The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Celebrating their rites of passage

By

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

Their milestones sparked joy.

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

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

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

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

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

Nathan Reeves, Sunlake High School (Courtesy of Teresa Collins)
Evelyn Hernandez, Zephyrhills High School (Courtesy of Laura Barthle)
Roman Boukorras, Backyard Bears Day School
Rylie Chisholm, St. Joseph Catholic School

Homebound can get books delivered to them

By

Pasco County Libraries has launched a new service called, “Front Door Books.”

The service is intended to help readers who can’t visit the library in person.

Those wanting to use the service can borrow up to three books at once.

At this point, the “Front Door Books” mail program is scheduled to run through Sept. 30, 2021, according to a county news release.

You can apply to take advantage of the service at bit.ly/bookbymail. A member of the county’s library team will set you up with a virtual library card that you can use by phone or online at: pascolibraries.org.  Books are shipped via UPS.

To return, ask UPS to pick-up the books or drop them off at any Pasco County Library or UPS drop-off location.

“Front Door Books” is a pilot program funded by a CARES Act grant administered by the Florida Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  The program is funded through Sept. 30.

For more information about Pasco County Libraries, including the library catalog, e-content, programs, events and links to all Pasco County Library branches, visit:  pascolibraries.org.

Published June 16, 2021

Hillsborough offers text 911 option

By

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has added a Text to 911 option to its emergency dispatch services, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

The feature allows residents to access 911 services when they cannot communicate by a telephone call.

Text to 911 could help residents who:

  • Can’t talk because they fear for their physical safety
  • Are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Are experiencing an emergency where they do not have adequate mobile phone service for a phone call to connect, but a text may still go through.

Text to 911 is as easy as texting friends and family, the release said.

The text message will be handled by a dispatcher who will have an open text dialog with the resident until the situation is resolved.

Calling 911 is still the preferred method, but the new Text to 911 option could be a lifesaver for residents who are unable to communicate over the phone with the emergency dispatch center.

Put simply, Hillsborough County’s emergency dispatch ask people to call in emergencies if they can and use a text, if they can’t call.

Published June 16, 2021

Electric cooperative donates $400,000 to Kirkland Academy

By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published June 09, 2021

Hercules Park workshop set June 10

By

Zephyrhills residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the future development and proposed amenities of Hercules Park.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their ideas and opinions to a public workshop meeting on June 10 at 6 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills.

The City of Zephyrhills will host a workshop on June 10, to gather public input about the development of Hercules Park. Renovations could feature a circuitous BMX bike track with jumps and rollers, plus other passive amenities, based on this conceptual sketch from the project’s consultant, Kimley-Horn. The 12-acre park site is situated at the corner of County Road 54 and Gall Boulevard. (File)

Other stakeholders in attendance are expected to include the city’s parks and recreation advisory board, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) board and representatives from the project’s consultant, Kimley-Horn.

The City of Zephyrhills in recent months has pondered ways to spruce up the languished 12-acre park property at the corner of County Road 54 and Gall Boulevard, next to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools.

One possibility for the park’s update includes installing a BMX (bicycle motocross) track where youth and adult bike enthusiasts traverse winding trails and thrilling jumps, in a safe and comfortable setting.

The latest conceptual sketch plan from Kimley-Horn shows a circuitous riding trail spanning roughly 5.29 acres of the park property, albeit with many details still to be hashed out.

Height levels on jumps and bumps haven’t yet been determined, but the track is expected to have variations for beginner, intermediate and advanced bikers — keeping safety in mind, too.

Surface material hasn’t been decided, either, though one option is a dirt track with wooden features for jumps and stunts.

Also proposed is a paved pathway encircling the BMX course for parents, walkers and runners to use for general exercise purposes.

Based on renderings, remaining Hercules Park property upgrades would then take on a mostly passive vibe — with a nearly 1-acre open playfield, 1.42-acre playground and picnic/shelter area, and a soft walking trail surrounding an existing retention pond and lighted fountain spray.

An open playfield —situated at the former Hercules Aquatic Center — would offer a grassy space for throwing footballs, Frisbees and so on.

