The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Ridgewood High School

International business increasing in Pasco

By

Pasco County has been making strides in the arena of international trade, and Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey provided a briefing on the topic at a recent North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

In introducing Starkey, Hope Allen, president/CEO of the North Tampa Chamber said: “Kathryn Starkey is a huge advocate of Pasco County.

This rendering shows the future campus for TouchPoint Medical Inc. (File)

“It’s wonderful that Pasco now has a seat at the table, now on the global level, and it’s because of her work and the work of Pasco Economic Development Council, making Pasco part of the conversation.

“She is involved in developing international trade, with a focus on Europe and South America,” Allen said.

Starkey has a pulse on what’s happening locally, and also nationally, on the international trade scene.

She is chair of the International Economic Development Task Force at the National Association of Counties (NACCO). She also was nominated by the White House and NACCO to serve on a committee that looks over trade agreements and makes recommendations. She is among four commissioners who represent the voice of local government, she said.

She’s still undergoing her FBI background check, so at this point, she can participate in calls, but can’t read the information.

Starkey said her introduction to manufacturing came in 2004, when she was on the Pasco County School Board and she made a visit to a training program offered in Okaloosa public schools.

“What they had done was they interviewed their business community, and then they figured out how to start programs in their school system that taught the high school kids how to enter into that workforce when they graduated,” she said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey

Because of her interest, Starkey traveled to Germany five times — to see for herself and to show others how the Germans do their system of apprenticeship training.

“It was really important to go and see how the world’s premiere training program works.

“If you don’t see it, you can’t understand it. They have the gold standard in manufacturing,” she said.

“What we have done here in Pasco County, Hernando and Pinellas County, is that we’ve set up a training and manufacturing program based on the European model of apprenticeship training,” Starkey added, referring to a program called AmSkills.

“We take high school students and we take students who have graduated, and we take adults who need retraining, and we take them through the process here and we get them very knowledgeable about manufacturing, training and jobs, and then we help them get meaningful jobs here in the community,” she said.

Over time, Pasco County Schools also has established several career academies. It also opened Wendell Krinn Technical High School this year, on the former Ridgewood High campus.

Mettler Toledo opened its 270,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Northpointe Village, off State Road 54.

In partnership with Marchman Technical College, Wendell Krinn provides students access to 14 different technical education programs, including auto collision/repair, biomedical sciences, commercial art, computer systems, cosmetology, culinary arts, cybersecurity, digital cinema, electricity, HVAC, marine service, robotics, and welding.

Pasco’s workforce development is helping to attract international companies, Starkey said.

She also has been involved with Pasco EDC in trade missions to help local companies find foreign markets, and has helped host events to teach local companies how to grow their business in other parts of the world.

Pasco’s outreach efforts, its workforce development and its willingness to offer incentives to attract companies offering high-wage jobs has resulted in international companies setting up shop in the county.

Some of those companies include:

  • TouchPoint Medical Inc., a global supplier of technology-based health care delivery systems, will bring 116 new high-paying jobs to Pasco County. Company officials plan to relocate their headquarters to prime vacant land in Land O’ Lakes. They will build an approximately 125,000-square-foot facility, including a parking lot, on the northwest corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54. The site is part of the South Branch Ranch property. The facility is expected to open in late 2019.
  • Mettler Toledo: Mettler Toledo opened its 270,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Northpointe Village in April. The Swiss-based company is a global supplier of precision scales and services used in research, and the packaging and production of food and pharmaceuticals.
  • TRU Simulation: TRU Simulation + Training celebrated the opening of a $30 million expansion of its Pilot Training Center in Lutz in February 2017. The facility opened in a 15,000-square-foot facility at 1827 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway. TRU Simulation has contracts with companies such as King Air, Boeing and Cessna.

Starkey noted that it’s not enough to get international companies interested in Pasco, it’s also important to treat them well after they arrive, and to continue to form relationships.

Taking a page out of book she read about how the international community developed in North Carolina, Starkey makes it a point to take CEOs of international companies to visit assets around Tampa Bay.

It’s a great way for the CEOs to get to know each other and also for them to develop a deeper understanding of Tampa Bay’s strengths, Starkey said.

“I am trying to take really good care of your CEOs here, and they are spreading the word to their friends back overseas, or to their business friends, that Pasco County is a great place to do business,” Starkey said. “We want them to feel very welcome.”

Revised December 5, 2018

Zephyrhills economic summit puts focus on education

By

Fostering educational opportunities in Pasco County was the primary focus of the second annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit.

Doing that begins with beefing up the Pasco County school district’s career and technical education programs, said Kurt Browning, superintendent of Pasco County Schools.

“We need to put our career academies on steroids,” said Browning, one of several guest speakers at the Oct. 24 summit, at the new Zephyrhills City Hall, that brought together local education, business and government stakeholders.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was one of several guest speakers at the second annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit. The event focused on local educational and career opportunities in Pasco County. (Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Based on the region’s business profile, Browning said there needs to be greater emphasis on teaching trade skills — such as roofing and carpentry, plumbing, HVAC technicians, electricians and more.

“One of the things that we keep hearing a lot about is the trades. I’m continually amazed of the number of people that stop us and say, ‘I just need young men that can get up there and lay roof,’” Browning said.

