The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Allen Altman

Altman steps away from school board

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Allen Altman’s last school board meeting — which coincided with the day of the Nov. 8 General Election — marked the end of 16 years of elected service.

He said he chose to step away now because he felt “it was just time” for his departure.

Altman is a native of Pasco County, attended Pasco Elementary, Pasco Middle and Pasco High, and what is now known as Pasco-Hernando State College.

He’s been involved in Pasco County Schools in some shape or form for nearly 40 years, serving on his daughter’s school advisory committees, on the Pasco Education Foundation Board and as chair of the Penny for Pasco campaign, in 2004.

Allen Altman reads to a class during a school visit. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

He didn’t plan to run for school board, but was approached in 2006 by Jeannie Weightman, a sitting board member.

“I still remember it like it was yesterday. She was in Kansas. She called me. She told me the night before she had been rocking her grandbabies and decided that she no longer wanted her life schedule to revolve around school board.

“She had already announced for reelection. She said, ‘Allen, I think you ought to run for my seat.’

“I was actually on a bus — a church bus with a bunch of men headed to Georgia, headed to a men’s conference. We were going across Payne’s Prairie, at Gainesville, when she called me. And, by the time we got to Tifton, Georgia, to stop for lunch, my phone was blowing up with people saying, ‘We heard that Miss Weightman isn’t going to run again and we want you to run.’”

While he had helped others run for office, Altman hadn’t considered that path for himself.

So, when he got home from the men’s conference, he talked it over with his family.

“I sat down my wife (Laura) and my two daughters (Michelle and Melissa) and we had a family meeting,” he said.

They listed the pros and cons.

Ultimately, he said, “they all encouraged me to run. The community support was just overwhelming. I finally gave in and decided I would run.

“At the time I got elected, my intention was to serve no more than two terms,” Altman said.

The Great Recession changed that.

“It was extremely difficult and tough,” he said. “Some of the dreams and visions that I had for the district — like a career and technical high school — were put on the back burner just because of economics.

“So, I decided to run again. And then those things got into the planning process, and I decided, (to run) one more time.”

Expanding options for students
The academic landscape in Pasco County has changed greatly since Altman joined the board.

He was a staunch advocate for expanded educational choices for students living in East Pasco.

When he joined the board, the district’s most rigorous courses were offered only in the central and west areas of the county.

Since then, the district initiated a Cambridge Program in East Pasco, which has spread to schools in other parts of the county. It also has added STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) magnet programs to more schools. It also has career academies at every high school.

Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation opened in August — a new magnet high school off Curley Road, in Wesley Chapel, that prepares students for current and emerging careers.

Altman credits Superintendent Kurt Browning, Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd, the superintendent’s staff and his board colleagues for the district’s progress.

“We have been diligent to try to respond to parents’ needs and be prudent with tax dollars, at the same time,” Altman said. “The big driver is what’s best for our students and families? What the planning has revolved around is how best to provide educational opportunities, accommodate families — and be prudent with taxpayer dollars — and, that’s a balancing act.”

A new school being built on the Kirkland Ranch campus will be for students in K-8. That’s an educational model that’s finding favor with families, Altman said.

He also noted the district is doing a good job of planning ahead. When it builds a new school, for instance, it designs it to make it easy to add an additional wing, if that is needed to accommodate future growth.

That, he said, gives the district the most bang for its buck.

Making tough decisions
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, Altman said.

The Great Recession forced hundreds of layoffs. School boundary issues have been heated. A shortage of money and bus drivers forced the district to end “courtesy” busing for students in grades six through 12, who live within 2 miles of school.

And, that’s not to mention all of the changes required by COVID-19 and an increasing spread of misinformation through social media.

“Those are all extremely difficult issues,” Altman said.

He understands there are individual circumstances that can’t always be accommodated and that can pose hardships on families.

“My focus has been on the big picture for the district — making sure that we’re financially prudent, that we’re providing student choice opportunities and we’re serving families. At the end of the day, you have to make decisions based on the good of the whole,” he said.

Allen Altman offers some remarks during the groundbreaking for the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation. The school, now open on Curley Road in Wesley Chapel, offers a wide array of classes designed to prepare students for current and emerging careers.

“Do I wish I could wave a magic wand and fix their (individual) need? You know I can’t.”

Still, he empathizes with people who feel boxed-in by state or federal requirements.

He understands the frustrations of mandates and red tape.

“Those are hard to stomach. Many times, I’ve agreed with them (people who are objecting),” Altman said.

He recalls one conversation when he told a school board attorney he agreed with the opponents on an issue.

