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Mansfield Boulevard

Creating a culture for success at Wiregrass Ranch High

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Wiregrass Ranch High School Principal Robyn White was just 13 when she decided her path in life.

“The only question I had, honestly, was whether I wanted to teach music or math,” said White, who went on to teach mathematics at the middle and high school levels, before stepping into school administration.

Next month, on March 13, White will mark her 15th anniversary at Wiregrass Ranch High, at 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Wiregrass Ranch High School Principal Robyn White has seen a lot of change through the years, but she said students essentially remain the same: ‘They just want somebody to care. They just want to know that they’re making somebody proud.’ (The principal had been wearing a mask as a precaution due to COVID-19, but she removed it for this photo). (B.C. Manion)

The educator joined the school as an assistant principal, under the direction of Ray Bonti, the school’s first principal. Later, she was promoted to the school’s top post, to replace Bonti when he ascended to become an assistant superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

White said Bonti was one of the most important mentors in her career. He gave her a chance, she said, to learn about all aspects of school administration before she took the helm at Wiregrass Ranch.

Bonti, now executive director of the Hillsborough Association of School Administrators, said White excelled, and was his logical replacement.

“Robyn is one of the smartest administrators that I’ve worked with over my almost 30 years working in Pasco County Schools,” Bonti said. “Not only was she one of the smartest that I’ve worked with — she was a tireless worker. She put 100% effort into it.”

She also provides sound guidance, Bonti added.

“I learned a lot from her. A lot of people learned a lot from her. She mentored many teachers. She mentored many students,” Bonti said.

Over the years, Wiregrass Ranch High has developed a reputation for excellence, and during the 2019-2020 school year, White was selected as high school principal of the year by the Pasco County Council PTA.

Denise Nicholas, president of the council at the time, said White is known for running a tight ship, and for welcoming student ideas.

“She has an open-door policy for her students,” Nicholas said.

White listens, she said.

“The number of activities and groups for students, with whatever different interests — if they  have a plan and they have a sponsor, and it makes sense, she absolutely will support that.

“There is a tremendous number of clubs, for every different interest, which is phenomenal,” Nicholas said.

Bonti said that White “has always maintained that really good balance of setting high expectations and creating a culture that (makes) people want to be there.”

She didn’t set out to be a principal
When White was beginning her career, her only ambition was to teach.

“I just remember being in awe of teachers, and what they did and what they taught me,” White said, noting she was particularly influenced by Marita Noe and Shirley Holm, two of her high school math teachers.

White knew she had a knack for helping her friends and other students learn.

At one point, her mom recognized her math skills and suggested she pursue a career in accounting.

But, White didn’t want to sit behind a desk, she wanted to be personally involved in helping others.

So, after graduating from the University of West Florida, in Pensacola, White landed her first job, teaching mathematics at Dunedin Highland Middle School in Pinellas County.

Students across the nation walked out of classrooms on March 14, 2018, in a protest against gun violence and a call for greater action by Congress to keep students safe. The walkout was sanctioned at Wiregrass Ranch High. ‘I believe that students should have a voice to express their concerns, their opinions,’ said Wiregrass Ranch High Principal Robyn White. (File)

After that, she worked four years in a dropout prevention program, before returning to the classroom to teach sixth-grade mathematics.

Her next teaching stop was at Dunedin High School.

“I loved being a part of the classroom,” White said.

It never occurred to her to pursue a job in administration.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined that I would have been a principal of a school. I wouldn’t have even given it a consideration,” she said.

But, gentle nudging from Dr. Mildred Reed, her principal at Dunedin High School, changed that.

White was very involved at Dunedin High. Besides teaching, she was the athletic director, she sponsored multiple clubs and she chaired a committee involving small learning communities.

Reed came to her and said: “I don’t understand. You do all of this and don’t get any pay for it, Why wouldn’t you go back to school and consider getting into administration?”

White went on: “I really hadn’t thought of it, to be very honest. I loved being in the classroom.”

But Reed had planted a seed.

White began taking a class here and there, thinking perhaps someday she might explore an administrative role. After all, she already had a master’s degree and would just need certification.

