The Laker/Lutz News

Kurt Browning

Mask mandate dropped in Pasco, Hillsborough public schools

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Students returning to public schools in Pasco and Hillsborough counties will not be required to wear masks.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning took a moment at the school board’s July 6 meeting to reiterate the Pasco district’s position.

“I’ve been getting a number of emails from folks, across the district, that I guess are still concerned that I’m going to have staff and students in masks.

“I am not going to have students in masks, come the beginning of the school year.

“I think it’s been patently clear by this district that masks would be optional starting in August.

“I think it’s even more clear with the remarks made by our governor that there would be no masks in school. So, they’ve removed that decision from local school districts,” Browning said.

“So, I just want to make it abundantly clear that we will not have masks required in Pasco schools.

“We will, however, continue to monitor COVID and COVID data, with the Delta variant that’s out there,” Browning added.

Hillsborough County public schools also has announced that it would drop the mask mandate.

Gov. Ron DeSantis told the Florida Board of Education at its June 10 meeting that most of the state’s school districts had already decided that “kids should be able to go to school normally, they should not be forced to wear masks.

“I think that that’s important that we do that statewide,” he said.

However, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, updated on July 9, for COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools says: “Masks should be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated.”

The guidance continues: “Consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors and in crowded settings, when physical distancing cannot be maintained.”

The CDC “recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully reopen while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as indoor masking.”

Published July 14, 2021

Precautions being taken as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches

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Potential threats from Tropical Storm Elsa has prompted Pasco and Hillsborough counties to declare a local state of emergency and also has resulted in a number of changes in local scheduling to minimize potential impacts.

Weather forecasters are warning that Tropical Storm Elsa could bring torrential rain, high winds, storm surge, isolated tornadoes and flooding.

State and local officials are urging residents and visitors to pay close attention to weather reports and to make decisions accordingly.

At the Pasco County Commission’s July 6 meeting, Laura Wilcoxen, the county’s interim director of emergency management, briefed the board on the latest information regarding Tropical Storm Elsa.

She said Elsa’s potential impacts on Pasco could be winds of up to 55 mph, storm surge of 3 feet to 5 feet, and 4 inches to 6 inches of rain.

Wilcoxen said the winds were expected to arrive around 8 p.m., on July 6, and last until 8 a.m., on July 7.

She also told the board that pumps have been deployed to known flooding areas and that 7,000 sandbags had been given out.

“Pasco is under a Tropical Storm Warning, a Storm Surge Warning and a Hurricane Watch (for the wind speed along the coastal part of the county,” Wilcoxen said, in recommending the declaration of a local state of emergency.

The county board voted unanimously to declare the emergency.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said the county would not close early on July 6 and added a determination would be made later in the day regarding whether the county would open late on July 7.

Hillsborough County also has declared a state of local emergency. It planned to close its offices and facilities, effective 2 p.m., on July 6 to allow employees and customers to get home safely, according to a county news release.

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative also announced that all libraries and book drops would close at 2 p.m., on July 6.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning announced that all Pasco County public schools and offices will be closed on July 6 by 3 p.m., and will remain closed all day on July 7, because of the high probability that Pasco County will experience tropical storm force conditions late Tuesday into Wednesday, according to a district news release.

The closures include the Extended School Year program, the PLACE child care program, STAR, VPK and Early Head Start. School-based activities and events planned for the afternoon of July 6 and on July 7 have been canceled, too, the release says.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber announced a noon closure on July 6, with plans to reopen at 9 a.m., on July 8.

Chamber staff planned to work remotely to provide timely updates on the storm, and impact on business and industry around the state, according to a news release.

“We are in constant communication with the state and have representation on the state emergency response team. Please stay tuned to our social media and web page for important information, at NorthTampaBayChamber.com,” the chamber’s release said.

In a July 6 morning news briefing, Gov. Ron DeSantis said there were tropical storm warnings for 22 counties along Florida’s West Coast and a hurricane watch, from Pinellas County to Dixie County.

“Storm surge will be a concern,” DeSantis said.

Flash flooding is another potential threat, the governor said, because the ground in much of North Florida and Central Florida already is saturated from above-normal rainfall over the past two weeks.

“It’s important that Floridians have their weather alerts turned on,” the governor said, noting that’s particularly important since most impacts are expected to occur overnight.

“We don’t anticipate any widespread evacuations, as a result of this storm,” DeSantis said. “We don’t anticipate that that will be necessary.”

