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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Betsy Kuhn

Pasco County Schools hits million-meal mark

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Pasco County Schools has delivered more than a million meals to students since school campuses closed.

The district has been serving bagged meals at numerous sites and bus stops to provide meals to students who, in many cases, rely on schools for their only reliable source of food.

State Rep. Randy Maggard, left, and Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore worked with about 50 other volunteers to distribute 33,000 pounds of food at a Farm Share event on May 20 at The Shops at Wiregrass. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

Since March 23, when the district began its remote feeding efforts, the district has served 1,095,537 meals, according to Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services.

The district has been serving 10 meals per student age 18 and under, at each of its locations, accounting for five days’ worth of meals, including a breakfast and lunch for each day.

Last week, it served an additional five meals because the operation is closed this week.

Next week, it reopens on June 2. Check the district’s website for locations because some of them have been closed and consolidated with other locations.

The district also had three Farm Fresh Pop-ups last week — at Cypress Creek Middle High, Anclote High and Centennial Middle School.

The district’s maintenance team served 2,300 boxes of vegetables, weighing 10 pounds each, at those three sites.

Those aren’t the only efforts to help provide food for children and families in need, during this coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Sunlake High School and Land O’ Lakes High School collected more than 2,000 pounds of food for the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry, in their COVID-19 Quarantine Butterbowl.

An example of the fresh vegetable boxes being distributed through Farm Fresh Pop-ups organized by Pasco County Schools. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“This week’s Butterbowl has ended, and the winner is the community,” tweeted Ric Mellin, principal at Land O’ Lakes High School. The donations exceeded expectations, he noted.

“Both schools should be proud of what they accomplished,” Mellin wrote.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, State Rep. Randy Maggard and more than 50 volunteers helped distribute 33,000 pounds of food to an estimated 700 cars on May 20 at The Shops at Wiregrass, according to Andy Taylor, Mike Moore’s aide.

A group of Saint Leo University students also were among the volunteers.

Meanwhile, food pantries are helping to put food on the tables of those in need, too.

Make a Difference Inc., will have a Mobile Food Pantry on May 28 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 37722 State Road 52. No identification is required, and the food is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Atonement Lutheran Church, at 29617 State Road 54, has reopened its Helping Hands Food Pantry, and is providing a drive-thru service on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The church is observing social distancing restrictions.

Father and Son Love Ministries, at 21418 Carson Drive in Land O’ Lakes, operates a food pantry on Tuesdays, from noon to 2 p.m.; Fridays, from noon to 3 p.m.; and on Sundays, starting at 12:30 p.m.

Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., stands outside the new location for the Father and Sons Love Ministries, at 21418 Carson Drive, in Land O’ Lakes. The church has a food pantry and has noticed a much broader range of people coming in to pick up food items to help their families during this time of pandemic. (B.C. Manion)

On one recent Friday afternoon, the Land O’ Lakes pantry served 174 people.

The ministry has marked its floor to guide people through its pantry, in order to practice social distancing.

Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., said the pantry is serving a broader range of people because of economic impacts caused by the pandemic. Before, about three-quarters using the food pantry were elderly, but now they make up just about half.

Besides offering the pantry, the church also will make deliveries to people who are unable to come there.

Also, the First Presbyterian Church, at 5510 19th St., in Zephyrhills, is serving a free take-out meal every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the church.

Before heading out to any food pantry, it’s a good idea to call ahead or check the website to get the latest information on the days and hours of operation.

Published May 27, 2020

Serving meals to children in need

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Efforts are ongoing to keep children fed during this time of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

As school district officials know, for many children their school meals are their only reliable source of food.

So, both the Pasco and Hillsborough County school districts have set up meal distribution sites and have been providing meals to students ages 18 and under.

At the Pasco County School Board’s April 21 audio meeting, Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent of support services, provided this update.

“Today (April 21) was our fifth week in meal service, since schools closed,” she said.

During the week of March 23, the district served approximately 5,500 students per day, with prepackaged meals at its original feeding sites.

On March 31, it began distributing prepackaged meals once a week, with each student receiving five breakfasts and five lunches for the week. That week, it served 80,680 meals to over 8,000 students at 27 sites and 16 bus stops.

On April 21, it served 143,000 meals to 14,300 students, which was slightly less than the week before.