To meet those demands, he called for increased state funding and greater collaboration with the Florida Department of Education to create industrial certifications for those fields. The district also needs to ensure opportunities for students, not destined for college, to have a chance to learn trade skills that can translate to high-wage job right out of high school.

Browning put it this way: “What we need to do is have training programs that meet the needs of all of our students, so if you’re going to be a plumber, you be the best plumber you can be.”

Browning also said the school district needs more input from local business leaders on the types of labor needed for the present and future.

“We need to do a better job of communicating, and we need to create a better relationship with our chambers, because the chambers are the ones that are really connecting, letting businesses know what we do and creating dialogues to help build that need,” the superintendent said.

Preparing tomorrow’s workforce
Browning was upbeat about some of the career and technical academies the district presently offers.

Pasco County School’s Career and Technical Education programs were discussed extensively at the second annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit. (Courtesy of Pasco Schools)

He pointed to Zephyrhills High’s aviation academy and Wesley Chapel High’s automotive technology academy, along with academies at other schools ranging from health and finance, to cybersecurity and culinary arts.

“I think we’re on the right path,” Browning said. “We’re working tirelessly trying to make sure our programs are relevant to meet the employment needs of our employers in Pasco County. We’re not perfect, and we’re not where we need to be. We’re still trying to figure out how to address the trades issue.”

Browning also mentioned the district is designing a technical high school in east Pasco that would likely open by 2022.

The district’s only two technical offerings — Marchman Technical College and Wendell Krinn Technical High School (which replaced Ridgewood High this school year) — are located in New Port Richey.

Plans call for the new school to be built on a 125-acre, district-owned tract of land along Fairview Heights and Handcart Road in the Dade City area.

It will help relieve overcrowding at Pasco, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch high schools, Browning said.

“It’s going to be uniquely situated in the right place, right spot, offering technical career education students are clamoring for,” he said.

The technical school is also something the manufacturing industry is pushing for, according to Tom Mudano, AmSkills executive director, another guest speaker at the summit.

Mudano said a tech school based in east Pasco could help lure more manufacturing business to the region, to follow in the footsteps of companies such as Mettler Toledo and TouchPoint Medical, which he said have already brought a combined 700 jobs to the county.

“We truly believe that we need a facility on this side of Pasco County,” Mudano said. “If you’re looking at bringing jobs here, having a workforce is important.”

Mudano pointed out Tampa Bay has the most number of manufacturers in the state. And, he said that many of those companies have expressed a great need for additional skilled and semi-skilled workers.

“A lot of people don’t even realize that there’s a lot of (manufacturing) opportunities out there,” he said.

Mudano also assured that those types of trade jobs aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

He cited information from the National Association of Manufacturers that projects there will be about 3.4 million jobs over the next 10 years, yet only 1.1 million of them will get filled.

The summit also featured a lengthy presentation from state Sen. Tom Lee, a Republican from Thonotosassa. Much of his talk centered on the state’s education system and the strides made during the last several years.

He pointed to the advent of charter schools and various opportunity scholarship programs as key reasons for boosting the state’s public education system on the whole.

“Everybody is more on their game today than they were 20 years ago. We have a rising graduation rate, better testing scores,” said Lee, who represents parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties in District 20.

He added: “We have created some competition for the public education system, and the public education system has responded well.”

Meanwhile, Lee suggested that going forward, the state legislature should “back off some of the micromanagement” of county school districts. He said school boards should instead have more control over district budgets and educational programs to “best meet the needs of the individual student populations of the schools.”

Lee also advocated for creating “fair competition” and “leveling the playing field” between public schools and alternative charter schools.

One way to do that, he said, includes loosening up some of strict building requirements of new public schools, called State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF), that cost school districts exponentially more than their charter school counterparts. He asked: “Why is it costing public education system 20 percent more to build a public school than it is a charter school?”

Other speakers at the summit included Dr. Keiva Wiley, Pasco County Schools director of Career and Technical Education; Angie Stone, Zephyrhills High School principal; Dr. Stanley Giannet, of Pasco-Hernando State College; Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley; Maria Reza, Career Source Pasco/Hernando business services consultant; Seta Ruiz, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills director of clinical services; and, Dr. Randy Stovall, Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce president.

The Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition presented the summit, in partnership with the City of Zephyrhills and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

Published November 7, 2018

Pasco schools adopt tentative budget

By

The Pasco County School Board has adopted a tentative budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, with a final public hearing set for Sept. 18.

The proposed general fund budget for 2018-2019 is $630,860,337. That’s a $15.2 million increase over last year’s general fund, which represents roughly a 2.47 percent increase.

The capital projects funds in the budget for 2018-2019 total $244,516,610, which reflects an increase of $31.5 million or 14.78 percent above the 2017-2018 budget.

Capital Projects Funds are used to account for expenditures on acquisition or construction of major capital facilities and improvements to existing facilities. The funds also are used for the maintenance of approximately 2,400 buildings across the district, to purchase land and to pay for equipment, technology equipment, buses and vehicles.

Under the proposed rate, the owner of a $125,000 home, after deducting the $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $627.90 in school taxes — a decrease of $28.60 from last year.

The state’s basic student allocation for the 2018-2019 school year is $4,204.42. That’s 47 cents more per student than last year. But, since the state applies a cost of living adjustment, Pasco’s base student allocation for the coming year is $4,144.72.