However, the storm could cause power outages, the governor said.

“Be prepared to be without power for a few days,” DeSantis said.

He also urged people who use generators to be sure that the exhaust goes to open air. It should not be used within a home, or in a garage, or under an open window — where the fumes can drift into the home.

“The last four years, there have been more fatalities, as the result of people getting carbon monoxide poisoning, than direct impacts from the storm,” DeSantis said.

July 07, 2021

Electric cooperative donates $400,000 to Kirkland Academy

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The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) has donated $400,000 to help Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation to purchase equipment for the school, now under construction off Curley Road, in East Pasco.

The donation “represents an investment in the next generation of engineers, IT professionals, electrical linemen, and entrepreneurs,” according to a news release from Pasco County Schools.

This is an aerial view of ongoing work at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, a new high school that will help to prepare students for a wide variety of career paths. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school district plans to open the new school in the fall of 2022. It will offer programs aimed to equip students “with 21st-Century employability skills and entrepreneurial experiences to enhance their long-term career prospects,” the release says.

The school is expected to have an enrollment of 1,000 students.

Its programs will include digital technology, engineering, biomedical science, transportation, building technology and others, the release adds.

The donation from the electric cooperative will go toward buying the equipment needed to prepare Kirkland Academy students for high-skill, high-wage careers.

“With technology rapidly changing particularly in the utility sector, WREC felt it essential to invest in an educational program that focuses on the latest in technology and innovation,” said Billy Brown, the electric cooperative’s chief executive officer.

The 184,000-square-foot school is within the electric cooperative’s five-county service area.

Having one of the largest employers in Pasco County partnering with the school district will help to ensure the success of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Pasco School Superintendent Kurt Browning said in the release.

“We have big plans for the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, and it’s great to see that Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative is as excited about it as we are,” Browning said. “This generous donation will enable students to have the kinds of cutting edge, hands-on educational experiences that will be a distinguishing feature of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.”

At a school board meeting last year, the team working on the design and construction of the school provided details about the site and plans, as well as offering a glimpse of its planned programs.

The 104-acre school site is about 3 miles due east of Interstate 75.

The campus is projected to cost approximately $70 million, according to district officials. And, the school will not have an attendance zone. Like Wendell Krinn Technical High School, the new Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation will attract students based on interest in its varied programs.

It’s at the northwest edge of Kirkland Ranch, on Curley Road, at the eastern edge of Wesley Chapel. It’s about 3 miles north of Watergrass Elementary School.

The site is at more than 40 feet of elevation, and includes an existing pond and oak trees.

A number of career and technical education labs are planned, including those designed for digital media, engineering robotics, biomedical and patient care.

Automotive, diesel, welding, construction, electrical and cybersecurity programs are planned, as well.

The diesel program will be one of a few in the state.

Those programs are in addition to core academic classes and electives.

Students will be able to learn about entrepreneurship and business, as well as foreign language, math and science.

In addition to the high school, the school district is planning for the future. A large portion of the property, east of the high school, has been maintained for a future kindergarten through eighth grade school.

Published June 09, 2021

Saying goodbye to a challenge-filled school year

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Some Pasco County School board members and the president of the employee union took a few moments during the board’s June 1 meeting to reflect on efforts made during this previous school year — to cope with challenges posed by COVID-19.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, summed up the last school year this way:

“Well, we made it. A most inconvenient, challenge-filled year is now finished.

“We didn’t make it without cost. We lost a few pretty special people along the way.

“There were some students who never really connected, and the mental taxation to all of us was monumental.

“Despite all of this, I thought we planned and executed a pretty remarkable year.

“Compared to districts and states around the country, who never returned to school, Pasco is light years ahead in giving our students the best educational opportunity to move forward, under extraordinary circumstances,” Peace said.

School board member Cynthia Armstrong agreed with Peace’s assessment.

“It was a tough year. I don’t think any of us ever want to go through anything like this again.

“We still were able to accomplish some amazing things.

“A lot of life lessons were learned by everyone, including the students,” Armstrong said.

“I really want to thank all of the students and staff at all of the schools for everything they did to help keep our students safe this year, (and to) make sure that learning and extracurricular activities continued,” Armstrong said.

Peace echoed that appreciation, giving kudos to teachers, support personnel, district staff, community partners, parents and grandparents for their help during a difficult year.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin also expressed gratitude for the flexibility demonstrated by school leaders, in light of changing circumstances.

“I know it’s not easy, but they have adapted,” Beaudoin said.

