The Laker/Lutz News

Sand Pine Elementary

Ms. Staney retires for a second time, this time at 75

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As staff members arrive at Sand Pine Elementary each day, they know one thing for certain: Corey Staney already will be there.

The 75-year-old second-grade teacher is first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at the end of the day.

“Her work ethic — it’s legendary,” said Shay Peck, a fellow second-grade teacher.

Ms. Staney is also known for her warmth.

Sand Pine Elementary second-grade teacher Corey Staney, 75, speaks to her classroom about proper grammar and elements of an article during a lesson. Stanley has been an educator for 53 years, has been at Sand Pine since 2007, and plans to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. (Mike Camunas)

“When I first started here (at Sand Pine), I was 25 and she was so welcoming,” Peck said. “She taught me to be kind, always.”

Staney’s presence is comforting, too.

“Every school needs a grandma,” Peck said, jokingly, but also lovingly.

Ms. Staney has been a teacher for 53 years, spending the last 15 at the elementary school tucked inside the Meadow Pointe Community.

Her career as an educator may be coming to an end, but she expects to return again.

Well, in a way.

“Oh, she’s already figured out when she can come back — about a year after retiring — to volunteer,” Sand Pine Principal Christina Twardosz said.

Ms. Staney is invested.

The principal said Ms. Staney is the first to say: “‘They (the kids) need us. I need to be here.

“And she is always here. She’s never sick — basically perfect attendance, but she’s also always there for the kids, academically and emotionally,” Twardosz said.

The principal added: “I mean, she’s been teaching longer than I have been here — not (just) at the school — (but) alive in this world!”

The teacher’s colleague, Nathan Moore, said: “People her age, they’d be out on an island or living it up, but she loves what she does.

“You don’t replace Ms. Staney.

“What’s awesome about her is that she cares about her students like no one I’ve ever seen,” Moore said. “She always has her kids on her mind. That’s her passion to not only help them academically, but as a person — to see them grow to their fullest potential.

“To have her as a mentor, it’s been amazing,” he added.

Ms. Staney began teaching, alongside her husband, Joe — a former teacher and assistant principal — in Worcester, Massachusetts.

They met at Worcester State University, formerly Worcester State College, at a time when Ms. Staney was certain she’d be a teacher for life.

But then she had some second thoughts.

“When I was a sophomore, I said to my dad that I didn’t know if I wanted to be a teacher.

“I even left school.

Longtime elementary school educator Corey Staney, left, speaks with Sand Pine Elementary Principal Christina Twardosz. Staney is 75 years old and has been an educator for 53 years. She plans to retire at the end of this school year.

“I went to work for an insurance company and knew right away that wasn’t for me.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher for sure, so I went back to school, right away, and have been at school ever since.”

After spending 36 years as a teacher in Massachusetts, Ms. Staney and her husband decided in 2005 that they wanted to retire early and move to Florida. The couple had two children and three grandchildren.

The retirement, however, was short-lived.

After being in Florida for just two weeks down here, her husband required quadruple bypass surgery and then an angioplasty soon after.

Ms. Staney had help from her daughter, Lisa, to care for her husband, but she needed to find work and needed medical coverage for her husband.

She tutored in the neighborhood and did the same thing at the nearby Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Meadow Pointe.

That turned into a preschool teaching position and then she joined Sand Pine as a second-grade teacher.

Over the years, she’s touched thousands of lives, and has even kept in touch with some of them.

Students in her class speak highly of Ms. Staney.

“She’s a perfect teacher,” 8-year-old Kaylanis Rodriguez said. “She’s nice and she always makes us learn new things that we always love to learn about.”

“She has a lot of stories,” added 8-year-old Evan Kalojiannis. “I didn’t know she had been a teacher for so long, but she has a lot of funny stories that help us learn.”

Saying goodbye is never easy, Ms. Staney said, adding it will be especially difficult this year.

Teaching children has been such a source of joy for her.

“They’ll just make your whole day,” said Ms. Staney, flashing a broad smile.

“It’s worth it to get up and see the kids first thing in the morning. I loved every minute of it.”