The attorney told Altman: “You can agree with them, but it’s going to cost you $800,000 or $900,000 to fight the federal government to agree with them.

“Those are frustrating times,” the school board member added.

Knowing how to help is gratifying
Some of his best moments on the board have been knowing where to turn for help, to try to resolve a specific problem.

He recalls being approached at a Wesley Chapel High graduation by parents of a student who thanked him profusely for his help in getting their son the help he needed to be able to walk across the stage to receive his diploma.

“I’ve had that happen three or four times,” said Altman, also crediting the superintendent’s team and district staff for making those things happen.

“Superintendent (Kurt) Browning and Deputy Superintendent (Ray) Gadd have put together an All-Star team. They are hardworking, energetic, dedicated, high integrity.

“And, so I don’t have the answers, but I know — after 16 years now — who to call that knows who to talk to, to get help,” Altman said.

As he steps away from public office, Altman said he is troubled by a decline in common courtesy and in the rapid spread of disinformation.

“One of the things that I hear from business owners, and from our administrators and teachers, is just the lack of civility of the entire population, and that’s sad,” he said.

He’s concerned, too, by an increasing disregard for facts.

“I am convinced that social media is a tool of the devil,” Altman said.

With social media, he said, “regardless what you think, you can search and find somebody that will provide something that you like to hear — regardless to whether there’s any truth to it at all.”

The failure to recognize verifiable facts makes it hard to resolve disputes and find a way forward, Altman said.

“It makes it difficult to build consensus when there are people who have absolutely no regard or concern for what the truth is,” Altman said.

Published November 09, 2022

These shelters run so seamlessly, it looks easy, official says

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While Pasco County was spared the death and destruction that Hurricane Ian left its in path, it didn’t escape massive disruptions caused by the hurricane’s threat.

As Hurricane Ian headed toward Florida, weather experts and local officials feared there could be a direct hit on the Tampa Bay region.

Bracing for that possibility, local governments issued mandatory evacuations for residents living in the most vulnerable areas.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning praised the school district’s staff and volunteers for the smooth operations of the district’s shelters for Hurricane Ian evacuees.(File)

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning closed the district’s schools and child care programs, and canceled school-related events.

The district was forced to close its schools because of the serious nature of Hurricane Ian’s potential dangers, Browning said.

The district also opened shelters to give evacuees a place to go.

The operations ran so smoothly that people often forget the massive amount of effort required to make that happen, Browning said, during the Pasco County School Board’s Oct. 4 meeting.

The superintendent complimented everyone involved in the shelter efforts.

He took a few minutes to detail the efforts required.

He thanked the staff and volunteers who were involved in getting schools ready to serve as shelters, then operating the shelters and then getting the schools ready for classes to resume.

The district had shelter operations at Cypress Creek, Sunlake, Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Fivay high schools; at Cypress Creek, Centennial, Weightman and Pasco middle schools; and, at the River Ridge Complex.

The superintendent told the school board, audience and those watching the board meeting on YouTube that he couldn’t let the day pass without expressing gratitude for the district’s incredible team.

“The folks that make it look seamless in this district are sitting before you today,” Browning said. “These men and these women, around this table, are the ones that make it happen.

“The problem with making it look so seamless is that people don’t actually understand the amount of work that goes into preparing to close schools, open shelters, make sure they’re staffed, make sure you have food,” Brown said.

“They make it seamless. They do. But I’ll tell you, the people who are sitting around this table today worked their tails off.”

The superintendent praised the efforts of Mary Martin and her human resources team, who ensured the shelters were staffed.

“Mary and her team just knocked it out of the park,” Browning said.

He singled out Stephanie Spicknall, director of food and nutrition services (FNS), and her team, too.

Browning said he suspects some evacuees are “somewhat shocked” when they arrive at a school-based shelter and are served hot meals, instead of cold sandwiches.

“That doesn’t happen by accident, it happens because the FNS teams are there in those schools and they are preparing meals for those evacuees,” the superintendent said.

Browning also highlighted the efforts of Gary Sawyer, transportation director, and his drivers for getting people where they need to go.

He gave a shoutout to the system’s maintenance and custodial crews for getting the shelters ready for evacuees, and then after those sheltering had left, getting the schools ready to resume classes.

Browning also had good words for Michael Baumaister, the district’s chief of safety and emergency operations, and for Lt. Tom Perron, on that team, who was at the county’s Emergency Operations Center.

School board member Allen Altman noted that during Hurricane Irma, district shelters had a greater influx of evacuees, and issues arose because they had not been staffed with security or medical teams.

