The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Education

They’re off to learn the ins and outs of leadership

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While some kids are heading to the beach or to a theme park this summer, a trio of girls who just wrapped up fifth grade at Lutz Elementary are gearing up for a trip to Washington D.C.

Kylie Flynn, Kaitlyn Britton and Alice Mooneyham will be participating in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.

The students were nominated by their former teacher, Cindy Morrissey.

The girls can’t wait to check out the nation’s capital.

This trio of girls are heading to Washington D.C., to find out a few things about leadership. They are, from left, Alice Mooneyham, Kaitlyn Britton and Kylie Flynn. They’ll be participating in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. (B.C. Manion)

“I’ve never been to Washington D.C., and I’ve wanted to go there,” said Alice, who is 11. “I think it’s going to be a really cool experience.”

Eleven-year-old Kaitlynn shares her enthusiasm.

“It’s going to be fun. My sister went in eighth grade. She got a lot of really cool photos. It was really pretty there.”

Plus, Kaitlyn added: “It will be fun to learn all about the statues.”

Ten-year-old Kylie is eager to make the trip, too.

“I can’t wait for the experiences to go to the different places,” she said. “I was really happy that I was nominated.”

Alice is particularly interested in visiting the Lincoln Memorial, while Kylie is looking forward to visiting Harper’s Ferry. Kaitlyn is looking forward to an activity-packed schedule.

“There’s going to be a lot of stuff to do in the day,” Kaitlyn said. “You’ll get to learn the history behind the monuments.”

The conference includes sessions on leadership traits and historic topics, as well as visits to national memorials, museums and a sleepover at the Maryland Science Center, amid mummies, dinosaurs and space exhibits.

Kaitlyn thinks the conference will be a good experience, but she’s not sure if it will help her with her future career. She wants to be a chiropractor when she grows up.

Alice wants to be a teacher.

Kylie wants to be a teacher, too. But, she said: “If that doesn’t work out, I want to be a lawyer. I want to be a lawyer that helps people get custody of their kids.”

Both Kylie and Kaitlyn live in Lutz, and Alice just moved from Lutz to Land O’ Lakes.

Kaitlyn will be attending Terrace Community Middle School in Temple Terrace. Kylie will be attending Buchanan Middle School in Tampa, and Alice will be attending Cypress Creek Middle High in Wesley Chapel.

Alice’s mom, Michelle Milone, is thrilled that Alice was nominated for the program.

“All three of you should be so super-duper proud of yourselves,” Milone told the girls, during a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

“I think it’s really, really great,” Milone said.

“When I was in high school, I went to something called GHP, the governor’s honors program. It was paid for by the state. It was a big deal. I learned a lot.

“I went to law camp, one year,” she added. “I went to Spanish camp.”

“I met people. I learned things,” Milone said. She’s glad the girls can take advantage of this opportunity.

Like Milone, Andrea and Kiel Flynn are delighted that the girls were nominated.

They estimated the conference cost for each of the girls to be around $3,000, and that doesn’t count the expenses that Flynn, Milone or Dave and Melissa Britton will incur because they’ll be on their own.

While it’s pricey, Milone and Flynn think its worthwhile because they believe the experience will have a lasting impression.

Published June 14, 2017

Chalk Talk 06/14/2017

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ROTC Cadets take oath
Saint Leo University commissioned four Army ROTC cadets, calling the individuals to take the oath of office, have gold bars pinned to their uniforms by family members, and receive their first salute. The new Army officers are, from left, 2nd Lieutenant Alex Swonger, 2nd Lieutenant Jason Douglass, 2nd Lieutenant William LaPierre, and 2nd Lieutenant Cody Walker. The cadets are standing in front of the ‘For Those Who Serve’ statue at the school. (Courtesy of Renee Gerstein, Saint Leo University)

Students inducted to honor society
These Lutz students have been initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at the University of South Florida: Catherine Elko, Mark Giddarie, Maylenid Oyola, Jennifer Ron and Jana Woodall.

Brian Longbottom, of Odessa, was also inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.

Fourth quarter Top Dogs
The Pilot Club of Zephyrhills hosted the Top Dog winners from Stewart Middle School at Hungry Howie’s for lunch.

The club started the program more than 30 years ago to honor students for academics and leadership roles in the school.

The fourth quarter Top Dogs were: Kabre Mathews, Carlos Morales Garcia, Joyla Tenryk, Savannah Baptist, Emily Kirk, Caitlyn Eudy, Madison Aquilera, Rosmy Cruz Luis and Jorden Soule.

Each student received a certificate and a gold dog tag.

Students of the Month
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce recognized nine Students of the Month, chosen by the teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community.

