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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Bexley Elementary

Growth and change are hallmarks at area schools

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As 2019 becomes 2020, area schools continue to respond to growth, while also changing academic options available on some campuses.

Recently, Superintendent Kurt Browning announced an initiative that will create significant change in West Pasco-area schools to bolster academic performance, but he also outlined some coming projects within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, as well.

This is what the new Instructional Performing Arts Center, to be built on the campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and the new Cypress Creek Middle School, will look like. The campus is at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Specifically, Browning said the district plans to add a grade 6-12 STEM/STEAM magnet school in Land O’ Lakes that is proposed to open in August 2023 and a grade K-8 STEM/STEAM Magnet in Wesley Chapel, proposed to open in August 2024.

That’s on top of previously announced plans, which include an Eastside Technical High School, opening in August 2022.

District officials envision a magnet technical school that doesn’t fit the traditional educational mold.

They say it will combine a rigorous curriculum along with technical skills training — and will seek community partnerships to give students real-world experiences.

The idea is to prepare students to have many options when they leave high school — whether, say, they want to work as a welder for someone else; or, they want to have their own welding business.

While that school is still a couple of years off, the district plans to open Cypress Creek Middle School in August 2020.

It will be located on the same campus on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, where Cypress Creek Middle High has been serving grades six through 12.

Once the new middle school opens, it will serve grades six through eight, while the high school serves grades nine through 12.

The Pasco County School Board approved boundary changes — which primarily affected the Seven Oaks community in Wesley Chapel — to reassign students from that area to Cypress Creek Middle and Cypress Creek High. The boundary changes will relieve crowding at John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High School.

In the fall of 2020, Pasco County Schools is scheduled to open Cypress Creek Middle School. It is being designed for 1,600 students, making it the district’s largest middle school. The middle school will join Cypress Creek High and Pasco Hernando State College’s Instructional and Performing Arts Center. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

On the same Cypress Creek campus, the school district donated land to Pasco-Hernando State College for the Instructional Performing Arts Center, now under construction, which will be known as IPAC.

The new performing arts center is expected to provide both educational opportunities and entertainment. It also is expected to benefit middle school through college students, through its programming.

Cypress Creek Middle School was designed to be compatible with the performing arts center, too. It will have a state-of-the-art black box theater, as well as facilities for dance, orchestra and chorus.

Meanwhile, the district also plans to open Starkey K-8 School in August 2021. It’s the first district school designed deliberately to serve kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school is the second phase of a partnership between Pasco County Schools, Pasco County government and Wheelock Communities, the private developers of Starkey Ranch, a community off State Road 54 in Trinity.

One part of the project is the Starkey District Park, which opened its first phase in November 2017. Two additional phases are planned for the park.

The school will be near the district park.

There’s also a third part of the project that involves construction of what’s been dubbed TLC, which stands for theater, library and cultural center.

In addition to new construction, the district also is working to improve existing facilities.

Most recently, it wrapped up a massive makeover of Land O’ Lakes High School — which involved five phases, and required considerable coordination to complete while students and staff remained on campus.

The work was done in stages to avoid sending students and staffs to another campus, or using split sessions.

The project involved reconfiguring spaces to improve campus flow, and modernizing facilities.

It involved tearing out walls, redoing plumbing, electrical and upgrades to technology. It also included a five-classroom addition to the science wing.

The school recently celebrated the project’s completion with a rededication ceremony, and on another night, it offered public tours.

Major Pasco County Schools projects, 2019-2020:

  • Zephyrhills High campus-wide renovation
  • Land O Lakes High campus-wide renovation, final phase
  • Cypress Creek Middle construction
  • Starkey K-8 construction
  • Starkey Library Theater construction
  • East Technical High construction
  • SunlakeHigh design and construction of classroom wing
  • Bexley Elementary design and construction of classroom wing

Source: Pasco County Schools

Published January 01, 2020

ICI Homes’ Most Popular Floor Plan Ready Now In Bexley

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One of the most beautiful and functional move-in ready homes in Bexley, Land O’ Lakes’ top-selling community, is now available from ICI Homes.

The four-bedroom, three-bath Costa Mesa is on a 70-foot corner homesite in Bexley’s most prestigious neighborhood, located close to the clubhouse and pools. The semi-custom home includes luxury finishes, an expansive lanai, mud room with built-in bench off the garage, huge walk-in pantry, and tandem garage ideal for a compact car, golf cart or storage.

