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Pasco County Schools seeks to reduce absenteeism through new approach

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Pasco County Schools will have three four-day weekends during its regular 2024-2025 school year in a bid it hopes will reduce student absenteeism.

The school board approved the proposed school calendar during its Dec. 5 meeting.

“We are hoping — and I think we are going to include this in our attendance campaign — that by placing those four-day weekends strategically, I think there’s one in October, one in February and one in April, that we can encourage our students and families to take their mini-trips or vacations on those long weekends, instead of taking off instructional days,” said Kevin Shibley, an assistant superintendent.

“So, we’re going to try to market that to our families,” he added.

Pasco County School is adopting a new calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. The new approach includes four-day weekends in October, February and April. District staff and board members hope that families will take advantage of those mini-breaks, rather than pulling kids from school on regular days. (Mike Camunas)

School board member Alison Crumbley told Shibley: “I’ll add to your encouragement on that.”

Her colleague, Cynthia Armstrong, agreed: “That’s an excellent message because it is very frustrating when I see parents randomly taking students out for vacations.”

The new calendar also includes one full professional development (PD) day in the fall, instead of four early release days (ERD).

“I think the idea is that we can get some quality time with our teachers early in the school year with that full day of PD and then use the ERD days in the second semester to do follow-up and extension of that learning, in small chunks, as the school year continues,” Shibley said.

Consolidating the four ERDs also yields more student instructional time, overall, Shibley noted.

Shibley also pointed out a similar strategy is already used by some high-performing Florida school districts.

Elected school district leaders said they did not receive a great deal of feedback on the issue.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said one teacher asked if the district could start the school year later in August, but Beaudoin explained that the district starts earlier so it can deliver as much instruction as possible before testing begins.

“Also, it allows us to finish the first semester prior to Winter Break, which is really important, especially at the secondary level,” Beaudoin added.

Another teacher asked if the work day after Spring Break could be shifted to before Spring Break, but Beaudoin said that would create scheduling difficulties for teachers because it would result in a week with a work day and a half-day, making it difficult for teachers to plan.

Armstrong said she received mixed feedback regarding the four-day weeks.

“I had some for it; I had some who preferred getting out earlier in the school year. So, it went both ways on that one,” she said.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, said the union is taking a neutral stance on the issue. He encouraged anyone who wanted to provide feedback to reach out to school board members.

“Some of these things may prove beneficial; others, maybe not so much. It’s hard to say right now.

“I’m not sure I know all of the particulars, but if proper planning and considerations are made, and I do want to note that I have had extended conversations with Mr. Shibley and I think that things are in order for planning, this might work well,” Peace said.

However, Peace added: “Respectfully, if we are going to make significant changes to the calendar, the opportunity to discuss this at an evening session prior to a vote would seem to be in order. This would allow those with concerns to express some to the board before a vote.”

Shibley said that, overall, comments received by the district were positive.

“Staff kind of liked the idea of the four-day weekends, in general,” Shibley said.

School board chairwoman Megan Harding  welcomes the new approach.

“It’s different this time. We’re going to try something new,” she said.

Published December 13, 2023

New cell tower will be in Starkey District Park

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Pasco County approved a contract for a new cell tower lease at Starkey Ranch District Park with Wireless Edge, at a greater distance and a higher rent than was initially proposed near Starkey Ranch K-8 School.

The lease is in conjunction with a P4 agreement between Pasco County, Pasco County Schools, Pasco County Libraries and a private developer.

The county board’s approval for the lease came during its Dec. 5 meeting, without a peep of public complaint.

Parents and residents in Starkey Ranch raised their voices against the proposed location of a cell tower near Starkey Ranch K-8, and they won. (File)

That deal came after families battled with the Pasco County School Board over a proposed easement that would grant access to the proposed cell tower.

When families lost that battle, they set their sights on the Pasco County Commission, which was considering the actual lease for the tower, during the county board’s May 23 meeting.

Cell tower opponents turned out en masse. 

