The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Go on an outdoor quest to the best spots for wildlife

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will launch Florida WildQuest 2024 for Florida residents and visitors to join a wild adventure to complete scavenger hunt missions and discover some of the state’s best spots to see wildlife and enjoy the outdoors.

Participants can download the free and easy-to-use GooseChase app to join the “hunt” on Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) across the state from April 27 to May 5, according to a news release.

(Courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

Qualifying players will be entered in a random drawing to win wilderness-inspired prizes.

Those interested should follow these steps:

  • Charge Up: Make sure your phone is charged and the GooseChase app is installed. Not all areas have mobile coverage, but you’ll be able to take pictures for your scavenger hunt missions and submit them later. Visit FloridaWildQuest.com for instructions.
  • Be Safe: Stay on marked roads and trails. Before you enter a trail, be sure it fits your skill level and the distance you are prepared for.
  • Pack Smart: There are no vending machines in the wilderness. Check the weather before you go and pack water, sunscreen and snacks.
  • Snap a Pic: Most WMAs have a kiosk at the main entrance with a welcome sign that includes a map and important reminders for visiting the area. Take a picture of the sign for reference and grab a guide at the kiosk if one is available.

WildQuest is for players of all ages to learn about and explore Florida’s extensive WMA system. Registered players also can qualify for a chance to win wilderness-inspired prizes.

To learn more about the WMA system, visit MyFWC.com/WMAs.

Published March 06, 2024

Park renamed for celebrated city employee

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In honor of the City of Zephyrhills’ first African American employee hired in 1962, the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Park recently was renamed the Ellis Harrold Park during a dedication ceremony, at 39508 Lincoln Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Ellis Harrold worked as a driver for the City of Zephyrhills Public Works-Sanitation Division for 34 years, before retiring in 1996. His contributions paved the way for increased diversity within the municipal workforce.

Harrold was known to support the children residing in the Lincoln Heights area, offering guidance, love and support, as well as clothing and food to those in need.

He and his wife, Doris, raised seven children and one grandson, and have 25 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren. Harrold celebrated his 90th birthday on Feb. 25.

The park boasts amenities including a basketball court, picnic shelters and a swing set. The new sign installed will be donated to the Harrold family as a keepsake once the city updates all park signage as part of a community-wide rebranding.

Published February 27, 2024

Ellis Harrold, second from right, sits among family and friends during a dedication for the park renamed in his honor. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)
This temporary Ellis Harrold park sign will be donated to the family once the City of Zephyrhills installs new signage as part of its rebranding.

New garden to help families heal

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Pasco Kids First joined members of the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, local community leaders and members of the Professionals of Landscaping to commemorate the completion of a new Resiliency Garden with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Pasco Kids First is a 501(c) charity devoted to child advocacy and protection, to help keep kids safe, strengthen families through empowerment and enhance the community by preventing child abuse and healing children from trauma.

The garden, at 7344 Little Road in New Port Richey, was created and underwritten by 12 professional landscape companies that donated their time and resources to create the area, according to a news release.

Recognizing a need in the community, the group tapped into the talent of its members to transform an area of dirt and old palm trees into a garden outfitted with a rock path, bench seating and a water feature.

“A once vacant side lot of our office is now a beautiful and therapeutic setting for trauma survivors to begin or continue their healing journey. We cannot thank Professionals of Landscaping enough,” said Mike Trepper, president and CEO of Pasco Kids First, in the release.

To learn more about the charity, visit PascoKidsFirst.org, email , or call 727-845-8080.

Published February 28, 2024

Community leaders, members of Professionals of Landscaping and the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and Pasco Kids First commemorate the new Resiliency Garden with a ribbon-cutting. (Courtesy of Leslie Farrell/Farrell Communications)
The Resiliency Garden offers a therapeutic place to help trauma survivors through their healing journey.

Traffic detour in Dade City begins March 1

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The Florida Department of Transportation, District Seven has issued a notice to drivers in and around the Dade City area.