The Costa Mesa open floor plan is 2,565 square feet with four bedrooms and three baths.

The Costa Mesa’s open floor plan flows with 2,565 square feet of living area designed perfectly for the active lifestyle Bexley extols.

“This home is an entertainer’s dream. Its gathering room, gourmet kitchen and dining room are one expansive space highlighted by lots of windows that capture tons of natural light,” said Ron Ferguson, division president for ICI Homes. “People absolutely love the huge kitchen and its extra-large island, which is a standard feature and one of the largest islands offered by any builder.”

Families interested in this home also will be drawn to its location in Bexley, a Newland community located off State Road 54, just east of the Suncoast Parkway. Bexley was recently named the top-selling master-planned community in Tampa Bay, with home sales up more than 45 percent, compared to a year ago.

“ICI Homes has partnered with Newland for several years in both Bexley and FishHawk Ranch in south Hillsborough County,” said Ferguson. “Pasco families looking to move up to a prestigious new home don’t have to travel far to experience Florida’s best privately held builder and master-planned community, right here in their backyard.”

Buying an ICI Homes in Bexley is a wise financial investment for families, and also one that offers an outdoor lifestyle attractive to families of all kinds.

Bexley is designed so residents can enjoy the great outdoors. The community is home to miles of multi-surface Avid™ trails, ideal for walking, biking, jogging and strollers. Several community parks dot the landscape, and sports lovers of all ages use the Mud, Sweat and Gears Park for impromptu soccer or football games, while younger kids spend hours playing on custom-built playgrounds.

At the heart of this award-winning community is The Bexley Club, where people enjoy scenic lakefront views at the Twisted Sprocket Café. Next door to the clubhouse, Suncoast Trailside Bicycles sells a variety of bikes, gear and clothing, and offers repairs and rentals. Two additional buildings make up The Bexley Club: a cardio-focused fitness center, and a screened-in game room with air hockey, foosball and a pool table. There are also two resort-style pools, an outdoor fire pit and an event lawn.

The schools zoned for Bexley residents are some of the best in Pasco County — Bexley Elementary, Rushe Middle School and Sunlake High School. Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes, a highly regarded charter school, is just minutes from Bexley.

This is the last chance to buy an ICI Home in Bexley. ICI Homes is building its final three homes in Bexley, which includes the Costa Mesa that is ready now, and the slightly smaller Egret VII, which will soon be under construction.

Since ICI Homes was established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

The sales center for Bexley is in Asturia, another ICI Homes community just a mile away in Odessa, at 2112 Secret Cove, (727) 432-3069. Stop by or call today to tour the Costa Mesa home in Bexley between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday.

Published November 27, 2019

David Weekley Opens New Grenada Model At Bexley

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David Weekley Homes is celebrating the introduction of its new Manor Home Series with the opening of its Grenada model in Bexley, a Newland community located in Land O’ Lakes along the in-demand State Road 54 corridor.

This is Weekley’s third model home in Bexley, and the latest to open. This beautiful home showcases an open-concept layout on the first floor, with spacious kitchen, dining and living areas, an office/den, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3-car garage. On the second floor are a large bonus room and half bath. The home has a total of 2,938 square feet.

The Grenada showcases an open-concept layout on the first floor.

“This is one of our most innovative new floor plans,” said Jennifer Cole, senior marketing director for David Weekley Homes in Tampa. “Buyers love the openness and convenience of first floor living, and the bonus room on the second floor gives families a getaway space for teens and hobbies.”

The Grenada’s gourmet kitchen is open and airy with loads of soft close cabinets, features an oven and microwave combination, a gas range and stylish wood hood, and wine cooler off the dining room. A large quartz island dramatically separates the kitchen from the formal dining room and family room.

The Owner’s Retreat has large windows overlooking the pool with breathtaking, long views of wetlands, cypress trees and wilderness. The spa-like bathroom has a freestanding modern tub and oversized, open shower designed for two. The walk-in closet is as large as a small bedroom, with built-in shelves and space that extends under the stairwell.

The Grenada is one of seven floor plans available in the Manor Series, which range from 2,537to 3,783square feet in one- and two-story floor plans, all with 3-car garages. Homes in the Manor Series are built on 70-foot lots — some of the largest in Bexley — with most backing up to wetlands and protected conservation areas.