Here are some big-picture highlights of the proposed budget:

  • Teaching makes up 61.78 percent of the district’s expenditures
  • Teaching combined with other school-level programs, including transportation, media, counseling, psychological services, school administration, capital outlay, community services, and operations and maintenance, makes up 92.38 percent of the operating budget
  • Curriculum development and staff training make up 3.26 percent of the operating budget.
  • Human resources, finance, purchasing, warehouse, data processing and mail services
    make up 4.36 percent of the operating budget.

While the state provides funding for schools, it also dictates how much of that money is spent.

For instance, during the 2018 session, the Florida Legislature passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which addresses gun violence on school campuses and promotes school safety. The bill requires armed security guards at every school. Each of those officers is required to undergo training, a background check, drug screening and psychological evaluation.

Pasco already has School Resource Officers at its middle schools and high schools, and is adding school security safety guards at its elementary schools this year.

The public safety act also requires the development of a mental health assistance plan, which will establish or expand school-based mental health care, through assessment, diagnosis, intervention and treatment.

The Safe Schools allocation of $3,725,606 will be used for school resource officers, school safety guards, traffic control and year-end security.

The Mental Health allocation of $1,721,460 will be used to expand school-based mental health
care.

In another area, the district must provide an additional hour of intensive reading beyond the normal school day, for the entire year, at 10 schools that were identified as low-performing schools.

The district also intends to spend its Digital Classrooms allocation of $1,419,851 for computers, iPads and digital devices to support the district’s classrooms.

The budget also includes $80,459,730 for debt service, which is an increase of $5.9 million or nearly 8 percent higher than 2017. The district must repay debt service before making other expenditures.

The budget also lists scores of capital projects, including several in central and east Pasco.

They include:

  • Major renovation/remodeling of Land O’ Lakes High School, Woodland Elementary School and Zephyrhills High School
  • Construction of the new Cypress Creek Middle School
  • Design of a kindergarten through eighth grade school at Starkey Ranch
  • Cafeteria renovations at several schools, including Denham Oaks Elementary, Chester W. Taylor Elementary and Lacoochee Elementary
  • Replacement/repairs of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems at Centennial Elementary and Sand Pine Elementary
  • Site improvements at Wendell Krinn Technical High School, a new technical high school that is opening this fall in the former Ridgewood High School, which was closed and refurbished, in New Port Richey

Published August 15, 2018

Browning reports on school issues

By

Practically no education-related topic was off limits during Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning’s recent visit with The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

At a recent breakfast meeting at the The Edwinola, Browning touched on everything from teacher pay and performance standards, to acceleration programs and school safety.

“We live in a crazy day and time in education,” said Browning, addressing dozens of chamber members.

Browning praised the district’s teachers as a whole, saying they’re “busting their tail ends trying to educate the kids.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was the featured guest speaker at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast meeting, at The Edwinola. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“Being a teacher today is tough, tough work, and it is patience, particularly when you look at the schools. Every district has schools that range on one end of the spectrum to the other — from the low socioeconomic to the very affluent schools,” Browning said.

The Pasco County school district encompasses about 73,000 students across 90 schools, making it the state’s 11th largest district. Its annual operational budget is about $1.2 billion.

A call for more state funding
Browning mentioned he’s been visiting schools throughout the county to gather input from educators on “what’s right, what’s not right, what needs to be fixed, what’s working.”

In the same breath, he said there won’t be salary increases for teachers and other school base staff next school year.

That’s because any additional state funding for education has already been earmarked for school safety, mental health services and classroom supplies, he said.

“Once you take those three things out of there, there’s not a lot of flexible spending. So, when you start talking about pay raises…I can’t do it. I can’t do that next year because there’s not the money there for us,” Browning said.

“You’ve seen the reports on the national news about teachers walking out of classrooms, demanding more money, and I can sympathize with them on what they’re doing. But…in Florida we can’t do that, and I will advocate that,” he said.

Related to teacher pay, Browning stressed the state legislature “has got to get serious about how we’re going to fund education to the levels that it needs, so that we can address all the issues that we’re having to face.”

Browning also blasted the Florida Standards Assessment, the state’s accountability system, and the idea of assigning grades to schools and districts.

Though Pasco is labeled a ‘B’ district, Browning acknowledged the school system “has a lot of ‘C’ schools, fewer ‘B’ schools and even fewer ‘A’ schools.

“I am not sold on the idea that we tag a school with an ‘A, B, C, D or F’ — and that is going to really set the course for that school,” Browning said.

“Realtors, they will sell property based on the grade that school is given. It’s grossly unfair. I’ve asked realtors, ‘Please do not sell homes to folks, No. 1, based upon a school grade; and secondly, they think that is the school they’re going to attend.’”

Browning also criticized the state’s evaluation system for teachers.

It doesn’t add up that approximately 98 percent of the district’s teachers are graded “effective or highly effective” yet the school district still has a ‘B’ grade, he said.

“A lot of it’s based on student outcomes, student data, which some of it should be. But, we’re still arguing about how we come up with a system that truly evaluates instructors, teachers and district staff for that matter,” Browning said.

Some type of measure is needed to truly delineate great teachers from subpar ones, Browning suggested.

“I want great teachers, and I want to keep great teachers in our schools.,” he said. “Our kids, our communities do not need mediocre teachers in our classrooms.”

Rigorous academies, technical programs
Meanwhile, Browning proudly discussed the district’s school acceleration and technical programs.