The Zephyrhills chamber has recognized students with this program each month of the school year for nearly 20 years.

The students receiving honors for May 2017 were Katie Aspedon, Zephyrhills High School (Aspedon also was a recipient of a The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Scholarship); Aliza Hernandez, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Jose Polo, Hope Ranch Learning Academy; Joyla Tenryk, Raymond B. Stewart Middle; Kali Deshane, Chester W. Taylor Elementary; Zelia Betz-Merrill, The Broach School; Savanna Best, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Tristan Geist, Heritage Academy; and, Parker Howry, Woodland Elementary.

Students and their families get breakfast, and the students are awarded with gifts and recognitions from businesses who sponsor or support the program.

Saint Leo adds online degrees
Saint Leo University has added two new online, technology-related degree programs that are ready to enroll students for the fall semester.

A new Associate of Arts in cybersecurity can prepare people to pass certain industry certification tests, which will allow them to compete for entry-level jobs. Additionally, associate degree holders can move into the existing Bachelor of Science program in cybersecurity, also online.

At the graduate level, Saint Leo is offering its Master of Business Administration degree with a specialization in data analytics. Students can receive 15 graduate credit hours in courses that can teach them how to approach “Big Data” to extract and evaluate patterns and improve business planning.

For information, visit SaintLeo.edu.

Third-graders improve scores
The percentage of Pasco County Schools third-grade students scoring a 3 or higher on the Florida Standards Assessment in English language arts increased by three percentage points in 2017, improving from 57 percent to 60 percent.

Pasco students also surpassed the state proficiency rate by two percentage points.

Deer Park Elementary School led the schools making significant progress, moving up 24 percentage points, from 56 percent proficient to 80 percent proficient.

Lake Myrtle improved 18 percentage points, from 61 to 79 percent.

Chester Taylor progressed from 52 to 68 percent, up 16 percentage points.

Other schools that improved by 10 percentage points or more include Pasco and Watergrass (up 13 percentage points), Pine View (up 12 percentage points) and Sanders (up 11 percentage points).

Pasco charter school improvement was led by Athenian Academy, which garnered a 25 percent point increase, from 39 to 64 percent proficiency.

Other charters that improved by 10 percentage points or more include Pepin Academies (13 percentage points) and Countryside Montessori (12 percentage points).

Sixty-seven percent of the 50 Pasco County elementary schools with scores, improved the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher.

Sixty-three percent of Pasco’s charter schools with scores showed improvement in the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher.

(Courtesy of Country Village Preschool)

Local preschool gets makeover
Country Village Preschool, 17727 Mentmore Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes recently had a complete renovation to its campus. Main Street, which includes a grocery store and a fire station, is located in the center of the school. It gives students a chance to take part in an interactive classroom with lessons geared toward hands-on learning based on a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) curriculum. For information, call (813) 920-8700.

They took on the world — and they won

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Wesley Chapel Elementary’s “Catch Us If You Can” team has returned as champions from the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, which took place at Michigan State University.

Front row, from left, Jake Piller, Rowan Heyman, Justin Acosta, Jason Sherman, Mina Melaika, Isabell Barrios and Sam Cappelluti. Back row, from left, Veronica Acosta, Matt Whaley and Janet Heyman. (Courtesy of  Joelisa Sherman)

The victory thrilled the team’s members — Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta, and the team’s coaches — Janet Heyman and Veronica Acosta.

Before heading to the international competition, the fourth- and fifth-graders had already demonstrated that they were contenders.

They won first place at the Gulf Coast Regional competition, and wowed the judges so much that they won the “Ranatra Fusca Award” for their exceptional creativity.

They also won first place at the state tournament at the University of Central Florida on April 8.

Still, it was the team’s first appearance on the world stage, so team members were hopeful, but also realistic.

“It was our first time going,” explained Jason Sherman, 10. “Most people on our team — like me and my friend, Jake — we knew we’d be OK if we didn’t win.

“When I was pin trading, I overheard people talking, saying, that they’d been there for over seven straight years, and they hadn’t won anything.

Coaches Veronica Acosta, left, and Janet Heyman pose with the trophy their team won at the Odyssey of the Mind World finals. The team scored 340.62 points, which is 22.55 points higher than the second-place team

“I was OK, knowing this was our first time, and we probably weren’t going to win anything,” he said.

Odyssey of the Mind is a competition that encourages students to use creative approaches to solving problems. The program emphasizes the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Ten-year-old Justin Acosta said he thinks the team succeeded because of its experience in working together and continual efforts to improve.

“The first year, we practiced. The second year, we practiced some more,” he said, and the third year, it all came together.

