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Ray Gadd recognized for his leadership, accomplishments 

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The Pasco Economic Development Council’s policy council chooses to single out an individual every year for exhibiting exceptional leadership that has had a positive impact on Pasco’s economy and community.

The honor this year is being bestowed to Pasco County Schools Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd.

Gadd is set to receive the award — which will be accompanied by a video tribute — during the Pasco EDC’s 35th Annual Awards ceremony.

Ray Gadd

The event is set for Sept. 7 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC), at 8657 Old Pasco Road, in Wesley Chapel. (For event ticket information, go to PascoEDC.com.)

Perhaps it is fitting that the ceremony will take place at IPAC, since Gadd was instrumental in the project becoming a reality.

When a grand opening was held for the building, Pasco County School Board member Cynthia Armstrong praised Gadd’s persistence, and his willingness to think out of the box — which she said played a big role in making the project happen.

For his part, Gadd credited former Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford’s desire to bring a performing arts center to the area.

Gadd said Weatherford called to ask for his help in the quest.

The deputy superintendent then set about collecting floor plans from various performing arts venues and getting cost estimates.

In the end, the state came up with some funding and Pasco County Schools and Pasco-Hernando State College created a partnership to bring the building to life.

Pasco County Schools Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd played an instrumental role in bringing various stakeholders together to collaborate on the creation of Pasco-Hernando State College’s Instructional Performing Arts Center, in Wesley Chapel. (File)

Now, the performing arts center offers students the chance to pursue careers in the performing and digital arts, and provides a venue for performances in Wesley Chapel.

That center is one example of the many collaborations involving Gadd, who has a vast network of connections that can help make things happen.

One of Gadd’s most notable accomplishments is the role that he played in helping to get the initial Penny for Pasco surtax approved by voters in 2004, and again in subsequent extensions.

Revenues from the voter-approved tax provide money to pay for new construction and renovations in district schools, as well as other projects.

Penny funds also cover costs for such things as infrastructure, environmental land and economic development in Pasco County, and various projects across the county’s municipalities.

Gadd also has played a key role in expanding options for students.

He advocated for the creation of Kirkland Academy of Innovation, in Wesley Chapel, where students can enroll in rigorous academic courses and prepare for technical careers.

He’s also been on the leading edge of planning for Angeline Academy of Innovation, which opened this year in the emerging community of Angeline, where Moffitt Cancer Center is developing its Pasco campus.

School district and Moffitt leaders began talking long before the new magnet school opened about ways they can work together to create unique opportunities for students.

Gadd also had a hand in a cooperative agreement between the school district and Pepin Academies regarding a new charter school that will be built on Kirkland Ranch Academy’s campus.

The agreement represents the first of its type in the state.

Ray Gadd, far left, stands with a group of people who helped realize the dream of creating a community stage in Land O’ Lakes. Gadd, who is the Pasco County Schools’ deputy superintendent of schools, was instrumental in pulling together various stakeholders to get the job done.

Gadd is a fan of the arts.

Beyond helping to bring IPAC to the county, Gadd helped make a black box theater a reality at Cypress Creek Middle School.

Plus, he helped pull together a multitude of forces — from local government, private business, the community and state leaders — to construct the long-desired stage at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

Gadd also has worked closely with Chris Williams, the school system’s director of planning, to help the district secure land to serve future needs.

Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC’s president and CEO, praised Gadd’s contributions.

“I have had the privilege of working with Ray since I began working in Pasco County through his position with Pasco County Schools and work in passing the Penny for Pasco, which has been vital in improving the economic development landscape of our community,” Cronin said, in a news release.

“Ray’s eye to improving the community and dedication to the wellness of children are only a few of the reasons why he is being honored with this award,” the Pasco EDC executive said.

Superintendent Kurt Browning praised Gadd’s effectiveness.

“His ability to get things done is a testament to his work ethic and his commitment to the children and families of Pasco County,” Browning said, in the release.

“Ray is an incredible leader that has always had the best interests of Pasco County at heart.”

Published August 23, 2023

Pasco’s Angeline Academy begins its inaugural year

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JoAnne Glenn began ordering furniture months ago.

“That was the first thing I was doing once I got the job,” said Glenn, who is Angeline Academy of Innovation’s first principal.

First, it was about ordering furniture, then devices and equipment for the school and classrooms.

Angeline Academy of Innovation seventh-grader Gabrielle Laiso, 11, exits her parents’ car to enter Pasco County’s newest school in Land O’ Lakes on the first day of school on Aug. 10. The $52.7-million magnet school opened for sixth- through 10th-graders, but will be phasing in grades 11 and 12. JoAnne Glenn is the school’s first principal. (Mike Camunas)

“After those first two big purchases, it was then getting the books and then hiring the teachers, so it would all be ready for today,” Glenn said, as she and her staff of teachers, administrators, bookkeepers, secretaries and more welcomed hundreds of students to the county’s newest magnet school, which had its first opening day on Aug. 10.

The $52.7-million school, which ultimately will serve students in grades six through 12, is in the heart of the emerging community of Angeline, where Moffitt Cancer Research Center is developing its Pasco campus.

Before school started, cars lined the road out to Ridge Road as Glenn and Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning ushered in students through the front doors.

“The excitement for the teachers and students is palpable because we’ve spent months preparing for today,” Glenn said. “We finally have our students here, and you can’t beat (this feeling).”

The academy, at 8916 Angeline Way, is on an 18.8-acre site, which is south of State Road 52, north of the Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard.

Angeline Academy of Innovation Principal JoAnne Glenn welcomes students to inside Pasco County’s $52.7-million magnet school, which had its inaugural opening day on Aug. 10.

It is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) magnet school that features four primary career academies at the high school level.

It will have a Biodesign Academy; a Computer Science and Applied Cybersecurity Academy; an Engineering and Applied Robotics Academy; and, an Entrepreneurship Academy. Students can pursue other pathways, which will enable them to leave school to become their own businesses and be their own bosses.

There are two primary magnet pathways at the middle school. They’re broad and intended to support the work in each of the high school pathways.