All in all, the district has served more than 536,200 meals since the school closure began, Kuhn said. The district has received some donations, to add to its prepackaged foods, she said, noting it has received fresh corn and cucumbers.

She also noted that Connerton Elementary was scheduled to be added on April 28, as one of the district’s distribution sites.

“We have had a huge demand in the Central Area,” Kuhn said, noting that 1,400 students were served on April 21 at Pine View Elementary.

The Pasco distribution program will cease on May 19, but is set to begin again on June 2, with some modifications.

In other news, Pasco Schools Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd said the district will be joining

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, State Rep. Ardian Zika and State Sen. President Wilton Simpson to initiate a food drive.

“Even though we’ve been very successful at feeding our students, we remain concerned that as summer approaches, it’s going to become more difficult,” Gadd said.

He noted that Fasano is donating a substantial amount of food.

He also said “we’ve also reached out to some not-for-profits around the state that are shipping fresh produce throughout the state, and we’re trying to make connections with them, and we’re very optimistic that that’s going to occur.”

School board members Allen Altman and Cynthia Armstrong expressed appreciation for the ongoing efforts.

“I think it’s never been more evident that our schools are much more than education opportunities. What this system, what our employees and community support have done to support families in the last month, is nothing short of amazing,” Altman said.

He also noted that he hopes when the pandemic passes, “people will remember how much the public school system contributed to the community.”

Armstrong said it has been heartwarming to see the gratitude expressed by people receiving the food.

“Seeing the handmade thank you signs that the students have made and they hold up in the windows, really makes you appreciate what we’re able to do for our students’ families,” Armstrong said.

Meanwhile, in Hillsborough County, on April 15, the district began distributing food one day per week—with students receiving one week of food at a time.

“Due to new CDC guidelines and a statewide stay-at-home order, our district wants to minimize contact between Student Nutrition Services workers and our families. We believe one-day-a-week food distribution will be safer for the community as a whole,” the website says.

“Families will be able to pick up a week’s worth of nutritious meals every Wednesday at the same 147 sites, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. This will include one pound of lunch meat, a loaf of bread, milk, juice and nutritious snacks.

“Students will receive enough food for each school day. Buses also will be transporting foods into specific neighborhoods for pick up every Wednesday.

Each student will receive a bag of food that needs to be refrigerated, and one that can stay at room temperature.

“It’s important to note that these food bags will weigh over 10 pounds together. If you are walking up or riding a bike to a Grab-and-Go site, please have your child bring their empty backpack to provide a simple way to transport the food,” the website says.

For a list of frequently asked questions, visit HillsboroughSchools.org.

Feeding  sites
Additional sites have been added to Pasco County Schools’ drive-thru feeding sites. Here is the current list of active sites within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. The sites are open Tuesdays only, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bags of food include breakfast and lunch for five days, for each student.

The sites are:

  • Chester W. Taylor Elementary
  • Connerton Elementary
  • New River Elementary
  • Pasco High School
  • Pasco Middle School
  • Pine View Elementary
  • Quail Hollow Elementary
  • Rodney B. Cox Elementary
  • San Antonio Elementary
  • West Zephyrhills Elementary
  • Zephyrhills High School

Published April 29, 2020

School district adapts to distance learning

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While parents suddenly found themselves thrust into the role of being frontline teachers, educators in Pasco and Hillsborough counties also found themselves making a big shift when the state ordered school campuses to be closed.

The order is in effect until April 30, and as press time for The Laker/Lutz News it remained unclear whether that will be extended.

During a virtual Pasco County School Board meeting on April 7, district officials discussed how county schools made the switch to online learning.

Superintendent Kurt Browning told the audience viewing the meeting, “When this thing hit, I remember our first meeting in the superintendent’s conference room. We were all a little shell-shocked by the fact that school was going to be closed for an additional week after Spring Break.”

But, district staff stepped up, and by the time the shift was made, the district was well-poised to make the shift.

He credited Joanne Glenn and her eSchool team for the guidance and encouragement they provided to district teachers.

“Our brick-and-mortars classroom teachers, for a large part, most part, have never done virtual education before,” he said. But, once they received the training that the district’s Office of Leading and Learning and the eSchool staff put together, he said, “a lot of the angst disappeared.”