They wore red, cited research and spoke passionately about their concerns of the potential negative health consequences that could result, if the cell tower was allowed so close to the school

During the board’s lunch break, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey conferred with Keith Wiley, director of the county’s parks, recreation, and natural resources department.

After lunch, she reported that Wiley said an alternative location could be found at the park to accommodate the cell tower. The county also said it would share the proceeds from the leasing agreement with the school district, since that was part of the original plan.

The board then delayed the issue until it sought a new solicitation on the alternative location.

Andrew Baxter, director of facilities management, brought the staff’s recommendation to the board based on that new solicitation.

“The previous location would have allowed the siting to be at approximately 625 feet from the school. And the previous lease would have been with Vertex.

“The rent would have been $1,950 per month, with a 2% increase or $600 a month per sublease,” Baxter said.

“By going out and relocating this, we are now 2,348 feet from the nearest school building and 1,400 feet from the nearest housing location. So, we’re much further away from the school,” he said.

Under the new agreement, the tower will be located in the maintenance yard of Starkey District Park.

Wireless Edge, recommended by staff, offered better rates. Its lease will be for 27 years, with an option for four additional five-year terms, which is the same as Vertex had proposed.

The rent from Wireless Edge, however, is higher. It will be $2,251 per month, with a 2.5% annual increase, and $1,000 per month per sublease. Plus a bonus of $35,000 for each sublease after the first sublease,” Baxter said.

The cell tower will be a stealth pole, monopole, meaning that none of the antennas will be showing, Baxter said.

Starkey said she was happy to hear that.

She noted that companies have claimed that couldn’t be done because of the heat generated by the antennas.

But she said that she’s read research saying that stealth towers can be achieved because of new technology.

So, she told county staffers: “OK, staff, we’re not going to do those other ones anymore, where the arrays are on the outside.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano was pleased that a solution has been found.

“It’s great to see that no one’s here, compared to what we had before – 1,600 signatures,” Mariano said.

He credited county staff and the providers for working together.

But County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder pointed out: “The provider lost the contract.”

Like Mariano, Starkey said she’s pleased by the outcome.

“I got not one email of complaint,” Starkey said.

Published December 13, 2023

FEMA encourages property owners to buy flood insurance

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Many Floridians choose not to purchase flood insurance because they don’t live in a high-risk flood area, but officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) want to encourage property owners to purchase the insurance to be on the safe side.

It’s important to remember that flooding can happen anywhere, FEMA officials remind property owners.

It’s important for property owners to understand their insurance coverage. Standard homeowner’s policies do not cover damage from floods. But flood insurance is available in most localities across Florida. (File)

When flooding occurs, standard homeowner insurance policies typically do not cover it, says a FEMA news release. Just 1 inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 of damage in a home.

Residential and business property owners as well as renters can protect themselves from financial losses by having a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program to insure buildings and/or their contents. Flood insurance coverage is available regardless of federal disaster declarations, according to a FEMA news release.

There is a 30-day waiting period before new policies go into effect, so don’t wait to obtain a policy.

Flooding in Florida is common. After Hurricane Idalia, more than 5,000 flood claims were filed through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) with a total payout over $300 million to date, closing over 85% of the NFIP claims in the first 90 days after the event, the news release says.

In all, the Hazard Mitigation Community Education & Outreach has counseled more than 11,000 survivors on the NFIP and other mitigation measures. The flood insurance program has more than 1.7 million policyholders across the state with total coverage exceeding $448 billion.

In Florida, 468 communities participate in the NFIP; 10 communities do not. Residents can purchase a flood insurance policy if their community participates in the NFIP, no matter their flood risk.

Coverage is available for residential and commercial buildings and the contents therein:

  • Up to $250,000 in building coverage and up to $100,000 in contents coverage for single-to-four family residential structures
  • Up to $500,000 in building coverage and up to $500,000 in contents coverage for five-or-more family residential structures
  • Up to $500,000 in building coverage and up to $500,000 in contents coverage for businesses

As part of its disaster assistance, FEMA has provided Group Flood Insurance Policies (GFIP) to homeowners and renters after Hurricane Idalia. The group policies are 36-month NFIP insurance certificates for disaster survivors who live in a high-risk flood zone, sustain flood damage, do not have flood insurance, and receive FEMA disaster assistance. When a GFIP certificate expires, the survivor is responsible for obtaining and maintaining flood insurance. Failure to maintain flood insurance will affect their eligibility for future disaster assistance.