Peace said he knows the coming year will be challenging on the financial front, particularly because much of the state money coming to the district must be spent in specific ways.

The union leader also formally requested that USEP be included in discussions over how federal money, provided in COVID-19 relief, is spent in the district.

Regarding district spending, Beaudoin asked if the district can seek to reduce paper costs.

“Can we move more toward using less paper?” Beaudoin said, noting that during the pandemic, the district has increased its use of an electronic learning management system called CANVAS.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district has spent more than $10 million on CANVAS, so he’s a big proponent of using that system.

In conversations, he said, he has asked: “Why should we not, and I use the word, mandate, CANVAS in our schools. And, I still have some pushback. Right, wrong or indifferent. But with a district our size — we’re talking about ninth, 10th largest district in the state — we consume a great deal of paper.”

Browning said he wouldn’t favor going to a paperless system, but agrees the district could use less paper.

Beaudoin agreed: “I’m not advocating for not using any paper. Especially in math, I think it’s really important that kids be able to write on their tests. I wasn’t saying, ‘I don’t want any paper.’ I was just thinking there are some things that you can post.

“I remember in elementary school, my kids coming home with tons of things that could have been in an email, or could have been (on) a half a sheet of paper,” she said.

Browning said the district is making progress on that front. “We’re getting there. Every year, we’re getting better.”

The district is “very sensitive to the amount of materials,” the superintendent said.

As a matter of fact, Browning said he would be meeting with district staff about department budgets following the board meeting to address cuts that will be needed to avoid a deficit in the coming year’s spending plan.

Published June 09, 2021

Pasco schools seek ‘near-normal’

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As the Pasco County public school district wraps up an academic year that was anything but normal, Superintendent Kurt Browning hopes things will be different in the 2021-2022 term.

Browning discussed his hopes for the district, along with a full range of other topics, during a webinar hosted last week by the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, as part of its Business Development Year series.

“This year has been incredibly challenging,” Browning told those listening.

“Whoever knew … when everything got shut down (in March 2020) that we would literally be shut down for the fourth quarter and that we’d still be dealing with COVID … more than a year later,” the superintendent said.

Browning praised district teachers, administrators and staff for making rapid adaptations to conduct the rest of last school year virtually.

Then, he said, the district made more adjustments before the 2020-2021 year began to create a new option called mySchool Online. That option has allowed students to learn virtually, following a normal school schedule — being taught remotely by teachers.

When the 2021-2022 school year begins, Browning said mySchool Online will be discontinued. Students will either return to school campuses for in-person learning or learn remotely through Pasco eSchool.

MySchool Online, Browning acknowledged, “had its challenges.”

“We’ve had some students that have been very successful on it. I will tell you that we’ve had some students that have not been very successful,” he said.

Concerns about students lagging behind prompted the district to make an all-out push in an effort to persuade parents of those struggling students to return them to campus.

Some parents simply refused, Browning said.

That’s concerning, the district leader said, because “the performance this year is certainly going to set them up for future success. We just want to make sure our kids are prepared, going forward into the next grade level.”

As of last week, details were still being worked out regarding the summer instructional program and the upcoming school year.

Browning wants to reintroduce activities that were diminished or curtailed by COVID-19.

“Kids need some sense of normalcy. They need to have their clubs. They need to have athletics. They need to have their dances. They need to have the social interaction with other students,” Browning said.

“And so, we are going to try to have as normal of a school opening as we possibly can, starting in August,” Browning said.

At the same time, the district will take guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and will work closely with the Department of Health-Pasco County, he said.

Social isolation, mental health
Browning said he doesn’t consider himself a “touchy-feely” type of guy. But added: “I have been very concerned about the mental well-being of our kids this year.”

When students are learning remotely, they don’t have the safety nets that schools provide, he said.

“Teachers can’t physically lay their eyes on these kids. They can’t see that they’re dirty.

“They can’t see that they’ve got bruises on their arms.

“They can’t see that they’re thinner because maybe they’re not eating.

“At least when they were face-to-face, they could see some things. Teachers could let their administrators know. We could make phone calls. We could do a wellness check with the family. We could provide food. We could provide clothing.

“Not only that, we could provide hope.

“What we found through COVID is that some parents have just not had any hope.”

“My heart just breaks when I hear about these kids that are struggling,” Browning said.

He then told those listening to the webinar about a call he received from a fellow superintendent — who told him two students in that district had committed suicide.