The Grenada’s gourmet kitchen is open and airy with loads of soft close cabinets.

Two inventory homes are currently being built — the Boulevard and Beckwith. Both will be completed before the start of the 2019-20 school year.

“If you’re looking for a new home before the new school year begins, look no farther than our Manor Series of homes in Bexley and its top-rated schools,” said Cole. Bexley families attend Bexley Elementary, located inside the community, and Charles S. Rushe Middle and Sunlake High schools, and located less than two miles away.

At 3,197 square feet, the Boulevard home under construction is another one-story plan. Its open-concept plan features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, office/study and a unique retreat that’s perfect as a playroom or hobby area. From the home’s stunning entry, one can see to the back of the home into the oversized backyard. The gourmet gas kitchen has stainless appliances, trendy farmhouse sink and classic white quartz countertops. The bath in the owner’s suite has a walk-in super shower, white cabinets, quartz countertop with double sinks, and a huge closet.

The second inventory home in the Manor Series is the award-winning Beckwith. This two-story plan, which features the master suite on the first floor, has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 3-car garage. A beautiful foyer opens to the dining room on the left, and a study on right, with sight-lines to the back of the home.  Stunning RevWood  flooring is planned for throughout the first floor to give this home a rich character. The gourmet gas kitchen has spacious granite countertops, stainless appliances and stylish vent hood. The private owner’s suite includes a comfortable sitting area, with a bath that boasts a massive walk-in shower and huge walk-in closet. Upstairs the home has 3 bedrooms and bonus room.

Manor Series homes start from the $460s. David Weekly also offers the Cottage and Village Series in Bexley, which combined offer 10 floor plans ranging from 2,300 to 3,500 square feet built on 50- and 60-foot homesites. Each series has a beautifully furnished model home opened Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

David Weekley Homes is offering a 5 percent discount on all Quick Move-In Homes at Bexley that are contracted by July 31 during their Summer Savings Event. This discount can be applied toward the purchase price , closing costs, or toward an appliance package and blinds.

For more information about David Weekley Homes in Bexley and its Summer Savings Event, call (813) 422-6186, or go to DavidWeekleyHomes.com.

About Bexley

Bexley is an 1,800-acre, master-planned community that emphasizes pedestrian-friendly activities for outdoor fun among its 1,200 acres dedicated to open spaces. Over 10 miles of trails made by Avid Trails lead through preserves and wetlands, around ponds and lakes, and to pocket parks, a dog park and sports fields.

The community has award-winning amenities, including The Bexley Club with its fitness center, pools, and festival lawn for concerts and cookouts. Bexley also boasts a picturesque, lakeside clubhouse with a fully staffed bike shop and the full-service Twisted Sprocket Café, which is open for breakfast, lunch and happy hour.

Bexley is located next to the Suncoast Parkway, making it convenient to Tampa Regional Airport, Westshore business district, downtown Tampa and area beaches and attractions.

About David Weekley Homes

David Weekley Homes is the nation’s largest privately held builder and has closed more than 90,000 homes. It was founded in 1976, is headquartered in Houston and operates in 20 cities across the United States. It was the first builder in the United States to be awarded the Triple Crown of American Home Building, an honor which includes “America’s Best Builder,” “National Housing Quality Award” and “National Builder of the Year.” Weekley has also appeared 13 times on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.

A Beautiful ICI Home In Time For The Holidays

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Summer is the busiest time of year to buy a home, because families want to know what school their children will be attending in their new neighborhood, and because they want to be moved and settled before the holidays.

This summer, however, many families have become frustrated and have stopped looking because of the low supply of available houses.

If your family is wanting to move up to a new home, don’t give up. ICI Homes, one of Florida’s most prestigious builders, has beautiful and unique inventory homes available in the master-planned communities of Bexley in Land O’ Lakes and Asturia in Odessa.

“Our homes are specifically designed for families with school-aged children, that offer the latest technology and innovative, open floor plans that connect large family gathering spaces to secluded study enclaves,” said Ron Ferguson, division manager of the company’s West Florida Division.

In Bexley, ICI Homes’ popular Pamela model is move-in ready. This one-story, 3,089-square-foot home has four bedrooms, three baths and a three-car garage. Its 12-foot-high foyer gives the option of walking into a flex space/study, kitchen and gathering area, or straight into the owner’s suite. A gourmet kitchen is steps away from the large gathering and dining rooms, both which open to an expansive covered lanai.