Beginning March 1, Southbound U.S. 98 Bypass/U.S. 301 will be closed from River Road to Meridian Avenue. The closure will continue for approximately 10 months. Northbound U.S. 98 Bypass/U.S. 301 will remain open to traffic.

Drivers will need to access properties in the closure area from northbound U.S. 98 Bypass/U.S. 301 or local streets.

The determined detour route is: Traffic traveling southbound on US 98/US 301 approaching the work zone will be detoured south on US 98/Seventh Street through downtown Dade City. Drivers who want to continue on southbound US 98/US 301 or access Old Lakeland Highway will turn left onto Meridian Avenue and go east, then turn right onto southbound US 98/US 301.

To help avoid delays and bypass downtown Dade City, trucks and other large vehicles that are using southbound US 98 to continue south beyond Dade City are encouraged to take SR 50 west to southbound Interstate 75 and return to US 98 on eastbound State Road 52.

For project information and to sign up to receive email alerts about closures and progress updates, visit FDOTTampaBay.com/project/939/256423-3-52-01.

Published February 28, 2024

Longer Pasco scallop season approved

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has approved a change to the bay scallop season for the Pasco Zone management region. This regulation change, which goes into effect this year, sets a 40-day season for the Pasco Zone that starts on July 10 and runs through Aug. 18 annually, according to an FWC news release.

(File)

“Along with moving away from the Independence Day holiday, the longer season will increase both the public’s safety and access to one of our state’s most fun family resources,” said Preston Farrior, FWC commissioner, in the release.

“There will be many positive impacts for the local communities,” said Farrior.

The Pasco Zone bay scallop region includes all state waters between the Hernando-Pasco county line and the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/commission and click on “Commission Meetings.”

For current recreational bay scallops regulations, visit MyFWC.com/scallops.

Published February 28, 2024

Bill that would revise the state’s pre-kindergarten program advances

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(The Center Square) — Florida lawmakers have advanced a bill this week that would allow young students and those who teach them the tools to be successful.

State Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm City, sponsors House Bill 1353. It would revise Florida’s laws on the state’s pre-kindergarten programs known as early learning coalitions and other specified early learning programs.

CDC/Unsplash

While introducing his bill to the House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, bill sponsor Snyder said that the bill would better support children, providers and early learning coalitions.

Snyder stated that Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program instructors — who have completed a 60-hour micro literacy credential or have scored a 3 or higher on the instructional support domain of the program assessment — would be allowed to teach the summer VPK program.

The bill also prohibits students from using electronic devices in these programs as instructional tools. At the same time, parents would be required to be notified if a student is falling behind in their learning.

“[The bill] prohibits the use of one child to one device for instruction in the VPK setting, and it also requires a VPK provider to notify each parent of a VPK student if they have not met the minimum performance metrics,” Snyder said.

When the bill was originally drafted, Snyder stated that the bill had made provisions to authorize early learning coalitions to increase the administrative percentage fee that they take from the providers, an increase from 4% to 5%. However, the fiscal impact was not able to be included in this year’s fiscal budget and was amended out of the bill.

A second amendment removed another program, the VPK summer-bridge program. Snyder stated that the program was removed because it is included in HB 5001, the state’s General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2024-25.

Snyder added that the bill would add tools needed to capture those students who may struggle with their early learning and pointed out that one only has to look at literacy rates to know how important this is for young students.

“The data does show that the sooner we can get the students who are having those learning gain issues, the better it is,” Snyder said. “So there’s no greater tool in my opinion, than to make sure our earliest learners are set up for success as they enter kindergarten.”

Published February 28, 2024

Pasco youth group releases human trafficking service announcements

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The Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking has shared two public awareness videos, developed in partnership with Teens Battle Human Trafficking (TBHT), a local youth-led anti-trafficking group, educating teens on how to identify when they are being groomed and the importance of notifying a trusted adult, according to a news release.

The videos were released on WFTS-TV ABC Action News, WFLA-TV NewsChannel 8 and the commission’s social media platforms on Feb. 23. 