Those issues have been resolved, improving shelter operations, Altman said.

The changes occurred because of suggestions made after Hurricane Irma, the school board member said.

Browning said he’s looking forward to the debriefing regarding this year’s shelter operations, to see what other improvements can be made.

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, told the board: “I know there are things that our shelter operations can do better, but I think, overall, we were very encouraged by what we saw.”

Kuhn was happy to see improvements implemented in this year’s operations, based on lessons learned from Hurricane Irma.

She expressed gratitude for the help by human resources, to manage shelter staffing.

“That was a huge lift,” Kuhn said.

She also mentioned the contributions from Chief Baumaister and Lt. Perron, of the safety and emergency operations team.

“Issues like this really show how people come together and how amazing of a team we have,” Kuhn said.

She described a moment that was particularly gratifying.

She said she was at a shelter and observed a principal checking in an evacuee.

“You would have thought this person was checking into the Ritz Carlton, the way this principal was treating this evacuee,” Kuhn said.

“It was just a very heartwarming thing to see that our team comes together in a crisis. No egos. Everybody pitches in, does the work and gets it done,” Kuhn said.

School board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong also weighed in: “I can tell you what’s most meaningful to the evacuees … is the fact that they felt so welcomed and they felt so safe.

“That’s what our employees and our staff, and our teachers and principals were able to do — able to give those people a place where they felt safe and they felt welcomed,” the board chairwoman said. “If we can make them feel like that, then we were a success.”

Published October 12, 2022

School board members share joy over Kirkland opening

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During board member comments at the Oct. 4 Pasco County School Board meeting, Allen Altman expressed his appreciation for the dedication ceremony held last month at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

School board member Allen Altman said this photo of Kirkland Academy of Innovation, at 9100 Curley Road, in Wesley Chapel, perfectly captures the nature of the special celebration to dedicate the new high school. The school is designed to prepare students in an array of current and emerging technical and career fields. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The new high school, at 9100 Curley Road, in Wesley Chapel, has an emphasis on preparing students for a wide range of technical careers, in both current and emerging fields.

Altman, who is retiring from the board, has persistently pushed to increase opportunities for students living on the east side of Pasco County, which for years lagged in programming options behind other parts of the county.

Altman asked that a photo taken during the evening be shared with those attending or viewing the board’s meeting.

He praised Andy Dunn, a multimedia specialist for the district, for the excellent quality of the photograph.

“I thought this was an artist’s rendering when I first saw it, but it is an actual photograph,” said Altman, referring to a photo showing the school set against a stunning sky.

The school board member said the photo aptly recorded the special nature of the celebration.

“It was a tremendous night. The weather could not have been any more spectacular. Great turnout. Room was full.

“Everything was wonderful.

“We had some business partners that were there, that were in the tours, that have already reached out to us about participating and partnering in some other programs.

“So, it was well-received and very well done.

“So many students that were there that we heard just tremendous stories from, and what their intentions are and how motivated they are,” Altman said. “I’m really, really, really excited about this.”

School board member Allison Crumbley, who attended the dedication ceremony as well, said that Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation “is  such a beacon for the future for so many students.

“The school is beautiful.

“It’s truly a gem in our school district,” said Crumbley, adding that like Altman, she’s excited about what this school will do to support students’ futures.

Published October 12, 2022

Pasco Schools begin ramping up ‘engagement’ efforts

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When it comes to engaging with families and the community, there are some bright spots in Pasco County Schools — but there’s no consistency.

Alison Crumbley

The issue exists throughout the district, and at every level, those are some of the key findings in a report shared with the Pasco County School Board at a workshop in April.

The district has identified community engagement as one of its top priorities and, as it attempts to make improvements, it has been working with TNTP, a national consulting company.

A Landscape Analysis has been done to get to know Pasco and its needs.

“Every community is unique,” said Janet King, of TNTP.

“So, we really need to start by understanding the place’s unique history, needs and priorities.

“Even within a district, communities are not monolithic, so it’s really important to look across a county and to understand that different parts of a county have different ways of accessing information, and different challenges and different resources that we need to understand before we build any kind of plan or solution.

“Finally, without this understanding, any improvement efforts are not likely to last because it’s not responsive to what families and community members most want and need, and works for them,” she said.

The Landscape Analysis included:

  • Market research: Taking a deep look into Pasco’s unique history, demographics, landscape and growth patterns
  • Asset mapping: Peeling back the layers of who’s doing great work in Pasco and who could be great potential partners
  • Insights Survey: Surveyed 38 representative schools, using TNTP’s survey, to enable the results to be benchmarked nationally
  • Listening Tour: Conducted focus groups, one-on-one sessions and superintendent-led sessions. In short, the sessions asked: “What are your experiences? What’s working? What can be improved?”

