The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

Pasco Schools wins national honor

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Pasco County Schools has been named the best Advanced Placement school district among large districts in the nation.

The school district was among 250 districts across the United States and Canada that were named to the annual AP District Honor Roll, according to a school district news release.

From those, three districts were singled out — one large, one medium and one small, based on an analysis of three years of AP data, the release says.

Pasco was honored in the category of large districts, as defined by those with 50,000 students or more.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning shared the news with district staff in a May 29 video posted on YouTube

“The top district, in the nation — this is a big deal,” Browning said. “There are more than 13,000 school districts in the United States, and our school district — our students and our teachers — earned this award.

“This honor is shared by all of you,” the superintendent continued.

Even though AP classes are taken in high school, the success that occurs at high school, builds upon the successes achieved in middle and elementary schools, he said.

“So, when Taija McCullough, at Zephyrhills High School, does well on an AP exam — the staff at Woodland Elementary should be very proud.

“That’s why this is such a big deal. This honor truly is a reflection on  what goes on in all our classrooms,” Browning added.

“Over a three-year period, we increased the number of students taking rigorous AP courses. We increased the number of underrepresented and minority students taking AP classes. And, at the same time, we improved our Pass Rate — those scoring a 3 or above,” the superintendent added.

The College Board’s AP courses offer high school students a chance to get a taste of the rigor of college-level work.

The College Board says that research has shown that AP classes help students be better prepared for college, be more likely to enroll in college and be more likely to graduate in four years.

Students must earn a 3 or higher on the AP Exam to earn college credit, which, in turn, can reduce their future college tuition costs.

Sixty percent of all AP students in Pasco scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam in 2019, according to district figures.

“Over the last three years, our students earned the equivalent of $3 million in tuition costs,” Browning said.

Trevor Packer, head of the College Board AP Program, explained the significance of the honor, in a district news release. “This award shows that Pasco County Schools is challenging many students to achieve at the highest levels,” Packer said.

“Pasco is ensuring that a more diverse population of students is earning college credit in a wide variety of AP subjects. Congratulations to all the educators and students whose dedication and hard work garnered this well-deserved recognition.”

Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran also weighed in on the district’s success.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment that shows the nation what can happen when great teachers believe in and push students to handle the most rigorous courses. Students will always exceed our expectations,” Corcoran said, in the district’s release.

“Superintendent Browning and his team are preparing a large and diverse group of students for success, and the entire State of Florida is proud of what Pasco has accomplished,” Corcoran added.

The district also released another video, sharing the perspectives of Phillip Ellis, a teacher at Zephyrhills High, and Zephyrhills High student Taija McCullough.

Ellis teaches AP Chemistry and AP Physics 1.

He’s pleased to see more students taking AP courses and more passing the exams, as well.

“I’m seeing a lot of students who otherwise may not have opted to take the class, go and get out there and try a really tough class. That’s what I’m really most proud of — that we have more students willing to try, and willing to put themselves out there to accomplish things they didn’t know they were capable of,” he said.

Taking AP courses “is challenging, but it is worth it in the end,” McCullough said.

It helps students to build study skills, time management and the ability to balance the demands of studying with other aspects of their lives.

Taking the courses helps build confidence, too, she said.

“You know you’ll do well in college,” McCullough said.

Browning was obviously elated, as he announced the district’s accomplishment.

“We don’t do this to get recognition. We do it because it creates opportunities for our students. It brings out the best in students,” he said.

At the same time, though, the recognition is well-deserved.

“I could not be more proud of what our team has accomplished, and that includes everyone. Our staff came up with an ambitious, but viable plan. Our school board saw the value and potential in the plan. Our principals bought into it. Then, in classrooms across Pasco County, our teachers and students made it happen,” the superintendent said.

Published June 03, 2020

Cypress Creek Middle set to open this fall

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When a new school year opens, Cypress Creek Middle students will finally have school buildings to call their own.

Middle and high school students have been sharing the campus, formerly known as Cypress Creek Middle High, since 2017.

Beginning this fall, however, there will be a middle school for grades six through eight, and a high school for grades nine through 12.

Construction on the middle school began in 2019.

Cypress Creek Middle School is ready to open on its new campus.(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“It’s more than on track,” said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco Schools. “It’s as ahead of schedule as we’ve ever been.”

Like all public schools in Pasco County, a regular school day likely will be very different from any previous school years.

Planning sessions are ongoing for the fall start of school, with keen attention on how the COVID-19 pandemic will dictate changes in school operations.

Gadd said he anticipates an announcement on what to expect for district schools by July 1.

Cypress Middle School has a student capacity of about 1,600 students. Gadd surmises the first year enrollment will be somewhat lower.

Construction for the school building is estimated at about $43.5 million.

It shares the same campus as the high school, but is about 15 acres north of it.

With a curriculum focus on performing arts, the building design includes a black box theater, chorus, dance and orchestra rooms.

Also, Pasco-Hernando State College is expected to open its Instructional Performing Arts Center on the same campus this fall.

The district initially planned to open both a high school and a middle school on the Cypress Creek campus at the same time, but a lack of funding forced it to use the campus for both middle and high school students.

The campus opened in 2017, for students in grades six through 11, with a senior class added the following year. Care was taken to keep the younger students and older students separated, and to provide middle school and high school programs.

Opening of the middle school in the fall also required a realignment of school boundaries affecting primarily students living in the Seven Oaks subdivision of Wesley Chapel, who attended John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High School.

While the district gears up to open a new school, it’s preparing for how it will operate safely amidst COVID-19 concerns.

Gadd noted there’s no precedence to follow.