He highlighted the success of the “high rigor” Cambridge International Programme in place at five schools — Pasco Middle and Pasco High since 2014; and this year introduced at San Antonio Elementary, Paul R. Smith Middle and Anclote High.

Pasco County Schools was recently awarded the District of the Year — Medium Sized Cambridge District. The district was recognized for expanding access to Cambridge exams by more than 100 percent and achieving a pass rate of 76 percent. The district also had 31 students who received a Cambridge Learner Award.

The Cambridge curriculum can be compared to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate curricula, whereby students in the high school program can earn college credits and an international diploma. Those who earn the diploma also qualify for a Florida Bright Futures College scholarship.

“If you set the bar high, those kids will achieve it,” Browning said, later adding he will continue to “press hard” for more rigorous academic programs district-wide.

Additionally, Browning was upbeat about the many career and technical academies the district currently offers, such as Zephyrhills High’s aviation academy and Wesley Chapel High’s automotive technology academy, along with academies at other schools ranging from health to finance to robotics engineering, and more.

Said Browning, “We’ve just opened up a lot of choices for kids — getting kids the opportunity to get a taste of what it is in the real world, and make those connections about what they’re learning in the classroom and how that applies to real life.”

He also observed: “When you can make that connection of what it is and how does this really impact you as an adult, then they start seeing.”

Many graduates of Wesley Chapel High’s auto academy are making as much as $75,000 to $80,000 working at local car dealerships, Browning said.

“We know that not all kids in our system are college bound. Does that mean they shouldn’t be successful? No. Does that mean they shouldn’t make good salary? No,” the superintendent said.

The school superintendent also talked about the possibility of a technical high school in east Pasco, noting it’s on the district’s five-year facilities work program.

The district’s only two technical offerings — Marchman Technical College and Wendell Krinn Technical High School (replacing Ridgewood High in 2018-2019) — are located in New Port Richey.

He said plans call for another such school to be built on a 125-acre, district-owned tract of land on Handcart Road in the Dade City area — to serve students living in Dade City, Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel.

“We are trying our darnedest to find money to build that facility,” the school superintendent said.

Elsewhere, Browning spoke extensively about school safety measures, from the district’s active threat plan to beefing up school security.

He also noted that he’s staunchly opposed to arming teachers and other school personnel.

“There’s something inside me that tells me anytime I introduce a gun in a classroom, on a school campus, it’s just another opportunity for someone to get hurt or killed,” Browning said.

Published April 25, 2018

Pasco all-star football game on tap for Dec. 7

By

It’s back.

Football fans again will be able to see Pasco County’s top senior football players face off on one field, at the 2017 Pasco County East-West Classic.

The third annual all-star showcase is slated for Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., at Sunlake Field, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The game, organized by the Pasco County Fellowship of Christian Athletes, features the top senior players from each of the 15 public high schools in Pasco County.

It provides one last chance to perform in front of college recruiters, many of whom attend the game from across the Southeast region.

The game also has proven to be a hit among fans, drawing more than 2,000 attendees its first two years. The series is tied 1-1.

Players on the East team will represent Land O’ Lakes, Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Pasco, Bishop McLaughlin and Zephyrhills Christian Academy.

Players on the West team will represent River Ridge, Ridgewood, Mitchell, Anclote, Hudson, Fivay, Gulf and Sunlake.

Athletes from the newly opened Cypress Creek Middle High will be represented in next year’s game, as the school doesn’t have a 2017-2018 senior class.

Rosters were selected last month in a “draft day” format, where high school coaches bantered and bartered, doing their best to present their athletes as worthy of a spot. After much deliberation, all-star teams were whittled down to the best 40 players in the East and best 40 players in the West.

An all-star cheerleader team also has been assembled for the showcase. As part of the festivities, cheerleaders will participate in an awards dinner banquet, which will include a special guest speaker.

Tickets for the game are $10. For information, visit PascoAllStarGame.com.

East team:
Bishop McLaughlin
Carson Borak, Caleb Chesnut, Shane Haynes, Julio Herrera, Michael Keough

Land O’ Lakes
Xavier Arroyo, Justin Collier, Guston Farr, Matthew Geiger, Taylor Winn

Pasco High
Luke Kohlhof, Cody Mercer, Cameron Smith, Gavin Sowell, Zach Williams

Wesley Chapel
Dexter Leverett, Malik Melvin, Chaz Neal, Matt Severson, Justin Trapnell, Austen Wittish

Wiregrass Ranch
Daniel Biglow, Jacob Hill, Kwesi Littlejohn, Chase Oliver, Alex Sherman, Adrian Thomas

Zephyrhills Christian
Jordan Hyppolite, DJ Jackson, Evan Miller, Alonzo Sampson, Calvin Samuel, Dwight Thomas

Zephyrhills High
Kameron Allen, Charles Harrison, Zac Masci, Elijah Thomas, Cameron Tucker, Sterlin Williams

West team:
Anclote
Riley Curry, Tim Dallaire, Ryan Flint, John Leto, Jessy Schooler, Deontrae Stacey, Kristopher Valley, Noah Winens

Fivay
Tyler Austin, Jessy Schooler

Gulf
John Jukas, Kevin Powell, Marquice Victor

Hudson
Trey Doran, Shane Monn, Ceith Rivera, Oshea Spahr

Mitchell
Canyon Albergo, Mychael Hamilton, Stephaun Peters, Adam Rodgers, Chris Thomas, Garrett Wiwi