Published May 18, 2022

Efforts underway to extend Penny for Pasco surtax

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The Pasco County School Board and the Pasco County Commission recently held a joint session to discuss asking voters to extend the Penny for Pasco, a local government infrastructure surtax, for 15 years.

If approved by voters, the extension is expected to yield about $1.9 billion in revenues, which would be split between the school district, the county and the county’s municipalities.

The school district and county each would receive 45% and the municipalities would share the remaining 10%.

The special 1-cent sales tax initially was adopted in March 2004, and was in effect from Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2014. Voters extended it for 10 years, with that renewal going from Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2024.

The proposed renewal would be from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2039.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, recalled when the tax was initially  proposed.

“We had schools that were 200% capacity.

“Sand Pine Elementary had more kids in portables than they had in the original concrete structure. We had no green space on that piece of property. The only space we had where the children could play was on the basketball courts.

“That was just our worst example, but we had numerous schools that were at 150% capacity, 170% capacity, and it was nothing to have 15, 20, 25, and in some situations, 30 portables on a campus,” he said.

Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district, said: “In the first Penny, we did a lot of new schools as part of our projects, as well as renovations. When the Penny came up for renewal, we were in the recession, or just coming out of the recession, so our growth had pretty much gone to zero. So, our focus on the current Penny was more on renovations, rather than on new schools.

“With the growth that you all are well aware of, in our county — at this point, again, we’re going back to focusing on not only renovations, but also on new schools,” Williams said.

The proposed list includes numerous new schools.

“As you know the (State Road) 54 corridor in the Central Pasco area is booming, and so we are looking at doing potentially a new elementary school, probably in the Bexley development,” the planning director said.

“Also, along the (State Road) 52 corridor, we know that Central Pasco Employment Village is starting to come to fruition, just to the west of I-75, so we have a K-8 (kindergarten through eighth grade) school planned for that area.

“Also, we’re already planning on doing a K-8 school on the Smith property, which is in the Ballantrae area, along the (State Road) 54 corridor, and we anticipate opening that in 2025, but we’re looking toward using Penny money for that,” Williams said.

Also, in the Villages of Pasadena Hills — between Wesley Chapel and Dade City — the school district is expected to be building a K-8, or whatever is needed there, Williams said.

But those are just some of the projects that would be built with Penny proceeds.

The school district also would use the tax revenues to add computers in schools, upgrade the district’s computer network, fortify the safety on its campuses, upgrade athletic facilities and improve safety at driver pickup locations at schools, among other things.

The county proposes to spend its portion of the tax revenues this way: 40% for transportation, 20% for economic development, 20% for public safety; and, 20% for environmental lands, as well as park infrastructure.

County Administrator Dan Biles said using a portion of the funds for park infrastructure is a new idea, but is intended to equip recreational areas, so people can enjoy them.

The county administrator also noted that it’s impossible to accurately project revenues or costs over a 15-year period. So, he said, the hope is to underestimate revenues and overestimate costs.

Sheriff Chris Nocco noted: “Our county is growing too quickly, the needs are overwhelming right now.

“When we’re looking at the Penny, maybe we don’t always have to do it the same way. Maybe we could adjust it different ways to address different needs,” he said.

The first Penny was approved on a narrow margin, but the renewal received much boarder  support, Gadd said.

Superintendent Kurt Browning said he hopes that voters give the second renewal resounding approval, as well.

“Moving forward, there’s a great deal of work that has to be done, in order to assure our public, our voters, that we’re worthy of the renewal and our district is committed to that end,” Browning said.

The two boards will be working in coming months to prepare to get the Penny for Pasco renewal placed on the November ballot, so voters can decide whether the 1-cent surtax should be extended.

Published April 06, 2022

Pasco schools adopt tentative budget

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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

Wiregrass Elementary is gearing up for first year

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Between 400 and 500 people turned out for a parent and community night to find out what lies ahead at Wiregrass Elementary, a new school opening in August.

Principal Steven Williams was delighted by the turnout.