Bexley’s excellent schools are one of the top reasons many families decide to live in Bexley. Older children attend Land O’ Lakes High and Pine View Middle, great schools that offer the challenging International Baccalaureate program.

Located within the development is Bexley Elementary, which many children walk and bicycle to from nearby homes. Just completing its first year of operation, the school achieved several important milestones, including scoring the highest on standardized third grade reading tests in all of Pasco County.

Over in Asturia, this community’s schools also excel, with youngsters zoned to Mitchell High, Seven Oaks Middle and Odessa Elementary, the most preferred schools in west Pasco.

ICI Homes has four inventory homes underway in Asturia that will be ready in December.

The Serena is a one-story home that is one of the builder’s most popular plans. At 2,217 square feet, the home has four bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage. Its unique grand foyer pulls you through the house with 12-foot ceilings, and its large kitchen and great room gracefully flow onto a covered lanai that stretches along the back of the home.

“This home never feels crowded, whether you’re relaxing with family, playing with the kids or entertaining friends,” said Ferguson.

ICI Homes has several inventory homes, including the Serena model above, that are ready now, or will be in time for the holidays.

The Santa Maria is a two-story inventory home built on a private conservation lot, with the master bedroom suite and a half bath downstairs. Upstairs are three bedrooms, two full baths and a large game room.  At 2,933 square feet, this is one of ICI’s largest homes, and includes a three-car garage.

“We are ready to move quickly on all of our inventory homes, and will do everything we can to get a family settled as soon as possible,” said Ferguson.

In addition to building beautiful homes, ICI Homes rewards its buyers with creative incentives that are fun and lucrative, including up to $10,000 in free upgrades that can be used for a deluxe kitchen, golf cart, outdoor space or summer kitchen.

Plus, buyers who contract by August 31 receive a luxurious cruise for two on Royal Caribbean to Mexico or the Bahamas.

“We’re having so much fun with this promotion,” said Sales Manager Leah Turner. “After all the work involved in building a house, moving and getting settled, our customers are having a blast taking time off to enjoy their free cruise. They deserve it, and we enjoy showing our homeowners how much we appreciate them.”

ICI Homes got its start 40 years ago in Daytona Beach. The original founder still owns the company, and over the years expanded into Jacksonville, Orlando and Gainesville. It entered the Tampa Bay market in 2015 in Fishhawk Ranch in south Hillsborough County.

The company moved into Pasco County two years later as one of the original builders in Bexley. Then, in late 2017, it added Asturia to its growing list of communities. It also sells homes to buyers wanting to build on their own lot.

ICI Homes is one of Florida’s most premier builders, and for many years has been ranked in the Top 100 Builders in the nation by Builder Magazine. Established in 1980, the company has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida, and is the recipient of several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

The Asturia sales center for ICI Homes is at 15134 Aviles Parkway in Odessa, (813) 359-0264. At Bexley, the sales center is at 16754 Courtyard Loop in Land O’ Lakes, (813) 530-9069.

Published July 25, 2018

Baby Boomers Await Del Webb Bexley

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If you’re a baby boomer looking to retire in the next few years, imagine a 55-plus community that offers an active lifestyle located within one of Tampa Bay’s most desirable master-planned communities, where your children and grandchildren live just minutes away.

This is the vision Del Webb is bringing to Pasco County, in the Land O’ Lakes’ community of Bexley — a 1,825-acre development by Newland Communities, one of the most respected developers in the country.

“This is the first brand new Del Webb community in the Tampa Bay Region in a long time, and the anticipation and interest we’re seeing is incredible,” said Kelli Bailey, vice president of sales for the Pulte Group, which has owned Del Webb since 2001.

“With very little marketing, 2,800 people have already registered on our VIP list to receive regular updates about Del Webb Bexley,” said Bailey. “We’re seeing a huge pent-up demand for this community, especially from local residents.”

Bailey reports that about 70 percent of the community’s VIP members already live in Tampa Bay, and in particular Pasco County, where many members have long-term connections to the area through family, friends and work.

“Tampa Bay is a great place to live, no matter your age,” said Bailey. “And, as one gets closer to retirement, having an active adult community close-by like Del Webb Bexley, gives retirees the opportunity to continue living near friends and family, enjoy the area’s great shopping, dining and entertainment, and relax at beautiful beaches less than an hour away.”