Ridgewood
Terrance Lake, Aaron McCarthy

River Ridge
Thomas Carrano. Dio Defalco, Anthony Grassi, Anthony Kendall, Mikey Russos, Bryce Smith, Tanner Smith, Jason Utegg, Austin Vellucci, Michael Webster

Sunlake
Jeremiah Baker, Bryant Beacham, Dylan Bradley, Justice Goodloe, Adam Jarvis

East coaches
Head Coach: Tico Hernandez (Bishop McLaughlin)
Nick Carroll (Zephyrhills High)
Brian Colding (Pasco High)
Tony Egan (Wesley Chapel)
Tyler Farr (Land O’ Lakes)
John Grone (Wiregrass Ranch)
Sly Miller (Zephyrhills Christian)

West coaches
Head Coach: Ryan Benjamin (River Ridge)
Matt Kingsley (Anclote)
Mark Feldman (Mitchell)
Will Fulmer (Ridgewood)
Jason Grain (Gulf)
Tim Hicks (Hudson)
Matt Durchik (Fivay)
Trey Burdick (Sunlake)

All-Star cheerleaders
East team:

Bishop McLaughlin
Piper Gotsch, Elizabeth Kantor

Land O’ Lakes
Claire Goltermann, Hope Wainraich

Pasco High
Alyssa Rodriguez-Urich, Emily Weiser

Wesley Chapel
Chloe Covington, Taylor Waton

Wiregrass Ranch
Korbett Canady, Kati Helton

Zephyrhills Christian
Kylee Ramos

East coaches
Lisa Booker (Pasco High)

West team:
Anclote
Amber Grambling, Samantha Wibirt

Fivay
Sharona Campbell

Hudson
Chris Kennedy, Faith Schuller

Mitchell
Brie Chamberlin, Sarah Shannon

Ridgewood
Madison Clark, Raeanna Wipert

River Ridge
Krysten Hart, Samantha Quinn

West coaches
Cody Baer (Ridgewood)
Chelsea Hatcher (Hudson)

Published November 8, 2017

Pasco students share their special talents

By

The ovations and cheers seemed endless.

The smiles, too.

Special needs students from four Pasco County schools shared their unique skills on Oct. 20 before more than 100 parents, peers, school faculty and community members.

The ninth annual Showcase for Exceptional Talent was in the auditorium at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel.

Zephyrhills High’s Ryan Womack performed an impressive cover of ‘It’s Not Unusual’ by legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones. He was one of 25 acts during the 90-minute show. (Kevin Weiss)

The event allows all of the special needs students to come together as a community to show off their talents. It encompasses students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Down syndrome and so on.

From dancing and singing/duets, to lip-syncing and comedy skits, there wasn’t a dull moment.

This year’s hour-and-a-half show featured 25 routines from dozens of exceptional student education (ESE) students.

And, each exhibited skills with aplomb, unafraid of the main stage, bright lights or the large audience, that watched intently.

Clearly it was the students’ day to shine.

Performers hailed from Wesley Chapel, Ridgewood and Zephyrhills high schools, as well as Weightman Middle School. A large-scale digital backdrop recognized each act and the performers involved.

Wesley Chapel High’s Anthony Minnick and Ashley Mendez served as masters of ceremony during the talent showcase. They kept the show moving along with dialogue and introductions.

Wesley Chapel’s David Dixon started the show on a patriotic note, with his rendition of the National Anthem.

Ridgewood High’s Becky Bordeaux worked the crowd with her comedy, drawing hearty rounds of guffaws with every joke.

Weightman’s Mauricio Diaz and Noah Brooks kept younger members of the audience engaged, hip-hop dancing to “Bank Account” by rapper 21 Savage.

Zephyrhills High’s Ryan Womack, meanwhile, had older show-goers singing in unison with a stirring cover of “It’s Not Unusual” by legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones.

During brief breaks in action, Wesley Chapel High’s Anthony Minnick and Ashley Mendez served as masters of ceremony. They kept the show moving along with dialogue and introductions.

A grand finale was newly introduced this year. All ESE students were invited on stage to celebrate with a reprise song of Michael Jackson’s “Bad.”

The event ended about as well as it started.

It even elicited “tears of joy” from parent Dale Kimball, who also attended last year’s show.

Kimball’s 15-year son, Paul, has autism.

Paul was part of a Wesley Chapel High group ensemble that performed “Heigh Ho” from Snow White. He played the part of “Prince Charming,” while his teacher, Penny Ward, played the Evil Queen.

It created quite the paradox, Kimball said, as Ward “is so kind and wonderful.”

At the end of the showcase, all performers were invited on the stage to celebrate with a reprise song of Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad.’

The Wesley Chapel parent pointed out the annual showcase is the closest to a stage most ESE students will ever get.

He also mentioned the staff at the schools are very encouraging to get even reluctant students to participate in the annual showcase.

“These kids never will be on a field, ever. These kids will never be on a stage, ever, except for something like this. You see the joy (of the kids),” Kimball said.

“We’re so blessed to have this program,” he added.

Bridget White, an ESE teacher at Wesley Chapel High, coordinated this year’s showcase.

She concurred with Kimball’s assessment the event provides an important and worthwhile experience for special needs students countywide.