A playground, meanwhile, could include some nature-based equipment beyond conventional slides and swings — think rock climb, bridges, tunnels, rope play structures and more.

The budget for the entire Hercules Park renovation will be determined from the workshop, where amenities could be added or removed based on community feedback, Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

Final design and construction is expected sometime after park funding is identified for the city’s 2021-2022 fiscal year, Hamilton says.

Depending on the amenities and project cost, the development could be completed in a year, or built out over multiple years, she says.

City officials also have previously mentioned facilitating public-private partnerships for some of the park’s improvements.

In addition to its proximity to local schools, Hercules Park borders a busy Wawa gas station and Culver’s fast food restaurant, which could prompt those patrons to drop by the park to have a relaxing meal.

The park also is accessible to surrounding neighborhood developments through Henry Drive.

Should the BMX concept follow through, it would create an amenity otherwise not readily available to the East Pasco community. (Local BMX enthusiasts have previously tried accessing the Zephyrhills Skatepark at Krusen Field for those purposes.)

The closest public BMX pump tracks in the surrounding Tampa Bay area include Tampa BMX in Lutz and Oldsmar BMX.

City leaders for years have been calling for an action plan for vacant park land that once had a buzzing aquatic center and swimming pool.

Ownership of the land was transferred to the city from the Pasco County School Board in June 2018.

The park land is a legacy from about 80 acres once owned by the Hercules Powder Co.

The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, had been the city’s largest employer at one point.

During a city council meeting last month, City Manager Billy Poe deemed the upcoming Hercules Park workshop “important” to provide additional information, plans and ideas to the public and other interested parties.

Published June 09, 2021

Speakers address mental health needs

By

Suicide prevention and partnerships between law enforcement and mental health providers were the focus of talks delivered in a Zoom Session, on May 11, hosted by Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center.

Sarah Shirina, licensed supervisor of behavioral health with BayCare Behavioral Health, shared her expertise on the topic of suicide prevention, while also discussing local services that are available to help people struggling with mental illness.

Sarah Shirina addressed suicide prevention during a speaker series hosted by Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of University of Saint Leo)

Shirina is the supervisor over BayCare Behavioral Health’s mobile response team in Hernando County.

She’s also an adjunct professor for Saint Leo University, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from the university.

She began by sharing national suicide data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Suicide, unfortunately, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming over 48,000 lives.

“Suicide was the second-leading cause of death in individuals, between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death, among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54,” she said.

“There were actually 2½ times as many suicides in the United States as there were homicides, in 2018.

“So, what does that look like for our state? In 2019, Florida had a total of 3,427 deaths by suicide.

“In Florida, suicide is the eighth-leading cause of death,” Shirina said, adding the age group of 55 to 64 is most affected.

Shirina shared information derived from a research project by BayCare Behavioral Health and the University of South Florida, focusing on suicide in the Tampa Bay region.

Hot spots have been identified in all five counties in the Tampa Bay area, Shirina said.

“Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas, unfortunately, are all ahead and have higher averages of suicide deaths than the state of Florida.

“You’ll see that all of Florida had a total of 15 deaths per 100,000. And Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas are all in the 20s (per 100,000),” she said.

“Suicide affects men at a much greater percentage than it does women.

The study found that from 2010 to 2016, the suicide rate for men was twice as great as it was for women, she said.

“As our age groups increase, our military population is at a greater risk to be affected by suicide,” she added.

One of the big conclusions of the research was that Pasco, Hernando and Pinellas bear a disproportionate burden of death by suicide, in comparison to the state and surrounding counties, Shirina said.

Another conclusion: These are the same counties that bear the burden of the opioid addiction crisis.

She also noted that “80% of people who died by suicide had never had an involuntary examination, also known as the Baker Act.

“This, to me, was an alarming statistic,” Shirina said.

Among those who had undergone a Baker Act examination, 60% of those who died by suicide did so one or more years after their involuntary examination.

The study also found that middle- and older-aged white men had the highest rates of suicide, and among those who died by suicide, many had military backgrounds.

The research showed that guns were the most common method of suicide by men in all five counties.

By comparison, in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, more women died by overdose than did by guns, Shirina said.

