The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Amazon to bring 500 jobs to Pasco

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The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has announced Amazon’s commitment to build a 517,220-square-foot facility that will be home to 500 employees.

The $150 million Amazon Robotic Sortation Center (ARSC) is being built at Eagle Industrial Park, a 127-acre property that was identified as part of the Pasco EDC Ready Sites Program.

The Pasco EDC Ready Sites Program, funded through Penny for Pasco, accesses, evaluates and certifies large tracts of land to prepare properties for industrial development, according to information from Pasco EDC.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC, shared details of the planned project during the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 meeting.

“This facility is going to employ more than 500 people, and this is not your typical sorting facility.

“This is the good stuff, you guys. This is one that you fight over,” Cronin added.

“This is a robotics center, which means that our students at the career academies — studying robotics — and people working through AmSkills, all have the opportunity to be able to work on these machines and robots.

“These are not the low-paying jobs of typical sorters.

“We got their attention because of the way we operated and handled their first project,” he said, referring to Amazon’s facility on State Road 54.

“We told them we want the good stuff. They listened. They came back and they delivered,” a clearly exuberant Cronin said.

“So, at 10 o’clock this morning, Amazon issued a national press release about four of these competitive (projects) in Florida,” he added.

Cronin also shared a quote with commissioners that he had received from Sam Blatt, economic development manager for Amazon.

In the email, Blatt said: “Given Eagle Industrial Park’s location and the availability of the quality of our workforce in the region, Pasco County was a natural fit for Amazon’s new sort center.”

Cronin said Amazon will be breaking ground any day on the project, which will likely take about 11 months to build.

“So, we should be looking at the end of the year, at a state-of-the-art facility right at (State Road) 52 and Bellamy (Brothers Boulevard).”

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey noted: “ AmSkills has received funding to really blow up our robotics training program and we’re going to be working with Wendell Krinn (Technical High School) with their robotics academy, so we’re real excited about being able to help Amazon get their workforce.”

Commissioner Mike Moore added: “What a big win for Pasco County, really, the entire region.”

The new Amazon site has frontage on State Road 52 and is less than 2 miles from Interstate 75.

Pasco Commissioner Ron Oakley commented on the project, in a Pasco EDC news release.

“This is a unique facility supporting a lot of technology and robotics. I am thrilled to have such a cutting-edge facility join the evolving SR 52 (State Road 52) and I-75 (Interstate 75) corridor,” Oakley said.

The new facility is considered a mid-mile facility, which feeds Amazon logistics, according to the Pasco EDC release. The facility will feature line-haul trucks, which will use the I-75 corridor to bring shipments to locations across the southeast.

Published February 02, 2022

Union leader urges kindness and respect, during trying times

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Celebrating excellence is a routine part of Pasco County School Board meetings.

Outstanding teachers are singled out.

Special achievements are acknowledged.

“We hear of wonderful accomplishments by students and teachers, remarkable things that have been done despite all of the obstacles of COVID, and related issues being thrown at them.

“This is truly awesome, and we should be proud and recognize those people and those situations,” said Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco.

“However, I’m going to ask you to focus for a few minutes on the other side — that is equally prevalent, at our worksites.

“We recently heard that in a “Thought Exchange Survey,” parents, students, the community and staff all had mental health as a Top 5 priority.

“Employees are being mentally taxed, to the utmost, in trying to perform their jobs.

“Staff shortages showed up as (No.) 1 and (No.) 2, by both groups.

“We can’t get enough individuals to fill all allocations, so others are being asked, and expected, to do more.

“Substitutes are not available to fill in for all those out for illness or for quarantine.

“Students are being shuffled, to meet the needs for supervision, often at the expense of quality instruction.

“This all affects morale and performance.

“Employees have given and given, until — in some cases — there’s no more to give,” the union leader said.

“Your recent Gallup Survey showed 56% of the district’s employees are either not engaged or actively disengaged. That’s an astounding number of people just going through the motions.

“Forty-four percent of those surveyed said they haven’t (received) praise or recognition for their work.

“Where’s our compassion for those who are front-line workers in an ongoing medical crisis?

“Forty-one percent say they don’t necessarily feel their opinion is important.

“Why is it so difficult for us to perform temperature checks, if you will, to see where people are at?

“Thirty-four percent of the employees surveyed expressed little, to no, satisfaction with their job.

“Sixty-five percent of our schools, according to the survey, fell into the two lowest levels of the survey results.

“These numbers indicate that we need to do more,” Peace said.

Salary improvements in the district, although better — are not keeping up with surrounding counties, the union leader continued.

“When will we take the next step and put together a ballot initiative to help hire and retain quality employees?” Peace asked.

Rising number of resignations, retirements
Peace also noted that the union tracks the number of district hires and the number of employees who leave.

“To date, according to our records, the district has hired almost 1,400 new employees this year. In the board packets, there are two to four pages, sometimes more, of retirements or resignations. In tonight’s board packet alone, there are 101 retirements or resignations, with only 10 of those being 15-plus year employees.

“We have got to do a better job of taking care of people to retain quality individuals working with our students.

“We need to do a better job of standing up for all employees. Every job in this district is important and plays an integral part in the students’ educational opportunity. Take away any of those positions, and students will suffer.

“Therefore, every individual should be treated with kindness, respect and compassion — especially in these trying times,” Peace said.

He urged those listening to take a moment for introspection.

“Please, take a step back and look where you are — and where we all need to be,” Peace said.

His words stirred a response from the district’s elected leaders.

School board member Megan Harding said she’s heard the word “burnout” being used by district personnel.

“It’s very real now, in our district, and really, in our nation,” Harding said. “Our teachers and staff are really feeling alone and overwhelmed.