To purchase a policy, contact your insurance company or agent. In addition to the NFIP, flood insurance is also available from some private insurance providers. For an agent referral, call 800-427-4661, or visit FEMA.gov/flood-insurance.

Published December 13, 2023

Pasco plans to seek legal relief in ‘Live Local’ cases

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Anyone who wants to invoke the state’s “Live Local Act” in Pasco County will have to go through the court system to do it.

The Pasco County Commission has directed the county’s legal staff to seek a declaratory judgment against any applicant seeking to invoke “Live Local” in Pasco.

That state law allows an applicant to convert land zoned for commercial, industrial or mixed uses into multifamily developments, provided the project serves people who meet income criteria.

The law preempts local government from blocking the developments and it provides a property tax break to the developer.

Pasco County invested roughly $65 million to pay for an interchange at Overpass Road and Interstate 75. The project is intended to ease traffic and to stimulate economic development. The Pasco County Commission contends the state’s Live Local Act could undermine the county’s efforts to create more jobs. (File)

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman has objected to the law since its inception — stating that it undermines Pasco’s attempts to create more local jobs.

The county and the Pasco Economic Development Council have been focusing considerable efforts in recent years to attract jobs to Pasco and to shed the county’s image as a “bedroom community” for other job-rich counties.

Weightman hit the roof recently when he learned that a developer wants to invoke “Live Local” on a site at the northwest corner of Overpass Road and Interstate 75.

Roy Mazur, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for development services, and David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, gave a presentation on the topic at the Pasco County Commission’s Dec. 5 meeting.

Tackling the issue is Pasco County’s top legislative priority, Mazur said.

Pasco County has sent a letter expressing their concerns to state lawmakers, he said. Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties also sent a joint letter on the topic to legislators.

So far, 12 people have expressed interest in invoking Live Local, representing a total of 10 projects, according to county figures. Four pre-applications have been filed and two applications have been filed. One of those applications was quickly withdrawn and the other one is pending.

Goldstein said Pasco is attracting more interest in Live Local projects than other counties.

“We’re sort of the epicenter of Live Local, in terms of the number of inquiries we have,” Goldstein said.

Weightman described applicants’ interest in converting the county’s commercially zoned lands as a “shotgun blast.”

Goldstein told the board that it essentially had four options.

One would be to invoke a moratorium, which Weightman has described as a “nuclear option” and Goldstein defines as a “blunt tool.”

The problem with a moratorium is that it’s not surgical, Goldstein said. There may be properties the county wouldn’t want to affect that could get caught up in a moratorium, while other properties the county wants to affect are missed.

A declaratory judgment, on the other hand, would be sought to address a specific application, he said.

Goldstein has a list identifying 22 legal issues with Live Local, including constitutional issues and ambiguities. He said the list is made up of information from various sources, including a committee of legal experts across the state.

If the county files for declaratory judgment, it will need to name the state attorney general in the lawsuit because it is challenging constitutional issues in the Live Local Act, Goldstein said.

Ron Oakley, selected as the board’s new chairman, said he favors using the declaratory judgment approach. 

He said the county must protect the $65 million investment it has made to the Overpass Road/Interstate 75 interchange project.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said allowing Live Local projects to be developed in the county would be devastating. He said once one is permitted, it would be difficult to stop others.

The county has been protecting its commercial and industrial lands with the goal of using those properties for job-generating uses and it must continue to do so, Mariano said.

He favors trying the declaratory judgment approach, but if that doesn’t work, he supports invoking a moratorium.

The county won’t file a request for declaratory judgment unless an applicant seeks to invoke the Live Local Act and refuses to withdraw his or her application, Goldstein said. But if the applicant refuses, the county will act.