“I love it. It’s wonderful to be part of a community that’s engaged,” Williams said.

During the first half hour of the meeting, Williams said he gave some general information about the school and talked about the vision for the school.

Hundreds of parents turned out to learn more about Wiregrass Elementary, a new school set to open in August. (Photos courtesy of Wiregrass Elementary School)
Hundreds of parents turned out to learn more about Wiregrass Elementary, a new school set to open in August.
(Photos courtesy of Wiregrass Elementary School)

After that, parents were invited to make their way around tables in the room, to seek additional information and to offer their thoughts.

Questions that came in during the meeting were answered within 24 hours on the school’s Q&A that’s posted on its website.

Besides parents, others on hand included representatives of the architect who designed the school, the builder who is constructing the school, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

The school is expected to open with 400 students, but is anticipating rapid growth, Williams said. There are residential developments nearby, and houses are sprouting up all around.

“We’re planning the school with change in mind and growth in mind,” he said, noting he’s buying furniture and textbooks for more than 400 kids. He knows he’s going to need more and wouldn’t be surprised to see enrollment topping 500 within 12 months of opening.

The principal is also planning for a school that’s going to grow in other directions.

“Do we have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?” Williams asked.

Construction is ongoing at Wiregrass Elementary School. The new elementary school is slated to open with about 400 students.
Construction is ongoing at Wiregrass Elementary School. The new elementary school is slated to open with about 400 students.

The school wants to be a place that fosters growth — and that means for everyone, students, staff and leaders, too, Williams said. “None of us has arrived yet,” he said.

Besides inviting community partnerships, the school wants to create ties with John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High, Williams said.

For instance, a culinary student at Wiregrass Ranch High might be able to be involved in an elementary cooking club, Williams said.

Many of the questions raised by parents regarding specific issues are answered on the school’s website.

For instance, the school’s technology will include interactive whiteboards, Apple TVs, small group collaboration stations, iPads, MacBook laptops, 3-D computing stations and additional technological devices.

Each staff member will have a laptop, and students will have access to machines on a 4:1 ratio.

But, the school also is developing a “Bring-Your-Own-Device” program that will allow students to bring their own technology.

“It’s very important to me to have students ‘own’ their own technology,” Williams said, and that means going well beyond the typical uses for communication and entertainment. He wants them to be able to use the devices as resources, to help to elevate their education.

Students who are currently attending kindergarten through fourth grade and who live in the Wiregrass boundaries will be automatically registered. Those who are entering kindergarten or moving into the area must register. Individual appointments can be arranged.

The school will have before and after school care, and there will be clubs, though the types of clubs have not been determined.

Wiregrass will follow the school district’s dress code, so uniforms are not required. However, a line of spirit wear has been developed, and the optional items can be purchased through the school’s PTA.

Wiregrass will have gifted education through an inclusion model, which means the instruction will be embedded in all subjects, rather than delivered in a separate classroom.

“We want our students to be able to walk a learning path that is specific to them,” Williams said, noting the school will subscribe to the philosophy of “student-owned learning.”

There will be intentional outcomes, but different ways to achieve them, the principal explained. The teachers will serve as the guides, working with students as they work toward achieving those outcomes, albeit following different paths.

The school also is planning some special activities, such as the creation of a time capsule, to mark the school’s inaugural year.

For those wishing to reach the school’s staff before the new campus is completed, they can stop by the school’s temporary office at Sand Pine Elementary, 29040 County Line Road in Wesley Chapel, or call (813) 346-0700.

Wiregrass Elementary, 29732 Wiregrass School Road
School starts: Aug. 15
School hours: 9:40 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
Childcare: (813) 794-2180
Transportation: (813) 794-0450
Additional information: WRES.pasco.k12.fl.us

Published May 18, 2016

New elementary school gets a name

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The school formerly known as Elementary W now has a name.

Pasco County School Board members voted unanimously on March 15 to name the school Wiregrass Elementary.