“Many of them are leaving the profession or moving schools (transferring),” she said.

She noted that district pay is brought up frequently, but added she couldn’t talk about that because the district and union are in the midst of negotiations.

However, Harding added: “I just want to reiterate that I really hope we’re working on a plan that will pay our employees a wage that they truly deserve.

“My heart can’t take another teacher, bus driver or staff calling me, or emailing me that they aren’t making enough to pay their rent or their child’s day care.

“I’m tired of seeing our highly effective teachers leaving Title 1 schools, and I’m sad seeing and hearing my peers getting burned out,” Harding said.

Harding also requested that a closed-door workshop be scheduled soon, so board members can discuss issues that are subject to negotiations.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin raised a concern about how staff are being treated, as they go about performing their jobs.

“They’ve all been working hard and doing a tremendous job,” Beaudoin said. “Particularly challenging has been the increase in anger directed at them.

“I want to thank our teachers, our leaders, our bus drivers, all of our staff for continuing to remain focused on our students and I want to thank the parents, who are supportive and respectful in communicating with our employees.

“I hope that in 2022 we can bring back civility to our schools and community,” she said.

Beaudoin also mentioned an initiative she read about that’s being done elsewhere. It involves a business owner who stepped forward to help the school district by providing paid time off for his staff, so they can provide volunteer help in the district.

She asked Pasco school district leaders to look into reaching out to local companies and service clubs to see if a similar program can be initiated here.

School board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong empathized with Peace’s message.

“Just to put it in simplistic terms: COVID, the flu, colds — are really kicking the butt of the whole community, especially in the school system where we’re in close quarters of all of our students.

“We really are working hard to do whatever we can.

“We really appreciate everyone — from teachers to administrators to the people in cafeterias, the bus drivers, the maintenance people — that play such a vital role in everything we do.

“We’re having to work through these issues,” Armstrong said.

“My heart goes out to them because I know how frustrating it is — not to feel that you’re able to do your job like you’re used to doing it, because of all of these demands.

“As Mr. Peace said, ‘Do that temperature check with your colleagues: How are you doing today?’

“See if there is not something, or a word, that we can say to make the situation better and help each other out in these trying times,” the board chairwoman said.

Published January 26, 2022

Divided board rejects Seven Oaks’ apartments

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The Pasco County Commission has denied a request that would have allowed 320 apartments and 20,000 square of commercial office/retail use in Seven Oaks, a master-planned community in Wesley Chapel.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to reject the request for a modification to Seven Oaks’ master plan, which would have set the stage for a resort-style development by Stock Luxury Apartment Living, a developer based in Naples.

Commissioner Mike Moore made the motion to deny the request, which was seconded by Commissioner Ron Oakley. Commissioner Jack Mariano also voted against the proposal.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey and Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick disagreed with their colleagues, voting against Moore’s motion.

The action followed hours of public testimony.

Applicant Keith Gelder, of Stock Luxury Apartment Living, wanted Seven Oaks to be the location for his first Pasco project.

He told county board members: “We do high-quality, large amenity, lifestyle-driven projects.”

Gelder said plans called for a resort-style pool, multi-story buildings with commercial uses on the first floor, a dog park, a parking garage and angled street parking for customers using the shops.

His presentation included photographs, to give commissioners an idea of what to expect. He also mentioned that developments his company has done include amenities such as golf simulators, fitness centers, a catering kitchen, spin room, outdoor cabanas and gaming.

“We want to bring a beautiful project here to Pasco,” he said. “We feel like this is the right project and right location.”

Seven Oaks residents disagreed.

Resident Barbara Foss said she doesn’t oppose additional apartments in Seven Oaks, but objects to the location of the proposed project.

“We do have a place that is zoned for apartments. It’s on the north end of our property. There are several streets there — for entering and existing our subdivision,” Foss said.

Zachary Besso, another opponent, questioned the need: “We have plenty of luxury apartments in Pasco County. Do we really need more?”

Seven Oaks resident Michael Garbutt told commissioners: “There are many reasons to oppose this change to the master plan.”

One primary problem would be traffic impacts, he said.

“It is easy to look at the roads and conclude generically that they’re adequate for the new residents, but when you have local knowledge of how the roads are actually used, then you see there will be a problem.

“As residents, we’ve learned how to get in and out of our subdivision as efficiently as possible. “So, we can foresee how 500 new residents are likely to use the roads. Do we really want to add more traffic? I don’t think so.”

Jon Tomsu, representing the Seven Oaks Resident Council, presented documents containing 1,220 signatures of opposition to the proposed development.

“It just doesn’t fit,” Tomsu said.

He also questioned the economic formula that was used by the county planning staff as part of its recommendation for approval.

Initially, economic impact calculations were based on 86,000 square feet of commercial retail/office as compared to 320 apartments. An updated comparison was based on 60,000 square feet of commercial office/retail, compared to 320 apartments and 20,000 square feet of commercial office/retail.

“We keep changing the playing field,” Tomsu complained.

The new formula bothered Mariano, too.

The commissioner put it this way: “The scales were tipped in the statistics here, to make the mixed use look better than what the commercial retail would have been, by changing that input.”

Opponents had plenty to say
Neighbors also raised issues about the proposed parking garage. One said it would be an eyesore; another said it would pose security risks. Still others questioned if the plan had adequate parking and surmised that overflow could end up using the Wesley Chapel Sam’s Club parking lot, which they said would be unfair for that business.

Commissioner Oakley said the size of the development was too big for the proposed site. He also voiced concerns about potential safety hazards.