When an assistant principal retired, White became an acting assistant principal — allowing her the chance to give it a try.

“I did that for a semester, thinking that position would be open the following year and it would be a nice, easy transition,” White said.

It didn’t play out that way.

“That was the year that Pinellas County cut 23 assistant principals, so, I went back to the classroom,” she said.

That didn’t bother her, because she loved teaching.

But because she had served as an acting assistant principal, she found herself being called upon repeatedly to fill in when another assistant principal was out.

“That got a little bit old,” White said, so she decided to apply in Pasco County, which was advertising for administrators.

Her first interview was for a job at Zephyrhills High, which she didn’t get.

Her next interview was for a job at Wesley Chapel High, which she landed.

“I’ll never forget the day I got the call. It was a Friday afternoon,” she said.

She was at a conference wrestling meet.

“I thought, ‘My goodness, how am I going to tell these kids that I’m leaving?

“I can just remember, going back and sitting up in the bleachers and literally putting up a newspaper in front of my face and crying.

“Mr. (Andy) Frelick (principal at Wesley Chapel) was very kind. He allowed (me) to have some flex days in finishing up at Dunedin High School, because I was involved in so much.”

She went to work at Wesley Chapel High on Jan. 31, 2005, but her stay there was short-lived.

Wiregrass Ranch High was opening and students from Wesley Chapel were being reassigned to that school. White’s job at Wesley Chapel High was cut.

She joined Bonti’s staff on March 13, 2006.

When the new high school opened, it had a total of 700 ninth- and 10th-graders, White said, and it operated in portables behind Weightman Middle School. Wiregrass Ranch relocated to its current campus over winter break.

By its third year, the high school was operating at its 1,650-student capacity.

Its enrollment has swelled through the years, causing the school to add portables, and for two years operated on a 10-period day — to limit the number of students on campus at one time.

Its enrollment also has been reduced with boundary shifts — which were adamantly opposed by parents and students, alike.

Now, the enrollment stands at 2,078 — but the campus feels more spacious this year because about 800 students have opted to learn remotely due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.

Lessons she’s learned through the years
Besides being an educator, White has been a learner, too.

As a teacher intern, her supervising teacher gave her two pieces of advice.

“Piece No. 1:  Stay out of the teachers’ lounge because that’s where negativity breeds.

“And, Piece No. 2: When you don’t enjoy it anymore, get out.

“I tell people to this day: ‘If you’re not enjoying it, why are you staying?’”

She also learned how to manage her emotions.

When she was an acting assistant principal, she said, “I remember multiple times I got very emotional and she (Dr. Reed) told me, ‘Principals don’t cry.’”

White said she has a slightly different message for the people she mentors: “I say, ‘Principals do cry, but with the door shut.’”

She thinks her years in the classroom have helped her to be a better principal.

“You need to be able to relate to what teachers are going through,” she explained.

And, as a leader of a large school, she understands the importance of teamwork.

“There’s no way that I can do this job without the team I have around me. That’s everybody from my custodial, my non-instructional staff, my teachers,” White said.

She has confidence in them.

“They’re all smart people. So, they know what’s going to work for them and what works for their kids. So, I give them the autonomy to decide how that’s going to work,” she said.

Myriad decisions must be made, but White said: “Ultimately, it’s about what’s in the best interest of the kids.”

So much has changed over the years, but students are essentially the same, the principal said.

“They just want somebody to care. They just want to know that they’re making somebody proud.”

Published February 03, 2021

Project aims to improve emergency access

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Construction is underway to make it easier for emergency services to get between New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

The connection of Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street will be barricaded as construction is set to begin in March. The corridor will be an easy access point for first responders traveling between Pasco and Hillsborough counties. (Brian Fernandes)

Mansfield Boulevard is in Wesley Chapel.

Kinnan Street is in New Tampa.

An improvement will connect the streets, but will be accessible only to first responders.

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board approved the connection last June.

It was one of three corridor projects – all interlocking Wesley Chapel and Tampa, that the MPO passed.