Construction of Del Webb Bexley began this spring with roads and infrastructure at the 489-acre site. Work begins later this summer on the community’s  first model homes and amenities. An official grand opening is planned for early 2019.

Pre-sales will begin in late November to members on its VIP list, and the first residents will begin moving into the community next summer. At completion, Del Webb Bexley will have 850 homes.

Residents will not have to worry about lawn care and landscaping, because the community’s homeowners association will take care of all lawn maintenance.

“People really are looking forward to never having to mow their grass again and instead focus on enjoying Del Webb’s unrivaled lifestyle,” said Bailey.

Del Web Bexley is offering 17 floor plans designed with features desired by older residents. Homes will include integrated outdoor living areas, kitchens and laundries with raised appliances, bedrooms that easily convert into offices, dens and hobby rooms, and an abundance of storage to accommodate downsizing.

Home sizes will range from 1,200 to 4,000 square feet, and prices will begin in the low $200s. Home sites will be on 40-, 50- and 60-foot lots, with many backing up to water and conservation.

Pulte chose Land O’ Lakes for its newest Del Webb community after extensive market research to identify the best location for its Tampa development.

Focus groups identified top priorities as easy access to downtown, the Westshore district and Tampa International Airport; close proximity to beaches and other recreational activities; and top-rated medical facilities.

These priorities brought Pulte’s search to central Pasco County, and ultimately to Bexley, because of its convenient location next to the Suncoast Parkway, its closeness to several hospitals and medical specialists, and availability of many diverse recreational activities.

Another bonus is Del Webb’s location within Bexley’s master-planned community.

“We expect many home-buyers will choose Del Webb Bexley because they want to live close to their children and grandchildren,” said Bailey.

“It’s the best of two worlds,” said Bailey. “As people get older, many want to live in an age-restricted community like Del Webb because of the social and recreational activities designed just for them. But, they also want to live close to their families and younger generations.”

Bexley’s elaborate trail system will connect to Del Webb, so families can walk or bicycle between neighborhoods, and to and from Bexley Elementary, which is located just west of Del Webb homes.

Setting Del Webb apart from the rest of Bexley will be its top-tier amenities, which will open in early 2020.

The centerpiece is a 17,000-square-foot clubhouse and recreational complex, which will employ an on-site lifestyle director to help organize clubs, seminars, classes and fun things for everyone to do. The clubhouse will include a fitness center, aerobics studio, billiards, and neighborhood café and bar.

Outdoors, there will be a resort-style swimming pool with lap lanes, and a separate resistance pool for water exercises. Two tennis courts, six pickle ball courts and four bocce ball courts will offer competitive play for residents. An outdoor amphitheater with an event lawn will host live bands and performances.

Del Webb families can walk or bike along Bexley’s 10-plus miles of winding trails that connect neighborhoods, parks and gardens, dog parks, community gardens, scenic lakes and wildlife areas.

Del Webb has been building 55-plus communities since the 1960s, including Sun City Center in south Hillsborough County. Del Webb Bexley is located about one mile north of State Road 54, where Sunlake Boulevard intersects with Tower Road. For more information, and to register for the community’s VIP list, go to BexleyFlorida.com/del-webb.

Published June 27, 2018

Bexley Elementary celebrates its formal dedication

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Bexley Elementary was formally dedicated last week.

Members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce join administrators from Pasco County Schools and members of the Pasco County School Board during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the formal dedication of Bexley Elementary School. (B.C. Manion)

It was a festive event, with Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning making some remarks, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the Sunlake High School band performing a few numbers.

There was cake, of course.

And, cupcakes, too.

The cafeteria was crowded with families celebrating the new school, and many of the guests took advantage of the opportunity to go on self-guided tours to see the classrooms and meet school staff.

The school, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., opened in August to relieve overcrowding at Odessa and Oakstead elementary schools. The formal dedication was on the evening of Oct. 10.

In a tour before the school open, Principal Vicki Wolin described Bexley’s emphasis on research, enrichment opportunities and collaboration.

Bexley, which is in a subdivision developed by Newland Communities, is the largest elementary school that Pasco County Schools has ever built.

Its design was the result of a collaboration between architect Harvard Jolly, four elementary principals and David Scanga, assistant superintendent for elementary schools.