“We look at everything the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) does, but CDC has not provided us with any pragmatic, practical information,” Gadd said.

Figuring out how to do social distancing isn’t easy, especially with kindergarten and elementary students, he said.

“How do you keep kindergartners from interacting?” Gadd asked.

One option to keep younger students safe would be to keep them together as one classroom group, he said. There would be no intermingling with students in other classrooms. And, activities with each group, including recess, would be done as a unit.

Middle school and high school students are more mature, and more likely to handle social distancing, Gadd said.

But, there are many more issues to resolve — even something as simple as getting students to and from school.

“How do we get kids on the bus and off the bus?” Gadd said.

Work sessions are ongoing.

“Our intent is to open all schools,” Gadd said. “Right now, we haven’t received any guidance from the state suggesting otherwise.”

Revised June 09, 2020

Wiregrass Ranch High student wins honor for civil rights video

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Aimee Johnson is on track to become a nurse, a profession she loves.

But, this 18-year-old senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School also is an award-winning videographer.

Her 10-minute video on the St. Augustine civil rights movement won a first-place regional award in an annual competition that celebrates National History Day.

Aimee Johnson, who is graduating from Wiregrass Ranch High School, won a first-place regional award in a competition about civil rights history. (Courtesy of Aimee Johnson)

It is featured at the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum in St. Augustine.

Even though it was “a very prominent movement and had one of the most violent histories,” Johnson said, it also “was a hidden history people didn’t know about.”

She compiled archival photographs and interviewed St. Augustine civil rights activists to tell the story of racial tension and hatred in the mid-1960s.

She started her video journey with a visit to the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum, which holds artifacts from that period, including the fingerprints of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Police arrested the civil rights icon in June 1964 for trespassing when he and others tried to dine at a whites-only restaurant.

It was King’s only arrest in Florida.

Johnson held the document and touched King’s fingerprints.

“It was very eye-opening, and I’m grateful that I got to do something like that,” she said. “It’s become something more to me. I’m very happy about that.”

The museum is at the former office of dentist and civil rights activist Robert B. Hayling, who is considered the “father” of the St. Augustine civil rights movement.

He headed the St. Augustine NAACP Youth Council before joining with King’s Southern Christian Leadership Council.

In addition to her museum visit, Johnson interviewed Janie Price, 98, who first met King at Morehouse College in Atlanta. When King came to St. Augustine in the summer of 1964, he stayed at her house.

Because of the threats from the Klu Klux Klan, King had to frequently move from one house to another.

Price is remembered as the “house mother” of the St. Augustine civil rights movement.

Robert Batie, who grew up in St. Augustine, recounted an attack on his family.

Someone, believed to be a Klan member, hurled a hub cap through a living room window. Later a soda bottle crashed through another window. The shattered glass wounded Batie, who was just 9 at the time.

He later was among the first blacks to integrate schools in St. Augustine.

The video highlights several historical events, including the sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter by 16 teenagers. Four teenagers later arrested and sent to reform school became known as the St. Augustine Four.

In another confrontation, whites and blacks held a “wade-in” at a local motel pool to the dismay of the Klan. The white motel owner threw acid into the pool.

The demonstrations played a pivotal role in the national movement which led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“I actually was always interested in the civil rights movement especially my being a black woman,” Johnson said. But, Florida often is left out because historians take a more national view of events, she said.

Her interest in history is matched by her passion for creating videos. That seemed a perfect match for her civil rights project.

Still, she wasn’t sure where to start.

However, her mother did. She posted a message on Facebook explaining her daughter’s plan and got a response that led Johnson to Gwendolyn Duncan.

Duncan is a long-time activist who led efforts to found the ACCORD museum, and served as its museum project manager. The name stands for Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations Inc.

Duncan helped introduce Johnson to Price and Batie. She also provided a video clip of former Gov. Charlie Crist issuing a resolution to expunge the records of hundreds of civil rights activists arrested in St. Augustine during the demonstrations.

Johnson felt pressure to create a special video.

The night before turning it in, she felt overwhelmed with schoolwork and worried that the video wouldn’t be good enough.

Her Mom set her straight. Just do your best, she said.

“My Mom is always there to support me,” Johnson said.

Winning regionally against about 300 other entries was her reward.

Now, Johnson is focused on her nursing career. She has been a dual enrollment student since ninth grade when she started in the school’s nursing program.

Johnson is vice president of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), and is a member of Best Buddies, SADD, Key Club and Bulls Nation.

She is one of seven children from a family that immigrated from Jamaica. It’s also a family with many doctors.

She jokes that the medical show, “Grey’s Anatomy,” showed her that nursing was “cool.”

“I was so interested in it,” she said. But, she is certain nursing is her calling. “It’s become more to me,” she said. “I was able to sink into it.”

She will begin online classes with the University of Central Florida in June, and hopefully will transition to on-campus life in fall.

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, she is steadfast.

“I understand the dangers,” Johnson said. “I fully understand and truly love the nursing field. I love just being able to help other people.”

To view the video, visit YouTube and search The Civil Rights Act: St. Augustine 1964 NHD/Aimee Johnson.

Published June 03, 2020

Chalk Talk 06/03/2020

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(Courtesy of Barbara Gilmore)

A strong finish for Denham Oaks
On the last day of school, Denham Oaks Elementary organized a ‘Finish Strong’ staff parade through 14 neighborhoods to show the students that even if the last months were full of change, nothing would dampen the dragon school spirit. Students lined the streets with signs saying good-bye to their teachers, as the teachers paraded by with signs on their own cars saying good-bye to their students. From left: Isadora Burge (first grade), Harvey Burge, (third grade), Vincent Gilmore (first grade), Nate Gilmore (fourth grade), Jamie Neiubauer (first grade), Gabe Neiubauer (friend), Nykolus Di Roma (first grade) and Ayden Cawthon (kindergarten).