The Mansfield-Kinnan connection was initially proposed as a public road for motorists.

The AECOM consulting firm took surveys in 2017 and 2018 to get public feedback about each project. Findings showed that the Mansfield-Kinnan connection was not popular among those responding to the survey.

This was due in part to concerns that an influx of traffic along Mansfield Boulevard could be hazardous to students.

Wiregrass Ranch High School, Dr. John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Elementary School are all located either on or just off that roadway.

As a result, the Mansfield-Kinnan connection proposal was changed to operate as an emergency-vehicle-only corridor.

Pasco County, Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa are all involved in the construction of the connection.

Mansfield Boulevard, in Wesley Chapel, has residencies and schools along its stretch. The roadway soon will become a corridor for emergency vehicles traveling to and from Tampa

The developer of Tampa’s K-Bar Ranch will initiate the paving of the connection, scheduled to begin mid-March.

Hillsborough County will then help with construction, such as striping the road and the installation of an emergency gate.

The gate will only grant cross-county access to emergency vehicles.

Only first responder equipment will open the gateway and Pasco County will oversee its operation.

The Pasco County Commission is expected to approve an agreement for the gate to be used only for emergency vehicles.

Bicyclists and pedestrians will have access, too.

The project calls for the sidewalks on both streets to connect.

Barricades will enclose the construction site.

Completion is expected in the summer.

Published March 18, 2020

School boundary workshop set

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Thousands of Pasco County Schools students will be affected by proposed boundary changes for the 2020-2021 school year.

Most of the boundary changes are related to the opening of Cypress Creek Middle School, which is scheduled to open next fall.

But there are also some changes being proposed that will affect schools in Central Pasco — but would not affect any current students in those schools. Those changes are being proposed based on future development, according to school district materials.

A public workshop is planned on Oct. 7, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, to detail the proposed boundary shifts.

The proposed boundary maps will be displayed and district staff will be available to answer questions.

The Pasco County School Board also will hold a public hearing on Nov. 5, at 6 p.m., at the district’s office complex, 2727 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. A final public hearing on the proposed changes is scheduled at the same location for Nov. 19, at 6 p.m.

The district is in the midst of constructing a new Cypress Creek Middle School, boosting the capacity on the Cypress Creek Middle High campus, at 8701 Old Pasco Road. That campus has been serving students in grades six through 12.

Initially, the district had planned to build both a high school and a middle school on the site, but lacked sufficient funding. So, it opened the high school, but used the buildings to serve students in grades six through 12.

Now, it is planning to open the new middle school in 2020 — shifting existing middle school students into the new school and adding additional students to fill it up.

The extra space in the high school also will be filled through boundary shifts.

The district plans to shift some students from John Long Middle School to Cypress Creek Middle, and also to shift some students from Wiregrass Ranch High to Cypress Creek High boundary.

But boundaries at Pasco High, Pasco Middle, Quail Hollow Elementary, San Antonio Elementary, Wesley Chapel High and Zephyrhills High also will be affected.

The additional proposed boundary adjustments are designed to align school feeder patterns and keep students together as they progress through the school system.

In addition to posting this information on the district’s website, district officials also are contacting potentially impacted families to share this information.

Besides the changes relating to Cypress Creek Middle and Cypress Creek High boundaries, the district also is proposing boundary adjustments to provide for future development.

These boundary changes would not affect any current students, according to information on the district’s website. But changes are being proposed that would affect future populations of these schools: Connerton Elementary, Dr. Mary Giella Elementary, Crews Lake Middle, Pine View Middle, Hudson High and Land O’ Lakes High.

Where: Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel

When: Oct. 7, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Details: Maps of proposed boundary changes will be displayed and school district staff will be on hand to answer questions about the proposed changes.

More information: Go to www.pasco.k12.fl.us for additional information.

Published October 2, 2019

Collaboration creates connectivity

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The opening of the State Road 56 Extension between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills has a personal benefit for Alora Butler, a student at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

She said the new road segment will cut her 30-minute commute to school in half.

