made online at UnitedWayPasco.org/stuff-the-bus-2020.

Saint Leo keeps test scores optional
As many high school students are scrambling because of the cancellation of SAT and ACT college admissions testing, Saint Leo University leaders are reassuring them that they still will be able earn a college degree, according to a school news release.

Since 2018, Saint Leo has made the SAT/ACT scores fully optional as part of the admissions process for prospective students. The university adopted a holistic approach to admissions and looks at the whole student experience, rather than just their test scores.

“With universities across the state of Florida still requiring students to submit standardized test scores for admissions or scholarship purposes, we want to reassure students that they do not need to submit these scores for Saint Leo University,” said Dr. Senthil Kumar, vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management.

“We pride ourselves on making a Catholic, private University experience affordable and accessible to students of all backgrounds,” Kumar continued. “During this pandemic, students should not need to be worrying about the potential impact that these tests have on their future.”

Instead of test scores, Saint Leo looks at a high school student’s unweighted GPA; courses taken, including AP, IB, CLEP, and dual-enrollment subjects; and more, when admitting a student. The rigor of a student’s coursework is taken into consideration for additional scholarships.

The university focuses on each student’s experience. “We prefer to consider the whole student, not just the numbers,” Kumar said.

Many high school students are worried that if they do not take the tests and submit scores, they will not be eligible for scholarships.

Kumar said, “If you are delaying sending in your application because you are worried about this, go ahead and send it now, as test scores are not necessary for your application to be reviewed as complete.”

Test anxiety plagues many students, while for those with special needs, testing can be especially difficult. Some high school-age students may not be able to afford tutoring sessions, special classes and workbooks, and the tests themselves.

Making college admissions testing optional helps Saint Leo welcome a more diverse student body.

While many institutions of higher learning are just now dropping the test score requirement, Saint Leo University implemented this approach in order to look at each student as an individual.

Applications are being accepted, and scholarships are available for the fall 2021 semester.

For information, email , or call (877) 588-622-2009.

Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its board meeting on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m., at the Spring Hill campus. If the meeting is switched to virtual viewing, details will be available online at PHSC.edu.

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.

For details regarding the adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu/policies-and-procedures/public-disclosure.

Questions or concerns about the proposed fees should be directed to the appropriate dean listed on the webpage.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing. Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants. All fees charged by vendors are negotiated by the college, with additional fee increases and decreases expected in the coming academic year.

Grant writing webinar
Saint Leo University will host a free webinar entitled “Grants and COVID-19” on Sept. 18 at noon, through Zoom, for professionals working for human and social service agencies/nonprofits.

The guest speaker will be Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro, Ph.D., and instructor at the Saint Leo University Center for Alternative Pathway Programs.

Valentino-Bottaro will share strategies that can help grant seekers navigate the process in the current climate and locate pertinent information available now.

To register and receive a link for the webinar, visit tinyurl.com/y4olsgor.

Ringing in the 2020-2021 school year

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Students streamed back to Pasco County school campuses last week to begin the 2020-2021 school year, while Hillsborough County students headed to that district’s campuses this week.

The beginning of a new school year often is steeped in tradition, but this year is a year of new routines — in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students are arriving on campuses wearing masks, and teachers standing near open classroom doors to greet them are wearing masks, too.

Ten-year-old Veronika Patterson walks with her family to Bexley Elementary School. She’s accompanied by her mother, Melissa, her father, Mike, and her little sister, Izzy. (Randy Underhill)

Lunch tables have been moved outdoors, to reduce crowding in cafeterias and to accommodate outside classes.

Signs remind people to keep their distance, and bottles of hand sanitizer are within easy reach to encourage everyone to keep their hands clean.

And, there are protocols.

Lots of protocols.

They spell out what schools should do when there’s a confirmed case of COVID-19 and what to do when one is suspected.

In Pasco County, a partnership has been forged between the school district and the Florida Department of Health’s Pasco office.

Health department staff members are working in two portables on school district property, so they can respond quickly to COVID-19 cases.