The district also distributed about 17,000 devices to families needing them, including roughly 9,000 for elementary school students and about 8,000 for secondary school students, said Assistant Superintendent Kevin Shibley. A small number of devices were still in the process of being provided for families.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, complimented the district’s handling of the transition of shifting from direct to distance instruction.

“As we work in our second week of distance learning, I want to recognize our district superintendent and staff for having a Plan B in place,” Peace said.

“A special thanks goes out to Joanne Glenn and the wonderful group of eSchool employees who have willingly served as resources to those in need of help, during this transition period,” he said.

“I also want to thank you for how you are handling the thousands of ‘new teachers’ in our district, by that I mean, the parents, grandparents and guardians who have suddenly been thrust into the role of teacher. They are now the first people asked to help with questions or concerns when students struggle.

“I know in my grandson’s case, resources, tutorials and updates are going out constantly to provide information and reassurance in these situations.

“I would urge all of us to be caring and compassionate when dealing with student and parent concerns,” Peace said.

School board chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin expressed gratitude on behalf of the board for the district’s leadership and extra efforts made by teachers and staff.

“The last several weeks, everyone has been thrust into new ways of teaching and learning, and doing the work that supports that learning,” she said.

“On behalf of the board, we are very grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make sure our students will continue to have learning opportunities and to have food in their homes.

“Thank you to the district staff who worked through the entire Spring Break getting things put into place.

“Thank you to Mrs. Glenn and the eSchool staff who have been supporting the teachers across the district, 24/7, answering questions and troubleshooting.

“Thank you to our communications team for pushing out all of the information, in multiple formats.

“Thank you to the teachers who have had to make this difficult transition to distance learning in such a short time. I have seen you collaborating and problem-solving at all hours to help our students and families.

“Thank you to the students for doing your work, even when it can be difficult to log on and while you are experiencing stressful life circumstances.

“Thank you to the parents for extending grace. We appreciate your patience as we work through some bumps in the road.

“I am confident that this district and our community will get through this and our students will continue to make academic progress,” Beaudoin said.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn also expressed appreciation to district staff for pulling together to ensure that meals could be delivered to students who depend on school meals as their only reliable source of food.

The district delivered food to 27 sites and 16 bus stops.

“This was our second week of doing the once-a-week on Tuesdays, where we give out 10 meals to each child who comes through the line,” Kuhn said.

“The unofficial number for today is that served over 121,000. That does not include our bus stops. Those are still being calculated.

“What that means is that we served over 12,000 children in our community. That is up 8,000 served last week. And, the first week we served, March 23, we served about 5,500 students per day.

“This would not be possible without the support and very hard work of FNS (Food and Nutrition Services) and transportation, after school enrichment programs and maintenance,” Kuhn said. Kuhn also gave kudos to human resources for helping to coordinate and schedule 200 volunteers that stepped up to help.

Browning said he’s incredibly proud of district employees.

“We could not be where we are today without everyone in this district pulling together and doing what’s right for our kids,” the superintendent said.

Published April 15, 2020

Creating safe and compassionate schools

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When you ask an open-ended question, there’s no telling what the responses will be.

But that’s the point, actually, in a process that Pasco County Schools used to gather different perspectives, regarding the emotional and physical safety of district students and staff.

District officials conducted a ThoughtExchange that allows participants to use technology to share their thoughts and ideas, which are then rated by participants on a five-star scale.

Assistant superintendents Betsy Kuhn and David Scanga led the efforts for the district, and they shared results of the exchange with the Pasco County School Board at a workshop in June.

Steve LaVare, an armed school safety guard, monitors the parking lot area at Sanders Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes, as parents drop off kids on the second day of school last fall. In a ThoughtExchange on school safety, Pasco County parents said they like to see armed guards in visible spots on campus. (File)

The ThoughtExchange attracted 3,416 participants who shared 2,290 thoughts.

Because of the nature of an open-ended question, participants touched on a wide range of topics, said Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services.

“Some people viewed it very much on the building hardening topic, that I work mostly with —  and then a lot of other folks took it as the mental health type of approach,” Kuhn said.

One of the top thoughts overall was this: “Do not arm teachers. We cannot expect teachers to make the ‘right decision’ in the heat of the  moment.”

But that thought wasn’t universally shared, according to the ThoughtExchange. Another comment from community was this: “Allow the teachers to carry a gun. Not all teachers are cut out for it, but some are. Require training and qualifications, but it should be allowed, if the teacher wants it.”