“I spent months interviewing and selecting teachers who believe in our mission about cultivating curiosity, encouraging students to explore,” Glenn said. “We’ve attracted students who are interested in technology, engineering, science, math —  and to bring those two key groups together and get started, the sky’s the limit!”

Angeline Academy is the third school of this type in Pasco, joining its sister institutions: Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation in Wesley Chapel and Wendell Krinn Technical High in New Port Richey.

Angeline Academy of Innovation sixth-grader Isaiah Upshaw, left, and Pasco County eSchool Assistant Principal Erin Senior work on finding out the location of Upshaw’s first class on the first day of school on Aug. 10.

The school is expected to have strong partnerships with both Moffitt and with Pasco-Hernando State College. 

Unlike its sister schools, Angeline Academy will, in fact, have athletic teams. The teams — named the Archers — will play on fields still being constructed on a parcel of land in front of the Land O’ Lakes subdivision, Tierra Del Sol, just off U.S. 41.

“That was actually one of the first calls I got,” Glenn admitted. “Our district was hearing from parents that they didn’t want their kids to have to choose between a magnet school or sports. I think sports are great for kids and I’m excited to have those athletic fields open, and it gives a little more importance to our colors and mascot — the Archers!”

Glenn — who was named Pasco County Schools’ Principal of the Year in 2019 and the 2020 Digital Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals — is ready to see what the school year brings.

“Literally, since November, I have been completely engrossed with the nitty-gritty,” said Glenn, who helped open Wharton High in 1997 and Pasco’s eSchool in 2009. “It was a lot of fun to look through it all, go over everything, from the equipment, to the teachers we wanted to hire.

“Kids here are going to be solving the world’s problems, I really believe that,” Glenn added. “I’m excited that my teachers, in this setting, will be able to use their time and expertise a little differently than in a traditional setting.”

Published August 16, 2023

Students of Angeline Academy of Innovation, also known as the Archers, make their way to their first class on the first day of school at Pasco County’s newest school in Land O’ Lakes.
Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is all smiles as he welcomes students to the county’s newest school: Angeline Academy of Innovation in Land O’ Lakes.
Angeline Academy of Innovation is Pasco County’s newest magnet school. The $52.7-million school ultimately will serve sixth-graders through 12th-graders, but opened its doors for the first time this year with students in grades six through 10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angeline Academy of Innovation in Land O’ Lakes has its mascot: the Archers.
Angeline Academy of Innovation students head into Pasco County’s newest $52.7-million school in Land O’ Lakes.

New school and new rules, as Pasco rings in the 2023-2024 school year

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Change is in the air, as Pasco County Schools’ students start the 2023-2024 school year this week.

The inaugural crop of students will arrive at Angeline Academy of Innovation, to launch the district’s latest magnet program, at 8916 Angeline School Way, near the Suncoast Parkway and Ridge Road.

The school initially will serve students in grades six through 10, but will phase in 11th and 12th grades.

The first crop of students will arrive this week at Angeline Academy of Innovation, in Central Pasco, as Pasco County Schools begins its 2023-2024 school year. The new magnet school is in the middle of Angeline, a new ‘city’ emerging in Land O’ Lakes, where Moffitt Cancer Center is developing its Pasco County campus. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school is opening in the emerging ‘city’ of Angeline, and will offer curriculum options and learning experiences aimed to help students prepare for an ever-evolving world of work.

The high school will offer career academies, as well as opportunities to merge some fields — enabling students to create a more personalized track.

The school will be near Moffitt Cancer Center’s Pasco County campus, which has been christened Speros FL. The Moffitt campus and surrounding areas in Angeline are expected to attract life science researchers and companies from around the globe.

In addition to opening the new Angeline magnet school, the district will be initiating a new school board policy relating to the use of wireless communications devices (WCDs) on campus.

In essence, the policy requires:

  • Students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade keep their WCDs on silent mode and completely out of view for the entire school day;
  • Students in grades six through eight keep their devices on silent mode and out of view throughout the school day, except for during the student’s lunch period, or when expressly authorized by a classroom teacher for a specific instructional activity;
  • Students in grades nine through 12 keep their devices on silent mode and out of sight for the entire school day, except for during the student’s lunch period, in between class periods or as expressly authorized by a classroom teacher for a specific instructional activity.

As defined by the board’s policy, WCDs include peripheral devices such as headphones, earbuds and watches.

Another big change involves school meals.

The district will be implementing the Community Eligibility Provision for the 2023-2024 school year, which means that all breakfasts and lunches served to the public school district’s students will be free.

No action is required on the family’s part for the students to receive the free meals.

This school year also ushers in the beginning of better pay for the district’s non-administrative employees. Voters backed salary increases for those employees by adopting higher taxes to pay for them. 

The voter-approved tax increase allows the district to impose up to a 1 mill increase for up to four years, to provide revenues for the improved pay.

Advocates of the new tax said increased salaries are needed to allow Pasco to compete with other school districts, which offer higher pay.

Another initiative being rolled out this year is a software tool called “Where’s the Bus?”

The tool uses an app that allows parents and schools to know where a bus is located.

Students use a card with a barcode to indicate when they get on the bus and when they get off of it, which lets parents know when they were picked up and dropped off.

Like school districts across the country, Pasco has had a hard time finding enough bus drivers to handle its routes.

Pasco County Schools continues to struggle with a bus driver shortage, but it is planning to deploy a new software tool called ‘Where’s the Bus?’ to help keep parents and schools informed of where a bus is, and the software is expected to provide useful ridership information to help route planning.

The system has used a number of strategies to address the issue, including the change of school start and ending times, combining bus routes, and eliminating “courtesy” riding for secondary students living within 2 miles of school.

During the Pasco County School Board’s Aug. 1 meeting, Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent of support services, told board members: “The news that I have is better than anticipated and significantly better than we’ve had the past two years.”

As of Aug. 1, the district was down 41 driving positions, but had hired 18 relief drivers — leaving a net of 23 positions with no drivers.