A few weeks later, Browning said, he learned of a Pasco student who had committed suicide and then, a couple of weeks later, another student did.

“I don’t know all of the underlying circumstances to what brought that kid to make that decision,” Browning said. Then, he reiterated: “I have been concerned about the mental well-being of our kids.”

Browning touched on some other topics, too.

In response to a question, he said he expects COVID-19 to have a negative impact on the district’s graduation rate.

He also told listeners that the district will be opening its Starkey Ranch K-8 school in the fall. Located in the Starkey community, off State Road 54, it is the district’s first school specifically designed for kindergarten through eighth-grade students.

The school is expected to have about 1,000 elementary school students and 600 middle school students.

The campus will have a facility that has been dubbed TLC, which stands for theater, library and cultural center.

The TLC will accommodate public library for patrons and students. It also will have a 250-seat theater and three makerspaces.

Michael Francis, conductor for the Florida Orchestra, has been helping the district with its arts planning for the campus, Browning said.

On another topic, the superintendent told the crowd that unlike many districts across the state, Pasco is projected to experience growth in the coming year.

The district also has been included in a 10-county intensive reading pilot project, which will allow the district to provide some intensive literacy help.

Although Browning expects the district to fare well, overall, in terms of the state budget, he said the district needs to improve salaries overall, but teacher salaries, in particular.

“It really is tough work out there, and with some of the other districts out there having additional sources of revenue that we don’t have, it makes it difficult to compete with those other districts,” Browning said.

Published May 05, 2021

Masks still required in Pasco public schools

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Pasco County Schools will require masks on its school campuses through the end of the school year, Superintendent Kurt Browning said, recently in a video.

The superintendent said he previously misspoke when he said the district’s requirement was based on the governor’s executive order. Rather, he said, as superintendent he has the authority to require masks in a time of emergency, and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic constitutes an emergency.

Browning said a decision regarding masks for next school year will be made closer to that time.

Meanwhile, Browning also addressed the issue during a recent webinar hosted by the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

He said the decision to require masks through the end of the school year made some people happy and others, not.

“It’s not about making people happy, with me, it’s about making sure we have a safe environment for our students and our staff, and the visitors that come into our schools,” Browning said.

“You know, COVID has become very political, unfortunately. People are kind of polarized on two different sides. It’s either they will support vaccines, or they don’t. They support masks, or they don’t.

“We are having to make decisions of what we believe are in the best interest of our kids and our employees, based on CDC recommendations, and depending on where you are coming from — you just don’t subscribe to that, or you do subscribe to that,” Browning said.

Published May 05, 2021

Vaccination efforts continue to expand

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Vaccine supplies, vaccine eligibility and vaccination sites have increased in recent weeks — as efforts continue to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and restore a sense of normalcy.

The availability of vaccine supplies and vaccination sites continues to change, so it’s a good idea to check with local health departments and congressional offices to secure updated information.

Adamaris Cruz-Seijo and Dana Van Deusen were among those taking part in a student vaccine clinic at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Chad Gonzalez/Saint Leo University)

In Pasco County, for instance, the health department previously had vaccine appointments available on Friday afternoons for the following week. As of April 9, however, it began allowing  appointments for a two-week period.

“Working with local physicians’ offices and pharmacies, Pasco County now has over 130 locations that are offering COVID-19 vaccines” Health Officer Mike Napier, said in a news release.

Hillsborough County health officials are concerned about an increasing number of COVID-19 cases during recent weeks, despite the expansion of vaccination options, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

The release noted that Dr. Douglas Holt, who oversees the state’s health department in Hillsborough County, told the Hillsborough County Commission that Hillsborough’s newly confirmed cases currently average 400 a day, with the positivity rate at about 8.6%.

At this time, Holt told commissioners, there’s no indication that variants of the virus are causing the increase. But, he noted this could change rapidly as the variants are generally more contagious.

Holt’s report prompted Hillsborough commissioners to remind residents not to relax their guard and to be sure to continue following COVID-19 preventive measures.

Hillsborough commissioners are scheduled to discuss the county’s state of local emergency and other COVID-19 issues at their next regular meeting on April 21.

Mask mandates are evolving.

Pasco County dropped its mask mandate, effective April 6, although officials are continuing to encourage the use of masks at indoor public spaces, where social distancing isn’t possible.

Hillsborough County’s mask ordinance remains in effect, at least through April 15.

Hillsborough County Schools’ mask mandate remains in effect, according to the district website.