Greg Lenners, general manager of The Shops at Wiregrass, expects to see an uptick in business, as the extension of State Road 56 over to the Zephyrhills area makes it easier for shoppers to get to the mall. (Christine Holtzman)

It also reduces the time that the Zephyrhills resident spends on the road, to get to leisure activities or do her banking in Wesley Chapel.

The new 6-mile stretch also makes life easier for her husband, too, as he makes his commute to work at a warehouse in Land O’ Lakes.

Butler is just one of the thousands who can now opt for a shorter, or less congested route, to and from the east side of Pasco County.

Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus, near the intersection of State Road 56 and Mansfield Boulevard, said he thinks the new road will even help students perform better academically.

Less time in traffic means less stress, in O’ Farrell’s opinion. And, because of that, he said, students “are more mentally ready to engage in class, they’re ready to focus more on their coursework.”

Greg Lenners, general manager for The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel, expects the mall to experience an uptick in business because of the better access for shoppers coming from the east.

Laura Zimmerman, who lives on Meadow Pointe Boulevard, is happy to have another option for traveling to Zephyrhills. (Christine Holtzman)

Patrons at the mall said they’re glad to see the new road connection.

“I think it will ease the congestion and offer other alternatives,” said Laura Zimmerman, who lives on Meadow Pointe Boulevard and travels frequently to Zephyrhills.

McKenna Alkishawi, who lives in Zephyrhills, said the new route is “definitely 100 percent” beneficial.

Another Zephyrhills resident — Brenda Maass — is happy there’s a new way to get to Morris Bridge Road, where she can then head north at the new intersection.

For Zephyrhills resident John Skidmore, the new connection makes it easier for both him and his mother to get to doctor appointments.

“It’s about time. It’s going to be great,” Skidmore said.

Brenda Maass, a Zephyrhills resident and retiree, now has an alternative route in State Road 56 to visit friends and shop in the Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes region. (Christine Holtzman)

Donna Pacheco, a Wesley Chapel retiree, is pleased to have a more convenient way to get to Zephyrhills, where she goes three to four times a week to visit her brother, son and grandchildren.

“It’s really about time that they did that (extended the road),” she said.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., sees other benefits that improved connectivity will create.

“You’ve got the (State Road) 56 extension. You’ve got the potential widening of (U.S.) 301 in the north of the county, as well as the alignment of Clinton Avenue and (State Road) 39, which now starts to make us look a little more connected to Polk and some of those areas that we can access.

“We end up being much more strategically located for distribution activity,” Cronin said.

Numerous sources said the project’s success hinged on the collaboration of elected leaders and staff at the state, county and city levels; private landowners; and involved citizens.

Melonie Monson, executive director for The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, said local efforts played a vital role in securing a four-lane road.

McKenna Alkishawi is a Zephyrhills resident who often travels into Wesley Chapel on her leisure time. The USF student said that the new State Road 56 extension will be ‘100 percent’ beneficial in cutting down her commute time. (Christine Holtzman)

“There were a lot of letters written to legislators, to city officials, to government officials — and everybody decided to work together,” Monson said.

Vonnie Mikkelsen, now president and CEO of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce in Oregon, recalls those efforts. “It didn’t come top down. It came grassroots up,” she said.

“Honestly, it was a question of: Why hasn’t this happened sooner?” Mikkelsen said.

She credited then State Rep. Danny Burgess for playing a leading role.

“He listened and he understood immediately,” she said.

But, he wasn’t the only one.

“Our local government officials, they understood the importance. Our airport manager at the time, understood the opportunity that it presented. The Pasco EDC (knew, too).

“Everybody really rallied around the idea, even in the context of the first answer being, ‘No. No way.’

“Quite honestly, we thought, ‘OK. That’s not the final answer,’” Mikkelsen said.

“What really sealed the deal were some conversations at the state level.

Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, said the extension of State Road 56 will reduce commute times for students and staff traveling to the campus, near the intersection of Mansfield Boulevard and State Road 56. (Brian Fernandes)

“Lo, and behold, there was an opportunity. It required some innovative and creative thinking, and some collaborative partnerships at the local level to make it happen.”