Steven Williams
Steven Williams

The board chose the name after little discussion. They decided to go with a name that reflects the community where the school will open in August.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong made the motion for the school’s new name, saying she was recommending Wiregrass, rather than Wiregrass Ranch, to avoid potential confusion with the nearby Wiregrass Ranch High School.

Armstrong also noted that she prefers naming schools based on their location because it helps to build a sense of community.

She also noted that naming a school for a person can lead to problems later on. “Down the road, when we want to repurpose a building, we want to repurpose a program, it makes it very difficult to do so because people have very strong feelings, as well they should,” Armstrong said.

Melissa Bidgood
Melissa Bidgood

“I have always felt strongly that geographic names are the way to go,” agreed School Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley.

The new school will be led by Principal Steve Williams and Assistant Principal Melissa Bidgood.

Williams joined Pasco County Schools in 2001, working as a literacy specialist, then assistant principal and then principal.

Most recently, he led the Office for Teaching and Learning, supporting K-12 learning in all Pasco County Schools.

Bidgood joined Pasco County Schools in 2004. She spent the first part of her career at Sunray Elementary School followed by Sand Pine Elementary as a classroom teacher.

She later became a literacy coach at Seven Springs Elementary School, interned at Sunray Elementary as assistant principal and, most recently, has served as an assistant principal at Seven Oaks Elementary School.

Published March 23, 2016

School boundary changes gain first-round approval

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The Pasco County School Board has given first-round approval of proposed boundaries for Elementary School W, a school under construction in Wesley Chapel.

The unanimous vote came despite objections from parents living in Northwood and in Arbor Woods, who do not want their children moved to Denham Oaks Elementary, which is in Lutz.

“I want another option given to us,” said Amy Bracewell, who lives in Northwood.

“We moved here before we had children because of the area and the school options available to us,” said Bracewell, who now has two children who will be affected by the boundary shifts.

“Our family lives in Wesley Chapel, we shop in Wesley Chapel, and we worship in Wesley Chapel,” she said. “I feel that the changes you have proposed will have negative effects on the students that live in Northwood.”

The impacts go beyond the school day, she explained.

Pasco County School Board members will cast a final vote on proposed school boundaries for Elementary W, a school now being built off Mansfield Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. Some parents oppose the new school’s proposed boundaries because their children would be shifted to Denham Oaks in Lutz. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Pasco County School Board members will cast a final vote on proposed school boundaries for Elementary W, a school now being built off Mansfield Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. Some parents oppose the new school’s proposed boundaries because their children would be shifted to Denham Oaks in Lutz.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“Any parents that use day care in Wesley Chapel will have to change to another day care, because they will not transport our children to Denham Oaks,” she said. So, children who have essentially known each other since birth will no longer be able to attend the same day care, she said.

Kellie Barragan, another Northwood parent, urged board members to reconsider the proposed boundary plan. “I really implore you to find a way for Northwood to go to Sand Pine (Elementary),” she said.

Chris Keller, who lives in Belle Chase, told board members “we understand the need for change. But, we don’t feel that the changes being proposed are in the best interests of our children.”

His chief concern is dealing with transportation issues that will arise — affecting childcare arrangements and after-school activities.

“A lot of the current places within Wesley Chapel will not serve the Lutz area and Denham Oaks,” Keller said.

He asked the board to direct district staff to take another look at the proposed boundaries.

Allen Altman, vice chairman of the school board, said he’s well aware of the area’s traffic issues because he has an office off State Road 54, near Denham Oaks Elementary.

However, he said, “Ultimately, at some point in time, we have to draw a line.”

Whenever a line is drawn, some people are going to be unhappy about where it was drawn, Altman said.

While the board can’t avoid geographic disruptions caused by new boundaries, it can address concerns about educational services, said Altman, noting he’s heard concerns from parents who are worried about losing services for academically gifted students.

Altman said he would support the proposed boundaries with the stipulation that the district comes back with a plan for how it will address that issue.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong and Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley agreed with Altman.

After the vote, Vincent Iglio, who lives in Arbor Woods, urged the board to consider the consequences of the proposed boundaries.

“We’re not drawing lines based on actuarial tables. We’re drawing lines based on students, communities and families,” Iglio said.