The district also has spent substantial money, time and energy to prepare campuses for the arrival of students and staff; and, it has ramped up cleaning schedules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Hillsborough County school district also has increased cleaning efforts, to reduce potential spread of the virus.

Both districts also are using special care to disinfect school buses.

Pasco County Schools activated its dashboard last week, and as of 11:30 p.m. Aug. 28, the district had reported three student cases, one each at Fivay High School, Gulf High School and Moon Lake Elementary; and one employee case, at Lake Myrtle Elementary. (For more recent information, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/news.

Hillsborough superintendent Addison Davis said that the district also will have a dashboard to keep the public informed.

The district just opened campus, on Aug. 31, so it was still too early to tell what kind of impact in-school classes would have, when The Laker/Lutz News went to press

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, an educational professional for decades said: “This is definitely my first year like this.

“I think we’re going to have a great first day,” Gadd said, as he showed off Cypress Creek Middle School, on its inaugural opening day for students.

“I think our schools are well-prepared, and we’re looking forward to getting started and making the best of it,” Gadd said. But, he added, “I’d be lying, if I didn’t say I wasn’t worried about Day 2, Day 3.”

There were complaints about buses and technology on the Pasco school district’s Facebook page, but overall the district seemed to be off to a relatively smooth start.

Face-to-face instruction began this week in the Hillsborough school district, after a week of online only.

Parents line up in both directions, to drop their kids off on the first day of school at Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd.

Based on social media chatter from last week, it looks like there were some complaints about problems with technology.

This week offers the first real test of the district’s preparations, as it welcomes the arrival of students and staff.

Hillsborough plans to work closely with its medical partners at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital, the superintendent said, during a recent school board meeting.

Like Pasco, Hillsborough has adopted numerous protocols intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to respond to known or suspected cases that arise.

Both Hillsborough and Pasco delayed their initial opening from Aug. 10, until Aug. 24.

Pasco chose to offer all three of its educational options on Aug. 24.

Hillsborough’s reopening plan shifted.

Initially, the school board adopted the superintendent’s plan to offer three learning options, starting on Aug. 24.

Then, after listening to a panel of medical experts, the board voted on Aug. 6 to delay implementation of Davis’ already state-approved plan, and instead offer online learning only for the first four weeks of school.

State Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran reacted to that plan by telling the district that it had to justify any closing on a school-by-school, grade-by-grade and classroom-by-classroom basis, or jeopardize state funding.

Davis went to Tallahassee, in an attempt to find a compromise. The state rejected his proposals and, ultimately, the district opted to open online for one week and then to offer all three options, including brick-and-mortar instruction, at all of its schools beginning Aug. 31.

But then, Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson ruled on a lawsuit brought against the state by the Florida Education Association, which was consolidated with other lawsuits brought against the state.

Dodson agreed with FEA’s contention that the state’s action — to require districts to open all brick-and-mortar schools by Aug. 31, was unconstitutional. Dodson said local school boards should have the power to make that decision.

The state appealed Dodson’s ruling, which automatically stayed his injunction, unless he decided to lift it. Dodson did lift it, essentially giving decision-making authority back to local school boards.

That decision prompted an emergency meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board on Aug. 28. Board members voted at that meeting to rescind their previous decision to open online only for four weeks, and instead to proceed with Davis’ most recent plan.

Meanwhile, the case between the FEA and the state continues on, and another lawsuit, filed by the United School Employees of Pasco, is pending.

Published September 02, 2020

Cypress Creek Middle has ‘first’ First Day

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When school bells rang in a new school year in Pasco County on Aug. 24, the day had special meaning at Cypress Creek Middle School, 8845 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

It wasn’t the first time middle school students had attended the Cypress Creek campus on the Old Pasco Road, but it was the first time they were heading to classes in a school built specifically for them.

Cypress Creek Middle School Principal Tim Light was eager to welcome students to the school he leads, on Old Pasco Road. Middle schoolers had been on the campus before, but this was the first First Day of School in a school built especially for them. (B.C. Manion)

Middle school students began attending classes at a shared campus for middle and high school students in 2017, because the district couldn’t afford to build both a high school and middle school — as it had originally intended.