Wolin was one of the principals weighing in on that design — which is intended to facilitate enriching learning opportunities for children.

Published Oct. 18, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes afoot, as school bells ring in a new year

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School bells are summoning students back to classes in Hillsborough and Pasco counties — and some students will be attending classes on entirely new campuses.

Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, a new public charter school in Hillsborough County, begins its inaugural school year on Aug. 10. It is located at 18681 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, at 18681 N. Dale Mabry Highway, is opening this year as a new public charter school in Hillsborough County. The school, located in Lutz, will serve elementary and middle school students. (B.C. Manion)

Meanwhile, Pasco County is opening Bexley Elementary, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, and Cypress Creek Middle High School, in Wesley Chapel.

Students arriving at Land O’ Lakes High School will find reconfigured spaces, to accommodate a $29 million makeover.

At Sunlake High School and Rushe Middle School, there will be a new traffic pattern for student drop-off and pickups, and at Wiregrass Ranch High, the school will be back to operating on a seven-period day.

Those are just a few of the changes in store for the new school year, which begins in Hillsborough County on Aug. 10 and in Pasco County on Aug. 14.

Some changes, which are state mandates, affect public school students in both counties.

Other changes affect students at a particular school or within a specific county.

For instance, the Pasco school district is revising its crisis plans to give students and staff a better chance to survive an active threat on campus.

Meanwhile, Principal Vicki Wolin will lead the new Bexley Elementary School, in the Bexley subdivision off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. That school was built to ease crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools.

Bexley is also part of the school district’s feeder pattern for the Aviation Academy at Sunlake High School.

As such, Bexley will have drones, flight simulators and robotics. Its STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab is situated in its media center, which it calls its REC Center, which stands for Research, Engage and Collaborate.

Cypress Creek Middle High School, at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, will serve students previously assigned to Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake high schools and John Long, Weightman and Rushe middle schools.

Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles, previously principal at Wesley Chapel High, will recognize many of the students streaming onto the campus for their first day.

But, there will be many unfamiliar faces, too.

The school has been hosting events ahead of opening day to help students get acquainted with the school and to find out what it has to offer.

Cypress Creek Middle High will serve sixth- through 11th-graders its initial year and will add a senior class its second year.

The new high school’s curriculum runs the gamut from ballet to digital design to American Sign Language. It offers several certification programs, including Microsoft Office, QuickBooks and Autodesk Inventor.

Cypress Creek’s middle school curriculum includes Criminal Justice and Engineering academies, plus core classes.

The new schools aren’t the only places where Pasco County students will have a chance for new experiences.

The district also is expanding its Cambridge Programme to San Antonio Elementary School.

And, Zephyrhills High School is adding a new academy of Building Construction Technology and Public Safety Telecommunications 911 certification for the Academy of Criminal Justice.

A new public charter school also has opened in Pasco County, too, bringing the district’s total number of charter schools to 11. The new charter is called Pasco MYcroSchool and is located in New Port Richey.

Besides new schools and programs, Pasco County also has shifted some principals since last school year and promoted an assistant principal to the top post.

Those changes are:

  • Principal Scott Atkins has moved from Sand Pine Elementary School to West Zephyrhills Elementary School.
  • Christine Twardosz has transferred from Centennial Elementary School to Sand Pine.
  • Gretchen Rudolph Fladd has moved from Veterans to Centennial.
  • Melissa Bidgood, who was an assistant principal at Watergrass Elementary, has been promoted to the principal’s post at Veterans.

Parents wanting to know more about the upcoming school year should check out their school’s website.

School websites can provide a wealth of information. They generally list important upcoming dates for school activities, such as cheerleader tryouts, booster club meetings, school spirit nights and parent-teacher events.

The websites also often let parents know how they can get involved at school and how they can help their children at home.

Most schools also have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, and some post videos to YouTube, too.

Websites maintained by the Hillsborough and Pasco school districts can also provide useful information, too.