The efforts included:

  • 5,397 caregiver/stakeholder surveys
  • Eight parent/caregiver focus groups, including two conducted in Spanish
  • 42 community stakeholder interviews
  • Five student focus groups
  • Four teacher focus groups
  • Five superintendent-led listening tour sessions

In total, the efforts have included more than 70 hours of listening, said TNTP’s King, who shared findings from TNTP’s work during an April workshop with Pasco County School Board.

Colleen Beaudoin

Vanessa Hilton, the district’s chief academic officer, said TNTP was brought in to help the district to develop its capacity to improve its efforts regarding community engagement.

The district also formed its own Community Engagement Task Force, made up of district personnel representing different departments, roles and responsibilities. The task force includes school board member Alison Crumbley and assistant superintendent Dr. Kim Moore.

Hilton said the district realizes “we have lots of bright spots around the district in regards to our school efforts, but not yet, an intentional, meaningful strategy from the district level.”

Efforts to establish authentic engagement are important because it has a real impact on student achievement, King said.

“Research shows that when families and communities are engaged, it makes a real difference for students. Increased family engagement has been linked to higher test scores, increased school readiness, better attendance and decreased suspension rates for students,” she said.

Assistant Superintendent Moore noted that some of the school system’s challenges stem from its rampant growth. In the 1999-2000 school year, the school district’s enrollment was 46,458; now, its 82,377.

“That growth puts a strain on our resources. It puts a strain on how we operate as a school district,” Moore said.

“We have to look at putting in systems so our community feels that they can come in and interact with us, and be an authentic partner with us,” Moore said.

“Many of our community leaders, they want to partner with us. They don’t know how. They don’t where to go, to connect with us,” she said.

Cynthia Armstrong

They call the district and they get passed from one person to the next.

“That increases their level of frustration and then they give up. They want to work with us. They want to support our students,” Moore said.

Steve Hegarty, public information officer for Pasco County Schools, said, in general, the district pushes out information. And, when it seeks feedback, it doesn’t routinely reach back and let people know what it did with the feedback it received.

The lack of systemwide expectation for school-based family engagement has resulted in inconsistent experiences for families, Hegarty said.

One of the issues is the variety of tools that is used to communicate with parents.

The variety of communication methods and styles can be confusing.

“If you’re a parent with three kids in the system, you might have three different ways that you’re being communicated with,” Hegarty said, adding that can be frustrating for parents.

School board member Crumbley said improving community engagement is crucial.

“This is really such important work because it touches everything we do in the school district. Everything. It really does. It has so much to do with the success of our students and our families,” Crumbley said.

She’s particularly alarmed by the survey results that reveal the connection in secondary is far below the national average.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said she wasn’t surprised by the findings, noting these issues have persisted for years.

She suggested the district build on what’s working.

Beaudoin also pointed out the need to devise training that is focused and avoids wasting staff time.

Kurt Browning

School board member Megan Harding asked: “If we’re trying to engage the community, shouldn’t we have some parents on that task force as well? We need to be sure that we are listening to those groups.”

Harding likes the idea of holding town hall meetings, to add a forum for engagement.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said when people want to know more about a school, they’ll visit its website.

She’s visited nearly all of them and she’s not impressed by the inconsistency she found.

“There’s nobody in charge of the websites at the schools. It’s whoever has an interest in it.

“That just doesn’t work, from what I saw,” she said.

While one school may offer a plethora of information; another might just say when lunch money is due.

Both Armstrong and member Allen Altman also said greater efforts are needed to inform the general public — who do not have children in school — about accomplishments within the district.

When he talks to people who don’t have students in the district, Altman said that many have no clue about the positive things that are happening. Instead, they only know the negative news they’ve read or heard.

Shifting mindset
Superintendent Kurt Browning agrees that much work lies ahead, and added that establishing authentic community engagement will require a broad-scale commitment.

“It cannot be just a small group of people in this district running, managing the community engagement work. It has got to be a districtwide effort. Not only that, but I’ll also say, community-wide.

“Beyond setting clear expectations, the district needs to develop tools and provide training, to shift the mindset,” the superintendent said.

The effort needs to involve “all district staff, whether you’re a bus driver, an entry operator, a school teacher, a principal, a superintendent,” Browning said.

Efforts to develop a plan of action are under way and more details are expected in June.