Honors medallions awarded
Florida State University (FSU) awarded honors medallions to 383 high-achieving graduates — the university’s largest class to date — during a virtual ceremony on April 30.

The FSU Honors Program supports the efforts and talents of the university’s most intellectually curious students who have the potential, dedication and drive for creating change.

Designations are: HON – University Honors; HITM — Honors in the Major; DUAL — dual honors; and, OSS – dual honors with a 3.9 GPA or higher.

The following students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area received honors medallions:

  • Alannah Cranwell, of Lutz: Social Work, HON
  • Alexander Dabbs, of Lutz: Psychology, HITM
  • Riley Garrison, of Lutz: Applied/Computational Mathematics, HON
  • Emily Geraghty, of Land O’ Lakes: Finance, HON
  • Isiah Parfait, of Land O’ Lakes: Spanish, HON
  • Kimberly Ward, of Odessa: Biological Science, HON

Scholarship winners
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners.

The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

These local students were awarded the National Merit Scholarship:

  • Jonathan E. Barbara, George M. Steinbrenner High School, Lutz
  • Aidan J. Persaud, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Wesley Chapel
  • Amber L. Seaberg, J.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity
  • Jennifer R. Zartman, Land O’ Lakes High School

Western Governors graduates
These area students have earned a degree from Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah:

  • Courtney Jack, of Trinity: Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Management
  • Holly Montgomery, of Lutz: Bachelor of Science, Nursing
  • Richard Pearson, of Odessa: Bachelor of Science, Nursing
  • Crystal Pla, of Trinity: Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Management
  • Donna Reid, of Odessa: Bachelor of Science, Nursing

Top high schools
According to U.S. News & World Report, these are the top five high schools in Pasco County:

Land O’ Lakes High School: No. 1 in Pasco rankings (No. 84 in Florida rankings); 94% graduation rate; 49.9% college readiness; 1,846 enrollment grades nine to 12

Sunlake High School: No. 2 in Pasco (No. 133 in Florida); 94% graduation rate; 39% college readiness; 1,942 enrollment grades nine to 12

James W. Mitchell High School: No. 3 in Pasco (No. 137 in Florida); 94% graduation rate; 42.2% college readiness; 2,189 enrollment grades nine to 12

Wiregrass Ranch High School: No. 4 in Pasco (No. 152 in Florida); 95% graduation rate; 31.2% college readiness; 2,253 enrollment grades nine to 12

Wesley Chapel High School: No. 5 in Pasco (No. 239 in Florida); 93% graduation rate; 25.6% college readiness; 1,497 enrollment grades nine to 12

Zephyrhills High School ranked No. 12 and Pasco High was ranked No. 13.

In Hillsborough County, Steinbrenner High School ranked No. 4 in Tampa Metro Area Rankings (No. 1,023 in National Rankings); 96% graduation rate; 54.4% college readiness; 2,432 enrollment grades nine to 12.

For a complete list, visit USNews.com/education.

Glitz & Gala prom
Barrington Hill, 16117 Lake Iola Road in Dade City, invites all Pasco County seniors, from public and private schools, to a Glitz & Gala prom on June 20 from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets are available online.

For information, contact Alicia Trias at (727) 642-6128 or

Best metros for college grads
Apartment List has issued its list of Best Metros for 2020 College Graduates.

Instead of considering its usual social and lifestyle factors, metros were ranked on the stability and resilience of the local job markets, as circumstance has dictated.

Graduates are participating in digital commencements, hitting the job market as unemployment spikes, and many cities are under some form of lockdown.

According to its latest report, Tampa ranks No. 41 out of 50 for college graduates.

Apartment List found that:

  • The average wage for recent college grads in Tampa is $38,504, ranking No. 42 in the nation.
  • 72% of recent college grads in Tampa work in a remote-friendly occupation, making it easier to find and secure a job during lockdown.
  • Recent college grads are likely to be renters. And, in Tampa, 42% are cost-burdened, spending more than one-third of their income on rent.

To view the full report, visit tinyurl.com/yc4wdo56.

Student money tips
The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) offers tips to save money on intangible costs when comparing the costs of various colleges.

Tangible costs include tuition and fees, and room and board.

Intangible costs include everything else: textbooks and supplies; computers; and personal items, such as shampoo, clothes, entertainment, laundry, and other expenses.

Students can save money by controlling the discretionary costs of their lifestyle, by finding sales or using coupons, and looking out for buy one, get one free deals.

Cutting back on treats, like entertainment and dining out, also can save quite a bit of money. Or, students can do these things less often.

The less spent on intangibles, the less is needed to take out in student loans.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established to improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy, for free, to students and parents.

For more about KHEAA services, visit KHEAA.com.

Pasco School District adjusting amid COVID-19 pandemic

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Whether its drive-thru feeding sites or widespread distance learning, the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created myriad logistical challenges for school districts nationwide.

Pasco County Schools is no different — operating as the state’s ninth-largest school district, and 49th largest in the nation.

Even so, Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is maintaining an upbeat outlook in what has otherwise been a trying situation over the last two months or so.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was the guest speaker during an East Pasco Networking Group virtual meeting on May 12. (File)

Speaking to the East Pasco Networking Group at a May 12 virtual meeting, Browning acknowledged the pandemic “really stretched the school district,” but credited district leaders and administration for “very quickly” pulling together a large-scale distance learning education program once it became apparent the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year would be remote.

Pasco Schools was more prepared than other surrounding counties, Browning said.