Published December 13, 2023

Breakfast with the jolly man himself

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The GFWC Pasco Juniors Woman’s Club’s Breakfast with Santa charity event recently took place at the Lexington Oaks Community Center. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit annually hosts this fundraising event to purchase holiday presents for community youths, and to donate funds to the Sean Bartell Memorial Foundation. The foundation is named for a Wesley Chapel High student who passed away on Christmas Day 2014 from complications of Stevens Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. GFWC Juniors vice president Suzette Torres said the event raised about $600, thanks to food and coffee donations from Waffle House, Burger King, Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, Starbucks and Wawa. For more information on either charity, visit their Facebook pages.

Wesley Chapel infant Nikolas Scardino can’t believe his eyes as he meets Santa Claus (Paul Bartell) on Dec. 2, during GFWC Pasco Juniors Woman’s Club’s Breakfast with Santa charity event at Lexington Oaks Community Center. (Mike Camunas)
Six-year-olds Kiarah Edwards, left, and Aliana Hernandez, both of Wesley Chapel, play a knock down the Grinch game at the Breakfast with Santa charity event.
Wesley Chapel kiddo Joey Fonck, 5, gets ready to devour a pancake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GFWC Pasco Juniors Woman’s Club member Janine Marquardt serves up a plate of food during the group’s Breakfast with Santa charity event on Dec. 2.
Wesley Chapel sisters Giulietta Fantuz, 5, left, and Amielia Fantuz, 4, play a sandbag toss holiday game on Dec. 2, at the GFWC Pasco Juniors Woman’s Club’s Breakfast with Santa charity event.
About a hundred people turned out on Dec. 2 to get a warm meal during GFWC Pasco Juniors Woman’s Club’s Breakfast with Santa charity event, at Lexington Oaks Community Center in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco County Schools is identifying more gifted students

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Pasco County Schools has seen an increase in the number of students identified as academically gifted since the district began using a screening tool with all district second-graders, according to Vanessa Hilton, the district’s chief academic officer.

“Since that time, we have increased our number of gifted-identified students by 20%, especially in some of the more disproportionate areas,” Hilton said.

She said the district also has launched more professional development opportunities to help increase the number of educators to help serve the district’s gifted learners.

“In June of 2022, we started to offer all five endorsement courses over the summer, so teachers didn’t have to come out of their classrooms, they could do that when they weren’t doing other things, or as they did things for summer.

“We prioritized the teachers who were already teaching gifted learners, and, as a result, in that first year, we had over 250 classes completed,” Hilton told the Pasco County School Board, during its Dec. 5 meeting.

“And then, since we started, we’ve had a total of almost 650 classes completed, and we’ve increased the number of our gifted endorsed teachers by 33%,” she added.

“So, we have done support for students and support for teachers,” Hilton said.

She expressed her gratitude to district departments that help to pull off opportunities for students and staff in this area, including the Office for Leading and Learning, the Office for Student Support Programs and Services, and Accountability Research and Measurement.

School board chairwoman Megan Harding said she has heard positive feedback from a couple of her friends who have been able to take the classes.

“It’s just a great opportunity,” Harding said.

Published December 13, 2023

Zephyrhills’ leaders step up to help school children

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City leaders from Zephyrhills are stepping up to boost literacy efforts among the community’s young children.

City leaders are getting involved in efforts to help school children learn to read. They have volunteered to help a specific group of young children in Zephyrhills’ public elementary schools.

“There’s a commitment from the city to support our literacy efforts. They are doing that not only through their innovative programs at the public library, but they’re also committed to have their city employees volunteer in our schools,” said Poe, the district’s assistant superintendent of elementary schools.

“So, at this time — and they’ve been doing it for over a month —  every week we have the librarian, airport director, finance director and public information officer volunteering at West Zephyrhills Elementary.

“We have the city manager, police chief and public works director volunteering at Woodland Elementary. They have an assigned time, an hour a week, that they do during their work day, with assigned third-graders.

“So, they are working with those students who are really trying to give it their all this year, and we know that’s a high stakes year and we’re focusing our efforts there.