Burgess, now executive director for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, agreed: “The public-private partnership aspect, and the various levels of  governments that were involved in this, was really a huge success story, and an example of what can happen when everybody comes together for the common good of a community.”

The partnership resulted in a $22,750,000 loan for the third and fourth lanes of the project, with the loan to be repaid by private development partners through a mobility fee surcharge and a special assessment, if necessary.

The City of Zephyrhills agreed to reimburse the county for 10 percent of any loan shortfall paid for by the county. The contractor, Cone & Graham Inc., also agreed to include all costs associated with the design, permitting and construction, and other costs within the loan amount.

It’s a success that Burgess said he will savor.

“In the Legislature, and politics, in general, you know — in this line of work — you somewhat have to get used to defeats more than victories, if I’m going to be quite honest with you. You actually have to learn to live with that.

“But, then a victory like this happens. It’s validation. This is why you do what you do. You fight every day, because when you do something this big — this will have a profound impact on your community,” he said.

State Road 56 Extension

  • $59.7 million project
  • Runs from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills
  • Signalized intersections added at Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301
  • Road design is curved, to minimize wetlands disruption
  • Amenities include: 10-foot multi-use path; 5-foot sidewalk; 7-foot-wide bicycle lanes on both shoulders

By B.C. Manion and Brian Fernandes

Published July 17, 2019

Pasco MPO board approves new Wesley Chapel connections

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Wesley Chapel motorists would have more options, under connections approved by the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization board on June 11.

The first new connection calls for extending Wesley Chapel’s Meadow Pointe Boulevard, into Tampa.

The second new connection calls for extending the planned Wyndfields Boulevard, which would run from State Road 56 to K-Bar Ranch Boulevard, in Tampa.

Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, may soon see an influx of traffic if extended into neighboring Hillsborough County to the south. On June 11, the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization board approved a proposal to lengthen both Meadow Pointe and Wyndfields boulevards cross county into Tampa. (Brian Fernandes)

The third new connection would link Mansfield Boulevard to Kinnan Street, but would only be used for emergency purposes and bicycle-pedestrian paths.

“We did a survey to try to gauge public input on the connections,” said Megan McKinney of the AECOM organization. “Today the goal is to get you all (MPO board) to make a recommendation on the connections to take forward to the (Pasco) Board of County Commissioners.”

AECOM had distributed surveys to Pasco residents to complete throughout last April and get feedback on the connection proposals.

The survey asked for the residents’ stance on four project options:

  • Mansfield Boulevard-Kinnan Street connection and Meadow Pointe Boulevard extension
  • Meadow Pointe Boulevard extension only
  • Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard extensions
  • Mansfield Boulevard-Kinnan Street connection, plus extensions for Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard

Bar graphs depicting the four options, showed overwhelming support for the two extension projects, while only a slight majority of those taking the survey favored the connection between Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan.

McKinney also presented a map with dots along the three projects, representing residents living in the region.

The blue dots represented residents who approved of the proposed projects; the red dots represented residents who were opposed.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who sits on the board, was quick to point out the primary areas of resistance.

“If you look along Mansfield Boulevard, you’ll see the majority is in red,” Moore said. “So the majority of residents that live right along Mansfield Boulevard said they prefer not to have that connection.”

He said the residents’ concerns are warranted because Mansfield Boulevard cannot be widened to accommodate an influx in traffic.

Moore said there’s also concern about adding traffic to a street that has multiple schools, a recreational center and a day care.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, who also sits on the MPO board, added: “They’re the people that actually live in that area and see that traffic each and every day. I don’t necessarily think they should have that added traffic – and most of it from another county.”

Wesley Chapel resident Brad Jorgensen echoed the commissioners’ opposition as he took to the podium during the public hearing.

“I’m one of those red dots that was firmly planted on Mansfield (Boulevard),” Jorgensen said.

He came as a concerned father because his two sons ride their bikes to school and visit their friends along the stretch of road.

“This is about the safety of our kids in this neighborhood,” the father stated. “This is about not turning our neighborhood into alternative Bruce B. Downs (Boulevard).”