That’s because the district already had “a very robust virtual education program” known as Pasco eSchool, which typically serves more than 3,000 students in a normal year.

“It wasn’t easy, but we were better positioned than a lot of districts even surrounding us,” the superintendent said.

Unlike other districts, too, Browning added Pasco School instantly pushed out lesson plans for most courses to the virtual learning platform, rather than requiring teachers to develop a curriculum to post online, on the fly. “I think the teachers were appreciative of that because that was less on their plate that they had to work with,” he said.

As for how and when brick-and-mortar schools will open back up, Browning said district staff is having ongoing meetings to brainstorm various scenarios and possibilities, keeping in mind recommended social distancing health and safety protocols. Virtual learning will continue through summer school, he said.

At least one thing’s for sure — traditional schooling will “look different” compared to how things were before the pandemic, Browning said.

The superintendent observed, “Normally, you would have had 45 kids on a school bus, you can’t put 45 kids on a school bus anymore, if you’re going to social distance. How are you going to feed a school of 700 kids in a cafeteria, if you’re going to social distance? …We’re going to have to move and move pretty quickly, so we can let moms and dads know.”

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced Pasco Schools to adjust on the fly by providing virtual learning accommodations, feeding sites and so on. (Courtesy of Pasco County School District)

If there’s one positive result from the coronavirus pandemic, parents and families now have “a greater appreciation” for educators overall, Browning said.

Said Browning, “I think the teaching profession, over time, has been diminished and just had a rough go, but I do believe that parents will have a better idea what teachers have to put up with and deal with on a daily basis to ensure that their children are learning.”

With that, Browning noted Pasco School teachers have done a solid job engaging and interacting with students on Zoom calls throughout the pandemic. “I am so, so proud and pleased where our teachers and where our administrators have taken us,” he said.

However, the superintendent later acknowledged the virtual learning setup has proved tough for servicing the district’s special needs population.

“It is an area we’re really going to have to spend some time in to make sure those kids do not get shortchanged,” he said. “We’ve been getting through it but, I do think going forward, we’ve got to have a more sustainable process to deal with kids with special needs.”

Providing devices, Wi-Fi, meals and more
Maybe the largest hurdle to implementing distance learning to all schools was ensuring all students had access to computers and tablets.

Browning said the county loaned roughly 20,000 electronic devices to students districtwide, which were distributed curbside at various schools.

The superintendent admitted he initially felt uneasy on the thought of loaning expensive electronic devices to grade school students.

Said Browning, “I cringe every time I think of this, because we’re giving an $800 device to a student, and we’re hoping and praying it comes back to us in one piece. But, we knew we had to do it. Personally, I had to get beyond that because I knew that if we wanted to get kids to continue to learn, we had to provide them the device.”

Ensuring all students had a viable Internet connection at home created another obstacle, Browning said.

Even in this technological day and age, the superintendent came away “surprised at the number of our kids that don’t have Wi-Fi” at their home.

To resolve that, the district has issued home hotspots to families and organized a handful of community hotspot hubs in remote areas, such as Crystal Springs. Here’s how it works: The school district positions a mobile hotspot vehicle at a local church or community center, allowing parents to drive up and have their children do complete online schoolwork and lessons from inside their parked car, during predetermined dates and times.

“We know it’s not easy, but nothing about COVID-19 has been easy for us,” Browning said. “The fact is we want our kids to continue to learn, so at least by providing those hotspots in those community hubs, at least we’re giving them the opportunity to have them get their lessons done, get their studying done and be caught up as best they can during this really weird time we find ourselves.”

Besides technology offerings, ready-to-go, prepackaged meals is another service the school district has been offering amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The district hit the 1-million meal mark last week.

The district’s food nutrition services department initially offered meals for pickup five days a week, but since transitioned to distributing all 10 meals (breakfast and lunch covering five days) per student, picked up once per week. As an example, a family with four school-age children could swing by a particular curbside feeding site and pick up 40 free meals for the week.

Browning mentioned even under normal circumstances school-provided meals might be the only opportunity for many students to eat, particularly those coming from the county’s Title I schools (whereby a large percentage of a particular school’s student population is eligible for free or reduced lunch).

“It’s been a lot of work on the school district, but that’s what we do. We care for people, in addition to educating people,” said Browning.

Elsewhere, the superintendent also touched on a number of other district-related matters:

  • Pasco Schools graduation rate sits at 88.7 percent, “the highest they’ve ever been,” said Browning. “It’s not where I want them, but we’re moving in the right direction.”
  • Pasco Schools is one of two school districts in Florida named to the College Board’s AP (Advanced Placement) District Honor Roll, for increasing access to AP for underrepresented students while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. DeSoto County was the other recognized school district in the state.
  • Browning said the district will make “a huge College Board announcement regarding the opportunities we’re providing our kids,” sometime after Memorial Day weekend.
  • The Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation technical high school in East Pasco will break ground this fall and will open in August 2022. Browning added the district also is building a K-8 school nearby that’ll feed into the technical high school, which is being built at the corner of Curley and Kiefer roads, in Wesley Chapel. “It’s going to be easy to get to from Zephyrhills, Dade City, Wesley Chapel,” Browning said of the forthcoming technical school. “Not only is it a pretty cool building, but there’s going to be some great programs in there that are going to be able to prepare our kids for jobs.”

Published May 27, 2020

Chalk Talk 05/27/2020

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Dade City essay winner
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano announced the winning student chosen for the annual Middle School Essay Contest.

Julia Alcocer, Torchbearers’ Christian Academy (Courtesy of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

Essays were submitted by students, grades six to eight, from public, private, parochial, charter, online and home-schools throughout Pasco County. Participants had to answer the question, “If you could spend tax dollars to fund any program, what would it be and why?”