“So, what can we do to help those who may be struggling?” Shirina asked.

Safety planning can help.

“When we’re safety planning with someone, we’re identifying their warning signs, their triggers and their stressful events that could lead to a crisis. We’re discussing with that person what they can do, what coping skills they can use to feel better.

“We’re discussing their support network. Who can they call when they need help? Who can they lean on?

“If possible, we often use that support network, when we’re creating these safety plans,” she said.

“We talk about what they look forward to in the future. What is important to them and what is worth living for? This is a great reminder, when someone is having these deep thoughts, that there are things in their future that they look forward to, and really, what is worth living for?

“We give a copy of this plan to them and to their support system, if possible, and we encourage them to keep it somewhere safe, so they can use it when they’re feeling upset,” Shirina said.

Dawn Wever addressed efforts being made to help mentally ill people get the help they need, instead of being locked up in jail.

Dawn Wever, the second speaker during the session, is a practicing mental health counselor.

She’s been an instructor in Crisis Intervention Team training for a number of law enforcement agencies. She’s also been a presenter on the topic at state conferences, is a former board member for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hernando and has done considerable research on collaborations between law enforcement and mental health professionals.

One in five Americans are affected by mental illness in any given year, according to statistics from NAMI, Wever said. That equates to approximately 57.7 million Americans living with mental illness. Of those, just 41% will receive treatment in any given year.

Research also shows that the average length of time from initial diagnosis to the onset of treatment is 10 years, she said.

She shared the story of the Memphis Police Department Crisis Intervention Team, which in later years came to be known as the Memphis Model.

The model stemmed from a 1987 incident in which police officers were called to an area of public housing in Memphis, where a young man was threatening with a knife, she said. Police officers ordered him to put down the knife. He refused. Eventually, police opened fire and the man was killed, she said.

“The mayor of Memphis turned to local advocates from NAMI and enlisted police, community mental health professionals, university leaders, hospital administrators, church officials to find a new approach to working with persons with mental illness, who are in crisis,” she said.

The approach involves a 40-hour, weeklong training for officers, deputies, detention personnel and dispatch, as well, regarding the recognition and understanding of signs and symptoms of mental illness, and focuses on verbal, de-escalation techniques, said Wever, who holds a master of arts/psychology from Saint Leo University.

Encounters between police and the mentally ill began increasing after the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric facilities began happening in the 1980s and 1990s, she said.

The expectation was that community-based mental health care facilities would provide treatment to those individuals released from psychiatric hospitals. Instead, county jails have become the largest mental health facilities in the country, added Wever, who has been in private practice since 2012.

The Rand Corporation estimated in 2020 that 15% of the men and 31% of the women incarcerated across the country have a serious and persistent mental illness, Wever said.

According to NAMI estimates, at least 400,000 currently behind bars in the United States suffer from some type of mental illness, Wever added. The organization also estimates that 25% to 40% of all mentally ill Americans will be incarcerated at some point in their lives.

She told Zoom listeners about a mental health unit operated by the San Antonio (Texas) Police Department .

“That’s regarded as one of the best law enforcement-based mental health units in the country,” she said.

“It was established in 2008 and to date, they have maintained zero use of force in a mental health call for service,” Wever said.

Shirina and Wever gave the final two presentations during a Social Services Speaker Series, which began on April 13.

Besides being informative, the series was intended to give participants exposure to a wide range of career opportunities in the helping professions.

To find out more about Saint Leo University’s East Pasco Education Center, email Derek Saunier, center director, at  or call 352-588-7451.

Warning signs of suicide

  • Increased alcohol and drug use
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Withdrawal from friends, family and community
  • Dramatic mood swings
  • Impulsive or reckless behavior
  • Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
  • Giving away possessions
  • Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
  • Saying goodbye to friends and family

Suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. If you or a loved one exhibits these behaviors, seek immediate help from a health care provider or call 911.

If you are unsure, a licensed mental health professional can help assess.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Suicide Myths
Sarah Shirina, licensed supervisor of behavioral health with BayCare Behavioral Health, discussed some myths about suicide during a recent Zoom presentation hosted by the University of Saint Leo.