A thought that resonated with parents was this one: “We need to take more action when bullying is reported. We need to listen to students and teachers. Bullying is at the core of many issues of mental health and violence.”

Another top thought in the parents’ category: “Keep the resource officer in a high visibility spot.”

Among students, improved bandwidth and longer lunch periods were among the most highly rated comments.

Staff comments gaining traction dealt with providing more support for teachers dealing with disruptive, disrespectful or potentially dangerous students.

And, this staff comment was rated highly, too: “The pay scales for staff need a major overhaul.”

Besides being broken down by stakeholder category, the ThoughtExchange was analyzed by region.

In West Pasco, for instance, a key concern related to traffic safety at River Ridge High School.

In East Pasco, concerns were raised about securing open campuses.

And, in Central Pasco, there were calls to increase the ways to report concerns anonymously, and for greater support of teachers.

When it comes to student safety, the district was encouraged to include bus drivers in those discussions.

“Bus drivers many times are the first people students see in the morning. Include them in all discussions regarding student safety, as well,” says a comment in the exchange.

The ThoughtExchange is intended to help inform the district’s work, provide feedback from the community and gather information to help the district advocate for additional support from the state legislature for safety improvements.

Kuhn told board members that the district is continuing to take action aimed at creating safer and more secure campuses.

On the facilities side, work on front office hardening continues. The district also is installing additional security cameras and is doing safety projects at strategic locations across the county, Kuhn said.

The work on door locks at all schools is expected to be completed before school starts in August, Kuhn said. The district also continues to collaborate with the sheriff’s office and municipal police departments.

On the mental health side, a theme that emerged in the ThoughtExchange was the request “for more people, more psychologists, more social workers, more assistance,” said Scanga, who is assistant superintendent for elementary schools.

“We know that’s something we need to explore and talk about. We know where that’s coming from, but it also runs up against our budget and what we can afford,” Scanga said.

Still, he added, “there’s room for us to consider how we utilize the people we already have in the system. What gap or what void can they fill to make sure we’re addressing student needs and family needs?”

The school board will explore that topic in deeper detail, when it has its workshop on mental health on July 23.

Published July 10, 2019

Pasco Schools plan to beef up security

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Pasco County Schools is seeking state approval of a plan that calls for adding security cameras in schools and changing locks on doors at schools throughout the district.

The district wants the state to approve the plan, so it can use about $2 million in state money to pay for the security improvements.

The security upgrade aims to comply with a mandate that school districts across the state assess the safety of their schools and produce a plan to improve it. That requirement came in response to the Valentine’s Day shooting spree that left 17 dead and 17 injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

Christopher Stowe, director of safety and security for Pasco County Schools, recently outlined the district’s proposed plan to upgrade security at schools throughout the district. (B.C. Manion)

Pasco County Schools worked with law enforcement officials from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the New Port Richey, Zephyrhills and Dade City police departments in assessing their school campuses, according to Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn.

After completing those assessments, the district identified themes it could address using the state grant money, said Christopher Stowe, the school district’s director of safety and security.

It decided to use the state money to “raise the security of all schools in the county, rather than kind of pinpoint one or two.

“We want to make equitable use of the funds that we’re going to be getting with the grants, to make sure all of our schools are going to be increasing their security,” Stowe said.

Much of the work focused on determining how the district could improve security using existing work orders, Stowe added, noting improvements, such as repairing or trimming landscaping to improve sight lines on campuses, can be achieved by district staff.

The grant money would be used to ensure that all Pasco County Schools have security cameras and that door locks will be changed so that teachers will not need to go outside of their classroom to lock the door.

Equipping the schools with security cameras will cost more than $800,000.

The new locks ensure that doors are locked at all times. People can leave a room without a key, but can’t enter without a key, unless someone lets them in.

It will cost about $1.2 million to change the locks on 3,000 doors.

During a presentation on the plan before the Pasco County School Board last week, Superintendent Kurt Browning noted: “I want to make sure that it’s clear that the funds that are being discussed here are funds that have been specifically appropriated for this purpose.

“These are not funds that could be used for raises. These are not funds that can be used for other things,” Browning said.