A panel of judges, not knowing the age, gender, grade or school of each entrant, chose the essay written by Julia Alcocer, an eighth-grader at Torchbearers’ Christian Academy in Dade City, as the winner.

Alcocer wrote that she would fund a program that “would aid elderly people with day to day living and provide lifesaving practices to the vulnerable citizens,” which would include nutritional needs, temperature control in living spaces, and affordable medications.

The judges noted that her essay best communicated her response to the topic question, and met the contest criteria of overall structure, appearance and readability.

This annual essay contest is just one of the community related events the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office participates in throughout the year.

Glitz & Gala prom
Barrington Hill, 16117 Lake Iola Road in Dade City, invites all Pasco County seniors, from public and private schools, to a Glitz & Gala prom on June 20 from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Tickets are available online.

For information, contact Alicia Trias at (727) 642-6128 or ">

University of Tampa graduates
The University of Tampa (UT) virtually hosted its 150th commencement on May 9

The Class of 2020 included these students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

  • Allison Barthel, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in Public Health
  • Amy Clement, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Writing
  • Samuel Collins, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Michael Dailey, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Bernard Deysson, of Odessa, Master of Business Administration
  • Courey France, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Allied Health
  • Madison Ghodsi, of Lutz, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
  • Talia Goldenberg, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Jordan High, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Jean Labossiere, of Lutz, Master of Science in Exercise and Nutrition Science
  • Michaela Lewis, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Education–Elementary
  • Ashley Martin, of Odessa, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
  • Amanda Mencia, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in Allied Health
  • Trent Puleo, of Lutz, Bachelor of Science in Management
  • Nina Sennott, of Odessa, Bachelor of Science in International Business-Marketing
  • Ashlee Stormer, of Odessa, Master of Business Administration
  • Gianna Taravella, of Lutz, Bachelor of Arts in Communication
  • Nikea Veney, of Lutz, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
  • Derian Yeretzian, of Odessa, Master of Science in Accounting

The event was viewed online by the students, their family members and friends, UT faculty and staff members, and the general public. The ceremony included remarks by Ronald Vaughn, the school’s president, and special messages from the academic deans and student challenge speakers.

Each graduate also received a personalized video commemorating their achievement.

Black Hills commencement
More than 300 graduates were recognized during the 179th Black Hills State University (Spearfish, South Dakota) virtual commencement ceremony, which took place on May 8.

Local student Conor Heaney, of Land O’ Lakes, was part of the Class of 2020 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services.

A total of 27 master degrees, 282 bachelor degrees and 20 associate degrees were awarded.

Student procrastination
The online homework help website, Brainly.com, surveyed 17,000 United States high school students, ages 14 to 18, to find out about the types of school assignments they procrastinate the most on, how often they procrastinate, and which states have the students that are the biggest procrastinators.

Nationwide, 82% of high school students admitted they procrastinate on homework at least some of the time. Louisiana high schoolers take the lead for the top procrastinators, with 19% saying they always procrastinate on schoolwork.

Top 5 states where students procrastinate the most:

  • Louisiana, 19%
  • California and Florida, 15%
  • Idaho, 13%
  • Pennsylvania, 11%
  • North Carolina, 10%

How often high schoolers said they procrastinate (compared to national average):

  • Always, 4%
  • Somewhat Often, 35%
  • Every now and then, 43%
  • Never, 18%

Causes of procrastination:

  • There are other things they would rather be doing, 74%
  • They don’t know how to do the work or where to start, 26%

More interesting statistics:

  • 32% say that math is the school subject they most procrastinate on, while 45% say it is English curriculum
  • 43% of students say they procrastinate more on homework that requires writing or research
  • 49% admit that procrastinating on schoolwork is their biggest academic hurdle

 

Pasco schools brace for tough budget

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Pasco County Schools is gearing up for a tough budget year.

“We have been working on budget,” Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning told school board members at a May 5 virtual school board meeting.

“It’s not a so-rosy picture of a budget. We’re working with department budgets and the district budget as a whole. We know that it’s going to be tight, and we’re very cautious going into this next budget and school year, not knowing what the Legislature is going to do, or possibly do, as it relates to any special session.

“I just wanted the board to know that we’re having some very, very, very serious discussions about the budget,” Browning said.

Pasco County School board member Allen Altman tells board members that the district is likely to encounter a tough budget year. (File)

Board member Allen Altman told his colleagues that they need to be forward-thinking about the possibility of budget cuts.

He said having to make cuts during the Great Recession was “the worst experience of my elected career.”

“I can tell you that I’ve talked to a couple of directors of state agencies in the past week, who have quietly been told to look at what a 20% cut would do. And, I looked today at the sales tax figures for Florida for month of March and they were down $770 million, and April is expected to be even worse.

“We don’t need to start jumping out of ships yet, but I think that it would be prudent for us to be cognizant of the situation that the state and other local governments may be in and consider that, as we make decisions going forward,” he said.

He also told board members he had met with the Value Adjustment Board and the county’s tax roll will be certified at about $27.4 billion for 2019. That compares to slightly more than $25 billion for 2018.

But, he said, “there is some fear going forward that commercial real estate, especially in retail and boxes, could see upwards of a 20% decline.”

Board member Cynthia Armstrong said she listened to a webinar hosted by the Florida School Boards Association that featured three chief financial officers talking about what to expect, and what school boards should be doing.

Revenue figures for April will be released on May 25, which should give the district an idea of what it will be looking at, she said.

During the webinar, the CFO said  “to expect that it’s very possible that the Legislature might go into special session, say in November, and adjust the budget, and we definitely could have some drawbacks,” Armstrong said.