In calling for denial, Moore said “the staff and the applicant both failed to conduct any service consumption cost analysis, therefore the staff and the applicant failed to demonstrate that the project will contribute more to the county in revenue than it will consume in services.”

He also noted the conversion “will place additional unplanned and unmitigated demands on the school, library and park systems.”

Existing entitlements for office or retail would not create those demands, Moore said.

Plus, Moore said, converting the land’s use would be contrary to the legitimate public policy of preserving land for employment-generating uses.

Starkey, however, voiced discomfort with voting down the request.

“I think it’s being denied for different reasons. We heard that people thought it’s going to be ugly. People think we don’t need any more apartments,” Starkey said.

She thinks Pasco needs more apartments — not fewer — and she thinks locating apartments on the edge of a master-planned development is appropriate.

“To put multifamily on a corner like (State Road) 56, where transit is going to be, I think that’s where it needs to be.

“We have said that we want vertical mixed use. I think that’s a great use of our limited space.

The county has a process that allows consideration for a swap of uses within a master-planned unit development — based on using a land use equivalency matrix (LUEM), which ensures that the impacts are equivalent.

Attorney Joel Tew said the county has granted 15 other requests to convert uses within Seven Oaks.

That drew Fitzpatrick’s attention: “What concerns me is that in the past 15 LUEM conversions, not one had been disputed or denied.”

Tew also noted that while his client had to undergo a public hearing process, another applicant  — represented by attorney Barbara Wilhite — received an administrative approval on a similar request.

He also said the reception to his client’s request would have been different, if it had been in a different location.

“Under normal circumstances, you would have given them a hug and a kiss and thanked them for coming to your fair county,” Tew said.

The attorney said that if the proposed request “wasn’t exactly where it is (in Seven Oaks)” that the board “would recognize this as the poster child for the type of vertical mixed-use development that you have begged my client and other development clients to bring to Pasco County for you.”

Moore lives in Seven Oaks and championed the county’s current temporary moratorium on new applications for multi-family development.

Published January 19, 2022

Chamber executive shares lessons learned from COVID

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Headlines are being dominated by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and scientists and health experts are working to understand its potential impacts, and how to prevent and treat it.

But there already have been many lessons learned by Pasco County’s business community, in terms of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic — which began having widespread disruptions in March 2020, according to Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Hope Kennedy is CEO and president of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive, it also has yielded valuable lessons, she says. (Courtesy of North Tampa Bay Chamber)

Kennedy has a broad perspective on the issue because her chamber work involves large business operations, startup entrepreneurs, legislators, local organizations and business leaders.

In reflecting upon the impacts of the pandemic, Kennedy said beyond presenting challenges, it also has offered valuable lessons.

And, as she looks ahead to 2022, she’s optimistic about the opportunities that await.

Going back to the beginning of the pandemic, Kennedy said: “None of us was prepared for any of this that was coming.”

It has been challenging and particularly painful for enterprises that didn’t survive, she said.

But those who made it through, are emerging stronger, Kennedy said.

“We’re better business leaders. We are more in tune with our businesses,” the chamber executive said.

“What I saw most is that people were able to say: ‘OK, we’ve been doing this forever and ever. We can’t do it that way. What can we do to still deliver our product, our goods, our services in a more efficient manner?’”

The companies and organizations that were able to key in on their essential mission and to adapt their operations have become more focused and efficient, she said.

The chamber, itself, was forced to change. It went to remote operations within hours.

“We eliminated some of our programs,” she said, which also is true for many businesses.

Now, as businesses look to the future, they need to ask:  “What are the barriers? What are things that are stopping us?”

For instance, workforce and affordable housings are big issues.

“There are some barriers to entry of people in the workforce. There’s barriers to entry in affordable housing,” Kennedy said.

“So, what can we do to have conversations, to just see what those barriers are — because chances are, we can get around them,” she said.

The silver lining from the pandemic, Kennedy said, is that it offered time for introspection, and “it has opened our (way of) thinking.”

Attracting employees and training those who want to reenter the workforce are topics of conversation across the community, Kennedy said.

There’s no silver bullet to ever-evolving workforce issues, but the chamber plans to lead conversations on the issue, she said.

“It is a huge focus at the chamber for the coming year, to make sure we understand the needs of the businesses and what they are looking for,” Kennedy said.

“Pasco-Hernando Career Source is going to be a huge help to the business community, in these coming years. One, identifying the need of the workforce and two, connecting the training,” she said.

“There is a (national) program called Second-Chance Hiring, and it’s for folks who have been formerly incarcerated, and/or have a felony on their record,” she said. “I want in on it.”

People with a criminal record are often automatically knocked out of consideration for job openings, Kennedy said.

“There’s an opportunity for us, as business leaders, to come up with a system,” she said, aimed at helping employers fill jobs and giving applicants a chance to work — who want to work, but are barred from entry.

She pointed to Walmart as an employer who gives applicants a second chance, on a case-by-case basis.

Over the course of her career in chamber work, Kennedy said she’s faced an assortment of difficult times. She dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, while she was working in Pensacola. Then came the Great Recession, then the BP oil spill.

When COVID hit, reactions varied from place to place, Kennedy.

Some chambers across the country ceased operations because they were not technically ready to make the shift to virtual operations,” she said.

“Some communities crumbled. Ours came together.

“Our community rallied.

“We rallied around each other. We had takeout Tuesdays,” she said.

“We did a ‘We are Open’ campaign,” she said, using social media to spread the word.

She said COVID reinforced a lesson she grasped in other turbulent times.

“I learned that in every single adversity, there is a solution.

“There absolutely is a solution.

“It might not be right in front of you.

“You can’t lose sight of your ultimate goal,” Kennedy said.