Others expressed the same sentiments, but there were others who had a different point of view.

“The Kinnan Street-Mansfield (Boulevard) connection is in the interest of the public good,” said Jim Davison, an emergency room physician.

He is also the founder of the New Tampa Transportation Task Force which takes a vested interest in resolving roadway obstacles.

According to Davison, the connection would decrease traffic along State Road 56 from Interstate 75 to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

“It takes off 5 (percent) to 10 percent of all the traffic on major roads in Pasco County – east of I-75 and south of (State Road) 54,” he claimed.

He also noted that most people come to hospitals by way of private vehicles, not ambulances, so limiting the roadway to only emergency vehicles would be ineffective.

Ultimately, the board passed the option extending Meadow Pointe and Wyndfields boulevards into Tampa, allowing full-vehicular access. They also approved extending Mansfield to Kinnan, limiting access to emergency vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.

Published June 26, 2019

Survey asks for input on Wesley Chapel road connections

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The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization is asking for the public’s input as it evaluates three potential roadway connections between Wesley Chapel and Hillsborough County.

Residents are encouraged to review the proposed options, and to provide feedback through an online survey, according to a news release from Pasco County.

The three potential connections are:

  • Between Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street
  • Between Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension
  • Between Wyndfields Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard Extension

Pasco County has not made any decisions regarding these connections, the release said.

The survey is being conducted through the end of April.

To take the survey, go to PascoResidentSurvey.com.

The survey results will be presented to the MPO at its meeting on June 13, which begins at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

The MPO board is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners regarding these connections.

Published April 10, 2019

Child care center coming to Wiregrass Ranch

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The Wiregrass Ranch community will soon have its own full-fledged child care center.

Kiddie Academy of Wiregrass Ranch is set to open this fall — serving children from 6 weeks to 12 years old.

The 10,000-square-foot facility is being built at 2900 Hueland Pond Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, right across the street from Wiregrass Ranch High School and Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus on Mansfield Boulevard.

It marks the first child care center in Wiregrass Ranch.

Kiddie Academy of Wiregrass Ranch is set to open in the fall. The 10,000-square-foot facility, being built at 2900 Hueland Pond Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will serve children between as young as 6 weeks up to 12 years old. (Courtesy of Javier Rojas)

Educational day care programming will be offered for preschool, voluntary pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, while aftercare programming will be offered for kids ages 6 to 12 years old; various summer camp programs also will be available.

At build out, Kiddie Academy of Wiregrass Ranch will be able to accommodate 167 students and will have upward of 40 staff members, according to its franchisee and owner Javier Rojas, who was present at a Jan. 3 groundbreaking ceremony for the facility.

Kiddie Academy is a franchise with more than 200 locations nationwide, including a location in Carrollwood and another coming in Westchase. The franchise was founded in 1981.

Rojas, who is chief medical officer at AdventHealth Zephyrhills (formerly Florida Hospital Zephyrhills), said he and his wife, Maggie Delgado, had an interest in opening a franchise in the Wesley Chapel area about two years ago.

Realizing a need for child care in the area, Rojas said the couple set their sights on Kiddie Academy “to give back and be part of this community and extend our roots.”

The Wiregrass Ranch location will utilize the Kiddie Academy Life Essentials curriculum, which promotes each child’s intellectual, social, physical and emotional growth.

A groundbreaking ceremony for Kiddie Academy of Wiregrass Ranch took place on Jan. 3. It will be the first child care center in Wiregrass Ranch. Shown are co-owners Javier Rojas and Maggie Delgado. (Kevin Weiss)

In addition to age-based curriculum, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and music classes will be offered for all ages.

The academy, too, will feature family-style dining, whereby kids will all share in eating nutritious meals together at the same table.

Rojas said at Kiddie Academy, students “learn without knowing they’re learning.”

Rojas added: “Our developmentally appropriate curriculum gives your child a full day of learning no matter what he or she is doing. Some of the best learning happens without your child knowing it.

“Respect, friendship, sharing, compassion and manners — those are the life essentials that Kiddie Academy would like to proliferate,” he said.