“So, when we do our budget, we’re going to have to think about that, that it’s very likely that the budget could be cut, partway through the year, and we need to make sure that we’re planning for that,” she said.

“It’s going to be a very tough budgeting year for us,” she said.

She also noted that supporting the pay raise that’s in state legislation may require the district to reduce its staffing allocations.

Armstrong also urged the board to return to a face-to-face board meetings, to the degree possible, as soon as possible.

She said that fosters better communications at a time when important conversations must be had.

School board member Alison Crumbley agreed that discussions are more effective when they are done in person, to the degree possible.

“Hopefully, we’re going to get to that point really, really soon,” she said.

School will feel different, going forward
Don Peace, president of United School Employees of Pasco (USEP), commented on distance learning and what to expect in the future.

“Some students have found that they are better suited to this manner of learning. Still others long to be back in the traditional classroom, interacting with teachers and classmates,” Peace said.

“Maybe there’s case to be made that a hybrid of sorts could be utilized for future learning, capturing the best of both worlds,” Peace added.

“Whatever the case, I think we better have some options available next fall.

“However next year plays out, whether we start on time, or after Labor Day, it will definitely not be the same scenario that we left before Spring Break.

“Families may decide it not best for their student to return to a brick-and-mortar building for either real, or imagined, fears.

“Some of our teachers may elect not to return for their own reasons.

“I think that next year is going to be really trying for all of us, in matters other than just financial.

“I am asking the district to keep USEP in the communication loop, regarding any future plans, as we certainly are all in this together,” Peace said.

Published May 20, 2020

Reaching out to help those with special needs

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Even in the best of times, navigating through government bureaucracy can be challenging.

But for people with special needs, that becomes even more daunting during a global pandemic.

A virtual town hall hosted on April 29 by Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore and Pasco County School Board Chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin aimed at helping individuals and families find the resources they need, while managing life under new circumstances.

They were joined in the virtual town hall by panelists:

  • Dr. Monica Verra-Tirado, chief of the bureau of exceptional student education and student services at the Florida Department of Education
  • Darcy McDowell, director of student accessibility services at Pasco-Hernando State College
  • Celeste Kellar, principal at Pepin Academies Pasco campus, a school that specializes in serving students with special needs.

Pasco Commission Chair Moore addressed issues of concern relating to services available from county government, while the other experts focused on education and related services.

Pasco County School Board Chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin offered reassuring words for parents who are struggling to help their special needs children, during this time of distance learning. (File)

Beaudoin offered reassuring words for parents.

“Some families have expressed concern about keeping the instructional momentum going at home and fear that their students will regress,” Beaudoin said. “Please try not to worry. There is a plan in place to address that.

“Pasco County Schools is prioritizing compassion and grace. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers, if your family is feeling frustrated or overwhelmed. We all want what is best for all of our students. There is a lot of support that’s available to students and families.”

Questions also have been raised about how special services are being provided now, during this time of online learning.

Verra-Tirado addressed that issue.

She said the state has been clear that students are expected to continue to receive the special services they would receive in a traditional setting.

“The good news is that we’ve got a lot of new technologies that allow for the use of platforms, such as telehealth, in order for our teachers and therapists to provide a wide range — a continuum of services — in this very unique time,” Verra-Tirado said.

Kellar said Pepin Academies students  “are still getting their necessary services that they need, through the tele-therapies. We are making sure that their accommodations are met,” she said, just like they would be in the classroom.

McDowell said Pasco-Hernando State College also is providing accommodations for students online.

“We have used Zoom a lot for our courses,” McDowell said, noting that allows face-to-face interactions.

Beaudoin said the Pasco school district is reaching out to families, individually about their services and therapies.

“I can say that my son did get his speech therapy this week, via Zoom,” she said.

If for some reason a family hasn’t already heard from their school, they should contact their school, she said.

The panelists also addressed the issue of parents trying to balance tele-working and the special education needs of their son or daughter.

Verra-Tirado addressed that question: “I can tell that’s been the main comment that I’ve received from parents during this time.

“My advice to them is that they need to balance what they’re doing with what their children are doing.

“It takes them being scheduled, just like their children are being scheduled.

“Schedule the more difficult work their child is doing, when their workload is not as heavy.

“That’s real stressor for a lot of our families. I’ve told them, it’s not worth stressing out for. We’re going to try to balance it as best we can.”

McDowell, who has a daughter with autism,  offered this advice: “Take breaks.”

“We’ve just taken it one day at a time, and honestly, what’s really worked for me is reaching out to friends and family,” McDowell said, noting she belongs to a Facebook group for moms with kids with special needs.

Beaudoin advised parents to break down the work into manageable chunks, and to schedule the work in a way that works best for them.

“Keep in mind, we have a lot of flexibility. Just reach out to your child’s teacher. Our administrators and our teachers know that they have flexibility, and they’re going to work with families.

“Don’t wait until you’re feeling so frustrated and upset. Just reach out and you can make adjustments,” Beaudoin said.

She also recommended seeking out support groups, which can provide excellent information about resources that are available.

Provide opportunities to ‘virtually socialize’
Others asked for guidance on how to keep kids motivated, and how to create opportunities for them to interact with friends, while away from school.

As for socializing, McDowell said her daughter Skypes with friends and in-laws, and plays online games.

Her daughter also interacts with others via phone, Chat, Zoom and FaceTime.

Having ways for students to see each other and their teacher is important, Kellar said.

“That social aspect of education is a huge part, that you forget about it sometimes, you’re so concentrated on getting the curriculum,” she said.

Verra-Tirado agreed:  “We’re hearing that all over the state. That can completely change a youngster’s day.”