“We wanted to give examples of situations that kids might find themselves in that make them feel uncomfortable,” said Meghna Manjith, TBHT president and Wiregrass Ranch High School senior, in the release.

The videos encourage kids to Stop. Block. Talk.

“We want them to stop that interaction immediately, block that person from having further contact with them, and talk about what happened with a trusted adult,” said Manjith.

“Most youth who are trafficked are groomed and manipulated into the trafficking situation, in many instances by someone they know and trust,” said Megan Harding, Pasco County School Board chair, in the release. “It’s critical that our children recognize these grooming tactics and feel empowered to immediately put a stop to them.”

If there is an imminent threat, or a child is involved, immediately call 911.

To report human trafficking, or to seek help and resources, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

To report a tip to local law enforcement, call 1-855-FLA-SAFE.

For more information and resources, and to view the public service announcements, visit MyPas.co/StopHumanTrafficking.

Published February 28, 2024

UnBinged – Newer, Better, Faster, Stronger? Reviews of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender,’ ‘Shogun,’ and ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’

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In this week’s UnBinged, we look at a few new series with a familiar face. These are reworked and reimagined time-tested tales with established fan bases made shiny and new for the next generation. From an adaptation of a miniseries that your mother loved to a live-action version of the cartoon you adored as a kid, here are a few shows that streaming networks tried to improve for your benefit. Did it work? 

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix)
After nailing it with the adaptation of One Piece, Netflix appears to be their apology tour for Death Note and Cowboy Bebop with Avatar: The Last Airbender, the live-action version of the much-beloved Nickelodeon series. Given the fondness for the original series, the devotion of the fanbase, and the disaster that was the previous adaptation, updating Avatar was a bit of a gamble.

For the uninitiated, Avatar: The Last Airbender is set in the Earth Kingdom, where nations are defined by the elements of fire, water, earth, and air. There are telepaths who can manipulate the elements, but only one who can manipulate all four, known as an avatar. It has been many years since one has been born, and during that absence, the Fire Nation has seized power, unaware of the existence of young airbender and avatar Aang (Gordon Cormier). After a century trapped in ice, Aang along with waterbender Katara (Kiawentiio) and her brother Sokka (Ian Ousley), must finish his training and find a way to end the Hundred Years’ War so he can bring balance to the world. 

For purists looking for a straight adaptation, there are some changes to the original story as the live action version finds its way, but key moments are still intact enough to make the fandom happy.  And clearly, Netflix did not want to disappoint. The production is filled with lovely moments thanks to stellar casting, set design, and a lively script that caters to both long-time fans and newbies with no prior knowledge of the original show. And while there are several times when the CG doesn’t quite keep up with the demands of the script, the heart of the original series is still there, along with plenty of fan service.  

Both the young and adult cast competently capture their animated counterparts and the bit players who help make up this unique world. Like the animated series, the characters are given complexity one wouldn’t usually find in fantasy fiction or a 2D world. Cormier does an admirable job creating a flesh and blood Aang, but it is Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh who brings home the raw emotional moments. 

Avatar: The Last Airbender is pulling triple duty in not only providing fans with a fanciful live action version of their favorite series, but also erasing the shadow of a less than stellar film version while helping rebuild Netflix’s reputation for animation adaptations. The result is a charming version of the Nickelodeon series that should make fans smile from ear to ear.  

FX/Hulu.jpg

Shogun (FX/Hulu)
FX/Hulu’s contemporary adaptation of James Clavell’s Shogun takes a step in the right direction with its extraordinary reworking of the story “Anjin” John Blackthorne and his time in Feudal Japan. It is a big swing for the network, as the original miniseries has long been considered landmark television, but this reimagining is not only a revelation, but a much needed rectification for a flawed story.

A war between Japan’s Council of Regents has been brewing since the death of the Shogun. Four of the regents have set their sights on Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), intimidated by his growing influence. But just as the vultures circle, English pilot Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) arrives with the goal of disrupting Portuguese-Catholic relations in Japan, only to become a pawn in the escalating conflict.