Published January 05, 2022

Complaints increasing about traffic tie-ups on Pasco roads

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Pasco County has been attracting more residential, commercial and industrial development in recent years — leading to new opportunities and population growth.

But the growth creates traffic and there’s growing pushback against the county’s clogged traffic arteries.

Carla Card appeared, via a remote feed, during the public comment portion of the Pasco County Commission’s Dec. 7 meeting.

“I’m here today to discuss the tremendous growth, which is leading to the terrible traffic issues and accidents, near State Road 54, State Road 56, the Grove (at Wesley Chapel), Tampa Premium Outlets, and Old Pasco Road to Bruce B. Downs (Boulevard),” Card said.

“My home is off of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, and this concerns County (Commission) Districts  1, 2 and 3.

Pasco County’s roadways are becoming more congested, as the county’s population grows. A number of construction projects that are intended to address the issue were halted earlier this year, but the work has resumed, so traffic flow should improve when those projects are completed — but that will take some time. (File)

“Fender-benders and horrible accidents are happening in this area every day because of the overgrowth in population.

“Our community can’t handle any more.

“Not only is the gridlock and the buildup negatively affecting the quality of life with current residents, but it’s also negatively affecting the wildlife that has nowhere to go and live.

“Deer are constantly being maimed and killed on these hazardous roads, and it’s very disturbing to see.

“The new construction in the area needs to be reviewed and additional development in this area should be halted, if there is no funding to fix the road issues.

“We certainly should not allow more development to increase in this area, which actually increases the chaos.

“There are several new multi-tenant buildings being built right now. Once completed, the population will grow and cause more traffic issues.

“It’s so bad right now that emergency vehicles are not able to respond quickly.

“And, how awful this is, if you or a loved one needs emergency care.

“So, we must stop any new developments until we get this traffic under control.

“People are running red lights and blocking intersections, which is just causing mayhem.

“It takes me over 35 minutes to get to I-75 (Interstate 75) and it used to take 12 minutes.

“There are six traffic lights in a short distance, and not one works to move the flow of traffic correctly.

“There are too many businesses near the I-75 on- and off-ramps. This is extremely dangerous.

“We need to stop new development or require developers to  pay for the build on the roads necessary, prior to the development of new structures. It’s just really becoming too much,” Card said.

During a different portion of the same meeting, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore also expressed concerns about growing gridlock.

He showed his colleagues photos he took of traffic backed up on Wesley Chapel Boulevard, which turns into County Road 54.

“My son practices and plays golf a lot at Lexington Oaks Golf Club,” Moore said.

“I live in Seven Oaks, which is literally 5.9 miles away.

“It’s taken me 45 minutes, to go 5.9 miles,” he said, noting he makes the trip between 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.

By comparison, it only take 18 minutes to 21 minutes to get to Interstate 4, from Interstate 75, he said.

The traffic that’s backed up is not waiting to get on I-75, but rather waiting to make its way through Pasco County, Moore said.

“We have a lot of things coming up in this area. The area I just showed you is the exact area where an apartment complex was just approved. Another one (multifamily) in front of Lexington Oaks; another one is being built a block away.

“If you go around the corner, that’s that one that got approved on Bruce B. Downs (Boulevard), and there’s a couple more that are coming up for votes in the future,” Moore said.

“This road can’t handle any more. When I say no more — no more.”

Moore continued: “That’s not a good quality of life.”

“Nothing more can go around that area. We can’t handle any more. The citizens can’t handle any more,” said the commissioner, who successfully persuaded his colleagues to approve a temporary moratorium on new multifamily applications in a portion of his district.

The board is expected to revisit that issue in early 2022 because Moore would like to include some additional areas that are now part of his district.

The new areas became part of Moore’s District 2, when the county board approved new boundaries as part of the redistricting process that occurs every 10 years, after the U.S. Census count is completed.

Published December 29, 2021

No such thing as a typical day for this award-winning leader

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Melissa Musselwhite, the director of student support programs and services, often begins her day around 6 a.m., and wraps it up around 7 p.m.

But those are on days when there’s not some sort of crisis going on, because in her role in Pasco County Schools, she’s on the front-end of dealing with crises.

During the midst of COVID-19, for instance, she’s been immersed in Pasco County Schools’ efforts to deal with the disruptive virus.

Beyond that, she leads a department that has roughly 400 employees.

Melissa Musselwhite is Pasco County Schools’ District Administrator of the Year. She oversees a department of about 400 staffers and has been the point person in the system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (B.C. Manion)

Her performance recently led to her recognition as Pasco County Schools’ District Administrator of the Year.

She received word of the honor last month during a visit by the district’s “Surprise Patrol” made up of Superintendent Kurt Browning, Pasco School Board members and Stacey Capogrosso, the executive director of the Pasco Education Foundation.

The nomination submitted on Musselwhite’s behalf, reads in part: “Melissa has been the face of the COVID response for our district. She has been professional, thorough and endlessly patient. Melissa leads a large department that has continued to move forward in spite of her being tasked with all things COVID.

“Melissa has been unwavering in her dedication to this school district,” the nomination adds.

It also notes her exceptional efforts in coordinating testing sites and vaccine clinics, while leading her department.

The nomination also lists other attributes, including “leadership, positivity, dedication, kindness, decision-making skills, optimism and (a) constant effort to support every single person around her.”

Not only has the administrator carried the district through challenging times, the nomination said, “she has modeled for us all what it means to be the calm in the storm and the thoughtful leader everyone needs during such intense times.”

Musselwhite is gratified by the honor, but is quick to point out that any accolades she receives are a reflection of the dedicated work of the employees in the department she leads.