“I have spoken to counterparts across the state and some are in significantly worse shape than what we’re in,” she added.

Kuhn expects the new software tool, “Where’s the Bus?” to enable parents and schools to keep track of where buses are, and to help the district track ridership.

The district is rolling out the software tool at one of its garages, initially, but will be spreading it out across the system gradually.

It wants to learn from the initial rollout and then expand its use across the district, Kuhn said.

Parents will be notified when the tool becomes available on buses at their school.

The ridership data will help the district to consolidate routes, which has been its most effective way of addressing the bus driver shortage.

The district now has 274 routes, as compared to 420 routes two years ago, Kuhn said.

Get to school safely
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office offers these tips to help bike riders, pedestrians and drivers stay safe, as the 2023-2024 school year begins:

  • Those walking, driving or riding their bicycles should slow down and eliminate distractions, such as cellphones, when they are in school zones.
  • Drivers need to know Florida’s school bus stop sign laws.
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists should cross at crosswalks, where drivers expect pedestrians to cross. Wait for the crossing guard to indicate when you may pass.
  • Bicyclists should dismount and walk their bikes through crosswalks.
  • Follow the directions of a school crossing guard, traffic control officer, deputy or other public safety official present at the intersection.

Stay safe online
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office offers these pointers to help keep students safe online, as another school year begins:

  • Parents and guardians should talk with students about safe and appropriate behavior online.
  • Pay attention to what apps students are using. Ask the school’s resource officer for a list of apps that can exploit children.
  • Consider downloading apps your children are using, to make yourself aware of any potential dangers.
  • Consider employing parental controls, if available.
  • Advise your student not to talk to, or add people, in social media apps if they’ve never met them.

It’s important to have open conversations about potential online dangers to help keep students safe.

Published August 09, 2023

 

All Pasco school district eighth-graders will be able to take free PSAT 8/9 

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The Pasco County School Board has decided to give all eighth-graders in the district an opportunity to take the PSAT 8/9 for free.

The decision followed questions raised by school board member Colleen Beaudoin regarding the value of adding another test that she said would result in a loss of valuable instructional time for teachers.

District staff asked the school board to provide free PSAT 8/9 tests for eighth-graders, across-the-board.

The agenda item notes that the test provides early feedback on knowledge in areas that matter most for college and career readiness, including reading math, writing and language sections.

Vanessa Hilton, the district’s chief academic officer, explained the request this way: “We have tried to provide this opportunity for students, but there’s a little bit of inequity — or a lot of inequity in our district.

“We’ve been able to use Title 1 funds to administer at Title 1 schools,” Hilton said.

Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin questioned whether it was worth the loss of instructional time to give district eighth-graders the option to take the PSAT 8/9 test. (File)

Title 1 schools are those that have a high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.

In other schools, the test was administered based on parents requesting it and paying for it, Hilton said. 

“What we didn’t want to happen is to continue that inequity. This is a way for us to create that opportunity, across-the-board,” Hilton said. “Rather than have it be, really just if you happen to know.”

But Beaudoin wasn’t so sure that the PSAT 8/9’s value outstrips preserving the instructional time it would replace.

“The PSAT is practice for the SAT, right? We do provide that opportunity at 10th grade, for all of our 10th-graders. That’s where they can qualify for National Merit Scholarships.

“It is available for ninth-graders and 11th-graders to take it at school, as well.

“I’m struggling to find where the value is, to do a pre-test for a pre-test, with the middle school.

“I’m concerned about the loss of instructional time. It’s 145 minutes, that’s two to three class periods. We already give so many assessments, that we should know where our kids are. Our teachers are giving assessments. We have the FAST test given three times a year.

“I don’t like the idea of losing more instructional time and adding in another test for kids, when we are already pushing forward with giving kids opportunities. We’re trying to get everyone to Algebra 1 in eighth grade.

“I just don’t understand why we would take away these easy three class periods, and whether it’s optional or not, we know that if half the class is going to take a test, they’re not going to be teaching the half that remain,” Beaudoin said.

But board members Cynthia Armstrong and Alison Crumbley said they think the PSAT provides  valuable information for students, parents and district staff.

“This would be more of a nationally normed test,” Armstrong said.

“That is correct,” Hilton responded.

“That’s where I see the value of it. It’s really going to compare them with students all across the United States to see where they stand,” Armstrong said.

Pasco County School Board member Cynthia Armstrong believes parents, students and district staff would benefit from information that would be provided by results from PSAT 8/9 tests.

“This is actually a test that would be meaningful to parents. Parents are going to use it because it gives them a benchmark that they can work with their kids on, because it is a nationally normed test. This gives parents something they can understand. They can see how their kids compare to students across the nation.

“I think it’s not only a tool for the schools, but I also think it’s a tool for the parents — that they can easily understand. Because how they perform on state standards, in their minds (parents’) doesn’t necessarily translate into how they’re going to perform in college.”

Crumbley added: “To Mrs. Armstrong’s points, you are getting a national gauge in a test — a lot of these kids are going to have to take the SAT a few years later. Well, they get to try the test because it’s very similar. They also get to see where they rank on national standards, which I think is very important. And, they identify weaknesses on another type of test that is different than the Florida (state) and the course tests.

“This is a whole different realm … that I think is important for the student, in particular, for the student that’s going on to college. They get to see where they are strong and where they are weak.

“This gives them a really good indication.”

Marcy Hetzler-Nettles, assistant superintendent for middle schools, said the results provide guidance to students and to parents on the accelerated coursework students could take in high school.

“The other information they do receive is more interest-based and aptitude-based, outside of academics, so that might lead them to a field of study that they hadn’t considered previously,” Hetlzer-Nettles added.

Superintendent Kurt Browning vigorously advocated for adding the opportunity to take the PSAT for all eighth-graders.

“The thing that excites me about the PSAT in eighth grade is that it does help us identify those students earlier for advanced coursework, before they get into high school and they start setting their high school trajectory, if you will.

“The value that we get from administering the PSAT in eighth grade exceeds the downside of that lost instructional time.”