In this big, bold remake, Blackthorne is still key, but is not the central character. Instead, Toranaga, Lady Mariko  (Anna Sawai), the politicians that make up the Council of Regents and its court are very much the focus, as they should be. And while the romance between Blackthorne and Lady Mariko is still prominent, it isn’t fundamental to the narrative. Instead, Toranaga and those in his court take center stage. 

This Shogun is a rich and complex reworking of the original saga. Righting the wrongs of the original narrative by highlighting the strengths of the story and placing problematic tropes in the backseat, thus giving us an inspired remake for a new generation, and possibly the next. 

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC/AMC+)
Remember when The Walking Dead audience got its first glimpse of Michonne (Danai Gurira)? She had with her two walkers as personal guard dogs to mask her scent – terrifying to behold, but missing their jaws and limbs so they were rendered pointless, with no real bite left in them. For most people, that is what has become of The Walking Dead franchise after almost 15 years. The zombie show seems horrific, but upon closer examination, the series lacks any bite. Oversaturation of the franchise has exhausted fans thanks to AMC’s nonstop rollout of zombie-related content to the point that the undead almost seems tedious.

Now they offer The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. So, this begs the question: What sets this series apart from all the others? For super fans, the answer is Rick and Michonne.  

Led by season four showrunner Scott M. Gimple and actress/producer Gurira, The Ones Who Live takes a gander at one of the few love stories from TWD that didn’t end with one or both parties eaten, bitten, or killed by some jerk who turned evil by their own hubris. When we last saw Rick (Andrew Lincoln), he appeared to sacrifice himself to take out an entire herd of walkers, but was actually whisked away via helicopter by the Civic Republic Military. And when we last saw Michonne, she left her children to go look for him.

In the first two episodes, Rick and Michonne are on their own journeys, spending years attempting to find each other, only to lose hope and limbs along the way. When reunited, the duo fight obstacles in the form of the CRM and its minions, as well as a few familiar faces from the past. The duo must also reconcile with who they had to become to survive during their years apart and rekindle the flame that brought them together. 

Oh, and occasionally fight the undead. 

Watching Lincoln and Gurira slip back into their roles is certainly a treat for long-time fans who live for such moments. They alone are the reason to watch. But there isn’t much else here to draw in a crowd. The CRM as an antagonist injects the series with almost  immediate ennui, as there is nothing as droll as facing off against a faceless agency. But the real issue is that the world has grown “walker weary.” Only Rick, Michonne, and promises of upcoming reunions are the only enticement for The Ones Who Live. And while the acting and world building is still top notch, only the devoted will follow this latest chapter, which offers little to newbies.

Published February 28, 2024

Pasco figures show reduction of traffic deaths and serious injuries

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On the one hand, there’s good news. 

Pasco County has reduced both the number and rate of deaths and serious injuries resulting from crashes on its roadways, based on a recent report delivered to the board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Travel demands in Pasco County continue to increase, but the county is making some progress in reducing both the rate and number of fatalities and serious injuries, according to a February 2024 report. The board that oversees transportation planning in the county has adopted a goal of a 10% reduction in traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. (File)

On the other hand, the county’s statistics are higher than the state averages, reported Johnny Koors, a transportation planner for the Pasco MPO.

And, despite the improvement, Pasco must do what it can to continue to make it safer to travel around the county, said  Koors, a transportation planner for the MPO.

Each statistic represents a person, he said, and when the ripple effect is considered, “we’ve got 10s of thousands of people that are affected by these crashes every year. So, we know we’ve got more work to do.”

Still, there are some bright spots. Based on the five-year period ending in 2022, the Pasco MPO is one of four MPO planning areas in the state that has seen improvements in each of the categories measured in the report.

In terms of traffic fatalities, Pasco saw a decrease of 1.3% in the number of fatalities, based on a comparison of the current and previous five-year rolling averages.