The aftercare center, meanwhile, will have playrooms with computers for kids to use for homework, and for fun.

Kiddie Academy also will feature a large outdoor recreation area, equipped with a soccer field, splash pad, playground, race track, and a harvesting garden and other amenities.

Also noteworthy: Instead of a drop-off and pickup line, Kiddie Academy parents will be required to sign in and sign out their children each day, via a check-in system requiring a fingerprint ID.

For more information, call (813) 702-5656, or visit KiddieAcademy.com/academies/wiregrass-ranch/.

Published January 9, 2019

Study continues on Wesley Chapel congestion

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The Metropolitan Planning Organization heard a report about the Wesley Chapel Roadway Connection project — along with pros and cons on various aspects of potential roadway connections during the board’s Dec. 13 meeting.

Some residents worry about safety issues near schools because of traffic congestion on Mansfield Boulevard. (File)

The presentation was for information only, with no action taken by the board.

Meghan McKinney, of the AECOM organization, has been collaborating with the MPO to conduct studies on the pros and cons of potential connections.

The project is focused on three potential connections:

  • Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street
  • Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension
  • Wyndfields Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard Extension

Public workshops have been held, as part of the study, in both April 2017 and May 2018.

“The reasons we wanted to do this study is we wanted to get public input, to hear if views have changed,” McKinney said.

In general, it’s a consensus in the community that the area’s roads can’t handle the current traffic demands, and there are especially concerns about safety near schools, she said.

Of all three potential connections, the most controversial involves a possible link between Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street.

In a 2017 survey, 36 people said they favored the connection, while 37 people were opposed.

Several alternatives are being considered, McKinney said.

  • No Build Alternative: Would have no connections for public use but only provide a gate for emergency vehicles, and would make accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians
  • Alternative 1: Would focus on connecting Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street
  • Alternative 2: Would focus on the Mansfield Boulevard/Kinnan Street and Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension
  • Alternative 3: Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension
  • Alternative 4: Mansfield Boulevard/Kinnan Street, Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard Extension

McKinney also told board members that regardless of which alternative is selected, the area’s traffic projections for 2040 reveals significant traffic increases.

“Basically you have an area where just by connecting the road, you’re not necessarily adding more people to the area,” she reasoned. “You’re just shifting the routes they may use.”

However, the projection also showed that the No Build Alternative would have its greatest increase near Beardsley Drive and Mansfield Boulevard.

The alternative’s biggest decrease in traffic would occur on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard between County Line Road and Cross Creek Boulevard, she said.

Aside from the road connection proposed, McKinney also addressed several planned improvements, including additional traffic lights and turning lanes.

One plan addresses concerns about traffic near schools on Mansfield Boulevard.

The bus drop-off and pick-up area near Dr. John Long Middle School contributes to the heavy congestion on the road, she said.

She suggested relocating the bus area from Wiregrass School Road onto Mansfield Boulevard, to enable a more steady flow of traffic.

A new crosswalk on the north side of Wiregrass School Road already is funded and underway, she said.

Another proposal calls for adding lanes at all four stops at the intersection of State Road 56 with Mansfield Boulevard, Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard.

Any road expansions on State Road 56 would be independent projects from the three proposed roadway connections, she said.

Published December 26, 2018

Car dealerships arriving in Wesley Chapel

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Pasco County is in the market to add to its luxury car dealerships with BMW as the potential tenant of a proposed showroom near The Shops at Wiregrass.

Japanese-auto dealership Mitsubishi also appears to want into Pasco’s market, with a showroom located west of Eagleston Boulevard at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Representatives of Spring Engineering Inc., filed a pre-application for “BMW-Wesley Chapel,” and recently met with Pasco County planners.

Spring Engineering representatives could not be reached for comment.

Preliminary site plans show a 37,000-square-foot showroom and space for 216 new vehicles. The dealership also would have a pre-owned vehicle division and service department.

The 32-acre site is located at the southeast corner of State Road 56 and Mansfield Boulevard, east of the Wiregrass mall. The property is owned by Solly Branch Holdings LLC, which lists J.D. Porter and his sister, Quinn Porter, as company officers, according to state records.