Browning also noted that the information that’s gleaned from the PSAT is good for all students, not just some students.

The district has allocated $68,000 of its general revenue fund to cover the cost of the test.

After the tests are administered and the district collects and analyzes the data, a report will be brought back to the board, Browning said.

Armstrong said she also wants to know how the information from the results will be transmitted to parents.

“This could be a tool that could really help parents understand the capabilities of their child,” Armstrong said.

Published August 02, 2023

Woodard working hard in her hometown

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Normita Woodard was out walking with her grandbaby.

She was in the heart of downtown Dade City, when she came to the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Eighth Street.

It was there she decided to run for city commission.

“That was a game-changer,” Woodard, the 53-year-old Dade City native and now Group 5 representative on the city commission. “Being on that road, I thought, ‘How did Dr. King, how did Rosa Parks — how did those people stand up and get the change they wanted?’

“I served my country (in the U.S. Army), so why not come back and serve the constituents of my hometown? … It’s important our (African American) voice is at the table, that we have the opportunity to make sure equality is done because systemic racism is there — people might not even realize it’s being done, but it’s our job to bring those disparities to the forefront.

Normita Woodard, a native of Dade City, sits in front of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse. She also sits on the Dade City Commission, serving in the Group 5 seat since her election in 2020. She was unanimously selected in May, as mayor pro tem, a position she considers to require listening to and answering to all Dade City residents. (Mike Camunas)

“I’m really happy to be able to serve and ensure we have equality for all.”

Home is where the heart is
Woodard wanted to see the world.

She joined the Army after graduating from Pasco High in 1988 and had two tours in Iraq and another in Afghanistan during the first Gulf War.

“When the bombs started falling, I knew I wasn’t in training camp anymore,” she recalled.

During her 10 years in the military, she rose to the rank of Sgt. First Class. She finished her service at MacDill Air Force Base as a decorated veteran — earning the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

But she felt pulled back to Dade City.

She became a principal’s secretary at Lacoochee Elementary and also worked part-time at Steph’s Southern Soul Restaurant, owned by her godmother.

“I thought I’d have a job where I didn’t have any responsibility,” Woodard said. “I quickly found out that that’s not me.

“Being commissioner, you need to be available to go around the city, and I’m in a position now where if I get an email or call, I have that flexibility.

“One of the reasons I came back to Dade City was just being able to walk down the street and say ‘Hey!’ to whoever and actually know that person,” she said. “I don’t want us to be a town where we just pull into the driveway and go into the house and have no interaction with the neighbors.”

When Woodard decided to run for commissioner on that game-changing walk, she knew she’d also be filling a big seat. Eunice Penix, who had been commissioner since 1993, opted not to seek reelection.

Woodard knew Penix well. Penix also is a Dade City native, and both women attended St. John Missionary Baptist Church.

In a tight race that tallied 772 votes, Woodard edged out Christopher King, founder of The Gentlemen’s Course, a 501c3 nonprofit focused on educating youth in proper etiquette and anti-human trafficking efforts, 405-367.

“I believe her passion and influence is drawn from having grown up in Dade City,” fellow commissioner and Dade City Mayor Jim Shive said. “She is passionate about bringing their voice to the table.

“She always enters every task with enthusiasm, a big smile and says, ‘We got this!’”

An unexpected role
In April, City Commissioner Knute Nathe resigned from his Group 4 seat to serve as a Pasco County judge and was quickly replaced by newly appointed Lisa Simon.

However, Nathe also was the mayor pro tem.

Shive, without hesitation, nominated Woodard at the commission’s meeting in May. Commission colleagues backed the motion unanimously.

Normita Woodard, left, and Dade City Mayor Jim Shive attended a Juneteenth Celebration at Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club in Lacoochee.

“I believe Commissioner Woodard understands her role and the importance of diversity and equality in representing the causes of African Americans, as well as all who reside within the jurisdiction of Dade City, no matter their ethnicity,” Shive said. “I believe she is an inspiration to the African American community and the city, as a whole.

“She is an inspiration to many young girls and women within the community in her role as an elected official and Mayor Pro Tem.”

Woodard said becoming Mayor Pro Tem was never on her radar, nor was becoming any sort of government official. She was heavily involved in activities during high school, but never part of student government.

“I became very versed at public speaking through FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and that something fostered deep down I didn’t even know I had,” she said.

Now, her focus is on developing Dade City the right way.

She opposes more residential development, but welcomes more commercial growth. She points out that when Dade City lost Lykes Pasco, the beverage plant, in 2004, the city lost a lot of jobs and its economy suffered.

She has confidence in her hometown.

“Dade City is resilient. When that (the loss of a major business) happens in other places, you see that place die off. Dade City didn’t do that,” Woodard said. “It’s important to me that we preserve the proud heritage in Dade City. I don’t want it to look like Tampa or Orlando.

“Am I against development and growth? Absolutely not, but I need to be able to sleep at night with my votes and feel like I’ve done that in this role.”

Walking the path
On that walk with her grandbaby, Woodard had the choice to go to Naomi Jones Park or the opposite direction to Price Park. She says she chose Price Park because the facilities were better.

The walk still influences her actions as a commissioner.

One of her initiatives, with the help of City Manager Leslie Porter, is getting a new building to replace the Irvin Civic Center.

That center has been deemed too small and outdated. Impact studies and research have shown tearing down the current building, as well as moving to a more suited spot in the park, is the best option.

Woodard said she loves working with fellow commissioner Ann Cosentino, who leads the commission’s youth council. Those youth come to city hall to see the commission in action.

Woodard also wants more summer programs for youths.

Those were cut back this year and held at Pasco Middle due to limited space.

Porter said Woodard is an advocate for youths.

“She inspires young girls and women in the community through her outreach efforts and motivational words,” Porter said. “Mayor Pro Tem Woodard inspires the Black community in Dade City by encouraging their involvement, ensuring their voices are heard and representing them at each and every interaction she has.”

Woodard, for her part, walks the walk.