Here’s an excerpt from what she shared:

Myth: Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage suicide attempts.

Fact: Talking about suicide provides the opportunity for communication. Fears that are shared are more likely to diminish.

Myth: People who talk about suicide never attempt or die by suicide.

Fact: Talking about suicide can be a plea for help, and it can be a late sign in the progression toward a suicide attempt. Those who are most at risk will show other signs, apart from talking about suicide.

Myth: If a person attempts suicide and survives, they will never make a further attempt.

Fact: A suicide attempt is regarded as an indicator of further attempts. It is likely that the level of danger will increase with each further suicide attempt. Just because someone has attempted suicide previously does not mean they are no longer at risk of attempting in the future.

Myth: Once a person has suicidal intent, there is no way of stopping them.

Fact: This is so far from the truth because suicides can be prevented. People can be helped. Suicidal crises can be relatively short-lived. Immediate practical help, such as staying with the person, encouraging them to talk and helping them build plans for the future can avert an intention to attempt or die by suicide. Such immediate help is valuable at the time of a crisis, but appropriate counseling also will be needed.

Need help?
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255.
Call 2-1-1 for additional resources.

Want to help?
BayCare offers free Mental Health First Aid Training. To find out more, call 800-878-5470.

Published June 09, 2021

Work gets started on new home for military family

By

Operation Homefront and Meritage Homes celebrated Military Appreciation Month last month, with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new home being built for a deserving military family.

During the ceremony, four military veterans on Meritage Homes’ staff, participated in the festivities.

Taking part in the ceremonial groundbreaking, from left are Stephanie Harris, veteran of the U.S. Air Force and administrative services manager for Meritage Homes; Steve Harding, Florida regional president for Meritage Homes; Gintas Urbonavicius, veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, and vice president of construction for Meritage Homes; Beth McGregor, program coordinator, for Operation Homefront; and Maggie Milana, U.S. Navy veteran and sales consultant for Meritage Homes. (Courtesy of Havas Formula)

The new, mortgage-free and energy-efficient home that will be presented to a deserving family on Veterans Day.

Meritage Homes hosted the event, which included remarks by Steve Harding, regional president for Meritage’s Florida division, according to a news release.

The event took place in Bristol Meadows, on Asher Moon Lane, in Zephyrhills.

Meritage Homes, the sixth-largest U.S. homebuilder, has again renewed its partnership with Operation Homefront, to place a deserving military family into a brand new, mortgage-free and energy-efficient Meritage home.

This is the eighth year Meritage Homes has built and donated a new home to Operation Homefront through the Permanent Homes for Veterans program.

Operation Homefront will select the recipient for the new home and keys will be awarded the week of Veterans Day 2021.

The Permanent Homes for Veterans program, formerly known as Homes on the Homefront, has placed more than 700 military families in mortgage-free homes and deeded over $90 million in home equity since 2012.

For more information about Meritage Homes, visit MeritageHomes.com.

For more information about Operation Homefront, visit OperationHomefront.org.

Published June 09, 2021

The play’s the thing — and it’s in their backyard

By

As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” So when COVID-19 put the brakes on indoor performances, aspiring actor Rhett Ricardo, of Dade City, had an idea.

This 32-foot stage, with changeable scenery, is behind the Missouri Avenue home of Jill and Jason Ricardo in Dade City. It provides a venue where students and some recent graduates have put on plays, to pursue their interests in theater. In this scene, 18-year-old Connor Mirrop, of Dade City, left, a recent graduate of Pasco High, takes on the role of Max, and 16-year-old Zachary Trenkle portrays Mr. Saunders, in ‘Lend Me a Tenor.’ (Fred Bellet)

He formed a “Shakespeare in the Yard” company, and offered performances in the family’s Dade City backyard.

He organized performances of “Much Ado About Nothing,” in November and of a “Midsummer Night’s Dream” in January.

And, when the Arts in Motion (AIM) Pasco program couldn’t find a suitable venue, Rhett’s parents — Jill and Jason Ricardo — offered up their backyard as the setting for smaller AIM plays — where young actors would have a place to perform and the audience could remain socially distanced.