Community Engagement in Pasco Schools

Some key findings

  • Many community leaders want to partner with the district, but don’t know where to go or what the district needs.
  • District communication practices with community leaders tend to be one-way; stakeholders want more transparency and opportunities to provide feedback.
  • Where there are bright spots, there are not system-wide expectations for school-based family engagement, resulting in inconsistent experiences for families.
  • A lot of information is provided to caregivers at the school level, but it is not streamlined, consistent or focused on how they can support their student.
  • Parents want to know what their children are learning and how they can help.

Issues identified
Comments contained in TNTP’s report reveal the school district has myriad issues, when it comes to communication and engagement.

Here are some comments from the report:

  • “It is great to know that it is blue T-shirt day, but I want to know what my children (are) learning and how they are doing.” (Elementary and middle school caregiver)
  • “I left voicemails and never got a response. As a community partner, that is disappointing. I hope that they are not missing other opportunities.” (Community organization staff member)
  • “Sometimes community input and engagement is more of a ‘checking a box’ exercise, rather than meaningful participation.” (Community Engagement Task Force member)
  • “Each teacher communicates differently. There are many portals, that we, as parents, have to access.” (Elementary school caregiver)
  • “The communications from teachers are inconsistent.” (Elementary school parent)
  • “I wish the teachers all shared a cohesive communication standard.” (Caregiver)
  • “We should have town halls and be asked: ‘What do you think?’” (Community leader)

Source: TNTP Community Engagement report

Published May 18, 2022

Pasco schools feeling the pain of rising insurance costs

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As Pasco County Schools seeks out an additional source of funding for employee pay raises, through a voter referendum, it also is dealing with increasing costs for insurance.

During the May 3 Pasco County School Board meeting, Kevin Shibley, assistant superintendent for administration, briefed the board on rising health insurance costs.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he told the board, “obviously changed the dynamics of our health insurance plan fairly significantly.

‘I don’t think there is anybody in the room that is not aware that the property market in Florida is just in utter chaos,’ – School board member Allen Altman (File)

“You will see that we have experienced a drastic increase in claims to the plan; revenues have been stable, which is good, but when claims are increasing and revenue is not, you start to run into deficit issues.

“We do believe that some of this is a result of increased COVID claims, so we have been using some of the federal relief money to plug those holes, but we are also not convinced that all of the increases are a result of COVID claims, so there are some pretty significant discussions happening within the insurance committee right now, to discuss how to handle those recurring claims that will persist, once the COVID claims run out and we stop receiving bills and invoices for those claims.

“For the current fiscal year, cash flow for the health insurance fund is actually negative $9.4 million, so that is a pretty significant deficit.

“Again, a good portion of that is connected to COVID claims that are being paid by the plan, but not all of them are.

“So, we will continue to work with the committee, about not only ways to raise revenue, but also to restructure the plan and the claims liability and make some claims design changes to bring that budget into balance for next year.”

School board member Allen Altman, who serves on the district’s insurance committee told his colleagues: “There will have to be some changes of some sort, and they’re aware of that. Mr. (Don) Peace and his team (from United School Employees of Pasco) are equal partners on that committee, and they’re already cooperatively working toward moving ahead and trying to get ahead of that.”

The news isn’t good on the property insurance front, either, Altman said.

“I don’t think there is anybody in the room that is not aware that the property market in Florida is just in utter chaos,” Altman said.

He said he recently attended a meeting involving the group that represents hundreds of government entities.

“Florida is now viewed as the most difficult state in the union for a municipality or school district or government entity to get insurance. Both property and liability,” Altman said.

On average, reinsurance costs are running about 30% higher. By comparison, Pasco’s increase is expected to be about 9%, Altman said.

“We’re fortunate. There are some other districts, coastal districts, but south of us, that are struggling to even get a renewal offer,” Altman said.

The entire state is grappling with property insurance issues — prompting calls for legislative action to address the problem.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special session of the Legislature, which is scheduled to convene on May 23 and to end on May 27. The purpose of the session to is consider legislation relating property insurance, reinsurance, the Office of Insurance, civil remedies and appropriations.

Published May 18, 2022

Her behind-the-scenes work saved millions for Pasco Schools

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Observers of Pasco County School Board meetings know her as the woman who breaks down the complex language of school finance into easy-to-understand English.

Her budget updates explained how much money the school district had available to spend in various categories — because when it comes to spending state and federal funding, there are often strings attached.

She also kept the board informed on how the district’s investments were faring, and how much interest the school system would have to pay on financing school construction projects, or buses, or other big-ticket items.

When it came to finances in Pasco County Schools, Olga Swinson has been the voice of authority, as the district’s chief finance officer since 2006.