“I make it my business to be present, so another child, who looks like me, can see they can also make an impact,” Woodard said. “When it counts, Dade City unites together. At parades, everyone is standing shoulder-to-shoulder, from one end of the city to the other. We might not agree on everything, but at the end of the day, we all come together, no matter what the color of our skin is.

“To me, that will always be Dade City.”

Published July 26, 2023

Pasco considers additional taxes to support its firefighters

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On the same day it confirmed the appointment of Anthony “Tony” Perez as the county’s new fire chief, the Pasco County Commission indicated it likely will support a tax increase to cover firefighter pay increases and additional personnel.

The board unanimously confirmed Perez’s selection at its July 11 session.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, John-Michael Morin, president of Pasco County Professional Firefighters, expressed what a significant day it was in the department’s history.

As new fire stations continue to be built for Pasco Fire Rescue, the county needs to add additional firefighters. An increase in the tax rate for the county’s Fire Municipal Taxing Unit has been recommended to support pay raises and additional first responders. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

He said the department is looking forward to working with Perez, who began his firefighting career in Pasco, before rising through the ranks at Tampa Fire Rescue and returning back to the county.

The union president asked the county board “to contemplate the resources necessary to keep up with the unprecedented growth in residential and commercial development, population and the subsequent strain on the emergency services response system.

“Our success, including that of the new fire chief, is predicated on your commitment to public safety and to providing adequate, fiscally responsible and sustainable funding,” Morin said.

Later on in the meeting, four of five county board members indicated they would support a tax increase to provide additional support to Pasco Fire Rescue.

County Administrator Mike Carballa has recommended the tax rate for the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) be increased from 1.8036 mills to 2.3 mills.

Although four commissioners spoke in favor of the increase, a unanimous board vote is required to make it happen.

Commissioner Seth Weightman said he would support an increase, but not necessarily the entire amount recommended.

Pasco County Budget Director Robert Goehig explained the increase to 2.3 mills would cover pay raises and step plan increases for firefighters. It also would provide funding for the staff that’s needed at five new fire stations the county is building.

The opening of those stations will help to reduce emergency response times, Goehig said.

Weightman said he would prefer to take a look in 24 months to see what increases are needed, rather than approving what is essentially a five-year plan.

Weightman also objected to the way the recommendation came forward.

“Back in May, May 16, when we had our meeting, there was a recommendation that there would be no charge to the Fire MSTU. Then, we get a notice last night that we want to jump up, essentially over 27%,” he said.

The commissioner also noted that in the agenda backup materials, posted online, there was no indication of a proposed change in millage — meaning the public didn’t see it.

“I have concerns with how this process was handled. We go from no movement on the MSTU in May to a pretty significant bump in what you are asking for, today, right?”

He also reiterated his conservative approach relating to taxes.

“I will be supportive of the 5% wage increase for staff and some level of an increase on Fire MSTU,” Weightman said.

But he also noted: “We’re all feeling the impacts of inflation. Our residents are feeling it. Our seniors are feeling it. So, I just want to be cautious and truly understand … what this money is going to be spent on.”

Other county board members, however, voiced support for the increase.

Commission Chairman Jack Mariano put it this way: “One of the biggest goals of the MSTU is to get the firefighters to 95% of Hillsborough’s firefighters’ wages — not even 100%.”

Mariano said taxpayers have shown their support for Pasco Fire Rescue by approving a bond issue to pay for additional fire stations.

He also mentioned the parade of speakers who appeared before the board last year, pleading for additional funding to get the stations built and staffed, to reduce emergency response times.

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed: “Cut those (response) times down, so we can service our citizens the right way.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said the tax increase is necessary.

“To have service calls wait 14 minutes. That’s not OK. That’s a life-and-death scenario,” she said. “Funding public safety adequately is one of our most important roles.

“I think the step has been needed for a while, and I just think we need to do it. I think this is an important step forward.”

Commissioner Gary Bradford added: “I agree with Commissioner Starkey that it’s our obligation to fund public safety, our sheriff and our fire (and rescue services), as best we can. Fourteen minutes is too long.”

Bradford and Mariano both also noted that the board can revisit the Fire MSTU millage every year, as part of its budget deliberations.

Carballa said the planning that went into recommending the rate is based on a five-year plan and projection.

The county administrator told commissioners: “I don’t take lightly bringing a recommendation forward to increase taxes on any of our citizens, but when I am confronted with new data, I do feel compelled to act.

“We have found a way that we can work with our first responders to help overcome a lot of the serious issues that we’re seeing and facing out there today,” the administrator said.

Published July 19, 2023

Airport development regulations coming in for a landing in Pasco

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of an ordinance that will create airport overlay districts to prevent potential threats to airport operations and air navigation.

The proposed ordinance would apply to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, publicly owned and publicly maintained; Tampa North Aero Park and Pilot Country Airport, publicly used and privately owned; and Hidden Lake Airport, privately used and privately owned, according to Denise Hernandez, Pasco County’s zoning administrator.

It also will apply to the Brooksville Airport, but only in terms of height restrictions, which are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Hernandez said.

Existing development will be deemed a conforming use, meaning it can remain and, if something should happen to damage or destroy those uses, they can be rebuilt, Hernandez told planning board members during their June 22 public hearing on the topic.

The ordinance will be codified in a new section of the county’s land development code relating to Airport Overlay Districts.

The Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, seen here, will be subject to a new airport overlay expected to be adopted by the Pasco County Commission on Aug. 8. The new overlay district also would apply to Tampa North Aero Park, Pilot Country Airport and Hidden Lake Airport. The idea is to prevent potential threats to airport operations and air navigation. (File)

Florida statute requires all local airports to adopt zoning regulations that are consistent with state law, Hernandez said. Airports that had adopted airport zoning regulations had to modify them to be consistent with that law.

“It basically states that we had to adopt, administer and enforce airport protection zoning regulations and land use compatibility zoning regulations,” Hernandez explained.

Efforts to draft the Airport Overlay Districts began in 2017, when the Pasco County Commission established an Airport Zoning Commission.

At that time, the Airport Zoning Commission consisted of  the Tampa North Aero Park, the Pilot Country Airport and the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. In 2021, Hidden Lake Airport was added.