Jill Ricardo is vice president of production for the AIM Pasco program — which gives youths a chance to pursue their interest in theater.

Eva Weiss, seated, played the role of Maria, a home-schooler, in ‘Lend Me a Tenor.’ She is flanked by Connor Mirrop, who performed the role of Max, and Zachary Trenkle, who played the role of Mr. Saunders.

Typically, Arts in Motion puts on two large musicals each year.

The productions usually involve 50 to 60 performers, and each child that auditions gets a role, Jill Ricardo said.

When the organization shifted to smaller productions — to keep things going — she said she was surprised by the level of interest the young actors displayed.

“In a musical, you can rely on the big, flashy numbers to get you through,” she said.

In the plays staged in the Ricardos’ backyard, the actors had to develop completely different skill sets, she explained.

They performed “The Laramie Project,” “Greater Tuna,” “Snow White Rap,” “The Diary of Ann Frank,” and “The Lend Me a Tenor.”

“The Laramie Project” explores the story of Matthew Shephard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was beaten and left to die.

“That was a really powerful show for us,” Ricardo said.

Eighteen-year-old Jadyn Mills, of Dade City, right, plays the role of Maggie, exchanging lines with Max, performed by 18-year-old Connor Mirrop.

They also did “The Diary of Anne Frank,” based on a journal kept by a young Jewish girl who chronicled two years of her family’s life in hiding during German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.

Her diary was published two years after the girl’s death in a concentration camp.

Ricardo was moved by the work done by the cast, describing it as “a really, really beautiful show.”

“Greater Tuna” and “Lend Me a Tenor” are comedies, and “Snow White Rap” gave the younger children a chance to perform.

“Each play we did, there were four performances,” she said. “It was busy around here.

“My husband and I were exhausted in the end,” Ricardo said.

Artists in Motion is finished for this season, but expects to audition in August for its next show.

From left, 19-year-old Roman Ricardo, of Dade City, operates the light board, 17-year-old Jayden Parsons, of Dade City, cues the music and 15-year-old Amelia Hesting, of Hudson, runs the sound board for ‘Lend Me a Tenor.’ Capria Pitchette directed the play.

By then, Ricardo hopes they will be able to find an indoor venue for their performances.

However, she’s not opposed to continuing to have some plays in the family’s backyard.

She’s a huge believer in giving youths a chance to get involved in the theater.

“I think art allows them to express their feelings in a way that’s productive, and they can explore their feelings, and they explore the world, in a safe space,” Ricardo said.

The young actors also get a chance to develop teamwork and experience “building something from nothing — the act of creation,” Ricardo added.

Arts in Motion is a nonprofit community youth theater and arts education organization. For more information, check the website ArtsinMotionPasco.org.

Published June 09, 2021

Saying goodbye to a challenge-filled school year

By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We still were able to accomplish some amazing things.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published June 09, 2021

Housing development supports ‘independent’ living

By

SVdP CARES, which stands for St. Vincent de Paul Cares, recently celebrated the completion of the third phase of its permanent supportive housing project, Ozanam Village III, according to a news release.

Festivities to celebrate the completion of the third phase of Ozanam Village drew a big crowd. (Courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul Cares)

The completion of this phase brings the total number of units at the residential development to 99.

“These units will permanently house those that need a little extra care, including those with physical and mental disabilities, victims of domestic abuse, individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, or those who have aged out of foster care,” says the release, from Mary Burns, communications and donor relations manager for St. Vincent de Paul Cares.

Officials cut a ribbon to celebrate the project’s completion. (Courtesy of St. Vincent de Paul Cares)

The event, at 7770 Ozanam Way, in New Port Richey, was attended by dignitaries, including New Port Richey Mayor Rob Marlowe; Pasco County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick; representatives from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ offices; residents and community partners.

Project partners include the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, NDC Asset Management, Bradley Construction and Ability Housing.

The Most Rev. Bishop Gregory Parkes, who presides over the Diocese of St. Petersburg, provided a blessing during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

St. Vincent de Paul CARES is a nonprofit organization committed to end homelessness.

It uses this tag line to describe its mission: “Making Homelessness Rare. Brief. One-Time.”

Published June 09, 2021