The decrease in the fatality rate, based on 100 million vehicle miles traveled, was even greater, Koors said. He explained that’s because the number of fatalities went down, while the number of vehicle miles driven went up.

So, in the comparable years, the fatality rate decreased by 3.4%.

Johnny Koors, a transportation planner for the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization, said it’s important to keep working toward greater safety for drivers and pedestrians. Each statistic represents a person, and the consequences of traffic crashes are far-reaching, he said.

As far as the number of serious injuries, the county saw a decrease of about 8%, and again, because of the higher number of miles driven, the serious injury rate declined even more, reaching nearly 10%, Koors said.

While those figures are taking the county in the right direction, its results still exceed the state average.

To meet a federal requirement of setting targets, Koors said the MPO staff is recommending that Pasco submit a goal of a 10% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries, which he said is aggressive compared to some other counties.

The MPO board adopted the recommendation.

Last year, after staff gave the MPO board a presentation on the number of deaths and serious injuries related to traffic crashes, the board asked for a more detailed look at the issue.

That report was delivered by Tina Russo, an MPO staffer who spends much of her time working to improve safety.

She analyzed crash reports for 2022 and identified some of the key issues.

According to her report, the largest number of crashes in 2022 occurred at intersections. There were 4,486 wrecks at intersections resulting in 308 serious injuries and 33 deaths, according to information previously reported in The Laker/Lutz News.

Russo also noted that lane departures were another significant factor, with 3,246 crashes resulting from vehicles straying on the road. Those wrecks resulted in 236 serious injuries and 45 fatalities.

She also noted that two simple behaviors by motorists — wearing a seatbelt and wearing a helmet — would go a long way toward reducing traffic deaths.

An examination of crash reports in Pasco County in 2022 revealed that the greatest number of crashes occur at intersections.

TRAFFIC SAFETY FIGURES

NUMBER OF FATALITIES
Across Florida: 2017 to 2021: 3,306.4; 2018 to 2022: 3,387.2: Difference: 2.4%
Across Pasco: 2017 to 2021: 104.2; 2018 to 2022: 102.8; Difference: -1.3%

RATE OF FATALITIES (Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled)
Across Florida: 2017 to 2021: 1.52; 2018 to 2022: 1.54; Difference: 1.6%
Across Pasco: 2017 to 2021: 2.06; 2018 to 2022: 1.99; Difference: -3.4%

NUMBER Of SERIOUS INJURIES
Across Florida: 2017 to 2021: 18,029.8; 2018 to 2022: 17,146.2; Difference: -4.9%
Across Pasco: 2017 to 2021: 988.4; 2018 to 2022: 910.6; Difference: -7.9

RATE OF SERIOUS INJURIES (Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled)
Across Florida: 2017-2021: 8.35; 2018-2022: 7.79; Difference: -5.6%
Across Pasco: 2017-2021: 19.5; 2018 to 2022: 17.64; Difference: -9.7%

Source: Report to the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization, February 2024

Published February 21, 2024

‘Nothing is off the table’ in Pasco school district budget talks

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Speakers came to the Pasco County School Board meeting on Feb. 6, urging the district to keep positions that are paid through federal funding that was provided to districts to address deficits caused by the COVID pandemic.

The speakers spoke during the board’s public comment portion of the meeting, urging the district to retain employees — especially instructional assistants —  they said are essential in the district.

Later in the meeting, Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning offered this response: “I would agree with every speaker who came to the podium this morning about the impact that our IAs – our instructional assistants – have had on our students and in our classrooms, on our schools and in our district.”

Pasco County Schools is facing a tough budget year. (File)

However, the superintendent explained that the district is in the position it‘s in because the federal government created the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to respond to impacts from the pandemic.

“That ARP ESSER money was set aside — a specific amount, a specific timeframe and a specific purpose.

“They were wanting districts across the country to use the proceeds of those dollars primarily to support academic instruction and make sure that our students did not fall too far behind. And, I think they were a little fortuitous because they knew there was going to be a significant academic impact to our students.  