Olga Swinson is stepping away from a 32-year career in Pasco County Schools. The chief finance officer is credited with steering the district through some financially turbulent times and for helping to save millions, which could be used to directly benefit teachers and students. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Her work in the school finance arena dates back to 1990, when she joined the district as an internal auditor. Next, she worked as superintendent of finance, then as director of finance, before assuming the role she will retire from on April 29.

Swinson served under superintendents Thomas Weightman, John Long, Heather Fiorentino, and finally, Kurt Browning.

Browning joined the district’s leadership staff and Pasco County School Board members during the board’s April 19 meeting in honoring Swinson’s service, expressing their gratitude for her financial leadership and congratulating her on her retirement.

Browning kicked things off, with a good-natured tone, by sharing an encounter he’d had with Swinson earlier in the day.

“She sent the board and leadership an email that was thanking us for giving her the opportunity to serve as chief finance officer, among other positions,” Browning explained.

When he saw Swinson, he told her: “I was just a little surprised at the tone of that email because it certainly didn’t sound like Olga. It was tender. It was caring,” he said, eliciting laugher from the room. “It was empathetic, sincerely grateful, for the experience she’s had in the Pasco district.

“As she’s looking at me, she’s wagging a finger. She says: ‘Don’t say a word tonight.’

“I looked at her and said, ‘I won’t say a word tonight.’

“And, as she walked off, I said, ‘I will say multiple words tonight.’”

Then Browning began describing Swinson’s many attributes.

“I count Olga Swinson, as being, in large part, the glue (in the district),” Browning said, noting the district’s success depends largely on its financial integrity and stability.

“There has never been a moment, not a single moment, in the 10 years that I’ve been superintendent, that I have ever had any doubts, any concerns, any questions, about our financial standing in this district.

“I will tell you, that speaks volumes,” Browning said.

Over the years, because of her tough budgeting skills and her ability to say, ‘No,’ Swinson developed the nickname ‘Nolga,” Browning said.

Deputy Ray Gadd continued on that theme.

“We give her a lot of grief, calling her NOlga, for ‘No,’ all of the time,” Gadd said.

But the truth is that because of her financial management skills, the district has been able to do far more than it would have without her, he said.

“She doesn’t get a lot of credit for how it (her work) benefits children — but her managing of finances in this district has greatly benefited the lives of children.

“It’s made us effective at what we do. And, when you compare our financial statements to some surrounding counties and other places throughout the state, we’re hard to beat,” Gadd said.

Her acumen is known in school finance circles
School board member Allen Altman said Swinson is known for the accuracy of her numbers, and that she has helped steer the district through financially turbulent times.

“Olga and I, I feel like, have some of the same battle scars,” said Altman, who has served on the board for 15 ½ years.

“We went through the Recession and laid off several hundred employees. And, we’ve been through the battles with the State,” Altman said.

When board members have to make difficult decisions, it’s important to know there’s “integrity behind the numbers,” Altman said.

Swinson’s “financial stewardship has saved this district millions of dollars of money that has been spent on children and employees, that wouldn’t have been, otherwise,” Altman said.

“I give her credit for that and thank her, for that,” he said.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong agreed with Altman regarding the importance of having numbers the board could rely on.

“Our job is so much easier because we could trust, exactly, the numbers that you gave us —  so we know we were making the best decisions possible,” Armstrong told Swinson.

Board member Alison Crumbley said Swinson’s financial leadership has been unwavering.

“Mrs. Armstrong and I started (on the board) during the Recession. The first task was to make $55 million of cuts. Olga led the way. It was excruciating.

“We got through it, and all of the while, maintained a AAA Moody Bond Rating, somehow, through all of this, which has saved our district millions of dollars,” Crumbley said.

She also pointed out that when she was attending state school board training sessions people have frequently told her: “Oh, you have Olga Swinson. We’ve heard about her. You’re so lucky.”

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, agreed that Swinson’s reputation for excellence is known throughout the state.

Kuhn said she’s had the opportunity to be part of the Florida Institute of School Finance, where she’s seen Swinson in action.

“It confirmed to me what I already know — Olga is a rock star in the world of school finance,’” Kuhn said.

Besides hearing words of praise, Swinson received a huge bouquet of roses and a standing ovation.

Her response was simple.

“I will miss all of you, and it’s been a rewarding career,” Swinson said.

Olga Swinson
Olga Swinson ends her 32-year career with Pasco County Schools on April 29.