“They don’t always have the same opportunities to shine, and this is geared to them. They often are going to their siblings’ events, so this gets to be just for them,” White said.

In preparation for the showcase, participating students were offered two days of on-stage rehearsals, along with a few classroom rehearsals.

Beforehand, ESE teachers disitrictwide spread the word about the upcoming show with students and their families.

“Oftentimes, they have talents that we may not know about, that are (seen) at home,” White said.

Published October 25, 2017

Area football games rescheduled

By

With Hurricane Irma wiping out athletic events for schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties for the week of Sept. 11, many anticipated Friday night football contests already have been rescheduled, or played, in some cases.

In Pasco, a few local schools didn’t waste much time agreeing to make up games on Sept. 18, including the Zephyrhills High squad, which traveled to Ridgewood High, and Wesley Chapel High’s team, which hosted Fivay High. Zephyrhills Christian Academy was set to host St. John’s Lutheran, but the latter forfeited the game.

High school football contests seldom are played on Mondays, but Florida High School Athletic Association permitted practices on Sept. 17 with the approval of each individual school and/or school district, giving coaches an additional day to work with players.

Other Pasco County schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area scheduled to play on Sept. 15 have since pushed contests back a week to Sept. 22:

  • Land O’ Lakes at Sunlake (7:30 p.m.)
  • Bishop McLaughlin at Ocala Christian (7 p.m.)
  • Cypress Creek at Pasco (7:30 p.m.)

Public schools in Hillsborough, meanwhile, will make up the Sept. 15 slate of games beginning Oct. 2. It marked the second straight week public schools in Hillsborough cancelled games.

The county’s public schools were closed all last week due to Hurricane Irma, and the district did not permit teams to resume practice until Sept. 18.

The following games scheduled for Sept. 15 in our coverage area that will have to be made up on a Monday in October include:

  • Steinbrenner at Manatee
  • Freedom at Gaither
  • Wharton at Leto
  • Wiregrass Ranch at Sickles

With regard to the FHSAA’s new playoff point system for football, as originally planned, total points will be determined by dividing points earned by games. If a school somehow falls below the eight-game minimum requirements, FHSAA executive director George Tomyn may waive the minimum game requirement on a case-by-case basis.

The new system, passed last September, bases football postseason berths on a points system in Class A-4A. The new format, beginning this season, is designed to reward teams for winning records and strength of schedule.

In the FHSAA’s biggest four classes (5A-8A), the district champion still automatically qualifies for regionals, with the remaining 16 spots decided by points.

Winning Wiregrass
Wiregrass Ranch High is one program hoping to keep its momentum in between a two-week layoff from football games.

Under third-year head coach Mark Kantor, the Bulls are off to its first 3-0 start in school history.

Mark Kantor has guided Wiregrass Ranch to its first 3-0 start in school history. (File)

Coincidentally, Kantor — who previously coached three seasons at Hudson High and compiled a 15-13 mark — now has the most wins in Wiregrass Ranch history, with 12; the school’s football program was launched in 2007.

Just one other public school in Pasco remains undefeated — Mitchell High (3-0).

The Bulls have been tested early on, battling to one-possession victories over Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake high schools. And, despite several key departures in the offseason, the Bulls may be stronger than last year’s 7-3 District 8-7A runner-up squad. Junior quarterback Grant Sessums, the leading passer in the county (504 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, 57 percent completion rate), has lived up to preseason billing, as has senior cornerback/Penn State University commit Jordan Miner (13 tackles, two interceptions). The Bulls have also received breakout contributions from a pair of sophomore linebackers in Dylan Ridolph (31 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks) and Nick Gaziano (30 tackles, three tackles for loss, forced fumble).

Prior to the 2017-2018 school year, Wiregrass Ranch saw three of its top players — cornerback Shamaur McDowell, athlete Raymond Woodie III, tailback Da Da McGee — transfer elsewhere.

The Bulls host Wharton (1-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Sunlake Seahawks were one of 87 high school programs that attended the USF-Illinois game on Sept. 15. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Generous gesture
In the wake of Hurricane Irma’s impact on Florida, the University of South Florida (USF) provided complimentary admission to last Friday’s football game vs. Illinois to first responders and their families, as well as to Florida high school football teams, many of which have had their games cancelled as a result of the storm.

Eighty-seven high school teams, such as Steinbrenner and Sunlake, took up the offer. Even schools as far as Orlando, Lakeland and Vero Beach showed up.

“It’s all about us giving back,” USF head coach Charlie Strong said, during a press conference last week. “We want to make sure that everyone is working to give back and get their life (together). It’s going to take a while, we know that. When things happen, we just want to make sure people understand that we do understand. We’re not going through what they’re going through, but we can help them get through what they’re going through.”

Another offer for local standout
Cameron Smith, arguably one of the top defensive players in Pasco County, recently picked up a scholarship offer from Ursinus College, a Division III program in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. The latest offer is one of several for the Pasco High senior linebacker, who also holds offers from Albright College (Reading, Pennsylvania), Warner University (Lake Wales), Webber international (Babson Park) and West Virginia State University (Institute, West Virginia).

Pasco High senior linebacker Cameron Smith has added his growing list of scholarship offers. (File)

Smith, a 2016 SAC First-Team All-Conference selection, currently leads the Pirates in tackles with 12.