Construction began on the $43.5 million middle school building in 2019, and now the middle schoolers have a place that’s their own.

The enthusiasm that typically accompanies a new school opening was muted this year, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The school is following strict safety protocols.

They include:

  • Everyone on campus must wear a mask.
  • Parents drop off students at a specific place.
  • Students are directed to walk one-way down hallways, in the main classroom building.
  • Desks and chairs are spread out in classrooms.

Other safety steps include encouraging social distancing between people, placing some lunch tables outdoors to prevent cafeteria crowding, and turning off the water fountains — except to fill water bottles.

The district also kept parents off school campuses, because of concerns about COVID-19, and it kept media off, too, with the exception of allowing a special tour of Cypress Creek Middle on its opening day.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd escorted representatives of The Laker/Lutz News and The Tampa Bay Times around the new school’s campus.

Principal Tim Light shared a few thoughts, as he stood in front of a giant painting of a coyote, the school’s mascot.

“I’m very excited,” Light said, noting he’d been planning for the school’s opening for months.

Unlike other middle schools in Pasco County Schools, this one boasts a black box theater, which will give students a chance to develop their imagination and creativity — and offer a venue for some community shows, when the pandemic lifts.

“Honestly, I never thought this day was going to get here,” Light said.

“I just want to see what the day is going to bring. Get these kids in here and get them going,” Light said.

Gadd was clearly delighted, as he showed off the district’s newest school.

“It’s really a beautiful school, the way it’s laid out,” the deputy superintendent said.

Cypress Creek Middle has the capacity of 1,600 students. Its opening reduces crowding at John Long Middle School. It also provides relief to Wiregrass Ranch High School — as Cypress Creek Middle students previously on campus shift over to the new middle school, creating more capacity at Cypress Creek High.

Beyond the normal features found at middle schools, this one has a black box theater and a suite of dance, chorus and orchestra rooms.

“It’s a space like no other in Pasco County,” said Peter Nason, the school’s theater teacher. “It is a jewel in the crown of this county, I think.

“It has space for the kids to be creative. For them to learn. For them to realize, really, what theater is, and it goes beyond the classroom,” Nason said.

Gadd is delighted by the opportunities the theater program will create.

“I first saw one of these, probably in a school 10 years ago. I’ve been dreaming about building one since then,” Gadd said.

“It’s an incredible space. It’s a dream space,” Nason told Gadd.

Gadd said: “I look forward to the first show.”

Nason responded: “I look forward to you seeing the first show.”

Two new public charter schools
Cypress Creek Middle was the only new traditional public school opened in Pasco County for the 2020-2021 school, but two new public charter schools also opened. Innovation Preparatory Academy opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 7800 Avery Scope Way in Wesley Chapel. Pinecrest Academy also opened for grades kindergarten through six, at 33347 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

Published September 02, 2020

Chalk Talk 09/02/2020

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Tourette syndrome & school
According to the Tourette Association of America (TAA), one in 100 students is affected by Tourette Syndrome (TS) and Tic Disorders.

More than half of school-aged children with TS have a co-occurring condition, like ADHD, anxiety or depression. These conditions, along with other learning disabilities, can have a negative influence on learning and can make it extremely difficult for students to concentrate in the classroom.

The upcoming school year will be vastly different in light of COVID-19. Whether classes are in-person or virtual, the Tourette Association can provide resources and tips for every type of classroom setting.

Members of the TAA’s Education Advisory Board offer these practices to help reduce anxiety, and give some predictability and routine to the school year.