Here’s a snapshot of her roles in the district:

  • Chief Finance Officer, 2006 to 2022
  • Director of Finance: 1997 to 2006
  • Superintendent of Finance: 1993 to 1997
  • Internal Auditor: 1990 to 1993

Swinson served under superintendents Thomas Weightman, John Long, Heather Fiorentino and Kurt Browning.

Published April 27, 2022

Will taxes go up to improve salaries in Pasco County Schools?

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A workshop is expected in April for Pasco County School Board members to find out what it would take to pursue a ballot initiative aimed at increasing revenues to support increased salaries in the school district.

Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin asked for the workshop during the school board’s March 1 meeting. She told her colleagues she doesn’t see any way, under current conditions, to significantly improve salaries.

“I recognize that staff has tried to think creatively to increase funds to raise the pay of our teachers and our support staff,” Beaudoin said, adding that district pay has been a persistent concern for three years.

“Time has gone on and we still have the same issues. We are limited to the appropriated funds and it is clearly not enough to provide significant increases in salaries for our people.

“We have been making strides in raising the beginning teacher salary, but due to the limitations put on the funds by the state, we’re struggling to compensate our veteran teachers to make their salaries comparable to our neighboring districts.

“I believe we have come to the point where we must recognize that we have limited, unrestricted funds and must do something to increase pay.

“Pasco students deserve to have the best teachers and support.

“I requested information about referendums around the state from the Florida School Boards Association and I shared it with staff last week.

“I would like to ask the board and the superintendent to have a workshop in April to discuss a referendum for salaries,” Beaudoin said.

Board Vice Chairwoman Megan Harding concurred. “Yes, I would like that very much.”

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong had a more muted response: “It would be good to have it for informational purposes.”

Board member Alison Crumbley agreed.

Board member Allen Altman did not comment on Beaudoin’s request.

Harding asked if School Board Attorney Dennis Alfonso “could be prepared to address the timelines and legal issues” of “how to get something like this on the ballot.”

The attorney said he would be prepared.

Beaudoin added: “The sooner we address this, the better. Hopefully, we can meet in early April. I’m not sure it can be ready that fast, but I think we need to move quickly if we want to act.”

But first the workshop is needed, she said.

The move follows repeated requests by Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, who has appeared at recent board meetings urging the board to take action.

The union president made that request again, in his remarks earlier in the meeting.

At earlier meetings, Peace pleaded with the school board and staff to pursue a ballot initiative.

He pointed to high turnover, low morale and pay rates that are not competitive with nearby districts.

“At the Jan. 18 board meeting, I spoke about employees and their perceptions, as related to their jobs, their importance and their workloads.

“I spoke about changing the perceived culture of the workforce, so that we all show more respect, dignity and compassion for those folks — who for the past two years put themselves on the front lines of a medical crisis and made our students their No. 1 priority. Even at much personal sacrifice,” Peace said.

Just since January of this year, there have been 382 retirements or resignations — that’s almost 100 every two weeks, the union leader said.

Of those, 267 have been with the district from zero to five years, Peace said, characterizing that as “incredibly high” turnover.

He also pointed out that 52 of those leaving the district have worked there for 12 years or more, adding “and that trend seems to be going up.”

Peace told the board: “As I see it, we have a short-term goal, settling this year’s economics, and laying the groundwork for providing a secondary means for funding salaries and personnel: A ballot initiative. A referendum.

“I have asked for over three years for this board to act on a referendum, as a secondary funding source.

“This is something we have to get right, now. Because this is right for our employees and the time to act is short,” Peace said.

Published March 09, 2022

Brace for higher costs, Pasco school board member says

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Pasco County Schools should prepare to pay more for insurance, as it prepares its plans for the next budget year, said Allen Altman, a school board member who serves on the board’s insurance committee.

He recently attended a meeting of a statewide insurance trust that represents 400 public entities, including Pasco County Schools.

The news at that meeting about upcoming insurance costs wasn’t good, Altman said.

“The property market in Florida right now —  to say it is in chaos, is an understatement.

“Many, many carriers are shut down completely or are bleeding so much money they’re leaving the state,” Altman told his colleagues during the Pasco County School Board’s Feb. 15 meeting.

“On the commercial side, which is what we are, the rate indications from the re-insurers so far, are running from 20% to 35% (higher),” he said.

Pasco expects to face rate increases in the 10% to 15% range, he said.

He told the board the reason Pasco is expected to face lower cost increases is because it has excellent data regarding its buildings and values.

He said he was told that out of all of the entities represented in the group, Pasco County Schools has the best data.

Still, the district will face increases and it needs to plan for that, he said.