Here’s a running list of other known players from our coverage area in Pasco County to have at least one scholarship offer:

  • Dylan Gonzalez, Academy at the Lakes, senior linebacker
  • Tylor Winn, Land O’ Lakes, senior wide receiver
  • Adam Jarvis, Sunlake, senior linebacker
  • Isaiah Bolden, Wesley Chapel, senior defensive back
  • Chaz Neal, Wesley Chapel, senior defensive end
  • Daniel Biglow, Wiregrass Ranch, senior wide receiver
  • Kwesi Littlejohn, Wiregrass Ranch, senior safety/running back
  • Jordan Miner, Wiregrass Ranch, senior cornerback
  • Devaun Roberts, Wiregrass Ranch, senior tight end/defensive end
  • Adrian Thomas, Wiregrass Ranch, senior wide receiver
  • Charles Harrison III, Zephyrhills, senior quarterback
  • Ja’Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, junior wide receiver
  • Sterlin Williams, Zephyrhills, senior defensive lineman
  • Javion Hanner, Zephyrhills Christian, junior running back
  • Calvin Samuel, Zephyrhills Christian, senior running back
  • Alonzo Sampson, Zephyrhills Christian, senior linebacker
  • Evan Miller, Zephyrhills Christian, senior defensive back
  • Javan Smith, Zephyrhills Christian, junior tailback/linebacker
  • Jalen Spencer, Zephyrhills Christian, junior defensive end/linebacker

Published September 20, 2017

Pasco Pirates off to solid start

By

Just a few weeks into the regular season, the Pasco High football team already has surpassed its win total from all of last season.

In fact, they’ve doubled it.

Pasco High head coach Tom McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013. (File)

The 2016 season was unpleasant for the Pirates, losing nine straight games until they beat Gulf High — a struggling program that’s now lost 22 straight regular season games — in the season finale.

The 1-9 record was its worst since 1978, when Jimmy Sessoms coached the team.

The struggling campaign was a surprise to many, considering the Pirates often have been one of the county’s upper-tier programs under longtime head coach Tom McHugh.

McHugh, in his 11th season, has a career mark of 83-35, which includes a string of seven straight playoff appearances from 2007 to 2013.

Additionally, under McHugh, the Pirates have produced some of the county’s top players who have gone on to collegiate and professional careers, including, defensive tackle Joey Ivie (University of Florida/Dallas Cowboys, defensive back Josh Johnson (Purdue University/Canadian Football League/Jacksonville Jaguars), athlete Janarion Grant (Rutgers University) and defensive back Jayvaughn Myers (Auburn University).

Yet, perhaps the biggest disappointment to the Pirates’ faithful wasn’t the abysmal 1-9 record, but its devastating 46-0 home loss to Zephyrhills High in the annual 9-Mile War — oftentimes a one-sided affair in which Pasco High claims the all-time series record 40-19.

This season, however, appears to be a strong contrast to last year.

The Pasco High Pirates have rebounded from last year’s dismal 1-9 mark. The 2017 squad features 17 seniors, including middle linebacker Cameron Smith. (Courtesy of Tom Ketchum)

The Pirates handily won its first two contests over both Hudson High (22-10) and Gulf High (46-0), and proved dominant in its preseason game, a 36-18 victory over Ridgewood High.

And, unlike the 2016 season, the Pirates have a bevy of experienced depth, both on offense and defense. This year’s roster features 19 seniors. Last year’s had just seven.

Besides a steady, game-managing presence at quarterback in junior Doug Crawford, the Pirates display an explosive rushing attack currently averaging more than 200 yards per game — thanks to a trio of runners in senior Jaleel Hansberry, and juniors Early Knight and Jacquez Mobley.

The defense, too, has shown an ability to create pressure and limit opposing yardage, early on.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Pirates have three reigning All-Sunshine Athletic Conference players in senior offensive lineman/defensive tackle Camron Craig, senior middle linebacker Cameron Smith and senior defensive lineman Cody Mercer.

The Pirates, meanwhile, have several winnable games on their 2017 slate.

In addition to facing upstart Cypress Creek Middle High at home, the Pirates should match up well against Superior Collegiate Academy, along with district foes Sunlake— which appears to be in a rebuilding year — and Land O’ Lakes high schools.

But, contests against the likes of Mitchell, Springstead and Zephyrhills high schools should determine how good this team is.

And, how far it will go.

 

–Stats compiled by Maxpreps.com

Published September 13, 2017

Pasco students showcase their talents

By

The talent was endless.

The applause was, too.

Special needs students from seven Pasco County schools displayed their unique skills on May 17 before more than 100 parents, peers and school faculty.

David Dixon, of Wesley Chapel High School, sings the national anthem during the eighth annual Showcase for Exceptional Talent on May 17, where special needs students from seven Pasco County schools displayed their unique skills.
(Kevin Weiss)

The eighth annual Showcase for Exceptional Talent was held at the Wesley Chapel High School Center for the Arts auditorium.

From dancing and singing/duets, to lip-syncing and comedy skits, there was no shortage of fun and entertainment.

The two-hour show featured more than 30 routines from dozens of exceptional student education (ESE) students.

Performers hailed from Wesley Chapel, Ridgewood, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills high schools; Seven Springs and Weightman middle schools; and, Watergrass Elementary.

On the main stage, students exhibited passion and confidence with each act.