  • Get into a sleep and morning routine to help keep your child healthy and reduce stress.
  • If working from home, have a space dedicated to schoolwork where your child can focus and be most productive. And, find exercises that can be done during break times. Mindfulness breaks may be helpful.
  • Plan ahead with your child’s school for specific sensory breaks.
  • If your child has trouble wearing a mask, find a mask that is most comfortable for your child. Build in time each day for your child to keep his or her mask on, and extend the amount of time each day.
  • Have either hard copies or electronic copies of the TAA Educator Toolkits to give to everyone working with you or your child. To order hard copies, email .
  • You or your child can write a one-page email or a letter to all educators and highlight your strengths, symptoms, and accommodations that work best. Help to educate staff and peers about TS, either in-person or virtually. Consider making a very short video to share. If you need help educating others, call (718) 224-2999, or email .
  • If your child has an IEP and receives services at school, communicate with the school about what these services will look like. Support in managing assignments is important.
  • Your child listens and can pick up on your anxiety. Share how school is going to look different this year, and be positive about the decisions you have made.
  • Listen to your child’s concerns about the school year. That way you can be more prepared to help them with their emotions.
  • Communicate with the school about any anxiety your child or teen is facing about the school year. A school counselor or social worker may have tips for supporting the student and may be able to communicate the issues to classroom teachers.
  • Trust that you are doing your best to support your child through this.

For more information, visit Tourette.org.

MOSI in a Box
MOSI is offering live, virtual hands-on, inquiry-based, STEAM activities and interactive Q&As, available until Dec. 31, for kindergarten through eighth-grade students and their families.

There are three programs offered through Zoom:

  • Planetary Explorers: Choose a mission, design spacecraft and follow in the footsteps of astronauts, engineers and scientists.
  • Mission Health: A Look at the Human Body: Explore the mechanics of bones, muscles, lungs and the heart
  • Forensic Investigators: Gather clues, analyze evidence and make observations to solve a crime

Each program is one hour.

For cost and registration, call (813) 987-6000, or visit MOSI.org.

Meal applications available
Pasco County Schools is accepting free and reduced-price household meal applications for the 2020-2021 school year, and will serve free breakfast at 49 schools.

In accordance with the National School Lunch Act, households that are below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines may qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch benefits. Households must complete a new application each school year.

Visit PascoSchoolMeals.com for a link to the online application, frequently asked questions, income eligibility guidelines, cafeteria menus and more.

Schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area that will serve free breakfast are: Centennial Elementary, Centennial Middle, Chester Taylor Elementary, James Irving Education Center, Lacoochee Elementary, Pasco Elementary, Pasco High, Pasco Middle, Quail Hollow Elementary, R.B. Stewart Middle, Rodney B. Cox Elementary, San Antonio Elementary, West Zephyrhills Elementary, Woodland Elementary and Zephyrhills High.

For information, call Pasco County Schools Food & Nutrition Services at (813) 794-2522.

Gift card drive
United Way of Pasco is hosting a Stuff the Bus Gift Card Drive for Teachers.

Those interested can donate a preloaded gift card from a favorite school supplies retailer, to be delivered to Pasco County school teachers.

Mail gift cards to the United Way of Pasco, 17230 Camelot Court, Land O’ Lakes FL 34638.

Donations also can be made online at UnitedWayPasco.org/stuff-the-bus-2020.

Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its board meeting on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m., at the Spring Hill campus. If the meeting is switched to virtual viewing, details will be available online at PHSC.edu.

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.

For details regarding the adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu/policies-and-procedures/public-disclosure.

Questions or concerns about the proposed fees should be directed to the appropriate dean listed on the webpage.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing. Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants. All fees charged by vendors are negotiated by the college, with additional fee increases and decreases expected in the coming academic year.

School begins in Pasco and Hillsborough counties

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Students headed back to classrooms in Pasco County this week and began learning online for the first week of classes in Hillsborough County — while the impact of a temporary injunction and from a pending legal action are not yet clear.

In response to lawsuits filed by the Florida Education Association and individual plaintiffs, the Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson granted a motion for a temporary injunction against Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s executive order.

“The order is unconstitutional to the extent it arbitrarily disregards safety, denies local school boards decision making with respect to opening brick and mortar schools, and conditions funding on an approved reopening plan with a start date in August,” the judge’s order says.