He urged the board to consider “a reasonable option” which he said would allow the children living in Arbor Woods to attend Sand Pine Elementary.

During a recent community meeting at Denham Oaks Elementary, Chris Williams, the director of planning for Pasco County Schools, told those gathered that the boundary committee recommended that the Northwood subdivision, including Arbor Woods, be sent to Denham Oaks Elementary.

Iglio expressed frustration at the district’s process.

“I believed in my heart that these were open for public debate. All I’ve seen so far is a defense of the first option,” Iglio said.

Although she gave first-round approval of the proposed boundaries, Hurley said has not made her final decision yet.

“I’m always open to hearing from the public until right before the second hearing,” Hurley said.

The board will have its second and final hearing on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be in the school district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Published December 9, 2015

Parents oppose proposed Elem W boundaries

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Scores of parents from the communities of Arbor Woods and Northwood are opposed to proposed school boundaries that would send their children from their Wesley Chapel community over to Denham Oaks Elementary, in Lutz.

About 100 people showed up at a community meeting on Nov. 19 to seek changes to the proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school being built off Mansfield Boulevard.

They told officials they understand that Seven Oaks Elementary needs relief from overcrowding, but they don’t want their children to be sent to a school in a different community.

They raised numerous concerns.

Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

They don’t want to contend with the traffic on State Road 56, particularly near Interstate 75.

They don’t want their children to leave an A-rated school to go to one with a lower grade.

They want their children to have access to the same programs and services that they now enjoy at their current school.

They’re concerned about how the shift will affect which middle school and high school their children will attend.

And, they question the accuracy of the district’s projections.

They want district officials to change the boundaries so children in Arbor Woods and Northwood can attend Sand Pine Elementary, which is closer to where they live.

Elementary School W, now under construction off Mansfield Boulevard, is intended to provide some relief for Seven Oaks and Double Branch elementary schools. It also has some space available to accommodate anticipated growth, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

A boundary committee for Pasco County Schools has recommended a number of shifts that would affect the boundaries of Seven Oaks, Double Branch, Sand Pine and Denham Oaks.

Williams said the committee considers a number of factors when recommending school boundaries.

Those include school capacity, current enrollment and growth projections. The committee also attempts to avoid splitting subdivisions and considers traffic, he said.

Vince Iglio, representing Arbor Woods, said his neighborhood has just 25 students, which would have a negligible impact, if the students were assigned to Sand Pine.

Chris Williams, the director of planning for Pasco County Schools, explains the process used by a boundary committee to make recommendations regarding a school’s boundaries to the Pasco County School Board, which makes the final decision.
Chris Williams, the director of planning for Pasco County Schools, explains the process used by a boundary committee to make recommendations regarding a school’s boundaries to the Pasco County School Board, which makes the final decision.

But, Williams said, if Arbor Woods were assigned to Sand Pine, the district should also consider other parts of Northwood, which would yield an impact of roughly 200 students.

Iglio questioned the district’s projections for Denham Oaks. He said the school could become overcrowded as early as next year, given the development that’s springing up in the area.

Williams said he expects that all of the schools affected by Elementary W’s boundaries will continue to grow, but some areas are expecting greater growth pressures.

Jennifer Northey, president of the Parent Teacher Association at Denham Oaks, told parents gathered in her school’s cafeteria that she understood why they were fighting the move. She said she’d be doing the same thing if her school’s boundaries were being changed and her family was affected.

She said she came to the meeting to reassure the parents that good things are happening at Denham Oaks.

David Scanga, a district administrator who supervises numerous schools, including Denham Oaks, said he understands parent’s concerns. He told them that Denham Oaks has been making great strides in improving its performance.

Ali Soofi, a resident of Arbor Woods, detailed some of the concerns of the Arbor Woods community in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

“All of us knew that eventually we would be rezoned to a different school,” Soofi wrote. “However, none of us realized that we would be moved to a different city.

“Zero part of our rationale has to do with any school ratings,” Soofi added. “We just want to stay in Wesley Chapel, where we spend all our time, money, and worship.”