“I couldn’t do this job without them,” she said. “I feel like I’m kind of the conductor of keeping the work moving.”

Her responsibilities are extensive.

She describes her department as a four-legged stool that includes special programs; school services (including school nurse, school psychologists and school counseling); state and federal programs; and, compliance and discipline.

Being valued and valuing others
Besides the support she receives from her staff, Musselwhite also credits the assistant superintendents and the superintendent for giving her the freedom to do her job.

“They have such respect for me and really value my decision-making and my input, that I feel blessed to have that, as a part of my work,” she said.

“They give me autonomy because they trust that we’re going to do what’s right.

“They allowed us to work collaboratively with the community, like the department of health, different agencies.

“They also allow that flexibility and for us to have a voice.

“I think that’s what makes me energetic. I feel like the department is valued in our system and that we continue to have the ability to make a difference for kids in so many aspects in our district,” she said.

“I’m allowed to disagree. We can have a healthy debate,” she said, adding she hasn’t always been in a position where it felt safe to do that.

She wants her staff to feel equally empowered.

“I don’t want them (staff) to agree with me because I don’t know everything. So, I want to pushback. I want you to tell me you think this should look differently,” she said.

As a leader, she said, she tries to make sure “that people feel that they’re a part of, and valued in, what we’re doing.”

She said she leads a staff that plays an invaluable role in the district.

“The work we do every day to support children — whether it’s with their health needs, whether it’s because they’re English language learners, whether it’s because parents have concerns about the services; or, it’s discipline — everybody works collectively for the same purpose of making sure that students receive a great education here in Pasco,” Musselwhite said

Her profile, she acknowledged, has been raised through her role during COVID.

“I have been the lead communicator of that. I am probably more forward-facing than I had been in previous years. I’ve been communicating the good and the bad, for families, for staff, for the community,” she said.

No doubt, COVID’s impacts have been widespread.

“It’s been tough,” the district administrator said. “You can definitely see the stressors on the families. People lost jobs. Some of them lost a family member or multiple family members, or a combination of those.”

A career path with varied roles
Musselwhite began her career in Pasco County Schools in 1996 as a teacher of specific learning disabilities. She next taught children with autism, then became a behavioral specialist at the school level before becoming a district-based behavioral specialist.

Next, she became the supervisor for programs for children with autism.

After that, she was director of human resources for one year before becoming the director of exceptional student education in 2012. That department was combined with student services, she said.

“From there, it kind of morphed. We also absorbed state and federal programs; and that includes Title 1, Charter Schools, private schools, home education, grants and we had school choice for a little bit, but that has now gone to leading and learning.”

She said one of her favorite parts of her job involves attending a Special Olympics competition and watching the interaction between athletes, and seeing the joy on the faces of athletes, families and coaches.

The worst part of her job, she said, is “when we expel a kid for a year or a year and a half. It’s really hard.”

Her days are unpredictable.

“There’s no set schedule. It truly can be a 24-hour job, unfortunately. But I know that and I’m committed to that,” she said.

The state has implemented a plan called Fortify Florida, which means calls come in whenever there’s a viable threat.

She’s one of the receivers of those calls, which also go to law enforcement and the school.

“If it’s something we need to respond to, we get up and respond to it,” she said.

“Sadly, if there’s a student that passes away or an employee, and we get notified in the night, we will work on setting up the crisis team for the morning.

“Regularly, I’m either up at 5 a.m. working on things, or I’m up at midnight because there’s a missing student.

“There’s not a day I don’t take a call before I leave the house — I’m on the phone in the car,” she said.

Despite that busy schedule, though, Musselwhite said she prioritizes time with her two sons, 15-year-old Landon and 13-year-old Nolan, who attend district schools.

She also prizes the close relationships she shares with her sister Astrid Willard, with her twin brother Scott Eaton, and with a group of close-knit friends.

Musselwhite understands the impact that educators can have on others.

She still recalls the kindness of her music teacher, Miss Jewel, at Town ‘N Country Elementary School, and the support she received from her drama teacher, Miss Gaudian, at Leto High School.

“The two of them, forever, made me know what a difference teachers could make,” Musselwhite said.

Published December 22, 2021

Let Us Do Good Village breaks ground

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The patriotism was palpable at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Let Us Do Good Village, a first-of-its kind community in the nation — where mortgage-free homes will be provided for catastrophically injured veterans, and for surviving widows and small children of fallen members of the military and first responders.

The subdivision of more than 100 homes is planned off Parkway Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes, on 75 acres donated by the Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller expressed gratitude for the work that’s already been done and encouraged everyone to do what they can in the quest to thank the families of those who have given up their lives, or sacrificed their bodies in order to keep others safe. (Fred Bellet)

Tunnel to Towers, established 20 years ago after Stephen Siller perished on Sept. 11, 2001, will provide the mortgage-free homes.

“The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was started in memory of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who laid down his life while saving others on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Bradley Blakeman, who served as master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking event.

“Stephen, with 60 pounds of gear strapped to his back, raced by foot through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave his life, saving others,” he said.

Blakeman was working on the White House staff on 9/11, as a chief scheduler for President George W. Bush.

Blakeman also had a nephew who died in 9/11, after rushing to Ground Zero to help others.

Disabled veteran Bret Jacob Menard received some unexpected news that he will be a Tunnel to Towers beneficiary. Menard’s life coach and friend, Gil D’Amore, of Dade City, left, lifts Menard’s arm in thanks. Menard’s father Bret Menard, of New Tampa, right, applauds the announcement.

Like Stephen Siller, Blakeman said his nephew’s body was never recovered.