Ten-year-old Jake Piller said winning the competition is a pretty big deal.

“I definitely think it’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened in our school, and in our county,” he said, adding it’s “pretty big for Florida,” too.

Ten-year-old Sam Cappelluti said he was really nervous, as they awaited the results.

When they found out they had defeated China to win first place, they all screamed, he said.

“It was crazy,” said 11-year-old Isabell Barrios. “We all started crying.”

Barrios thinks the team stepped up its game for the competition.

“In the World performance, I think we did our best. We talked a lot louder and clearer,” Barrios said.

The ‘Catch Us If You Can’ team from Wesley Chapel Elementary School celebrates as it comes out of the spontaneous portion of their competition. During this part of the competition, the team enters alone without coaches and/or parents, and no spectators are allowed. The team excelled, scoring 98.16 percent from a possible 100 percent.

Barrios also noted that team members made sure they had all of their bases covered.

“This year, after we had everything done, we went through a checklist to make sure we had everything,” she said.

Sherman said the team turned it up a notch for the world competition.

“Right before we went on, we were all talking about adding more drama to it,” Sherman said.

Ten-year-old Mina Melaika thinks that the team’s ability to work well together, and to recover quickly when things didn’t go exactly as planned contributed to its victory.

“We all know each other really well,” Melaika added. Besides being teammates, many of them share the same classes.

Ten-year-old Rowan Heyman thinks a strong performance in the spontaneous portion of the competition was an important element in winning. “We worked as a team.”

As the winners were announced, the coaches kept hearing names of other countries and weren’t sure if their team would take home anything beyond the great experience it had at the competition.

So, they were ecstatic when they heard that they had won.

“I was crying,” Janet Heyman said, adding she’s proud of the team’s hard work and perseverance.

Coach Veronica Acosta said the kids have worked so closely together that “they’ve become one family.”

They’ve learned from mistakes, too, she said.

“That’s what Odyssey is about: Failing and picking up the pieces, and moving forward and going onto the next step. Not giving up —because these problems are not easy,” Coach Acosta said.

The coaches also thanked Freda Abercrombie, regional director for Odyssey of the Mind.

Without her, they said, their program wouldn’t exist.

Published June 6, 2017

Artist wins contest with her portrait of unknown soldier

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When Clare Hernandez set about to create her award-winning piece of art, she wasn’t thinking of entering it into a contest.

“I didn’t do it for this competition. I was actually working on it for my brother. I was doing it for a graduation present for him, but then I just decided I was going to enter it into the contest,” said Hernandez, who just won the 2017 Congressional Art Competition sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Being one of nine children, Clare Hernandez said she has grown accustomed to working while there’s a fair amount of background noise. In fact, she said, she prefers it. She’s shown here in a schoolroom in her family’s Dade City home. (B.C. Manion)

The winning art was selected by a panel of judges with the Pasco Fine Arts Council, according to a news release from Bilirakis’ office. There were more than 30 entries from high school students across Florida’s 12th congressional district.

Hernandez entered a pencil drawing of an unknown Confederate soldier. It was based on a photograph of an 1860s tin-type that the young woman from Dade City found through an online search.

The portrait combines two of her interests.

“I’m really interested in history; that’s what I want to study in college, particularly U.S. History, particularly war history — like the (U.S.) Civil War, the Revolutionary War,” Hernandez said.

And, she loves art, too — enjoying it since she was around 5 years old.

Hernandez said it took about 15 hours to complete the portrait of the soldier.

Clare Hernandez drew this portrait of an unknown Confederate soldier based on an image of an 1860s tin-type she found while doing a search online.
(Courtesy of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis)

“I tend to be a perfectionist. Even though I feel like something is finished, I’ll come back the next day and I’ll be like, ‘No.’ And, I’ll work on it some more,” she said.

Getting the shading on the Civil War soldier’s coat was particularly challenging, she said.

“I love to do faces and portraits, but I have a harder time with fabrics — in the folds and things like that,” Hernandez said.

The portrait is “pretty much an exact drawing of the photograph. It’s a little awkward in some places because tin-types often are awkward in the way the people in the photos are positioned,” Hernandez said.

“When you look at my drawing, it doesn’t seem to be completely realistic — his form. But, that’s really because that’s what that looks like. It looks awkward,” she said.

She was taught at home through her early years by her mother, Cheryl, who also happens to be an artist. Beginning in her middle school years, Hernandez has increasingly studied more independently, and in recent years she has taken some dual enrollment classes at Pasco-Hernando State College.

Next, she plans to attend the University of Dallas, in Texas.

Hernandez said she feels ready and is excited about what lies ahead.