The Pasco County School Board has the final word on school boundaries, and it is slated to consider the boundaries at public hearings set for Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

Elementary W boundary hearings
What: Public hearings for proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school which will open next school year in Wesley Chapel.
When: Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m., and Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
Where: Pasco County Schools district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Published November 25, 2015

 

Elementary W causes boundary shifts

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The sight of a new elementary school under construction would seem to be a cause for celebration.

But, even when students can attend a new school, and even when the new school will reduce crowding at other area schools, the prospect of boundary changes for existing schools is often fraught with controversy.

“Folks don’t want to move. I can understand. Folks are loyal to their school,” said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

Elementary W, being built off Mansfield Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, is slated to open in August 2016.

A sign lets passersby know that the construction of Elementary School W is being supported by Pasco for Penny funding. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
A sign lets passersby know that the construction of Elementary School W is being supported by Pasco for Penny funding.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

It will affect the current boundaries for Seven Oaks, Double Branch, Sand Pine and Denham Oaks elementary schools — if the Pasco County School Board approves a plan recommended by a school boundary committee.

Those who are interested in learning more or weighing in on the proposed boundaries are invited to attend a community meeting set for Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., at Denham Oaks Elementary, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz.

The proposed boundaries aim to reduce crowding and leave room for future growth in schools expected to experience the largest enrollment increases over the next few years, Williams said.

Under the proposal, students would be shifted out of Double Branch Elementary and Sand Pine Elementary into the new Elementary W, Williams said.

Then, some students from Seven Oaks would be assigned to Sand Pine, and others from Seven Oaks would be assigned to Denham Oaks, Williams said.

“Part of the rationale is that we don’t want to shift a whole huge amount of kids to Sand Pine and have to move a bunch of portables over there,” Williams explained.

The walls have gone up at Elementary School W, a new school being built off Mansfield in the Wiregrass area of Wesley Chapel.
The walls have gone up at Elementary School W, a new school being built off Mansfield in the Wiregrass area of Wesley Chapel.

“Denham Oaks has quite a bit of room now,” he added.

The boundary committee’s proposal is facing resistance, Williams said.

Although Williams was out of town recently, he said he’s heard that “the biggest opposition is coming from the Arbor Woods group. They’re the newest phase of the Northwood development. They don’t want to be zoned into Denham Oaks.”

Opponents would prefer to stay at Seven Oaks Elementary or move to Sand Pine Elementary, he said.

“Part of their rationale is that Denham Oaks is a lower-graded school. They’re concerned about that,” Williams said.

Opponents also are concerned about traffic through the interchange of State Road 56 and Interstate 75, especially with the recent opening of Tampa Premium Outlets, Williams said.

However, the committee has taken a look at the traffic issue, Williams said.

“They certainly have the ability to go down to County Line (Road) and traverse County Line (Road). By our measurement, so far, the drive times to get to Denham Oaks (Elementary School) from that area are not as bad as they made it out to be,” Williams said.

There’s no question that Seven Oaks Elementary needs relief, the planning director said.

“The car line at Seven Oaks is just madness because of how many kids we have there,” he said. “We just can’t continue to have that many kids at Seven Oaks Elementary.”

In addition to the upcoming community meeting, the public also can weigh in at two public hearings before the Pasco County School Board.

The first public hearing will be during the board’s 9:30 a.m. meeting on Dec. 1, and the second public hearing will be during the board’s 6 p.m. meeting on Dec. 15. The board meets at in the school district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Elementary W boundary meeting
What: Community meeting to discuss proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a school under construction in Wesley Chapel that’s expected to open in August 2016.
Where; Denham Oaks Elementary, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz
When: Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
Who: All are welcome

Published November 18, 2105

 

 

Enrollment growth in Pasco highest since recession

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Drive through Pasco County and it’s easy to see the signs of growth.

New houses are popping up in subdivisions. New apartment complexes are being built, and land is being cleared for more development.

And now that school is back in session, some of that growth is beginning to show up in classrooms, too.