The Pasco County Commission also took action in 2018 to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Zephyrhills and Hernando County.

The county board also hired a consultant to do noise contour studies, which were adopted by a resolution of the board.

“Those noise contour studies are embedded within the ordinance that you’re looking at today,” Hernandez told the planning board.

She also noted that a moratorium on development near airports was adopted by the county board in 2022. That moratorium is set to expire on Aug. 15.

During the moratorium, Hernandez, Senior Assistant County Attorney Elizabeth Blair and other county staffers worked with stakeholders including land use attorneys, planners, engineers, airport owners, pilots and other interested parties to address the issues.

“The Airport Zoning Commission held workshops. The Airport Zoning Commission held public hearings,” Hernandez said.

Once adopted, the ordinance will be administered by the county’s planning and development department, with appeals going to the planning board.

The ordinance defines different areas pertaining to an airport, such as the airport influence area, the airport zone and the airport surface area, and establishes uses that would be acceptable, would be allowed with mitigation and would be prohibited.

Seeking fair application of new regulations
Planning board member Jon Moody wanted assurances that the new regulations would be applied fairly and consistently.

Blair said the county patterned its ordinance after Santa Rosa County, which has an extensive airport zoning regulation land use compatibility chapter in its land use development code.

She said that’s because Santa Rosa has scores of military installations and also has an airport, similar in size to Tampa Park Aero North Airport.

Blair added: “We looked at our zoning maps. We looked at our Future Land Use maps. We looked at aerials, the property appraiser’s website, etc. — to actually see, what is the potential for the actual use of the land in the approach surface floor?

“One of the things you don’t want to have in your approach surface area is a large assembly of people,” Blair said. “Obviously, you don’t put churches or schools or so forth in the area.

“If you look at the true reality of what’s going on in Pasco County under these areas, almost everything is built out, except for around Zephyrhills and Pilot country,” she added.

Moody said he wants to ensure that decisions regarding requests for development near airports are not arbitrary and capricious.

“My clients call to the county. They say, ‘I want to do this.’ Then someone at the county says, ‘Oh, no, no, no, you can’t do this, because in this ordinance it says, this.

“Well then, what we find out is that they got kind of half of the information,” Moody said.

Mitigation is possible
“The process is intended to be a dialogue. ‘We identified a potential hazard here. How can we engineer a way (to solve the problem)?’,” Blair said.

“There’s not a whole lot of bright, fast rules. But there’s ways to acknowledge that there might be a harm that should be addressed,” she said.

Blair added: “Prior to the pre-application meeting, the airport operator is to be contacted with a proposal for what they’re doing. The airport operators have a lot more expertise as to what type of things would affect safe airport operations and safe air navigation.

“They’re making comments to staff, which staff would consider.”

An airplane descends toward the runway at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. New protections are on the way for Pasco County’s airports.

“This is the opportunity, much like an alternative standard, where if there is a harm that’s identified — that’s legitimately a problem under FAA standards, then you can engineer away the problem.

“A perfect example of that is what’s happening across the street from Tampa North Aero. There was a discussion there … In that situation, we actually met with the future applicants of property in the runway protection zone at that airport.

“They had initially gone to the airport … and said, ‘Hey, we’re thinking about putting some self-storage in here, what do you think?

“The owner of the airport said he was OK with that.

“Then they came to the county and said, ‘We think we want to do professional office, instead.’”

“Well, it’s probably not a good idea to have people in buildings 40 hours a week near the airport,” Blair said.

Once the airport operator learned of the proposed change, the operator told the county that it wouldn’t be a good idea to have an office in a runway protection zone, the attorney said.

The applicant responded to the county’s concerns by removing the buildings from that area and using that area instead for a parking lot, street and dry detention area, Blair said.

Hernandez also noted applicants need to go to the FAA and get a declaration that their plans do not pose a hazard to air navigation. Plus, she said: “There is opportunity for mitigation.”

Zephyrhills has a set of rules, too
Blair noted: “With the Zephyrhills Airport, we do have an interlocal agreement with the city that is going to be updated as part of this process. There are some things in their actual regulations that are incredibly out of date.

“They are very happy with the ordinance. So, we’d like to incorporate some of this into how they operate.

“We’ve also pointed out in this ordinance, here, about the two different jurisdictional issues going on here, so that folks coming to the county realize that they do need to go to Zephyrhills, as well. Zephyrhills have their own rules that apply.

“Zephyrhills has some really great plans for expansion. They’ve received state funding. They’ve updated their master plan. They’re building a new hangar.

“We’ve actually invested money there, through (Pasco) EDC (Economic Development Council) in projects there, so, a lot could potentially happen out there,” Blair said.

The airport overlay district ordinance is scheduled for first reading by the county board on July 11, with an adoption hearing set for Aug. 8.

Published July 12, 2023

Elected leaders say new ‘Live Local’ bill stymies Pasco’s efforts to create jobs

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The idea behind the “Live Local” bill adopted by the Florida Legislature is to ramp up the inventory of affordable housing across the state, so workers can afford to live where they work.

In Pasco County’s case, however, the effects of the bill could make it even harder for the county to escape the  bedroom-community role it has played for decades.

Part of the Live Local bill makes it impossible for local governments to block the conversion of existing commercial and industrial sites to be developed for multifamily use, if the project meets requirements regarding the provision of affordable housing units for a specified period. The law also provides a tax break for such projects.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano wants to make sure that Pasco doesn’t lose ground in the momentum it has been building in attracting new commercial and industrial jobs to Pasco County. (File)

The Pasco County Commission made it clear at its June 20 meeting that efforts must be made to either exempt the county from the new law, or provide some other kind of change that would prevent Pasco from falling into an even larger housing/jobs imbalance.

Pasco has been making strides in recent years to protect its industrial and commercial lands and to put those sites into a posture where they are ready for companies that provide high-wage jobs.

The county also has taken steps to avoid the conversion of commercial and industrial land into residential use because of the county board’s desire to provide jobs closer to home for its residents.