Pasco County Schools is retaining its mask mandate, at least through April 26. That’s when Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order is scheduled to expire. If that order isn’t extended, the school district will shift to optional masks for the rest of the school year.

Hannah Burrows, a sophomore at Saint Leo University, was happy to get her COVID-19 vaccine.

While there has been discussion in some circles regarding if COVID-19 vaccination passports should be required by air carriers, at sporting venues and in other places, Gov. DeSantis has banned the use of COVID-19 vaccination passports in Florida.

In authorizing the ban, DeSantis reasoned that such passports “restrict individual freedoms and will harm patient privacy.”

He also noted, “requiring so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life — such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater would create two classes of citizen based on vaccination.”

In other news, the governor has proposed a $1,000 bonus for Florida’s public school pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and public school principals.

In making the proposal, DeSantis said “we know how important it was for our students to return to school, and our teachers and principals answered the call.”

In other COVID-19 school-related news, Pasco County Schools has announced its plan to drop its mySchool Online option, when the new school year begins in the fall.

MySchool Online always was intended as a temporary measure to provide parents a remote learning option during the pandemic, Superintendent Kurt Browning said. The district will continue to operate its nationally recognized Pasco eSchool, which has operated since 2009.

Status of mask mandates

  • Pasco County has rescinded its countywide mask mandate as of April 5, however it recommends the continued use of face coverings in indoor public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.
  • The mask mandate remains in effect in Pasco County Schools until at least April 26, which is when Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order is scheduled to expire. If the governor doesn’t extend the Executive Order, Pasco County Schools will switch to an optional mask policy when the Executive Order expires.
  • Hillsborough County’s mask mandate remains in effect at least through April 15.
  • The mask mandate remains in effect in Hillsborough County Schools.

COVID vaccinations

  • Hillsborough County: Appointments are mandatory in Hillsborough County. Persons without appointments will not receive a vaccine and will be turned away. Florida residency is required. To make an appointment, go to the CDR Health Pro portal at PatientPortalFl.com. Hillsborough County sites dispense only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which can be given to individuals 16 years of age and older.
  • Pasco County: DOH-Pasco uses the Moderna vaccine, so Florida residents age 18 and older are eligible to sign up with CDR Maguire for appointments at the DOH-Pasco drive-thru vaccination sites at the Gulf View Square Mall and Saint Leo University. Eligible residents can go to PatientPortalFl.com, or call 844-770-8548 to create an account with CDR Maguire.
  • FEMA vaccination site, Tampa Greyhound Track, 755 E. Waters Ave., in Tampa, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily. Walk-ups accepted. As of April 6, the site is dispensing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only for new vaccinations. The second dose Pfizer appointments, for those who got their first dose at the FEMA site, still will be provided at their appointment time. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not approved for 16- and 17-year-olds.
  • Private providers: A number of private pharmacies also are administering vaccines. Check with individual websites to find out specifics.

COVID statistics
United States: 30,965,577 cases; 558,843 deaths
Florida: 2,084,173 positive residents; 34,021 resident deaths
Pasco: 37,594 positive residents; 703 deaths
Hillsborough: 125,515 positive residents; 1,637 deaths
Pasco County Schools: Total county for 2020-2021 school year: 2,152 cases student cases, 838 staff cases
Hillsborough County Schools: 4,766 students; 2,171 employees

Sources: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Florida Department of Health, Pasco County Schools and Hillsborough County Schools. Latest available information as of the morning of April 12.

Published April 14, 2021

Union Park Charter Academy has one year to get finances in order

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The Pasco County School Board has refused a 5-year extension of Union Park Charter Academy’s contract, instead granting it a one-year term.

The decision came during the board’s April 6 meeting, at the recommendation of Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning.

Board members backed the superintendent, despite the urgings of numerous parents and of representatives of Charter Schools USA and the school’s governing board.

Superintendent Kurt Browning

Browning said the school district has no desire to shut down the charter school, but said this action is necessary to ensure the charter gets its financial house in order.

Parent after parent told school board members that Union Park has gone to extraordinary lengths to meet the needs of their children, to maintain open lines of communication with parents and to engage families.

They said their children are thriving and they believe the school needs the five-year contract extension to provide stability.

In addition to the obvious support of parents — representatives for the school said they were surprised by the district’s decision to offer just a one-year term.

“Union Park Charter has met all criteria to be renewed for five years,” said Valora Cole, board chair of the Florida Charter Educational Inc., which is the governing board for Union Park Academy.