School board member Allen Altman thanked local law enforcement officials for their help on the effort to assess the district’s schools and share their expertise.

“In talking to other school districts around the state, they do not have the level of cooperation that we have had, and they are struggling to get this done,” he said.

“The fact that this has been a true team effort, and that they have communicated and worked together has been extraordinary — when you talk to other people around the state,” Altman observed.

He also noted: “It does make parents and staff feel better to know that everybody is on the same page and working together, and we don’t have the turf battles that have gone on in other places in the state.”

School board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong also expressed her appreciation to local law enforcement agencies for their help.

“We very much want to keep that line of communication open,” Armstrong said.

No timetable has been established for the security improvements, Kuhn said. The district must await approval of state grant money for its plan before proceeding to have the work done.

Published October 10, 2018

Land O’ Lakes High to get more parking spaces

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Land O’ Lakes High School is undergoing a massive renovation project that is essentially giving the high school a new look and expanding its capacity by more than 400 students.

The Pasco County School Board voted last week to approve $1.2 million in changes to the project.

Providing 60 additional parking spaces was among a list of items that Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, presented to the board for approval.

“Parking has become a serious issue at Land O’ Lakes High School,” Kuhn said, and more parking will be needed as the school expands.

Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin said the additional parking is needed.

“I get lots of calls about parking at Land O’ Lakes High School,” Beaudoin said.

Other items included in the change order are:

  • Remove and replace existing flammable storage building and resurface an adjacent roadway to improve access for emergency vehicles
  • Update interior finishes such as paint, flooring, lighting, wall base and acoustical panels in the Music and Exceptional Student Education Rooms, to bring those areas in line with the balance of the remodel
  • Remove and replace two air handling units and heaters for the gymnasium, including modification of electrical, as required, and provide new controls connected with the central control system
  • Provide new metal exterior doors, frames and hardware for the gym.

Even though these items were not part of the original scope of the project, they can be completed within the project’s original construction budget, Kuhn said.

Published August 1, 2018

Work to get started on makeover of Zephyrhills High School

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A major overhaul is planned at Zephyrhills High School, and the Pasco County School Board approved a contract last week to get started on the project.

The board approved a contract not-to-exceed $396,846 with Creative Contractors to complete the early site package for the project.

“We will be bringing a full presentation in the fall on the entire project,” said Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services. “This is just what gets us started.”

The construction phase will be split into two contracts: One for the renovation work and one for the addition.

The first phase will involve building a new classroom building, Mike Gude, director of construction services and code compliance, told the The Laker/Lutz News in a previous interview.

When the new building is completed, students can be shifted into that building and another phase of the project can begin, Gude said.

When the project is finished, the high school’s capacity is expected to increase by about 500 students.

Published August 1, 2018

Debate continues over best response to Parkland killings

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Students, faculty and staff are expected to begin the long journey back toward normalcy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School this week in Parkland.

But, the debate over the best response to the Valentine Day’s slaying of 14 students and three teachers remains embroiled in controversy.

Audience members bow their heads as a prayer is given for the 17 students of Parkland Florida and local student, Christian Robinson, who were killed due to gun violence. (Randy Underhill)

In the aftermath of the shooting spree, conducted by a lone gunman using an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, thousands of angry students descended on Tallahassee demanding that lawmakers take action, to prevent a future tragedy.

There was a lie-in in Washington D.C., walkouts at schools across Florida and almost nonstop coverage of the issues on cable television networks.

Student survivors of the massacre have led the charge in demanding action from lawmakers.

Some are demanding a ban on the sale of AR-15s, which so far does not appear to be making headway.

President Donald R. Trump met with parents of school shooting victims and with student survivors for a listening session.

And, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature have developed school safety proposals.

The specifics are expected to be fiercely debated, but Scott and legislative leaders expect school safety legislation to be passed before the session ends, which is scheduled for March 9.

At the local level, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis met in a school safety workshop session with Pasco County School Board members and school district staff.

Nicholas Ketterer, age 15, and Ethan Laws, age 15, both students at Sunlake High School, react to what is being read at the candlelight vigil for the students killed in Parkland, Florida and Port Richey.

Bilirakis asked the district to weigh in on what’s needed to improve school safety and how Washington can help.