As it stands now, about seven out of 10 of Pasco’s workers commute to another county for their job.

The board has been trying to change that, through its protection of commercial and industrial sites.

Board members had plenty to say about the Live Local law, during their June 20 session.

Shawn Foster, the county’s lobbyist from Sunrise Consulting, said he’s already discussed the pre-emption portion of Senate Bill 102 with State Sen. Ed Hooper, who said he would like to meet with the county about its concerns about the potential implications it has on the county’s economic development projects.

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman said, “We know we’re housing-rich and jobs-poor.”

David Goldstein, the county’s chief assistant county attorney, said “I think when Senate Bill 102 was originally proposed, it was sort of done as a one-size-fits-all, but I’m not sure it really is appropriate for certain counties.

He said it doesn’t make sense to him to apply Senate Bill 102 to counties that have a poor ratio of jobs to housing.

Weightman said he’s aware of three projects that already have set their sights on converting general commercial parcels into multifamily developments, under provisions of the Live Local bill.

They represent a total of 786 units.

“They’re not blighted areas. They’re not areas of redevelopment. They’re prime time areas,” Weightman said.

He’s concerned that the county has no control over this type of development, making it much more difficult for the county to plan to handle the developments’ traffic and other impacts.

“How we are going to go about managing these things and how we go about budgeting, especially since they’re tax-exempt.” Weightman said.

Alexander Alt, intergovernmental affairs officer for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, said residential development has a greater impact on public services than other types of development.

“Whenever you get a piece of land that was zoned agriculture or commercial use and basically becomes multifamily or some large housing development, you see a continued strain on government services, whether that be the sheriff’s office, fire/rescue or just all government services, in general,” he said.

Weightman added: “There’s a lot of challenges. I don’t think our Legislature meant any ill intent. There’s a lot of good portions of this bill.

“Counties like ours, and other rural and growing counties, we really need to stand together and lock-arms, to protect our job-creating sites. It’s not something I’m willing to back off on.”

“I don’t want to see those sites disappear because they’re not a dime-a-dozen.”

“I think time is of the essence,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano agreed: “With all of these apartments coming in, without the jobs to go with it, it just kills us.”

Lobbyist Foster encouraged the board to work with their colleagues from other counties to make this a priority issue for the Florida Association of Counties.

“I’m not talking No. 20. I’m talking right up there, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3. This needs to be a major priority,” he said.

Published July 04, 2023

Juneteenth celebrations focus on history, fun

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C’Rayiah Gardner, 7, takes a fun ride down the slide on an inflatable obstacle course during the Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 17, at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Dade City. The celebration included the family fun zone, local vendors and food trucks, free health screenings, prizes, games and raffles. It also featured special performances from local organizations and groups as part of a weeklong commemoration of events throughout East Pasco County. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

Pasco County’s east side honored Juneteenth for the third consecutive year — again with a weeklong celebration.

The City of Dade City adopted a resolution guaranteeing there also will be a Juneteenth Community Celebration Day on June 19, or the Saturday preceding it.

That proclamation was presented by Dade City Mayor Jim Shive, along with Dade City commissioners Lisa Simon and Normita Woodard.

Dade City Mayor Pro Tem Normita Woodard, left, watches a special Juneteenth performance with fellow Dade City Commissioner Jim Shive. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

The city’s third annual celebration was held on June 17 at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Dade City. The event included a family fun zone, local vendors and food trucks, free health screenings, prizes, games and raffles. There also were special performances from local organizations and groups.

Juneteenth activities also featured a Juneteenth Pageant for boys and girls. The festivities were organized by the Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department.

“It’s great that we can hold events all week long,” said Kimberly Miller, a recreation coordinator for the parks and recreation department who began the Juneteenth Celebration tradition three years ago. “Of course, as a Black woman, it’s important to me, but I also honestly think that people here in East Pasco are not used to this kind of celebration and events. But the turnout from the community each year keeps getting better.

“So, the goal has always been to get more people from the community involved and part of the Juneteenth celebration.”

Kimberly Sanders, of Dade City, poses in front of the Juneteenth sign during the Community Celebration on June 17 at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

The event at the Boys & Girls Club was just the start of the celebrations.

There also were events in Dade City, Lacoochee, Trilby, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills throughout the week. Some of those events included Beat N’ Brushes: a musical painting gathering, Family Bowling Night at Pin Chasers in Zephyrhills, Community Unity 3×3 Basketball Tournament at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Center, and the Madden video game tournament, also at the Wesley Chapel Rec Center.

There also was a Sneaker Ball (daddy/daughter dance), but it was rescheduled to Sept. 15, also to be held at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Center.

Juneteenth

Details: Juneteenth is the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Its name was derived from combining June and nineteenth and it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865 (2 ½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued). Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

Published on June 28, 2023.

Dajuan Staton plays with his son Makahi outside the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club in Dade City during the Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 17, as part of weeklong Juneteenth events throughout East Pasco County. (MIKE CAMUNAS)
Six-year-old Jonairys Morales happily learns to perform CPR to the tune of ‘Baby Shark’ with the help of an AdventHealth representative during the Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 17 at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club in Dade City. (MIKE CAMUNAS)
Lacoochee residents Amanda Stewart, right, and Jamarien Allen, left, play bucket ball in the Family Fun Zone at the Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 17. (MIKE CAMUNAS)
Kimberly Miller, senior recreation coordinator for the Pasco County Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources Department, shares some thoughts during the Third Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration. It was the kickoff event of a week of celebrations in East Pasco, honoring the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. (MIKE CAMUNAS)
Dade City resident Domenic Dixon, left, watches as his wife, Tamara Dixon, makes a throw playing ladder ball in the Family Fun Zone at the Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 17. (MIKE CAMUNAS)
Micah Berrin, left, and Angela Redmond-Theodore perform a ‘libations’ ceremony, which is a way to honor enslaved ancestors and connect with their spirits, as well as pay tribute to those who fought for Black Rights. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

An A-Plus for this bus

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Marla Scaglione had never driven a bus before — but was pretty sure she would enjoy it.