The crowd responded with roaring applause and enthusiastic cheers.

Everyone seemed to be sharing an enjoyable time.

Wiregrass Ranch’s Nicholas Jones enlivened the audience as he jammed away at his guitar during a solo performance of “Wherever I May Roam” by Metallica.

Wesley Chapel High’s Regan Black left observers awestruck when she belted out the catchy sing-along tune of “Don’t Worry About a Thing” by Tori Kelly.

Acts such as a SpongeBob SquarePants reenactment and roaming “Comedy Chickens” generated hearty laughs.

During breaks, Wesley Chapel High’s Anthony Minnick and Shawn Zupnick served as emcees. They kept things moving with their dialogue and introductions, erasing any chance of a dull moment during the show.

Heather Farnsworth, a behavioral specialist at Wesley Chapel High, has coordinated the event for the past five years.

From her perspective, the talent show provides an “amazing” experience for special needs students countywide.

“It gives them a huge sense of community to come out and spend this time together,” Farnsworth said. “I don’t think they get the recognition that most of the other kids get; it’s something fun and exciting for them to do to showcase their amazing talents.”

Parent Dale Kimball expressed his appreciation for the annual event.

Kimball’s 15-year son, Paul, has autism.

His son was part of a Wesley Chapel High group ensemble that performed a remixed version of Randy Newman’s “You Got a Friend in Me.”

“This is the closest to a stage that most of these kids will ever get to,” Kimball said. “To me, it’s beautiful.

“Seeing ‘exceptional student’ and ‘talent’ in the same title puts a tear in my eye,” he added.

Kimball also credited Wesley Chapel High’s Exceptional Student Education department for encouraging reluctant students, like Paul, to participate in the event.

“They have a way of kind of building them up,” Kimball said, “even if it’s a very, very small thing.”

The ninth annual Showcase for Exceptional Talent is slated for sometime in mid-October.

Published May 24, 2017

Land O’ Lakes High softball wins state title

By

They finally did it.

On May 20, the Land O’ Lakes High Gators unseated powerhouse Plantation American Heritage 3-1, claiming the Class 6A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSSA) softball championship at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach.

The achievement marks the first fastpitch title for Land O’Lakes (29-3) and the first for a Pasco County program since Ridgewood High won in 1992.

On May 20, the Land O’ Lakes High Gators defeated Plantation American Heritage 3-1, claiming the Class 6A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) softball championship at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach. The win marks the first fastpitch title for Land O’ Lakes (29-3) and the first for a Pasco County program since Ridgewood High won in 1992.
(Courtesy of Edwin Rodriguez, Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity softball)

Making the victory even sweeter: The Gators downed the same team that eliminated them in last year’s state semifinals.

And, it wasn’t the first time this postseason Land O’ Lakes exacted revenge.

The Gators twice beat Wesley Chapel High School — in districts and regionals —after the Wildcats bested them during an April 4 regular season game (2-0 loss).

Besides payback, the championship shows the Gators — in recent years one of the region’s premier softball program — can dethrone a state dynasty; American Heritage (25-4) was making its fourth straight championship game appearance and was trying to win its eighth title overall.

Likewise impressive, the Gators won in comeback fashion.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Land O’Lakes found timely hitting —base hits by Callie Turner and Tia Williams  — and benefitted from Patriot mistakes — hit by pitch, wild pitch— to build the lead for good.

Meanwhile, Turner, the team’s sophomore ace, kept the game within reach from the outset, pitching like she has all season long.

The University of Tennessee commit fired a complete game, allowing just five hits and striking out eight against a potent Patriots lineup (.447 team average, 24 home runs).

The Gators’ championship win culminated a pair of close playoff games.

The day before, on May 19, Land O’ Lakes edged North Fort Myers High 2-0 in the state semifinals.

And, on May 12, the Gators narrowly beat Springstead High 2-0 in the region finals.

For followers of Land O’ Lakes varsity softball, the championship isn’t an utter shock.

But, it’s likely eye-opening after last year’s graduation of Shannon Saile, one of the program’s all-time great pitchers.

Saile — now a freshman standout at Florida International University — amassed 517 strikeouts and a career 1.76 ERA in four seasons. She also compiled 41 wins, 31 complete games, 11 shutouts and five no-hitters in her prep career.

Moreover, Gators head coach Mitch Wilkins this season had to replace two key bats in then-seniors Tayler Holt (.347 average) and Kendall Tipton (.311 average).

No matter.

Projecting forward, a state title repeat in 2018 isn’t out of the question.

Armed with Turner (0.21 ERA, 249 strikeouts) and a budding star in sophomore Shelby Westbrook (2.10 ERA, 58 strikeouts in 43.1 innings), pitching won’t be an issue.

Hitting shouldn’t be a problem, either.

The Gators do lose centerfielder Jessie McCallister (.358 average, 17 RBIs) and outfielder Lexi Turner (.293 average, 19 RBIs).

But, the team returns just about everyone else, including sluggers Tia Williams (.444 average, 24 RBIs), Ashley Smith (.390 average, four home runs, 30 RBIs) and Brianna Lindner (.352 average, two home runs, 22 RBIs).

Not to be overlooked, Wilkins’ mentoring should provide a steadying force, too.

After a 13-13 mark in 2014, the team has since gone a combined 80-9 under Wilkins.

Published May 24, 2017