“We’re going to have congressional hearings on this issue, the safe school issue. I wanted to hear from our school board,” Bilirakis said.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn said the district needs more funding to pay for additional school resource officers, to improve mental health services and to upgrade safety features on school campuses.

Pasco County School Board member Allen Altman concurred that those seem to be the three things at the top of the list, based on conversations he had during visits to nine schools over the course of three days, following the killings in Parkland.

School board member Alison Crumbley said there needs to be “extremely limited access” to military-style weapons.

“I am very concerned that a 19-year-old can purchase military-style weaponry, and has no training for this weaponry. We require training and licensing to drive a car, but not this. I think that’s a huge problem,” she said.

But, Crumbley also made it clear that she supports the 2nd Amendment: “My husband is a sportsman. He hunts. I’m not talking about those types of weapons, or guns.”

She’s against the idea of arming teachers, a suggestion that has been made by some.

Karen Hoffman, of Lutz, sits by herself, silently grieving 17 students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, and local student Christian Robinson, of Chasco Middle School, recently killed in Florida due to gun violence.

“I don’t want that responsibility put on our teachers,” Crumbley said.

Another part of the problem is distinguishing real threats from false information.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Lt. Troy Ferguson told those gathered: “Since Feb. 14, tips are coming in by the hour about suspicious activities, conversations heard online.

“Often, it’s been repeats of stories heard on the news that have been misconstrued as a threat in Pasco County,” he said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district has been swamped with calls and emails since the tragedy in Parkland. Some of the emails have been about threats, others with suggestions to help solve the problem, he said.

Social media exacerbates the problem of false information, Browning said.

“Kids are being reckless on social media,” he said.

“I don’t know how many times they have posted something stupid out on social media and then, when the sheriff’s office shows up at their door, it’s ‘Oh, I was only joking.’ Well, guess what, it is too late,” Browning said.

Browning urged parents to pay attention to what their children are doing on social media.

“There’s consequences. We’re talking about a second-degree felony. Kids don’t get it,” he said.

In the wake of the Parkland deaths, Browning has requested and has received regular patrols from the Sheriff’s Office at all district schools. He also has directed all principals to keep all gates locked and has directed teachers to keep all classroom doors locked.

Browning urges principals, students and staff to maintain a high vigilance regarding who is on their school’s campus.

After listening to the suggestions, Bilirakis said additional funding for school resource officers seems like a “no-brainer.” He also pledges to work on the possibility of seeking a federal grant to improve mental health care services.

To help promote healing in the aftermath of the Parkland shootings, the Pasco County Council PTA held three candlelight vigils across Pasco County.

Brandon Bracciale, principal at Chasco Middle School, attended the one at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

While the Parkland community was grieving the deaths of 17 people, Chasco Middle has been grieving the loss of Christian Robinson, a 14-year-old who has died, after a gunshot wound to the head on Valentine’s Day. He was in a car in Port Richey when he was shot.

“He was a very popular student,” Bracciale said.

Bracciale said the Parkland slayings have had a local impact.

He said his wife, an art teacher at Sunlake High School, noticed that her students were somber in the days following the Parkland deaths.

And, his middle school daughter, who attends Rushe Middle School, plans to participate in a nationwide school walkout, set for March 14.

As an educator, he believes that bulletproof windows and doors would help make schools safer. He also believes that restricting access to assault weapons and improved mental health care would help.

Victims of the Valentine’s Day shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland: Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; Scott Beigel, 35; Martin Duque Anguiana, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; Aaron Feis, 37; Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Chris Hixon, 49; Luke Hoyer, 15; Cara Loughran, 15; Gina Montalto, 15; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina Petty, 14; Meadow Pollack, 18; Helena Ramsey, 17; Alex Schachter, 14; Carmen Schentrup, 16; Peter Wang, 15

Source: CNN

Design work to start on $15.5 million PHSC performing arts center

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Design work is expected to get underway soon on a Pasco-Hernando State College performing arts center that is planned for the Cypress Creek Middle High School campus, off Old Pasco Road.

The $15.5 million project will be built by the state college, but both the college and Pasco County Schools plan to use the facility for educational programming.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, sees enormous potential for a planned $15.5 million performing arts center that will be built on the Cypress Creek Middle High School campus by Pasco-Hernando State College.
(B.C. Manion)

Additionally, Pasco County Schools is planning to begin construction on Pasco County Middle School, which is scheduled to open in August of 2020.