“The Siller family didn’t want to stay consumed in the darkness and tragedy of that day, but chose instead to honor heroic sacrifices that were made by all 2,977 who lost their lives that day in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

“The Tunnel to Towers Foundation promised to never forget,” Blakeman said.

“This Let Us Do Good Village is just one example of the many good works that Frank Siller and the foundation has done all over our country.

“This village, the first of its kind, will create a community of families who will share a special bond together, who understand better than anyone what it takes to keep our nation and our communities free,” Blakeman said.

“It will be more than houses. Along with over 100 brand new mortgage-free homes, the Let Us Do Good Village will feature world-class amenities, will have an indoor basketball court, a pool, a tennis court, an ADA-accessible gym, a theater, an outdoor playground, a game room and so, so much more,” he said.

Frank Siller speaks to Bryan Dilberian, 35, of Staten Island, prior to taking the stage for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation ceremony. Veterans were honored for their service and in this case, their sacrifice. Dilberian is the first recipient of a Smart Home in the Let Us Do Good Village.

Another speaker, James S. “Hammer” Hartsell, drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd, when he said: “I feel bad for the rest of America who’s not here today, right here, right now. I feel sorry for them. This is where we need to be as Americans, right here, right now, today.”

Hartsell, who is the executive director of the Florida Veterans Administration, extended his thanks to the many veterans and active service members at the event.

“Thank you for these motorcycle riders over here who are protecting our flag and protecting our nation’s honor,” Hartsell said.

“Thank you for that color guard that drove up here from MacDill.

“I want to thank the moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandparents — who brought kids here today. They need to see this and what we’re doing today because this is what makes America great. They won’t forget what they see and hear here today,” said Hartsell, a veteran of 37 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Recipients of Tunnel to Towers’ help also spoke.

One of those speakers was JoAnne Campbell, who was visibly emotional. Her husband died from a 9/11-related illness.

“We’ve lost people that we’ve loved so dearly, and we felt the pain of losing them and the grief that follows. But through that despair, Tunnel to Towers has helped remove some of the financial strain from me and my family.

From left, retired U.S. Marine Corps Major Gen. James S. ‘Hammer’ Hartsell, Tunnel to Towers CEO Frank Siller, and Nancy Close pose for pictures after the groundbreaking for the Let Us Do Good Village. Close, representing the Mertz Foundation, was among several donors who are making the development of 100-plus homes on 75-acres, a reality in Land O’ Lakes.

“The gratitude that I feel for what they have done cannot be put into words,” said Campbell, whose mortgage was paid off by Tunnel to Towers.

U.S. Army Sgt. Bryan Diberian, who will receive the first Smart Home in the Let Us Do Good Village, spoke, too.

He sustained injuries when he was on patrol in Afghanistan and stepped on an improvised explosive device in July 2011.

“The Siller Foundation was pretty much there by my bedside,” he said. “They sat me down for lunch one day and they told me they’re going to build me a house. It changed my life. It really did.”
Another speaker John B. Grandoff III is on the board of directors for the Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation, which donated the land.

“St. Francis of Assisi is the enduring inspiration for Stephen’s foundation, and he was the guiding light to the Siller family in their times of need and sorrow.

“St. Francis truly inspires the Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation in its mission,” Grandoff said.

Bolts fan and U.S. Army veteran P.J. Gray, of Dade City, stands with other flag-bearing veterans at the groundbreaking event for the Let Us Do Good Village.

Frank Siller, CEO and chairman of Tunnel to Towers, greeted the crowd by expressing his gratitude for being together to celebrate the beginning of the Let Us Do Good Village.

“Can you believe it? You tell me that God doesn’t work in wondrous ways. Is this not a day that God has made?

“This is a day that brings the goodness of America together. Think about it. Think about it,” he said.

Siller reminded the crowd: “We live in this country because there’s such a tremendous sacrifice for us. Not just our military, but our men and women who protect us every single day, our police officers and our firefighters.”

Beyond providing mortgage-free homes, the Let Us Do Good Village will create a unique sense of community.

Wearing his favorite vest, U.S. Army veteran Jack Fair, of Hudson, stands by as (left) Pasco County Sheriff’s Cpl. Arthur Madden chats with attending veterans at the Tunnel to Towers Foundation groundbreaking in Land O’ Lakes.

“This village will be a safe haven for the people who are going through the same thing in life,” Siller said.

A 10-year-old who lost his mom or dad will be able to talk to another 10-year-old going through the same thing. The same is true for a husband or wife, whose spouse sacrificed his or her life, he said.

“You know how important that is, to be able to sit with somebody that’s going through the same thing?” he said.

Siller said his parents died when Stephen was only 10, and he recalled his youngest brother telling him he wished he had not been born.

He told him not to say that, that someday he would do something really special.

“I think Stephen’s destiny was 9/11. I think he was put on this earth to run through that tunnel, to save people’s lives, so that we could start a foundation, so that we could help the greatness of America — those who are willing to die for you and I every day,” he said.

While the groundbreaking was a day of celebration, Siller reminded the crowd: “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

He also encouraged those gathered to follow this teaching, of St. Francis of Assisi: “While we are here, while we have time, let us do good.”

Revised December 16, 2021

Pasco schools want state to reconsider special ed rule

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The Pasco County School Board and district officials are asking state officials to take another look at a state rule change they believe could have negative consequences on students with significant cognitive impairments.

Changes in the state rule, which took effect this school year, impact the district’s ability to deliver a modified curriculum to teach students with severe cognitive impairments and to evaluate them using an alternate assessment.

The rule change essentially eliminated the ability to use that approach for all severely cognitively impaired kindergartners, and severely restricted the option for all students who have an IQ of 68 or more.