When students are able to see teachers and friends, it’s reassuring to students, she said.

If parents or grandparents don’t know how to work the technologies, they should reach out to their schools. They can help families, the education experts said.

Another question was posed regarding whether students can repeat the grade.

The experts said that requires a close evaluation before a determination could be made.

Beaudoin put it this way: “That is a major decision and one that should not be made lightly.”

Commission Chairman Moore touched on some issues of interest to the elderly, and also regarding people requiring a special needs shelter, in the event of a hurricane.

He responded to a question relating to senior citizens who have disabilities who do not have access to a computer for ordering groceries.

“We have a nonprofit here in Pasco County called CARES and they’re offering grocery service for seniors over 60 years old. The service itself is free, but the senior prepares a grocery list or a loved one at home helps prepare that grocery list, and they do pay for their groceries. They’re also providing care packages and toiletries,” he said.

To find out more, call (727) 862-9291.

Moore also told viewers that Pasco County Senior Services also provides meals.

The commission chairman also said: “It is getting close to hurricane season. Now is the time if you or a loved one or a child has special needs, to go ahead and register for the special needs program when it comes to evacuations.”

To find out more about having groceries delivered, call (727) 862-9291.

To find out more about senior services, call (727) 834-3340.

To register for special needs evacuation, go to the county’s website at PascoCountyFl.net.

Resources for families with special needs
Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a valuable resource for students with disabilities. The main page is http://www.fdlrs.org

Within FDLRS there are virtual webinars parents can attend and there are also recorded webinars posted:  http://www.fdlrs.org/virtual_webinar_resources

Here’s the parent toolbox and live chat options with FDLRS:  http://www.livebinders.com/b/2646931

Here’s the parent toolbox for Pasco:  http://www.livebinders.com/b/2646931

Melissa Musselwhite, director of student support services in Pasco County Schools, has recorded a video specifically for families of students with disabilities. It can be found at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyGBas2jsAo

All school District videos are here:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg2EPgrZtxyZPdaprLgSqpQ

Other helpful resources:

Published May 13, 2020

Chalk Talk 05/13/2020

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Pasco provides Wi-Fi hubs
Pasco County Schools has established community-access Wi-Fi hubs at five school sites, as of May 6. The hubs make it possible for families to easily access the internet.

The sites are available from 9 a.m. to 6 pm., Monday through Friday.

Starting on June 8, the sites will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

The community-access hubs can be found at these schools:

  • Cox Elementary School, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., Dade City
  • Lacoochee Elementary, 38815 Cummer Road, Dade City
  • Pasco Elementary, 37350 Florida Ave., Dade City
  • Woodland Elementary, 38203 Henry Drive, Zephyrhills
  • Cotee River Elementary, 7515 Plathe Road, New Port Richey

At each school, a designated parking lot area will be clearly marked, and Wi-Fi access information will be displayed.

Families are asked to follow social distancing recommendations while on campus and remain in vehicles, as much as possible.

Those using the hub sites also should make sure their devices are fully charged before arriving.

Community input needed
Pasco County Schools’ After School Enrichment Programs department (ASEP) is looking for input from the community through an online survey, as the district gets ready to apply for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the Florida Department of Education.

The purpose of the grant proposal is to extend the district’s before and after school academic enrichment opportunities for students by providing a new and free academic support program at three select elementary schools and four select middle schools.

The new program will focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum and offer enriching hands-on experiences.

If the grant is awarded, the program would start next school year.

Families are encouraged to share their input to help identify specific needs and potential offerings.

Parents and students who wish to participate in the survey can visit MyASEP.com, and click on the Parent or Student icon next to the “thoughtexchange” logo.

Student of the Year
Cameron Farquhar, a senior at Wesley Chapel High School (WCHS), was named the Pasco County School District’s High School CTE (Career and Technical/Adult Education) Student of the Year.

Farquhar found out about the honor through a Zoom video conference with WCHS principal Matt McDermott.

Other special guests in on the announcement were Kim Moore, assistant superintendent of career and innovative programs; Lori Romano, director of CTE; and Superintendent Kurt Browning.

Honor Society inductees
Three local students were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, at the University of South Florida:

  • Victoria Gonzalez, of Lutz
  • Nikhil Kulkarni, of Odessa
  • Amber Pirson, of Lutz

Local graduates
Tallahassee Community College (TCC) will recognize more than 3,000 candidates in the graduating Class of 2020. The local students earning degrees are:

  • Morgan Blomberg, of Lutz
  • Brian Castro, of Odessa
  • Kallie Cook, of Odessa
  • Natalie Dambrosio, of Lutz
  • Madison Davidson, of Odessa
  • Ryan Fischel, of Lutz
  • Jason Fishman, of Lutz
  • Matthew Julian, of Lutz
  • Mikiah Peeples, of Lutz
  • Carolyne Rogers, of Odessa
  • Kamaria Sherman, Of Odessa

Julianna Mitten, of Odessa, graduated from Cedarville University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

And, the University of Mississippi-Oxford awarded degrees to Timothy John Elko, of Lutz (Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science); and, Kyle Allen Langiotti, of Odessa (Bachelor of Business Administration-Marketing).

Vendor training
Pasco County Schools is scheduled to present a vendor training on June 24 (date may change), to give vendors a chance to familiarize themselves with how to do business with the school district.

The event is planned at the district office, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Building 2, in the Mangrove Room. The morning session is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the afternoon session is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

To register, visit EventBrite.com, and search for ‘Vendor Co-LAB.’

Kindergarten registration
Pasco County Schools’ kindergarten registrations will now be on July 8, at all Pasco elementary schools.