“We’re designing the middle school, with the performing arts in mind,” said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools.

“We’re going to have some dance rooms at the middle school. We’ll have a black box theater at the middle school. We’ll have a chorus room. We’ll have an orchestra room,” he said.

“Sometimes the college might be in our middle school at night, using the black box theater, and we might be in the new performing arts center, using the stage,” Gadd said.

Harvard Jolly — the architect for the middle school project — also has been selected to do the performing arts center, said Tony Rivas, PHSC’s associate vice president for facilities management and administrative services.

Creative Contractors has been selected as the construction management firm, Gadd said.

Both Creative Contractors and Harvard Jolly have experience with performing arts center projects, Rivas said.

The architect will be holding design charrettes with the users in January and February, to discuss design considerations.

The design must take into account the users’ needs, budget and state regulations for educational facilities, Gadd and Rivas said.

It also must consider how spaces interact with each other, Rivas said.

“You want to get certain things close to certain things, and you want to not necessarily be in proximity for other things because of noise levels or distractions. Those things come into play,” Rivas explained.

The arts center will be a teaching facility, but there’s also a desire to have a facility that can be used as a public venue, too, Gadd said.

Initially, the goal was to secure about $60 million in funding for a performing arts facility that would have accommodated about 3,500 seats, Gadd said. Actual funding came in at $15.5 million, which means the center will be much smaller.

Gadd said he hopes the new center will have a stage large enough to accommodate an orchestra. “If you have a stage that can hold an orchestra, then it can hold anything,” he said.

Construction is not likely to begin for about a year.

The college is in charge of construction, but the school district is providing about 5.5 acres for the site.

Lots of details regarding cost-sharing for operations and shared use of facilities still need to be worked out, Gadd added.

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, said the school district plans to offer curriculum such as digital design courses, lighting, production, cinematography and traditional arts programs for students who are interested in the performing arts.

Rivas noted that that it’s very early in the process, but as things progress, information about the project will be shared in a number of venues to keep lines of communication open. For instance, the construction manager will have a website that will have progress photos and different milestone events.

“We have to be attuned to the fact that we are in the community. We’re going to keep that awareness and sensitivity, and always try to be a good neighbor,” Rivas said.

Creative Contractors has extensive experience in building performing arts centers — both professional and educational, said Joshua Bomstein, president of the Clearwater-based company.

“We’re finishing the Tampa Theatre renovation right now. We did the complete renovation of the Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater. We’ve done all of the work at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,” he said.

His company also did the Clearwater High School performing arts building, the performing arts building at Manatee High School, and the performing arts auditorium at Generations Christian Church in Trinity.

Bomstein is excited about the new project.

“This is going to be phenomenal facility. I predict and promise that,” he said.

Published December 27, 2017

Proposed Bexley Elementary boundaries raise concerns

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Parents raised concerns about potential impacts from proposed boundaries for Bexley Elementary at a Nov. 1 meeting at Oakstead Elementary School.

Parents raised questions about such issues as school choice, transportation and programming for the new school, which draws its name from a subdivision under construction off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

The new school, set to open in the fall, for the 2017-2018 school year, will provide relief for both Odessa and Oakstead elementary schools, which are operating well above capacity. Odessa is at 131 percent capacity, and Oakstead is at 144 percent. The proposed boundaries will also expand Lake Myrtle Elementary, an older school operating at about 80 percent capacity.

Some parents were dismayed at the likelihood their children will be rezoned to Lake Myrtle, a “B” rated school built in 1984.

This is what Bexley Elementary will look like upon its completion.(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
This is what Bexley Elementary will look like upon its completion.(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“I know their school rating isn’t as high as Oakstead Elementary,” said Sarah Davis, whose daughter will attend Lake Myrtle. “I don’t know much about it, so all I can do is my research online, and since it’s not as great as a school, my concern is that she won’t get the help that she needs that’s she’s already getting.”

Dave Scanga, area superintendent for Central Pasco schools, said Lake Myrtle is “a great school.”

“It is an older building,” Scanga said, however, he added, “in terms of the traditions that Lake Myrtle has had, for a long time it’s always been top-notch.”

“I think all of our schools are good,” added Richard Tonello, planning supervisor for Pasco County Schools. “Maybe grades aren’t a reflection of the school. You go to any of our schools, you’re going to see a great group of teachers, and they’re going to look after your child.”