Clare Hernandez holds a plaque and a blue ribbon, while standing with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. Hernandez won first place in the 2017 Congressional Art Competition in Bilirakis’ 12th congressional district

She chose the University of Dallas after falling in love with the college during several visits to see her sister, who recently graduated from there.

“It’s a good size. I love the students, and it’s got a really good history program,” Hernandez said.  Plus, “It’s a Catholic school. That’s important to me, too.”

Hernandez plans to pursue a degree in history, with a possible minor in art. She also will be part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) program, which provides a four-year scholarship, and she’ll be entering the U.S. Army when she finishes college.

Because her portrait was the winning entry, it will be displayed for a year along with outstanding work by other students around the nation in the U.S. Capitol, often referred to as the Capitol Building.

There will be an awards ceremony, but she won’t be able to attend because she’ll be on a mission trip to Ecuador.

However, she will receive two airline tickets, and she’s hoping she and her mom can make the trip together to view the portrait on display.

Having her work on exhibit in such an important building is an honor, Hernandez said.

And, for those who were wondering — she still plans to give the portrait to her brother.

Indeed, she already has. He just hasn’t seen it yet.

Published June 6, 2017

School gets ready for its debut

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As construction work continues at Cypress Creek Middle High, Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles and her fledgling staff are preparing to set up residency.

Her initial crew of eight people will be looking to take over the building the week of June 12, she said.

Charlie Barthle, the educational facilities inspector, talks about features in the new school that is scheduled to open in August. (Fred Bellet)

The school, set to launch its inaugural year in August, initially will open for students in grades six through 11.

The building will have roughly 114 staff members, and, as of May 31, Hetzler-Nettles had just nine instructional openings left to fill.

But, there’s still a lot to do before the school, off Old Pasco Road, opens. For one thing, the principal wants to give students and parents a chance to get acquainted with the campus.

“We’re in the unique position where everybody kind of needs to be oriented to the school,” she said.

To help people get a feel for the campus, three events dubbed HowlaPalooza have been scheduled.

Howlapalooza draws its name from the school’s mascot, the coyote.

The gathering for seventh- and eighth-graders, and their parents, is scheduled for Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Ninth-graders through 11th- graders and their parents are set to meet the same afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

In both cases, parents and students with gather separately for activities in different parts of the campus, and then will join together to tour the school.

Getting the campus ready for its first year is a massive job. A landscaper is shown here stabilizing a new tree at the school.

The tour, Hetzler-Nettles said, “is what everybody is excited about — understandably, so.”

The sixth-grade Howlapalooza is patterned after the ninth-grade orientation that Hetzler-Nettles previously conducted when she was principal at Wesley Chapel High School.

Sixth-graders and parents will arrive at 9 a.m. on Aug. 2.

“We’ll do a Parent University in the morning for the parents, for maybe an hour,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

The sixth-graders will stay until 1 p.m., being guided through such activities as opening lockers, going through the lunch line in the cafeteria, and generally getting a feel for where things are and how things work.

The idea, the principal said, is “get them used to the campus, to kind of erase some of those first-day jitters. It makes it a little less overwhelming.”

Electricians are installing lighting outside the cafeteria, which will have some outdoor dining.

Hetzler-Nettles and staff members already have visited schools that are feeding students to Cypress Creek Middle High, and have been handing out T-shirts and giving updates on the campus’ progress.

Activities are planned during the first week to help orient the students to the campus, she said.

The principal said it’s natural to feel nervous, and she added “anytime you’re stepping into something new, it’s good to be nervous.”

Hetzler-Nettles is excited about the prospects of developing the school’s traditions and opportunities.

“It’s good to work together, and to communicate and create something exciting for kids and the community. We’re really, really jazzed about that,” the principal said.

She said she knows others are excited, too, because she’s seen the school’s T-shirts being worn all over the community.

Cypress Creek Middle High gears up for opening year
Howlapaloozas
Sixth grade: Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Students should wear comfortable clothing and shoes, for outdoor activities and a campus tour. A McDonald’s lunch will be provided. Children who are on medication should address that issue before arriving on campus. Any questions? Email Assistant Principal Meighan Melsheimer at .

Seventh grade and Eighth grade: Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Students and their parents are invited to take part in some activities and tour the campus. Parents will report in the gymnasium, while students report to the cafeteria. After some activities, they will join together to tour the campus.

Ninth grade through 11th grade: Aug. 1, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Students and their parents are invited to take part in some activities and tour the campus. Parents will report in the gymnasium, while students report to the cafeteria. After some activities, they will join together to tour the campus.