“And I did!,” the Lutz resident and occupational therapist said. “People don’t pull out in front of me anymore! (laughs).”

Scaglione is the owner and operator of the A+ Handwriting Therapy Bus, or, as she calls it, Miss Dot.

Owner and operator of A+ Handwriting Therapy Bus, Lutz resident and occupational therapist Marla Scaglione works with Peter Bassil, 7, during an occupational therapy session in front of Lutz Preparatory School. Scaglione refurbished an old shuttle bus to convert it into a moving occupational therapy clinic. She travels to a handful of local schools to meet with young clients who have been diagnosed with such conditions as dyslexia, dysgraphia and autism. (Mike Camunas)

The bus is a 1999 shuttle bus that Scaglione refurbished and repurposed to create a mobile occupational therapy clinic that she takes to a handful of local schools. She provides therapy sessions for young clients who are diagnosed with conditions including dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism and others.

The bus had about 80,000 miles on it when she bought it, and with the help of her husband and family, they ripped out the 26 seats, put in new flooring, added another A/C unit and installed swings. They also added a whiteboard, a bench, a desk and other learning tools — and turned her dream into reality.

The name Miss Dot comes from a quote from the artist Paul Klee — “A line is a dot that went for a walk.”

With Miss Dot, Scaglione can provide her services without having to worry about having space for sessions, or finding a permanent home for a clinic.

Scaglione, who has been a therapist for 30 years, said Miss Dot provides a practical solution to a common issue.

“See, with clinics or therapy at home or even having to have therapy in school, the problem everyone has always talked about is they don’t have time to bring their children to therapy — that they have to drive across town or sit in waiting rooms or how do they juggle siblings.

Lutz resident and occupational therapist Marla Scaglione holds up Sensorsy Sid, a puppet she uses in her therapy sessions.

“So, kids don’t always get the therapy they need for some of these reasons,” she said.

Also, if therapy is scheduled, it might occur during school hours — but many schools lack the space to accommodate the session, she said. Plus, if the session is held in a school, it costs more for parents who are often paying out-of-pocket for the much-needed therapy.

When Scaglione can bring the bus to the schools — the four she currently visits regularly with clients are Lutz Prep, Learning Gate Community School, Tampa Torah Academy and Corbett Prep — it costs parents less.

Miss Dot also provides a more private and sensory-friendly environment to work one on one with the patient.

“(Kids) love the bus because it’s something different about being on the bus and not some classroom or therapy room,” Scaglione said. “It’s usually something they’ve never seen before, so when they work, it doesn’t feel like work.

“I always like to make (therapy) fun,” she added. “That’s the No. 1 thing. If there’s no fun, especially when it comes to handwriting, then it just feels like school, and they might not pick it up as well. Therapy can and should be fun.”

Scaglione started seeing clients on the bus starting in August for the 2022-2023 school year, and will continue to hold sessions throughout the summer. 

Marla Scaglione’s A+ Handwriting Therapy Bus, Miss Dot, is a refurbished and repurposed 1999 shuttle bus.

She mostly works with students to help them improve their handwriting ability, which is important for them to have success in schoolwork activities and to prepare them for life.

In traditional school settings, Scaglione says, there is less focus on proper handwriting technique nor the underlying motor and sensory skills required for success. Children then develop foundational skills for handwriting during their formative years as they play and explore while engaging their sensory awareness, gross motor skills and fine motor abilities.

That’s why it’s important to work with children at a young age, especially if they are diagnosed with dyslexia or dysgraphia, Scaglione said.

“When it comes to OT, it’s mainly about catching them up to where they need to be or what they need to do,” she said. “And then use creative ways to get (the therapy) to them.”

And Scaglione does get creative.

Miss Dot includes several swings, which are sensory-friendly, but she uses lessons more as games or fun activities to keep the children on track. She uses puppets such as Magic C Bunny or Sensory Sid, along with a fun voice, to help convey lessons.

Occupational therapist Marla Scaglione has repurposed a 1999 shuttle bus into a moving occupational therapy clinic.

“I do the voices, but it’s helpful in terms of (getting) kids talking,” she added. “(The puppets) can be strict when I can’t, and they’ll listen to (the puppets).”

Working on the bus is showing improvements in its young clients, such as Peter Bassil, a 7-year-old Carrollwood resident that attends Lutz Prep.

“My son has been working with Marla for about five months now,” Peter’s mom, Livia Fernandes, said. “The biggest thing, to me, was being able to come to you, because, first off, that’s genius — you skip the bureaucracy with the school, and I would have been charged for her to come into the school and every time there was OT (in school), it would charge her an extra 20% of what she’s charging me, so then I would get charged.

“But he needs the therapy,” Livia continued. “Working with Marla, we’ve seen the improvements in a short time. It’s a process and a journey.

“But he loves it! And as long as it works, I’m at the point where we will take anything that works, but this really does and he, again, loves it.”

Seven-year-old Peter Bassil, who lives in Carrollwood, is all smiles as he works through a therapy session with Marla Scaglione in her A+ Handwriting Therapy Bus, parked at Lutz Preparatory School.

Peter wholeheartedly agreed.

“It is a lot of fun seeing Ms. Marla,” Peter said. “I like seeing her because she has swings and because she has prizes that she gives me. I like getting those, but I like it when I get to get on the bus.”

A-Plus Handwriting Therapy Bus
Details: Meet Lutz resident Marla Scaglione and Miss Dot. Scaglione is an occupational therapist and Miss Dot is the 1999 shuttle bus she converted into a mobile occupational therapy (OT) clinic. She travels to a handful of local schools to offer her services. A+ Handwriting aims to help students improve their handwriting ability for success in schoolwork activities and life and other therapy services. Scaglione is a Gardiner/FEZ-UA Direct Bill Provider through Step-Up-For-Students and AAA scholarships. She doesn’t accept insurance at this time, but can provide OT services that can be submitted to insurance companies for reimbursement, if applicable.
Info: Visit APlusHandwriting.com.

Published June 21, 2023