Free breakfasts
Pasco County Schools will serve free breakfasts to all students at these sites in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area during the 2017-2018 school year:

Elementary schools

  • Centennial Elementary
  • Chester Taylor Elementary
  • Lacoochee Elementary
  • Pasco Elementary
  • Quail Hollow Elementary
  • Rodney B. Cox Elementary
  • West Zephyrhills Elementary
  • Woodland Elementary

Middle schools:

  • Centennial Middle
  • Pasco Middle
  • Stewart Middle

High schools:

  • Pasco High
  • Zephyrhills High

 

Meal prices for Pasco County Schools
Reduced-price meals

Reduced-price breakfast: .30
Reduced-price lunch: .40
Full-price meals
Full-price breakfast
Elementary: $1.35
Secondary: $1.50
Charter, K-8: $1.50
Charter, high school: $1.60
Full-price lunch
Elementary: $2.50
Middle: $3
High: $3.25

Published August 9, 2017

New opportunities await at Cypress Creek Middle High

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Much of the furniture and equipment has yet to be installed at Cypress Creek Middle High School, but even without it, it’s easy to see that the school is designed to offer students a multitude of opportunities when it opens in August.

Cypress Creek Middle High Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles leads a tour of Pasco County School Board members, Superintendent Kurt Browning and other invited guests for a sneak preview of Cypress Creek Middle High School. (B.C. Manion)

Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles and members of her administrative team recently led Pasco County School Board members and Superintendent Kurt Browning on a tour around the campus at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Stops on the tour included a science classroom, the school gymnasium, the cafeteria, the weight room, locker rooms, a band room, a conference room, a variety of other classrooms and a look at the athletic fields.

The tour was similar to a walk-around that school board members and other guests took at Bexley Elementary, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, earlier in the afternoon. Bexley, built to relieve crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools, also is set to open in August.

Both schools have different types of seating and spaces that can be reconfigured to suit the needs of teachers and students. And, both are designed to foster collaboration among teachers and among students.

Cypress Creek Middle High will serve students in grades six through 11 its initial year and will add a senior class the following year.

During the tour of that campus, Hetzler-Nettles stopped in a classroom that was flanked by classrooms on either side.

“This is an area where we could put three teachers together, they could collaborate. You could open the doors to that classroom and could open up the wall (a sliding wall),” she said.

At the same time, the principal said she’s aware that parents have raised concerns about having middle school and high school students on the same campus.

To help relieve those concerns, the principal said, “they have separate locker rooms, and they will not be crossing paths (to get to the locker rooms).”

Cypress Creek Middle High also will offer high school academies in business management, criminal justice and engineering, and middle school academics in criminal justice and engineering.

Check out this water fountain at Cypress Creek Middle High. You can get a sip of water now and fill up your water bottle for later.

It also will have separate band programs for middle and high school students.

But, it will not have an agricultural program, at least initially, Hetzler-Nettles said.

Some of the features that stood out during the recent tour included water fountains that are designed to fill water bottles, similar to the fountains in some airports. Bathrooms without exterior doors, similar to those seen at airports and other public buildings.

The shower stalls in the boys’ locker room are individual stalls and are outfitted with curtains. There’s also a stall that’s designed to be accessible for a student with a disability.

And, there’s also a chiller farm near the athletic field — attesting to the big job it will be to keep the school cool.

During their visit to Bexley Elementary, board members and guests had a chance to walk around the largest elementary school that Pasco County Schools has ever built, according to John Petrashek, director of construction services for the district.

Its design was a result of collaboration between architect Harvard Jolly, four elementary principals and David Scanga, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, Petrashek said.

The elementary school was built to last, Petrashek said, noting it has an expected lifespan of 50 years.

Want to know more?
Cypress Creek Middle High is inviting students and parents in for a sneak peek before classes begin. For details, visit the school’s website at CCMHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.
For more information about Bexley Elementary School, visit BES.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Published July 5, 2017

Pasco County schools expect budget squeeze

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As things stand now, Pasco County Schools could be facing an $8.7 million budget shortfall for the 2017-18 budget year, and Superintendent Kurt Browning has begun laying the groundwork for potential cuts.

He briefed the Pasco County School Board during a May 16 budget workshop about what he’s been doing so far to gear up for what could become a tough budget year.

Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning

The final budget numbers won’t be known until Gov. Rick Scott acts on the budget adopted by the Florida Legislature. Scott has 15 days to sign the budget, veto it, or use his line-item veto authority. The 15-day time clock begins ticking once the budget lands on Scott’s desk.

Browning told school board members that he had met the previous week with all the district’s department directors and directed them to “prepare a 10 percent budget reduction exercise.”

The superintendent said he emphasized it was an exercise, but he added, “we’re going to look at each one of those proposed cuts that they recommend, and we will look at it accordingly and see what the impacts to the district are.”