The problem, according to the Pasco County School Board and the district’s administration, is that children who began kindergarten this year may have already been receiving a modified curriculum while enrolled in programs since the age of 2, but are not provided that option this year.

And, older students who had been receiving the less rigorous coursework — with the goal of helping them achieve to the best of their potential — can no longer qualify, except in extraordinary circumstance, if they have an IQ of 68 or higher.

Melissa Musselwhite, the district’s director of student support and services, laid out the district’s concerns during a Nov. 16 school board meeting.

During the session, school board members also expressed concerns and authorized school board member Colleen Beaudoin to work with Musselwhite to write a letter that will be sent to Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, members of the state board of education, and legislative leaders. That letter is expected to be sent this week.

Musselwhite briefed the board on the background leading up to the current situation.

Years ago, the Florida Legislature recognized there’s a barrier with educating students with significant cognitive disabilities using standardized curriculum and assessments, Musselwhite said.

So, a state rule sets the eligibility criteria for students to be taught using a modified curriculum and evaluated through an alternate assessment.

But a state rule change that took effect this year removes the alternative option for all kindergartners, Musselwhite said. Now, they must be taught and tested using general education curriculum and standards.

That change does not take into account the severity of the child’s cognitive disability or the child’s IQ, she said.

Musselwhite said she’s concerned “that these students will start their educational career off struggling, which will impact them not only educationally, but socially and psychologically, as they progress through the educational system.

“For many of them, they will likely spend the rest of their education struggling, trying to catch up for what could be seen as a lost year of educational opportunity,” she said.

To force districts to comply with the rule change, the state deleted the kindergarten access courses from its course code directory — allowing only general education courses as an option for scheduling, Musselwhite said.

The state rule change also requires students to have an IQ of 67 or below, regardless of grade level, to qualify for the modified curriculum and alternate assessment, Musselwhite said.

That strict cutoff applies, except in extraordinary circumstances, she said.

The rule doesn’t take into account “other exceptionalities that may impact that student’s ability to learn or demonstrate mastery of the educational concepts taught to them,” she said.

For instance, she said, a student who has severe autism, language deficiencies, hearing impairment, orthopedic disabilities and an IQ of 68 would not qualify, while a student with an IQ of 67 and no other impairments would.

In essence, the rule bars the district’s staff and its Individual Education Plan teams from using their professional judgment in planning for and educating students, Musselwhite said.

She’s concerned that students who don’t meet the IQ standard, but have a multitude of co-existing disabilities, could be destined for frustration and failure.

Another big concern is that the rule change could affect students in any grade — meaning they could be going down one educational path for years and then suddenly be shifted.

She expressed it to school board members this way: “The arbitrary and capricious decision to impact a student’s education based solely on IQ score, without considering the student as a whole, and without taking into account that student’s individualized needs, is completely contrary to the underlying concepts of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).”

That act was created to protect students with disabilities and ensure they are treated fairly through the provision of a free and appropriate public education, she said.

Under IDEA, students with disabilities are entitled to an educational plan that is specifically tailored to their individualized needs and abilities.

The new rule permits an exception to the 67 IQ  limit, in extraordinary circumstance, but the Florida Department of Education would need to approve the process the district would use and, so far, no guidance has been provided on what a permissible process would be, Musselwhite said.

Musselwhite noted that the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) permits the usage of alternate assessments, but limits that to 1% of the total student population.

The problem, Musselwhite said, is that the actual need for the approach in any particular school system could exceed 1%.

Musselwhite said the state is currently seeking comment for a waiver to exceed the 1% requirement.

School Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said she thinks the results of this year’s state rule change may be an unintended consequence of trying to comply with the ESSA 1% rule. She said the district should pursue legislative action in the coming session to address the issue.

In later interviews, both Beaudoin and Musselwhite said they hope parents — whose children could face significant impacts — will express their concerns to legislators.

Beaudoin also said it’s important for the district to act on behalf of the students who could face negative impacts because of the change.

“If this was my kid, I would be up in arms,” Beaudoin said.

Published December 08, 2021

Designing a better Pasco County

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As Pasco County’s rampant growth continues, the Pasco County Commission has been calling for changes to the land development code that would address aesthetic issues.

They’ve been hashing over the topic, off and on, for months.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley put it like this, at a recent meeting: “We need to be real careful about what we allow our developers to do — make sure that they’re (doing) the right thing for Pasco County.”

These laborers are working on a project in Zephyrhills. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey says that Zephyrhills has some architectural design requirements, and Pasco County should, too. (Fred Bellet)

Oakley has repeatedly voiced concerns about neighborhoods made up of houses on 40-lots noting there’s little room for landscaping.

“We’ve been rural for many, many years,” Oakley said. “We really do not want to destroy the nature of what we have in Pasco County, and yet, we do want to grow and have jobs for our citizens, and do the right thing for our citizens.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey has pushed for greater attention to design details, as the county’s building boom continues.

“If you go and drive and find a 40-foot front-loaded street, it’s just a driveway, garage and a door.

“If you drive down a street where they’re rear-loaded on 40-foot, it’s a porch and grass, and it’s very nice.

“You can see it in Starkey Ranch, you can see it Longleaf, you might see it in Asturia. In Bexley, I know, you see it,” she said.

“I’m not opposed to 40-foot lots. I’m opposed to 40-foot front-loaded lots and only 40-foot, and the house is cookie-cutter and there’s no architectural elements on it,” Starkey said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey wants more attention paid to architectural detail, in future housing developments in Pasco. (File)

“This is an issue that I think needs to be addressed soon. I don’t want 10,000 homes to be approved before we fix this,” Starkey told her colleagues, during a board session.