“Also, City Council members Lance Smith and Steve Spina — they are members of the Zephyrhills Noon Rotary — so they heard of the initiative and wanted to get involved, so they and the Rotary members are pushing into West Zephyrhills Elementary, focusing on first-grade learners.

“So, we’re super-excited to know that the efforts are citywide.

“And they’re working along our two elementary schools to impact their youngest citizens.

“We know it takes a village. It’s cliché. We hear it, but we know it does take all of us working together to positively impact our community, and we are all in on literacy this year.”

Published December 13, 2023

Bilirakis seeks swift action on likely fuel spill off Pasco’s coast

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U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis began pressing federal officials early last week to take swift action to investigate the cause of a likely fuel spill near Miller’s Bayou in Port Richey, according to a news release from Bilirakis’ office.

The congressman also is urging federal officials to mitigate any damage, and identify possible remedies to prevent future recurrences.

Port Richey residents recently woke up to a strong smell of fuel in the air, the release says.

Bilirakis, who serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and co-chairs the Travel & Tourism Caucus, understands the value of water quality throughout the region, the release adds.   

“Countless people rely on these waters for their livelihoods, sporting, and recreation, which together make Port Richey the vibrant community that many people call home,” Bilirakis said, in the release. 

“The local economy is also largely dependent on our ability to maintain our area’s pristine natural resources. 

“For these reasons, I have been championing a variety of initiatives to protect Florida’s waterways.  “Therefore, it is very concerning that this fuel spill occurred, and I’m determined to make sure that no stone is left unturned in discovering its source as we strengthen precautions to prevent future spills,” Bilirakis said, in the release.

Bilirakis called for a thorough and timely federal review to limit the environmental and economic impact. 

Published December 13, 2023

Sharon Streater and Carlton Ward Jr. to be honored for their work

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Sharon Streater and Carlton Ward Jr. are being singled out for recognition by the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties.

Streater and Ward are being honored for their contributions to the local community, and to the state of Florida, according to a news release from the organization.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor will speak at the awards luncheon on Feb. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC, 522 N. Howard Ave., Tampa.

Tickets and sponsorships are available now and start at $55.

Streater is being honored for her 34 years of teaching, training, organizing, and empowering community members with HOPE, the Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality, an organization that has united diverse faith-based groups to improve the quality of life in Hillsborough County, according to the release.

Streater recently retired from her latest role as HOPE’s lead organizer. Based on shared values of justice, fairness, love of neighbor and the dignity of all people, HOPE’s mission is to train residents to identify common community problems, to research long-term solutions, and to build collective power and skills to hold systems accountable to implement those solutions for their communities.

Ward is receiving the 2024 Sydney & Thalia Potter Civic Leadership Award.

He has been a conservation photographer and National Geographic Explorer.

For more than 20 years, his mission has been to inspire appreciation and protection of Florida’s original nature and culture — the endangered wildness that is often hidden in plain sight but very much needs our attention to be saved, the release says.

Ward began his career working with the Smithsonian Institution in Central Africa, and in 2004, he retrained his focus on his native Florida, motivated by eight generations of family heritage and a drive to bring new attention and protection to the state’s under-appreciated wild heart.

Ward published Florida Cowboys in 2009 and founded the Florida Wildlife Corridor project in 2010. With fellow explorers Mallory Dimmitt and Joe Guthrie, he has since trekked more than 2,000 miles through the Corridor during two National Geographic-supported expeditions, which both produced award-winning books, PBS films and widespread outreach for the statewide vision to keep Florida wild.

Registration and sponsorship information for the event is available at HCLWV.org/laa. Organizers may be reached at or at 813-461-5365.

The League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and works to increase understanding of major public policy issues.

Published December 13, 2023

Pasco County Commission names Ron Oakley as chair

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Ron Oakley
Gary Bradford

The Pasco County Commission has named Ron Oakley as its new board chair, following the completion of Jack Mariano’s one-year term in that role.

The board also named Gary Bradford as the board’s vice chairman.

Oakley said he is pleased to serve as chairman.

He noted this marks the third time he has been named to that position during his nearly eight years on the county board.