Registration
Appointments for registration will begin on June 26. Students who have been rezoned to attend the school do not need to register as new students. Those who are registering as new students should check for registration requirements on the school’s website at CCMHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Secondary Orientation Day
A secondary orientation day for seventh-graders through 11th-graders is scheduled for Aug. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students will be able to pick up their schedules and pay fees.

Published June 6, 2017

Chalk Talk 06/07/2017

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(Courtesy of Andy Dunn, Pasco County Schools)

Posthumous diploma awarded
Alfred Smith was drafted out of high school to serve in World War II and never completed high school. Smith’s grandson, Robert Pullen (U.S. Air Force retired), worked with the Florida Department of Education to see that his ‘Pepa’ was awarded a high school diploma. Ruth Smith accepted her husband’s posthumous diploma during the Pasco High School graduation ceremony May 26. Alfred served as a private in the Army in Germany and earned a Bronze Star for his service. From left: Principal Kari Kadlub, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt S. Browning, Ruth Smith and Tom Smith (son).

Students make Dean’s List
These local students have been named to the spring Dean’s List at their respective schools:

  • Tori Anderson (Odessa), Berry College, Georgia
  • Cami Ash (Lutz), Harding University, Arkansas
  • Lauren Dobles (Lutz), Emerson College, Massachusetts
  • Sarah Fechtel (Lutz), Belmont University, Tennessee
  • Christina Linton (Odessa), Newberry College, South Carolina
  • Kyle McCann (Lutz), Belmont University
  • Caroline Amanda Meisner (Lutz), Greensboro College, North Carolina
  • Katelyn Prieboy (Lutz), Belmont University
  • Katie Quintana (Lutz), Berry College
  • Madison Stevens (Lutz), Harding University
  • Katie Wynn (Lutz), Belmont University

School garden yields veggies
Pasco County Schools’ Chef Blancato visited Hudson Elementary School May 23, to encourage students to eat fresh vegetables by showing them how to prepare dishes, using the vegetables grown in a class-run garden.

Second-grade scholars and Pasco County master gardeners tended to a garden throughout the school year, and were able to partake in their fruits of labor.

Goddard School open house
The Goddard School, 2539 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will have an open house June 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a Walk-in Wednesday June 14 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The F.L.E.X. curriculum allows children to grow and learn through hands-on experiences, incorporating S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), as well as P21 initiatives (cooperation, communication, critical thinking and collaboration).

The school is now open, offering tours and enrolling.

For information, call (813) 413-5453.

New teacher graduates
Pasco-Hernando State College Educator Preparation Institute graduated 24 new teachers. Several of the students have secured positions as teachers in Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough and Pinellas county schools.

The college will be training new teachers this fall and is accepting applications for individuals who want to pursue a career in teaching.

The deadline to apply and complete testing requirements is July 15. Classes start Aug. 21.

For information, call Melissa Burr at (727) 816-3471, or visit PHSC.edu/epi.

Students advance to nationals
Pasco-Hernando State College students Jeff Haney and Michaela DiPerna received gold medals at the SkillsUSA state competition, advancing them to the National SkillsUSA competition at the 53rd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, June 18 to June 24.

The NLSC is a showcase of career and technical education students representing 52 state and territorial associations.

Haney will compete in the computer programming category, and DiPerna will compete in related technical math.

Also, PHSC student Marnie Banks was awarded a silver medal, placing second in the state competition in the related technical math category; Karen Becker received a bronze medal, placing third in the state competition in the job interview category; and, Nancy Haney placed third for a bronze medal in the extemporaneous speaking category.

Sixty-four graduate from Primrose School
The Primrose School at Collier Parkway celebrated 64 pre-kindergarten students, as they received their first graduation diplomas.

A formal ceremony commemorated the students’ completion of pre-kindergarten and recognized each child, one-by-one, as they shook their teacher’s hand and moved their tassels from left to right.

There also was a slide show of pictures collected throughout the year, a Pledge of Allegiance, the “Star Spangled Banner,” class song performances, and a reception with cake, juice and refreshments.

More than 1,000 degrees bestowed
Saint Leo University’s commencement ceremonies at University Campus bestowed more than 1,000 new degrees on recipients.

  • About 325 students, mainly adult learners who studied online and on ground at the Adult Education Center at University Campus and Pasco-Hernando State College locations, were awarded bachelor degrees.
  • More than 435 students received master’s degrees across a variety of disciplines during a ceremony in the Marion Bowman Activities Center. Saint Leo conferred its first Doctorate of Business Administration degrees to Billie Jarrell, Leslie Sukup and Patrick Plummer.
  • More than 350 traditional undergraduates who studied at University Campus received their degrees. Two associate degrees were awarded posthumously to the families of Alexis Carrera and Nicholas Jonah Cusson-Ducharm, both of whom passed away in 2016.