It remains to be seen how the decision will play out in Pasco County, where brick-and-mortar schools have reopened, and in Hillsborough, where they are scheduled to do so on Aug. 31.

In their closing arguments on Aug. 21, lawyers for the Florida Education Association, as well as for individual plaintiffs, argued that the  state’s Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s  Emergency Order 6 was “arbitrary and capricious” and, therefore, unconstitutional.

The order required school districts to submit reopening plans, which included opening every brick-and-mortar school for five days a week, with the school year starting by the end of August.

Kendall B. Coffey, an attorney representing the teachers union, said the state’s order “completely ignored safety. We all agree that a safe education is a paramount duty under the Florida Constitution.”

The state used “financial bullying” to coerce districts to comply with the order, Coffey said.

He noted what happened in Hillsborough County.

The board approved a reopening plan, which the state subsequently approved. Then, the board heard from a panel of medical experts, who advised against reopening classrooms, until COVID-19 positivity cases declined.

The board then voted to open online only for the first four weeks, before activating the previously approved plan.

The state rejected Hillsborough’s decision.

A letter from Corcoran told the district it would need to submit another plan, which justified any proposed closure, on a school-by-school, grade-by-grade and classroom-by-classroom basis.

The district ultimately agreed with state officials to open the school year online only for one week and then reopen brick-and-mortar schools.

But, that decision came after financial pressure from the state, Coffey said. “We know that Hillsborough was threatened with losing $200 million.”

The attorney said it would serve the public interest to allow local school districts to determine when it safe to return to school, without risk of financial penalty.

Attorney David Wells and Nathan Hill, representing the defendants, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Corcoran, said the state was acting under its authority to supervise the state’s 67 school districts.

They said the emergency order considers a range of student needs.

“What are the dangers of not going back to school?” Wells asked. “What happens when children have to learn from home?”

Besides offering the educational benefits of face-to-face instruction, schools provide a wide range of other services for students, Wells said. Schools ensure students have access to meals,  provide services for special needs students and offer an opportunity for intervention when students need protection in abusive homes, or require mental health services.

Remote learning, by contrast, raises issues over whether families have enough digital devices to meet individual student needs, and whether households have internet access, he said.

Both Wells and Hill objected to any attempt to have the court rewrite Corcoran’s order.

“If the governor and the department of education are neutered and left helpless to carry out their constitutional obligations, then the unions will have their way. The schools will not open,” Wells said.

Attorney says key issue is safety for students, staff
Attorney Billy Wieland represented some individual teachers challenging the state’s action.

He told the judge that the issue boils down to this: ‘If we send children and teachers back into the classroom for live, face-to-face instruction — are they going to be safe and secure? We believe you are in the best position to prevent avoidable death.”

But Hill, representing the state, countered: “It is not for this court to second-guess the policy decisions of the executive branch. What they (opposing attorneys) want the court to do, really, is to write a new emergency order. And, that is simply not something the court has the power to do in this situation.”

During closing argument, the judge asked Wells: “Under the emergency order, what choice did the districts have, but to submit a plan in accordance with the emergency order?”

Wells replied: “It’s very clear on Page 6 (of the emergency order), you don’t have to submit a plan.”

The judge responded: “Right, but you lose a lot of funding if you don’t do that.”

Wells acknowledged: “There’s no question about that. I’m not going to dance around it. That’s absolutely right.”

The judge also wanted to know: “To what extent does medical or scientific information play a part in Executive (Emergency) Order 6? It says you’ve got to open.”

Wells said the state had to consider: “The risks I have if I move forward are X. The risks that I have if I don’t open school are Y. How do I make the balance?”

The judge also wanted to know what happens to teachers who will be forced to return because the number of students who want face-to-face instruction.

Hill told the judge: “There is a grievance procedure. They have an adequate remedy of law, under their contracts.”

Meanwhile, another court case is pending. The United School Employees of Pasco has requested an expedited case. No additional information was available on that case, as the afternoon of Aug. 24.

Published August 26, 2020