On the same day, Browning had a conference call with secondary principals and two conference calls with the district’s elementary principals, to let them know they need to hold one instructional position open.

The district isn’t taking the position away from each school, but it is freezing it, Browning said.

The district estimates it would take 146 positions to plug an $8.7 million budget gap, Browning said.

Olga Swinson, the district’s chief finance officer, also noted that the charter school enrollment in Pasco County is projected to increase by about 977 full-time equivalent students, which is about a 25 percent increase over the previous year.

The district is also facing additional costs associated with opening Bexley Elementary and Cypress Creek Middle/High School, she said.

There also will be higher retirement costs, health insurance costs, increased costs for McKay Scholarships and higher costs in a number of other areas, according to Swinson.

Browning told board members that the district is considering a wide range of options to balance the budget.

The district is looking at extended school year funds, extended school day funds, furlough days, closing schools, class size requirements, dual enrollment, leadership supplements, athletics, athletic supplements and other options, Browning said.

“The bottom line is, nothing is off the table. Nothing’s off the table,” Browning said.

“The only editorial comment I will make is that, in a year when the state is not in economic crisis, we should not be in this economic crisis,” Browning said.

Published May 24, 2017

Hearings authorized for impact fee hike

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The Pasco County Commission has set into motion the process for boosting school impact fees, which are charged against new residential construction to help pay for new schools.

Commissioners directed county staff to set up a hearing before the Development Review Committee and to establish two public hearing dates on a proposal to boost school impact fees.

In pushing the issue forward, commissioners rejected a recommendation by the School Infrastructure Funding Committee, which they had appointed to study funding needs and potential revenue sources for school construction.

New houses are springing up across Pasco County, prompting the need for more schools. The Pasco County Commission has authorized public hearings to consider a rate hike in school impact fees charged against new residential construction, except for in age-restricted communities for those 55 and older.
(B.C. Manion)

That committee recommended the County Commission adopt the full impact fee recommended by a school district consultant, provided the Pasco County School Board votes to put at least a quarter-cent sales tax on the 2018 ballot, so voters can decide the issue.

County commissioners didn’t like that idea.

“I’m not very keen on the recommendation for this board to attempt to almost hijack the process, or tie the school board’s hands by forcing them to go out and raise the sales tax. That makes me uncomfortable,” Commission Chairman Mike Moore said.

“It’s not my job as a county commissioner to tell the school board members what they should do,” Moore said. “I do not want them to feel that we’re forcing them to do something.”

Commissioner Mike Wells agreed: “I don’t think we should tell them what to do.”

Wells also agreed with Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano, who said the board needs to help the school district to tackle the need for new schools.

“We’ve got to help our youth. It comes down to ‘What’s the amount?’,’” Wells said.

Starkey, a former school board member, said, “I believe the school district needs help. It’s unfortunate that our state is, in my opinion, not funding needs at an adequate level, and I guess now it comes to the local government to help schools.”

Mariano added: “I think it’s clear that everyone agrees they need the full fee.”

The new fee would be tiered, based on the square footage of a house.
As it stands now, the proposed school impact fee would be $7,539 for a house with less than 1,500 square feet; $9,785 for a house larger than 1,500 square feet, but less than 2,500 square feet; and $12,028 for a residence exceeding 2,500 square feet.

The ordinance also would include a provision that allows the fee to go up or down each year, based on construction costs.

Those figures are subject to change, based on the County Commission’s vote after the Development Review Committee’s meeting and the two public hearings.

Any new impact fee would take effect 90 days after approval by the County Commission.

Even if the county adopts the highest rate, school district officials estimate a $284 million shortfall in revenue needed for capital construction during the next decade.

The district says that the impact fees would be used to build Cypress Creek Middle, Starkey Ranch Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, a high school with a location to be determined and an elementary school in the Wesley Chapel area.

The district is already feeling the squeeze and conditions are expected to worsen, as an estimated 20,000 students are projected to arrive in the district during the next 10 years.

Some relief is expected, as Bexley Elementary and Cypress Creek Middle High are set to open in the fall.

But, as residential growth continues to march through Pasco, the school district will have to come up with additional revenues to pay for schools needed to accommodate increased enrollment, said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools. Boosting impact fees is only part of the solution, he said.

Published May 10, 2017