These children are among the 718 students who arrived at Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet Elementary School on the first day of classes in the 2015-2016 school year. This is the Pasco County school district’s first magnet school. (Courtesy of Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School)
These children are among the 718 students who arrived at Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet Elementary School on the first day of classes in the 2015-2016 school year. This is the Pasco County school district’s first magnet school.
(Courtesy of Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School)

For the first time since 2007, the enrollment figures for the first day of school in Pasco County Schools increased by more than 1,000 students compared to the first day of school during the previous year.

Countywide, the district’s enrollment was 66,059, on the first day of classes, not counting four schools that had not yet submitted enrollment figures.

District schools gained a total of 1,138 students, while charter schools operating in the county picked up 441 — bringing the total to 1,579.

The increased enrollment exceeded the district’s expectations. Officials had projected an increase of 1,490.

Elementary schools experienced the biggest gain, picking up 672 more than last year. Middle schools experienced a slight decline, tallying seven fewer students than the previous year, and high schools gained 526.

The district’s education centers also saw a slight decrease, dropping by 53 students.

Some schools experienced increases, while others saw declines across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The opening of Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School, with 718 students, in Land O’ Lakes had an impact on enrollments at several area schools.

Connerton Elementary School’s first day enrollment was 770, down from last year’s first-day count of 890.

Oakstead Elementary also experienced a decline from its enrollment of 1,123 on the first day of school last year, compared with 1,000 this year.

Pine View Elementary, also in Land O’ Lakes, reported an opening day enrollment of 530, down 100 students from the prior year.

Lake Myrtle Elementary, also located in Land O’ Lakes, had a decline of 73 students, going from 639 last year to 566 this year.

Denham Oaks Elementary, in Lutz, saw its enrollment drop by 56 students, going from 669 last year to 613 this year.

Other schools experienced enrollment declines as Quail Hollow Elementary reopened in Wesley Chapel, with 380 students on its first day.

Watergrass Elementary School’s first-day enrollment of 592 reflects a decrease of 114 students from its first-day figure last year.

Wesley Chapel Elementary’s first-day enrollment dropped by 191 students, as compared to last year.

Two elementary schools reported enrollment gains of 50 students or more. Sand Pine Elementary, in Wesley Chapel, increased by 51 students and Woodland Elementary, in Zephyrhills, experienced an uptick of 83 students.

Most of the middle schools in the central and east portions of Pasco County saw changes that were within 25 students of last year, plus or minus.

Pine View Middle School was the only school that experiencing a bigger change. Its first-day enrollment decreased by 65 students, compared to last year.

Among high schools in central and east Pasco, those charting the largest gains were Land O’ Lakes High, with an increase of 155 students, Zephyrhills High, with a boost of 119 students, and Sunlake High, with an uptick of 78 students.

Charter schools in the newspaper’s coverage area also reported gains. Academy at the Farm picked up 119 students, Imagine School in Land O’ Lakes reported 50 additional students, and Countryside Montessori, also in Land O’ Lakes, increased its first-day enrollment by 29.

The largest elementary schools in the newspaper’s coverage area are Oakstead, with an enrollment of 1,000; Seven Oaks, with an enrollment of 1,065; and Woodland, with an enrollment of 929.

The largest middle schools in central and east Pasco are John Long, with an enrollment of 1,665; Rushe, with an enrollment of 1,299; and Weightman, with an enrollment of 1,102.

All of the high schools in east and central portions of the county having enrollments exceeding 1,450, with Wiregrass Ranch High topping the list, with an opening day count of 2,272.

Published September 2, 2015

Construction projects to yield big changes for Pasco students

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Pasco County Schools has taken on an ambitious construction schedule that will result in significant changes for thousands of students across Central and East Pasco County in the next few years.

Projects now underway will result in reopening Quail Hollow Elementary School in Wesley Chapel and Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes next year.