Eddie Ruiz, Florida State Director for Charter Schools USA, told school board members that there was no basis for just a one-year term.

He told the school board that Charter Schools USA has been operating for 20 years and this has never been an issue.

Independent auditors have done audits and there have been no negative findings, he said.

“We’re happy to work with staff, but a one-year renewal really will not help our school. It really will hurt our school. And so, we really are asking for what we deserve, which is a five-year renewal,” Ruiz said.

But Mary Tillman, director of internal audit for Pasco County Schools, said there were issues of overspending during the school’s first two years of operation. She also noted that the budgets are based on enrollment projections that were not achieved.

The school did not produce evidence of any budget amendments to address that issue, Tillman said.

The district’s auditor added: “I have no doubt that Charter Schools USA has the resources to support this school but we haven’t seen that in writing.”

Another problem, according to Tillman, is that the budget was missing information.

“I don’t know how to analyze budgets when not all of the numbers are there,” Tillman said.

Browning said his email box was flooded with messages, which conveyed the sense that the school district was preparing to close Union Park.

“It is not the intent of this superintendent or district to close a charter school,” Browning said.

Published April 14, 2021

Pasco County Schools preparing for two new STEAM schools

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The Pasco County school district plans to close Centennial Elementary School in Dade City and Marlowe Elementary School in New Port Richey, and reopen them as STEAM magnet schools.

The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The conversion of the schools will begin at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year, based on an action approved by the Pasco School Board on April 6.

The staff allocations at both schools will be updated for the 2021-2022 school year to reflect these conversions and the newly approved STEAM teacher job description will be used at both schools, as well as at Sanders Memorial Elementary School.

Identified instructional staff members will begin professional development this summer and that will continue into the 2021-2022 school year, with implementation of STEAM curriculum and specialized instructional strategies occurring throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

The student populations and boundaries for both schools will remain status quo for the 2021-2022 school year, with proposed boundary changes to remove the school boundaries for both schools planned for the school board’s consideration and approval this fall.

The boundaries for Centennial and Marlowe will be absorbed into other nearby schools.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the student populations at Centennial and Marlowe  will be determined through the district’s Pasco Pathways process — with priority preference for attendance given to existing students at both schools.

The district is converting the schools to provide more choices to parents, Superintendent Kurt Browning said, during a previous discussion of the issue.

Board member Colleen Beaudoin said parents have been seeking the additional option.

Published April 14, 2021

Pasco schools to drop mySchool Online option this fall

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Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has announced that the school district is dropping its mySchool Online option in the fall.

Browning explained the district’s decision in a video and the district issued a news release, as well, to explain the coming change.

“Based on recent positive trends, we expect that there will no longer be the need for (the) mySchool Online option next school year,” Browning said, in the video. “We expect the vast majority of students to be back in the classroom for in-person learning and for our employees to return to the classroom or office.”

The superintendent also shared the district’s rationale for its decision.

“First of all, the Florida Department of Education only authorized Florida school systems to offer mySchool Online-type options for the 2020-2021 school year,” he said.

“Current indications are that such programs will not be authorized by the state for the 2021-2022 school year. In addition, the number of positive COVID-19 cases, involving our students or staff, have decreased dramatically, since the high mark of January,” Browning said.

He added: “We continue to monitor the numbers closely, both in our schools and in the community, at large.

“Finally, we have been very aggressive in making the vaccine readily available to our staff,” he said.

Because of the district’s partnership with the county health department, it has been able to vaccinate thousands of its employees, the superintendent said.

Browning also noted that the number of students choosing the mySchool Online option has been steadily declining.

Initially, 60% of the district’s students chose the in-person, bricks-and-mortar option this school year. That figure has increased to 76%. Twenty-one percent of the district’s students are enrolled in the mySchool Online option; the other 3% attend Pasco eSchool, according to district statistics.

Browning also noted: “Despite our best efforts, our data show that many students who opted for mySchool Online are not succeeding academically and would benefit from a return to in-person learning.

“There’s also a growing body of evidence regarding the mental health benefits of attending school in person, with classmates.”

Browning also addressed the issue of masks.

“We’ve all been looking forward to the time when we can all get back to something close to normal. That raises a question about masks.

“I know we are all looking forward to doing away with the masks. Right now, I can’t say for sure whether masks will be required or optional, or some other status.

“We will provide clear guidance on masks, when we have a better idea of what is possible.

“At this time, we expect we’ll be able to get back to normal in the fall,” Browning said.

Published April 07, 2021