“There has been, there has been — with COVID,” the superintendent said.

When the federal funding was provided, Browning said, it was done so “with the understanding those dollars were going to disappear after three years. We’re coming up on that three-year mark, I believe it’s September of this year.

“And so, as we begin the very, very, very early stages of budget preparation for the ’24-’25 year, we are planning that those COVID dollars, COVID ARP/ESSER dollars are not in play.”

Browning reminded school board members that when the federal dollars initially were provided, there was a concern that local entities receiving the funding would become dependent on them, and that they would face a “fiscal cliff” when the funds ended.

 “One of the things that we set off early to do was to avoid any fiscal cliff,” Browning said.

Positions always intended to be temporary
“There was a specific point that I made, a caveat that I made three years ago, when we started receiving these dollars … that these positions are for three years. They will not move forward, beginning the fourth year,” Browning said.

That being said, the district hired student service coordinators, discipline instructional assistants, kindergarten institutional assistants, tutors and other employees with those funds, Browning said.

In total, about 600 district positions are funded with the federal money.

“We cannot absorb almost 600 positions into the district payroll. We can’t do it,” Browning said.

“However, in the early conversations that we are beginning to have with budgets, we are going to look at not only the GR (general revenue) that we have in the district, but also how is that GR being spent?

“We have a meeting set up to look at grants — the grant dollars that we have, and are there expenditures that can be made with grant dollars that are currently being made with GR dollars.

“I will tell you, nothing is off the table.

“We will be asking our staff: Is this required, or is it just a want?

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the school cannot absorb 600 positions that have been funded with federal COVID relief money. The district, however, plans to do what it can to help employees who may be displaced to land work in different school system roles.

“Are we required by law to do it? If we are not required by law to do it then we really need to look at the impact of what those dollars are meaning to our students,” Browning said.

Tough decisions must be made
“There are a lot of things that we do in this district that are not required by law — but we understand that they impact families and they impact kids significantly.

“So, it comes down to the proverbial age-old question of, ‘Whose ox is going to get gored?’

He added: “We really need to start at the sum zero number and then what are the things that we’re willing to sacrifice? What are the things we are willing to cut in this district, in order to afford the discipline IAs, the student services coordinators, the kindergarten IAs, the behavior IAs. You get my drift on how this process is going to go.

“I want to make it clear that before COVID, or ARP/ESSER funding, this district was funding and had funded for a number of years instructional assistants out of GR for our schools. Those are not going away.

“We plan on budgeting for those through GR dollars (for next year).

“I don’t think there’s anybody on my team that would disagree with any of the speakers this morning about the value of the instructional assistants. But I will tell you, there’s going to have to be some tough decisions that have to be made, and some prioritization about which positions we’re going to attempt to keep and those we cannot keep.

“When folks were hired for those positions under ARP/ESSER, they knew that it was going to be a three-year commitment, or they knew it was going to be a two-year commitment, if they came in Year 2; and, they knew it was going to be a one-year commitment, if they came in in Year 3.

“We are not even filling empty positions. We are not filling empty slots. Because why would I want to hire an instructional assistant now only to let them know that come July 1 or June 30, you’re not without a job,” Browning said.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said she has been a huge advocate of IAs in the past, but also understands financial restraints.

“We’re going to look at the budget. We have decisions to make,” Beaudoin said.

Beaudoin also emphasized that eliminating specific positions doesn’t correlate to eliminating people.

“We don’t know yet how many we’re going to be able to keep in the current positions, but maybe other positions,” she said.

Assistant Superintendent Kevin Shibley said, “We’ve been planning for this moment for a while. So, any positions that we are not able to move into other funding sources going into ’24-’25, HR (Human Resources) is going to be ready and willing to work with those folks throughout the spring either to find other positions of that same type, or if there are not going to be any positions of that type anymore help them to transition into other vacancies.”

He’s confident the district will be able to help employees who may be displaced.

“Our goal is to not put anyone on the street. We have jobs available,” Shibley said.

Published February 21, 2024