“I get that our development community needs to understand what we’re looking for.

“When I’ve been meeting with developers, I let them know, that I am very loathe to approve a 40s-only development (40-foot lots).

“I need some better landscaping in front of homes. I need a mixture of 40s, 50s, 60s (lots). I need better architectural details on the sides and the front. I need more rear-loaded 40-foots.

“I want to be fair to the development community. They need to understand what the rules are, or when someone buys a piece of land (what to expect),” Starkey said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “We don’t want to build slums for the future. You know, density is sometimes overrated — how good it can be. If the lots are a little bigger, it makes it more comfortable.

“It’s a worthy conversation to bring forward at some meeting coming up,” Mariano said.

County Administrator Dan Biles told the county board that planning staff has drafted some potential conditions that could be added to master-planned unit developments to address concerns that commissioners have been raising — regarding smaller lots, the lack of landscaping on the front, parking and other issues.

Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, is meeting individually with commissioners to discuss the issues.

Biles noted: “Your focus has been on those single-family small lots, of 40-foot, but we thought through what that looks like on the townhome perspective, too. You need to think about both of those discussions. Your front-loaded townhome, you have the same types of issues, as you have with the small 40-foot lots.”

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley wants to avoid subdivisions made up of 40-foot lots, noting they don’t have enough room for landscaping.

Starkey told her colleagues: “The city of Zephyrhills and Dade City require some architectural details, and we don’t. And, so, we are getting … windows and a door and a roof.”

Pittos said, when the driveways are rear-loaded, “you can talk about fenestration: How many windows you want to see. Where to place the door — keep it on the front of the house, instead of on the side of the house. A porch.”

Starkey said “there can be a smorgasbord of architectural details” that can be added, that are not expensive.

“We don’t want to see what we’re getting. We want to see better,” Starkey said.

As the county board considers changes to the land development code, Jennifer Motsinger, executive vice president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association, is encouraging the board to look at updates that can streamline the development review process.

In an interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Motsinger said that the cost of a home is made up of four components: Land, materials, local regulations and labor.

Some regulations in Pasco’s land development code have stymied ongoing efforts to streamline the development review process, Motsinger said.

She also noted there’s a need to balance the desire for a particular type of aesthetic with the need for affordable housing.

“Every single one of the suggestions that are being made (by commissioners) can be accommodated for a price. For a price,” Motsinger said.

“We have to make sure that there is a balance of options for folks,” she said. “We have to be careful that we are not trying to legislate to a particular type of buyer.

“One of the reasons you would do a neighborhood with just 40 (40-foot lots) is to get that more-affordable product,” Motsinger said.

She also addressed the issue of requiring homes with 40-foot lots to be backloaded.

“That trend is not in high demand. Because, guess what? Kids want a backyard to play in,” she said.

She said the building industry will be paying close attention to proposed changes and will want to weigh in on them.

“We have to be careful that our local government doesn’t have too much power to say how we live in our homes and what our homes look like,” Motsinger said.

Published December 01, 2021

Florida passes law aimed at vaccine mandates

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Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed four bills into law — adopted during a special session of the Florida Legislature — intended to prevent workers from losing their jobs due to COVID-19 vaccination mandates and to protect parents’ rights to make healthcare decisions for their children.

DeSantis signed the bills during a news conference on Nov. 18 at Brandon Honda.

In making the announcement, which was posted on YouTube, DeSantis said, “We provide protections for people. No nurse, no firefighter, no police officer, no trucker — no anybody — should lose their job because of these COVID jabs.

“We’re making sure that people have a right to earn a living, people have protections in their place of employment and that parents have protections to be able to direct the upbringing of their kids,” the governor said.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody told the crowd: “Today, we announced that Florida has filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare, which has required all Florida healthcare professionals to be mandated — regardless of even if you are tending to patients.

“We know, in our rural counties in Florida, we are seeing devastating losses of healthcare professionals, already. This will decimate our ability to provide needed, vital, crucial, healthcare to Floridians,” she said.

FlSenate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby put it this way: “If you go back to April and May and June, of 2020, we were in a situation where our healthcare frontline providers were putting their lives on the line every day, prior to there being a vaccine. Prior to there being monoclonal antibodies. Prior to there being the antivirals that we have today.

“So, now, that same nursing force, that took us from April of 2020 to November, of now, 2021, now, we’re saying, ‘Thank you, but we don’t respect your private, individual rights any longer,’” Simpson said. “We are not going to do that in the state of Florida. We’re not going to do those unconstitutional mandates that are coming down from the federal government.”

Under the new Florida laws, which took effect immediately:

  • Private employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates are prohibited, without providing at least the five following individual exemptions: Medical reasons, as determined by a physician; religious reasons; immunity, based on prior COVID-19 infection; periodic testing, at no cost to the employee; agreeing to comply with the use of employer-provided personal protection equipment
  • Government entities may not require COVID-19 vaccinations of anyone, including employees.
  • Employers who violate these employee health protections will be fined. Small businesses (99 employees or less) will face $10,000 per employee violation. Medium and big businesses will face $50,000 per employee violation.
  • Educational institutions may not require students to be COVID-19 vaccinated.
  • School districts may not have school face mask policies.
  • School districts may not quarantine healthy students.
  • Students and parents may sue violating school districts and recover costs and attorney’s fees.

The day after DeSantis signed the bills, Hillsborough County Schools announced on its website that because of the new law it no longer would implement a mask mandate

Pasco County Schools ended its mandatory mask policy at the end of last school year.

Meanwhile, on  another front, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have authorized COVID-19 booster shots for anyone over the age of 18.