Registration requirements include:

  • Must be 5 years of age by Sept. 1
  • Birth certificate or other proof of birthdate
  • Health examination – HRS Form 3040
  • HRS Certificate of Immunization
  • Three different proofs of residency, including deed or property tax assessment or lease, current utility bill, and an additional document supporting stated address: auto registration, driver’s license or voter registration.

To preregister, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/forms/view.php?id=227457.

Florida education status
The personal-finance website, WalletHub, released its report on 2020’s Most & Least Educated States in America.

In order to determine where the most educated Americans live, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 18 key metrics. The data set ranges from share of adults age 25 and older with at least a high school diploma to average university quality to gender gap in educational attainment.

According to WalletHub, this is how educated Florida is (1=Most; 25=Average)

  • first in gender gap in educational attainment
  • third in average university quality
  • 21st in racial gap in educational attainment
  • 29th in percentage of graduate or professional degree holders
  • 30th in percentage of bachelor degree holders
  • 32nd in percentage of associate degree holders or college-experienced adults
  • 33rd in percentage of high school diploma holders

For a full report, visit WalletHub.com/edu.

Financial aid tip
The federal government requires many students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to verify the information included on the FAFSA. The students requiring verification are chosen by the U.S. Department of Education.

Used to apply for most federal and many state student aid programs, the FAFSA asks detailed questions about the income and financial resources of students.

The parents of dependent students must provide that information, too.

Students are considered dependent if they are undergraduates younger than 24 years of age, not married, have no dependents, are not veterans, or were not orphans or wards of the court until age 19.

The college or an agency working with the school will let students know if their information is being verified.

According to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), students and parents need to take this process seriously. Until the verification process is complete, students cannot receive financial aid. The information should be provided as soon as the students are contacted about verification.

KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established to improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy, for free, to students and parents.

For more about KHEAA services, visit KHEAA.com.

Saint Leo summer institute
Saint Leo University’s Department of Criminal Justice is converting its Summer Institute to a seminar delivered through a digital platform.

This summer’s topic is “The Art of Identifying, Investigating and Apprehending Serial Killers, Spree Killers and Murderers: An Interactive Learning Experience.”

The four-day seminar will take place May 18 through May 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., online via Zoom.

The event will include lectures from prominent speakers on profiling, and small group discussions.

Certificates of completion will be available.

Registration is open at SaintLeo.edu/cj-events.

Finding a way to shine a spotlight on seniors

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During normal times, Marie Joles is busy at her day job, working as a dental hygienist.

And, typically during this time of year, high school seniors are gearing up for their final festivities in high school — prom, awards ceremonies, graduation.

But, the threat of a highly contagious and deadly virus — the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic — has upended life’s ordinary routines.

So, instead of going to work, Joles has been at home. And, instead of gearing up for traditional celebrations and hanging out with friends, seniors have been spending their final school days distance learning.

(Courtesy of Marie Joles)

Joles hated the thought that their senior year would end that way. After all, she remembered how special it was for her family to go through the festivities when her daughter, Samantha, graduated last year.

So, Joles, who is a board member of the Wiregrass Ranch High School’s PTSA and in charge of that group’s social media efforts, asked PTSA president Jennifer Kanyok, if she could do Senior Spotlights on their social media.

Once she got the go-ahead, she began soliciting the spotlights on her personal Facebook page and on the Seven Oaks Facebook page.

Then she reached out by text and email to Robyn White, the school’s principal; David Wilson, the athletic director; and to all of the school coaches.

She also reached out to Bobbie Gebhart, the band booster president, and Jeni Wiseman, the football team mom — to spread the word about the profiles.

The parents submit the photos and blurbs, which Joles tweaks and posts.

In less than 24 hours, she had seven profiles ready.

Now, there are dozens posted.

They convey a sense of pride of the parents who submitted the blurbs about their children.

The profiles offer a glimpse of the lives these members of the Wiregrass Ranch High Class of 2020 have led, and offer insights about their personalities and aspirations.

Some have earned college credits, a college diploma or industry certifications while still in high school. Others have volunteered hundreds of hours.

They’ve been in theatrical performances, in marching band and orchestra, in color guard and cheerleading.

They’ve competed in lacrosse, soccer, swimming, football, track, basketball, weightlifting, basketball and other sports.

They’ve been members of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, and Health Occupations Students of America, to name just a few clubs.

And, they have wide-ranging ambitions.

Some plan to pursue traditional careers, such as nursing, law and business administration. Others aspire to less common paths, such as becoming a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, a makeup specialist or an animator.

Most graduates appear to be heading off to higher education in the Sunshine State, at such colleges as Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University, the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, Florida State University and Stetson University.

Regardless of what they’ve done, or where they’re going — they have made an impression.

One graduate is described as “a beautiful soul and a day of sunshine.”

Another is said to have “a musician’s heart.”

One “has a big heart, is a hard worker and knows how to live in the moment.”

Another has “a wicked sense of humor, amazing spirit and zeal for life.”

Joles said she wanted to do the spotlights because this is a special time for seniors and they deserve recognition.

“I wanted to let them know that we appreciate them,” she said.

Those wishing Joles to post a profile of a Wiregrass Ranch senior can reach out to her at  , or text her at (813) 830-8643.

How are you celebrating your graduating seniors?
The normal ceremonies that mark completion of high school are being postponed until later this year. Meanwhile, families and schools are getting creative in their efforts to help celebrate members of the Class of 2020.

What are you doing? We’d love to know. We’re planning to do a story sharing how families and schools within The Laker/Lutz News are rising to the occasion to make their high school seniors feel special.

Send your submissions to .

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

Published May 06, 2020