New principal and chaplain
St. Petersburg Catholic High School has two new school leaders.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg appointed Ross Bubolz as the school’s next principal and Reverend Anthony Ustick as school chaplain.

Bubolz began his career at Glenwood School in Chicago, Illinois, as a teacher, dean of students and residential care worker. He has spent the last 14 years in Catholic schools, most recently serving as principal of the Cathedral School of St. Jude in St. Petersburg.

Ustick is a native of Pinellas County and ordained to the priesthood in May 2015. Recently, he was the parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle.

Ustick will work with Bubolz in the administration and leadership of the school.

Increased school impact fees a step closer in Pasco County

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Pasco County’s Development Review Committee has recommended approval of a proposed ordinance that would hike school impact fees in Pasco County.

The review committee, acting as the county’s local planning agency, found the proposed increase to be consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan.

The new rates would significantly increase the impact fees charged to new residential development to help address the impact that new growth has on schools.

Under the proposed ordinance, the fees could be used to build new schools, acquire school sites or purchase new school buses.

These are the proposed fees:

  • Single-family detached residences: $7,540, for homes 1,500 square feet or less; $9,785 for homes between 1,501 square feet and 2,499 square feet; and, $12,028 for homes of 2,500 square feet or more
  • Single-family attached: $3,633 per dwelling
  • Mobile homes: $5,544 per dwelling
  • Multifamily: $5,295 per dwelling

Those compare to these current fees:

  • Single-family detached: $4,828 per dwelling (no distinction based on size)
  • Single-family attached: $1,740 per dwelling
  • Mobile home: $2,843 per dwelling
  • Multifamily: $1,855 per dwelling

The fees do not apply to age-restricted communities, where residents are 55 and older.

At the review committee meeting on May 25, Mark C. Ogier, representing the Bay Area Apartment Association, challenged the proposed multifamily rate.

“These proposed impact fees are very troubling to our association and our industry,” Ogier said.

Cypress Creek Middle High School is taking shape, off Old Pasco Road. Pasco County Schools has asked the Pasco County Commission to increase school impact fees to help address the county’s burgeoning enrollment. This new school will enable Wiregrass Ranch High School to resume a regular schedule after it was forced to lengthen its school day to teach students in shifts.
(Fred Bellet)

“No. 1, the proposed increases are huge increases for all categories, but they’re especially grossly disproportionate for multifamily,” Ogier said.

The proposed multifamily increase is a 184 percent increase from the current rate.

At the same time, he said, the amount of student generation from multifamily is “significantly less than single-family,” he said.

Ogier — whose association represents more than 142,000 apartment units in the Tampa Bay area — also questioned the generation rates used by the school district’s consultant, Tischler-Bise, in the impact fee study.

He cited statistics showing that 80 children per 100 households live in single-family, compared with 38 per 100 households in multifamily, Ogier said.

When just children between the ages of 6 and 17 are considered, 35 percent of single-family owners have kids in that age range, while multifamily has just 13 percent, Ogier added.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, said the student generation rates were based on where students actually live.

“Every student is geo-coded to a particular residence,” Gadd said.

“I’m not sure how you beat that,” said Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles. “They live where they live.”

While the Pasco County Commission doesn’t have to adopt the full rate that’s recommended, it cannot simply reduce the multifamily fee, said David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney.

“There’s no legal way to just reduce multifamily,” Goldstein said, noting to do that would cause single-family to pay a disproportionate amount of the fee.

Review committee member John Walsh asked what would happen if the Tampa Bay Apartment Association wanted to debate if the study was valid or not.

Goldstein responded: “They’d have to come up with their own data showing that what Tischler-Bise (the school district’s consultant) came up with, is inaccurate.”

Gadd said he would provide his underlying data to Ogier, so he could see the information that the district used.

A committee appointed by the Pasco County Commission had recommended the full impact fee increase be adopted, but also said that should be done in stages — with a portion of the impact fee adopted within 90 days of the ordinance adoption and the rest adopted after the Pasco County School Board voted to seek a sales tax increase to address school capacity needs.

That recommendation fell flat with county commissioners who said they didn’t want to force the school board to seek a sales tax increase.

Regardless of what happens with the proposed impact fees, the school district remains in a deep hole regarding funding for new schools.

District officials estimate that even with the full impact fee increase, the district would have a   $284 million shortfall for capital construction needed during the next decade.

Pasco commissioners have scheduled two public hearings on the ordinance to amend the school impact fees.