Construction crews have a long way to go to get Sanders Memorial Elementary School ready to become a magnet school for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. District officials say the school in Land O’ Lakes will be ready for the upcoming school year. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Construction crews have a long way to go to get Sanders Memorial Elementary School ready to become a magnet school for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. District officials say the school in Land O’ Lakes will be ready for the upcoming school year.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Quail Hollow will have enclosed classrooms, updated building systems and new technology, said John Petrashek, director of construction services for Pasco County Schools. The technology will be the same as any new elementary school in the district.

Quail Hollow also will be larger.

The district is adding eight classrooms there to accommodate 160 additional students, increasing the total capacity to 800.

The additional space at Quail Hollow will result in a boundary change to bring more students there, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools. Sanders will be a magnet school for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The school will not have boundaries and it will enroll its students through the district’s School Choice program.

The district does want to reduce crowding at Oakstead and Connerton elementary schools, so students from those schools likely will be given a higher priority for admission to Sanders.

The district has been working for months on the design for High School GGG, which is slated to open in August 2017 on the west side of Old Pasco Road near Overpass Road. The school will have a capacity of 1,900 students.

“It’s going to be built as a high school,” Petrashek said, but it will open serving students beginning in sixth grade.

The new school will affect existing boundaries for Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel high schools, as well as Weightman and Long middle schools, Williams said.

“We don’t have the money to build the full middle school and the full high school. This will provide us relief,” he said. “Then, as the population continues to grow, and the demand is there, we’ll build a full-blown middle school next door to it.”

“We have it master planned and master designed for both,” Petrashek said.

The site is a couple hundred acres, so it can easily accommodate a high school and a middle school, Williams said. And the district also is planning to add some other district facilities there as well.

Middle School HH, which will eventually be built there, is not yet included on a district timetable because no funding is yet available, Petrashek said. The school is being designed with two large classroom buildings, with one to be used by middle school students, and the other to be used by high school students.

They’ll share the cafeteria and athletic facilities, but there will be separate locker rooms for the younger and older students, Petrashek said.

The school will operate much like a school within a school, with one principal overseeing assistant principals who specialize in high school and middle school students.

The district also is planning to add an elementary school, known as Elementary School B, on land within a new residential development, Bexley Ranch, now beginning to take shape near State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, Williams said.

“That’s going to be a huge reliever for Oakstead and Odessa elementary,” Williams said.

Unlike other district elementary schools, which have been designed for 762 students, Elementary School B could be built to accommodate nearly 1,000 students, he said, although that approach is still in the discussion phase.

The district is looking at opening that school in 2017.

Elementary W, another school planned to open in August 2016, would be built next to Long Middle not far from which is next to Wiregrass Ranch High, and Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. The school aims to reduce crowding at Double Branch and Sand Pine elementary schools, as well as provide some relief for Seven Oaks Elementary School, Williams said.

“Seven Oaks really popped this year,” he said.

The relief for Seven Oaks may involve sending some of those students to Sand Pine or shifting them to Elementary W, Williams said, noting its not yet clear what path officials will take.

“In the future we’ll have a school in the Northwood development,” he said. “That’s south of Seven Oaks. Ultimately, that’s going to provide the relief for Seven Oaks.”

While the district looks ahead to these projects, it also has completed work on a number of improvements in other schools.

The new gym at Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills was finished at the end of last school year just in time for the eighth-grade graduation exercises, Petrashek said. But students are just now getting full use of the new facility.

“It’s still brand new,” Petrashek said.

The renovation of the weight room and locker rooms at Zephyrhills High School also is now complete, Petrashek said. Crews completed the renovation of the school clinic at Cox Elementary School in Dade City over the summer.

“It was simply outdated. It wasn’t functioning, so we redid that,” Petrashek said.

Now, the district is working on the design for a $5 million construction project at Cox that will add a new cafeteria and improve parking and the drop-off loop, Petrashek said, which could be completed by August 2016.

The district also is at the design stage of a campus renovation project at Pasco Elementary School in Dade City. The project, expected to be completed by August 2016, involves renovating classrooms, which will include infrastructure upgrades, new technology and fire sprinklers.

Portable classrooms will be brought in to enable construction work to be done while the campus is occupied.

Published September 3, 2014

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