If the dealership materializes, BMW would be the fourth luxury automobile dealerships to gravitate to Pasco in the past three years. It would join previously opened dealerships for Lexus, Mercedes Benz and Audi.

According to its website, Springs Engineering’s clients include BMW of Ocala, Mini of Wesley Chapel, Jaguar of Orlando, and Lamborghini of Broward (County).

Another site plan identifies “WC Mitsubishi” as the potential tenant for an approximately 4-acre site near Toyota, Honda and Lexus dealerships.

Jacobs Holdings WC LLC, filed the pre-application for WC Mitsubishi, which would be a new and used auto dealership of about 17,600 square feet.

Daniel Jacobs is listed as the prime officer of Jacobs Holdings WC LLC, as well as chief executive officer of Jacobs Automotive Group and owner of Jacobs Auto Enterprise Inc., according to state records.

He is listed on the pre-application as the purchaser. The property is owned by DDG Holdings LLC, according to county records.

Jacobs wasn’t available for comment.

Published August 1, 2018

Wesley Chapel road study looks for traffic solutions

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Pasco County is moving forward with efforts to find consensus on easing traffic congestion in Wesley Chapel and building road connections between Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

About 100 people attended a public meeting to discuss the draft of the Wesley Chapel Road Connection Study.
(Kathy Steele)

Consensus appears elusive, however, on the proposed linkage between Mansfield Boulevard, in Pasco County and Kinnan Street in Hillsborough County.

Pasco residents don’t want more traffic whizzing down a boulevard that already is gridlocked at peak hours.

But Hillsborough residents want a more direct route to shops, restaurants, churches and jobs just across the county line.

About 100 people attended a public meeting on May 22 at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus to discuss a 450-page draft of the Wesley Chapel Road Connection Study.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore and consultants with AECOM presented an executive summary of the study’s findings.

The study looks at the pros and cons of four alternatives for road connections, without making a recommendation. A no-build option also is included.

“We don’t have any bias in this study,” said Ali Atefi, a transportation engineer with the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization. “We looked at it objectively.”

The choices are no-build; linking Mansfield Boulevard with Kinnan Street; linking Mansfield and Kinnan, as well as extending Meadow Pointe Boulevard to Hillsborough County; and the final option calls for linking Mansfield and Kinnan, extending Meadow Pointe Boulevard and extending Wyndfields, also to Hillsborough County.

Moore said he favors the Meadow Pointe extension, which would link to a future road in K-Bar Ranch.

A count of residents’ preferences from a 2017 public meeting showed that road project had strong support.

“I’ve got to be concerned about my residents here in Pasco County,” Moore said.

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, who attended the May 22 meeting, said all three connections are necessary. His constituents in New Tampa especially want Mansfield and Kinnan connected.

“I understand it’s not a black and white issue,” Viera said. “It’s gray. But, that is a real potential game changer. Hillsborough County is a stakeholder in this.”

Hillsborough County commissioners in 2017 approved $250,000 toward linking the two roads.

There could be one point of agreement on Mansfield and Kinnan, which currently dead-end at the county line — roughly 30 feet to 40 feet apart.

A gate could be installed that would provide access to emergency vehicles only. The cost would be about $7,000 for each county.

But, the Mansfield and Kinnan connection remains a hard sell for many Pasco residents.

“Adding traffic is what I’m worried about now,” said Ray Kobasko.

The Meadow Pointe extension makes more sense, he said. “It’s been planned all along, All the people who bought over there were told that,” he said.

Mike Hanna also opposes a Mansfield-Kinnan link.

“Connections have to be made but not all three of these,” he said. “A lot of people drive Mansfield every day and have accidents now. I’d not be in favor of more traffic coming up there.”

Residents can comment on the study through June 15. A final study will be released in August or September.

A citizens’ survey also is planned in coming months, giving residents a chance to weigh in on potential projects. The MPO is scheduled to make its recommendation in October.

Pasco County commissioners will have the final say on which, if any, of the alternatives are selected for construction.

Published June 6, 2018