The first public hearing on the school impact fees issue is set for June 20 at 1:30 p.m., in the commission’s board room at the West Pasco Government Center. The second is set for July 11 at 1:30 p.m., on the second floor of the Historic County Courthouse, at 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

Published May 31, 2017

Chalk Talk 05/31/2017

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Pine View students place second
Local students from Pine View Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes are second-place national winners as part of the 25th annual Toshiba and NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) ExploraVision program.

The students will be honored in Washington D.C., June 7 through June 10.

The Pine View project named “The Coral Reef MGS” will help reefs grow, while providing scientists with consistent information about coral bleaching, ocean water temperature and acidity.

The Monitored Growth Sanctuary includes an electrified graphene coral growth platform, solar and hydropower collectors, and an ocean water monitoring station.

Fifth-grader wins first place in poster contest
Kaden Horvath, a fifth-grader at Cypress Elementary School in New Port Richey, won first prize (Grades 3 to 5 category) in the second annual Dole “Fruitapalooza” poster contest. Horvath received an iPad mini and a plaque.

Cypress Elementary’s fifth-grade art students also won the National Grand Prize in the contest. The school received $1,000 for the art classroom and 10 cases of Dole fruit bowls for the cafeteria.

To view Horvath’s submission, visit DoleFoodService.com/schoolcontest.

Teacher hiring event
Pasco County Schools will host a teacher interview and hiring event June 1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pasco County Schools District Office Building 3, 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Those interested in an interview must apply to attend the event at PascoSchools.org/employment and complete the Teacher Interview and Hiring Event Application. Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive an email to respond to.

For information, contact the Office of Human Resources and Educator Quality at or (813) 794-2845.

Catholic homeschool conference
The IHM Tampa Homeschool Conference will take place at St. Lawrence Parish’s Higgins Hall, 5225 N. Himes Ave., in Tampa, June 8 from noon to 6 p.m., and June 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Participants can learn more about Catholic home-schooling.

Admission is free. Registration is not required.

For information, visit IHMConference.org, or email .

PHSC adds new trustees
Pasco-Hernando State College welcomed two new members to the District Board of Trustees.

Col. Jeffrey Harrington, of Hudson, serves as second in command at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. He previously served as Chief of Police at New Port Richey Police Department. Harrington has a doctorate degree from Capella University. He fills a vacant trustee seat, with his term ending May 31, 2019.

Alvaro “Al” Hernandez, of Odessa, is a vice president of marketing at Humana, and received a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. He fills a vacant trustee seat, with his term ending May 31, 2018.

Five students accepted to service academies
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) congratulated five students who have been accepted to one of the nation’s prestigious service academies.

The students were nominated by Bilirakis’ office based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character.

This year’s appointees are:

  • Bethany Greene, Sunlake High School, United States Naval Academy
  • James Nichols, Steinbrenner High, United States Military Academy
  • Olivia Lane, Hillsborough High, United States Air Force Academy
  • Alana Tallman, Pasco High, United States Air Force Academy
  • Nicolette Clark, Allendale Academy, United States Air Force Academy

The students undergo a competitive interview process, and each respective academy makes the final decision on acceptance.

Applications for the next round of nominations in the fall can be found online at tinyurl.com/lorof88.

Student selected for Duke program
McKenna Vitali, a seventh-grader at River Ridge Middle School, was selected to participate in Duke University’s Talent Identification Program, and received a medal at the university during a Grand Recognition Ceremony.

Vitali, an exceptional education student who has been diagnosed with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was recognized by Duke for her exceptionally high ACT scores.

Local university graduates
Grantham University in Kansas has announced these local graduates of the school’s online degree and certificate programs: Charles Hutchins, Dade City, electronic and computer engineering; Edward Bryant, Land O’ Lakes, criminal justice; Paul Hanniffy, Land O’ Lakes, business administration; Penny Petee, Land O’ Lakes, multidisciplinary studies; Emil Isaakian, Lutz, computer engineering tech; and, John Payne, computer science.

King’s College in New York has awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in media, culture and the arts to Alexa Rivera, of Wesley Chapel.

Tori Anderson, of Odessa, has earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Berry College in Georgia.

Katarina Parise, of Lutz, graduated from The University of Tampa with a Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice. Parise is a 2013 graduate of Sunlake High School.

Courtney Olivier graduates law school
Courtney Olivier, of Lutz, has graduated from the Stetson University College of Law. Olivier was a member of the Trial Team, a fellow in the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, a member of the Student Leadership Development Committee, and a class representative of the Student Bar Association. She also served as a Stetson Ambassador and a Study Abroad Diplomat.

Olivier also was an intern for two federal defender’s offices: the Federal Defender Program in Chicago, Illinois, and the Office of the Federal Defender for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa.