Other parents expressed frustration over Bexley’s current unknowns, such as staffing dynamics and school schedule.

Scanga said potential teachers will be identified in March and April, after a new principal is named in December and assumes duties in February.

“A lot will happen once we get to February, and then it’s the (principal’s) job to let them play out the rest of the hiring and selection.”

He added: “As we get closer to the start of school, there will be all sorts of opportunities for people to come in, see the building and meet the people that are going to be in the building, too.”

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent Pasco County Schools, anticipates several teachers from both Odessa and Oakstead to be reassigned to Bexley.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity for teachers to come in to open a new school, so we typically have a lot of interest,” Kuhn said.

“I think you’ll have a lot of interest from teachers outside our system, in our system, both experienced and new,” she added.

Sorting out transportation issues, too, was another focus of the hour-long meeting.

Scanga said bus routes will be reconfigured to accommodate the new school.

The Pasco County School Board provides free transportation to and from school for students who live more than 2 miles away from school.

Students who are selected to choose a particular school through open enrollment must provide their own transportation.

Pasco County’s school choice open enrollment period runs from Feb. 1 to March 1, for the 2017-2018 school year. Final determinations are expected around April or May. Extenuating circumstances and family hardships will also be considered, school officials said.

For example, students entering the fifth grade may have a greater chance to remain at their current school depending on the influx of school choice requests.

“It’s hard to make a decision until they know exactly how many students are requested,” said Chris Williams, planning services director for Pasco County Schools. “In every past experience, we’ve been able to accommodate fifth graders.”

“It’s a process we go through…to try to accommodate as much as we can,” he added.

Scanga said he understands the frustration from parents, especially those who deliberately moved to a particular community for their children to attend a certain school.

“School rezoning always catches many people off guard,” said Scanga, “and also in terms of not getting what we had planned for, or hoped for.”

Scanga also noted: “One of the challenges we have—and it’s unique—is just how fast the growth is happening right here on the 54 corridor. We’re like ground zero. Much of Florida, like much of the country, just doesn’t have this challenge…of how do we continually provide the best education to children in the best facility possible.”

Last month, a boundary committee recommended boundaries for Bexley Elementary.

The committee selected an option that would include Ballantrae, Suncoast Meadows, Suncoast Pointe, Hayman/Fuentes, Meadowbrook/Sierra Pines, and all of Bexley, which are east of the Suncoast Parkway.

Bexley Elementary also would include Swan View Townhomes, Ivy Lake Estates and Toscano at Suncoast, which are west of the Suncoast Parkway.

At nearly 96,000 square feet, the new school will have a capacity of 878 students, and is expected to have 706 students.

Oakstead, which had 1,095 enrolled students is expected to have 765 students, under the proposed boundaries. Odessa, which had 1,000 students, is expected to have 780, and Lake Myrtle, which had 587 students, is expected to have 616.

Students that would be shifting from Oakstead to Lake Myrtle live in these areas: Morsani, Woodville Palms, Cambridge/Lake Linda, Oakstead Area South, Cypress Cove/Village on the Pond, Meadowview/Country Close and Foxwood/Lake Heron.

The school board is scheduled to hold its first public hearing on the proposed boundaries on Dec. 20 and its second public hearing on Jan. 17, when it is expected to make the final decision on the issue.

While the committee recommends the boundaries, the Pasco County School Board has the final word on where the lines should be drawn.

Boundary guidelines are based on a number of factors, including future growth and capacity, socio-economic balance, school feeder patterns, and transportation.

“All of these guidelines we use, it’s a little bit of a balancing act,” Tonello said.

Bexley Elementary is the first of several schools (additional elementary schools, middle school and high school) planned within the Bexley development.

When those schools are built depends on the amount of growth within the community, as well as the amount of capital funding available, Williams said.

He noted the school district has accumulated nearly $500 million in debt capital, a hurdle in building new schools.

“One of the things that we struggle with as a district is our capital funding,” Williams said. “We are constrained—we can’t always build where we want to because of funding. It might mean adding a classroom wing at an existing school.”

Construction costs for Bexley Elementary total about $20 million.

For more information, visit PascoSchools.org/planning/rezoning.

Published November 9, 2016