The Laker/Lutz News

The Edwinola

Browning reports on school issues

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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

New chapter begins in The Edwinola’s storied history

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Most people who know anything about Dade City have heard a thing or two about The Edwinola.

After all, the building has been around for more than a century, and has had its glory days and dark chapters during its history.

The Edwinola opened originally in 1912 to replace the Dade City Hotel, which had burned in 1907.

This is an exterior view of The Edwinola, which has been remodeled and is reopening as a senior living community.
(B.C. Manion)

The hotel was built by Edwin and Lola Gasque, who came up with the name Edwinola, by combining their first names, according to an account provided by Madonna Wise, a local historian.

For years, the structure — with its wrap-around veranda, Doric columns and Mansard roof — was a popular destination for businessmen and travelers.

“The Edwinola is an icon in the community,” said Darcielle Gray, executive director of the senior living community, which has closed and reopened more than once through the years.

After ceasing operations as a hotel, it became a private residence, a university, a boarding house, a restaurant and an assisted living facility, according to various historic accounts. It closed most recently after two violent deaths and reported care violations, according to media reports.

“I think it was a loss for the community when it closed. Even though it had gone through some hard times, I think it was a big loss,” Gray said. “There was a lot of sadness about it closing.”

Darcielle Gray, executive director of The Edwinola, relaxes on one of several rocking chairs on the wide verandah at the senior living community. She’s excited about helping future residents there to create a vibrant residence. (B.C. Manion)

Now, the building has been refreshed, and residents have begun moving in, she said. “We have people who are slated to move in, almost daily, for the next several weeks.”

The eight-story senior living facility offers a variety of models, Gray said, noting “we’re pretty much able to accommodate anyone.”

The building has the capacity for about 160 residents, and the types of units will depend on demand.

“We’re going to have two floors of independent to start with. We are applying for our assisted living license. So, we’ll have assisted living. Then, a few months after that, we’ll be offering memory care,” Gray said.

A grand opening celebration has been set for May 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 14235 Edwinola Way. There will be refreshments, tours and a ribbon cutting.

The Edwinola’s reopening is creating a buzz in the community.

The Alpha Sorosis Club was a women’s club that was organized in 1909 and continued meeting until 1968. The club met regularly for intellectual pursuits, and the group — like many other organizations — often met at The Edwinola.
(Courtesy of Madonna Wise)

“Everybody is pretty excited about it,” said Gray.  “When we talk to store owners in the Dade City area, different churches in the area, everybody seems to be quite happy because it gives a place for the seniors of Dade City to be able to stay in Dade City.

“For them to be able to do that, that’s a pretty big thing,” she said.

“Dade Citians are Dade Citians,” she explained. “They like their town. They like their banking here and their restaurants here, and their friends are here.

“So, when they get to stay here – especially at The Edwinola — they’re right in the middle of town,” she said.

Area merchants have already provided discount coupons, and because The Edwinola is pet friendly, Gray expects the nearby pet shop to be a popular place with residents.

Seniors also will be able to take advantage of nearby restaurants and beauty shops, and be able to mix with people they’ve known for years.

That’s a benefit for the seniors, but also a benefit for the community, Gray said.

The Hotel Edwinola was the focal point for social life for residents and visitors to Dade City.(Courtesy of Madonna Wise)

She expects most of The Edwinola’s residents will come from the Dade City and the surrounding communities, but she also suspects that some snowbirds may decide to settle in there, too.

There is no buy-in or long-term commitment, Gray said.

“There’s a basic community fee for entering. And then, you pay your check monthly,” she said. There’s a 30-day notice, in order to leave.

The services provided for independent residents will include a light housekeeping service and a continental breakfast and lunch. Those wishing three hot meals a day can purchase a meal ticket.

The residence also will provide transportation, to take residents out shopping, to doctors, to events, to movies and so on, Gray said. That service is important to seniors because many of them find it frightening to drive in heavy traffic, she said.

The executive director said her goal, and the goal of her staff, will be to create an environment where residents set the course for the kinds of activities they do.

“We will meet monthly to determine what next month’s calendar looks like.

“We really want the residents determining their schedule, so they will drive a lot of the activities we do, based on what the group wants to do,” she said.

She’s already been talking to some of the new residents.

“Some of the ladies are like, ‘Can we have happy hour?’” Gray said, to which she responded: “Yes. We can have happy hour as many times a week as you want.”

There will be standard activities, such as movies and popcorn, arts and crafts, and bingo. There also will be weekly speakers.

“One of our goals is to make sure that the residents here know any providers that are available to them.

“If a resident here ends up going to the hospital for some reason, we don’t want them to meet the hospital social worker the first time they’re lying in bed,” Gray said.

“We’ll bring in wheelchair clinics. We’ll bring in walker clinics. We’ll bring in nutritionists and chefs,” she said.

The idea is for residents to venture out into the community and for people from the community to drop in, too, Gray said.

Along those lines, she has issued an invitation to the Dade City Police to “come in and partake in any meal that we have here,” she said. She plans to invite the fire department to do the same.

“Sometimes our world gets smaller, as we get senior. We want to make sure that it stays wide,” Gray said.

The executive director is upbeat about The Edwinola’s future.

She envisions it as becoming a vibrant new place for seniors to call home, and she finds that prospect to be exciting.

“It’s a brand-new start,” Gray said.

The Edwinola’s grand opening
Where: The Edwinola, 14235 Edwinola Way, Dade City
When: May 23, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m.)
Details: Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served to mark the grand opening of The Edwinola, an iconic building that has been remodeled to serve as a senior living community. Tours will be given.
Information: Call (352) 567-6500, or visit TheEdwinola.com.

Published May 17, 2017