Fleet of school buses to use alternative fuel

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Pasco County Schools is making history with a new, fast-fill station and a fleet of buses that runs on alternative fuel.

Emmett Thompson, the school district’s transportation maintenance supervisor, fuels a truck with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school district, in partnership with Integral Energy and Clearwater Gas System, is the first in Florida to own and operate a compressed natural gas (CNG) station to fuel its growing fleet of CNG buses.

By the end of the 2018 school year, school officials estimate the district will own 65 buses that operate on natural gas, rather than diesel or gasoline.

The fueling station, along with a new bus garage, is on about 24 acres at 13101 Interlaken Road in Odessa.

School officials, school board members and representatives with Integral Energy and Clearwater Gas celebrated the occasion with a ribbon cutting on May 16.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, center, cuts the ribbon at the new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station as Chuck Warrington, left, of Clearwater Gas, and State Sen. Wilton Simpson watch

Guests at the event toured the buses and the fuel processing plant. The J.W. Mitchell High School jazz band entertained.

The alternative fuel is expected to offer several benefits, including reduced vehicle noise, cleaner emissions and cost efficiency.

“We’ve tried to be good stewards of our natural resources,” said Kurt Browning, the district’s superintendent.

Each bus is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 20,000 pounds a year, school officials said. Compared to clean diesel buses, they said the CNG buses would produce 13 percent less greenhouse gas, 95 percent less nitrogen oxide and 80 percent less hydrocarbon.

The CNG station can fuel a bus within 3 minutes and can pump out the equivalent of more than 10,500 gasoline gallons a day.

Members of the J.W. Mitchell High School jazz band performed at the ribbon cutting for the new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station.

It also is a state-of-the-art facility with more than 10,000 linear feet of electrical conduit buried underground. More than 50 cubic yards of concrete encase those conduits; and, each CNG storage vessel weighs more than 6,500 pounds. All of the compression equipment was American-manufactured.

Ray Gadd, the school district’s deputy superintendent, said discussion about the CNG station and using the alternative fuel began nearly six years ago.

He and other school district staff members helped shepherd the project to its completion. State Sen. Wilton Simpson sponsored a bill to create a state rebate program that can reimburse the county up to $25,000 for the cost of each bus.

In the past three years, the school district began buying new buses that run on alternative fuel.

Plans are to continue buying about 35 buses a year eventually replacing much of the school’s aging fleet of more than 450 buses. The shift will reduce reliance on gasoline and diesel-burning fuels in favor of natural gas, which burns cleaner and emits fewer toxins.

Published May 24, 2017

Pasco County schools expect budget squeeze

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As things stand now, Pasco County Schools could be facing an $8.7 million budget shortfall for the 2017-18 budget year, and Superintendent Kurt Browning has begun laying the groundwork for potential cuts.

He briefed the Pasco County School Board during a May 16 budget workshop about what he’s been doing so far to gear up for what could become a tough budget year.

Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning

The final budget numbers won’t be known until Gov. Rick Scott acts on the budget adopted by the Florida Legislature. Scott has 15 days to sign the budget, veto it, or use his line-item veto authority. The 15-day time clock begins ticking once the budget lands on Scott’s desk.

Browning told school board members that he had met the previous week with all the district’s department directors and directed them to “prepare a 10 percent budget reduction exercise.”

The superintendent said he emphasized it was an exercise, but he added, “we’re going to look at each one of those proposed cuts that they recommend, and we will look at it accordingly and see what the impacts to the district are.”

On the same day, Browning had a conference call with secondary principals and two conference calls with the district’s elementary principals, to let them know they need to hold one instructional position open.

The district isn’t taking the position away from each school, but it is freezing it, Browning said.

The district estimates it would take 146 positions to plug an $8.7 million budget gap, Browning said.

Olga Swinson, the district’s chief finance officer, also noted that the charter school enrollment in Pasco County is projected to increase by about 977 full-time equivalent students, which is about a 25 percent increase over the previous year.

The district is also facing additional costs associated with opening Bexley Elementary and Cypress Creek Middle/High School, she said.

There also will be higher retirement costs, health insurance costs, increased costs for McKay Scholarships and higher costs in a number of other areas, according to Swinson.

Browning told board members that the district is considering a wide range of options to balance the budget.

The district is looking at extended school year funds, extended school day funds, furlough days, closing schools, class size requirements, dual enrollment, leadership supplements, athletics, athletic supplements and other options, Browning said.

“The bottom line is, nothing is off the table. Nothing’s off the table,” Browning said.

“The only editorial comment I will make is that, in a year when the state is not in economic crisis, we should not be in this economic crisis,” Browning said.

Published May 24, 2017