It also will pay more because it is adding coverage for millions of dollars of new facilities that were finished in the past year, Altman said.

Another issue that is expected to result in higher costs involves a proposed change in state legislation, the board member said.

Under current law, under the auspices of sovereign immunity, government entities are liable for a maximum of $200,000 on a claim, unless a claims bill goes to the Legislature and gets approved, Altman said.

But a proposed change by the Florida Senate would increase that limit to $300,000 and a proposed change by the Florida House of Representatives would bump the limit to $1 million, Altman said.

At the moment, it looks like the Senate is accepting the House version, he added.

The proposed increase could be a “significant hit on a budget,” Altman said, especially since the school district has a large number of employees who operate vehicles.

Another issue demanding heightened awareness involves cybersecurity, Altman said. Government agencies are increasingly being targeted and some have fallen victim to successful Ransomware attacks.

While Altman raised issues about increasing costs, Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, again urged the board to stand with the union to support a ballot initiative aimed at increasing funding to improve wages.

“We are now, the only district in an eight- or nine-district region without a significant secondary source of income for salaries and personnel.

“Again, I am asking this board to take a stand. Investigate the possibility of a referendum for the sake of the students.

“We cannot continue to be the lowest paid district in our region,” Peace said.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong said efforts are being made to make state lawmakers aware of the impact their policies have on general funds, which are the source of pay raises for employees.

School board member Megan Harding wants district leadership to do more.

“I’ve said this before, but I’m going to have to say it again: We need to do better,” Harding said.

Exit interviews indicate that 24% of those leaving the district are doing so because of pay and benefits, she said.

“Burnout is very real, and our teachers and staff need to see action as to how much we appreciate them,” Harding added.

“I am sure there tools in our toolbox that we are not using, and I want to use every tool that we have to get our teacher and staff pay up to be competitive in our region.

“Other districts around us are making it work. Other districts around us are asking their community for help,” Harding said.

Published March 02, 2022

Pasco Schools shifting start times

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The Pasco County School Board has adopted a new schedule for school starting and ending times, effective in January.

The board unanimously approved the shift, during its Nov. 2 meeting, knowing that the new scheduling will disrupt virtually every school and student throughout the district.

They said a shortage of bus drivers forced their hand.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning

Board members and Superintendent Kurt Browning said other options were explored, but, in the end, none of them could ensure the on-time arrival of students to school.

“We are, and have been, very concerned about the loss of instructional time for our students,” Browning said. “We have had numbers of our students coming to our schools upwards of an hour late.

“We are somewhat in a desperate place to ensure that we can fill the gap for those 60 to 65 drivers that we do not have,” Browning added.

“There’s nobody in this district that likes this plan, including the superintendent. I don’t like it. I don’t like anything about it,” he added.

However, he noted, having students arrive late is not appealing, either.

The district has been flooded with suggestions for how to solve the problem.

It has tried different strategies, but all of them fell short, according to Betsy Kuhn, an assistant superintendent who oversees the district’s transportation departments.

People suggested the district ask parents to drive students to school.

The district did.

The response was too small to reroute buses and take any off the road, Kuhn said.

Some recommended the district charge bus riders.

It can’t because it has a state obligation to transport students living two miles or more from school, Kuhn added.

Some said the answer is higher pay for drivers.

“I’ve gotten lots of emails (in which) people say, ‘If you just pay $20 an hour, this will all go away,’” Kuhn said.

She supports a pay raise for bus drivers, but said, “we know, from looking at other districts and from looking around the country, that pay alone does not solve this problem.

“While we do want to do that, and hope it is something we can do in the very near future, it’s not going to be the quick fix here,” Kuhn said.

School board chairman Allen Altman said some have recommended that schools run on a split schedule. Those riding a bus would be on one schedule; and others arriving on their own, would be on another.

“I’ve talked to some of our school people,” Altman said. They essentially told him that would be impossible.

Kuhn concurred: “School operations would be an issue.”

Board members also heard from scores of people explaining the negative impacts that shifting the school day will cause.

Two parents came to the board’s Nov. 2 meeting to share their concerns.

One said his wife teaches in the district.

He said the new school starting and ending times creates a child care issue.

Spending money for child care, in essence, lowers his wife’s teaching salary.

Although she loves teaching, from the family’s economic standpoint, they might be better off if she took a job where she could work from home.

Another parent raised concerns about traffic safety issues.

The new schedule has Wiregrass Ranch Elementary and Wiregrass Ranch High School starting at the same time.

Both schools are located on Mansfield Boulevard.

He’s concerned about having so many vehicles coming and going at the same time.

Board members expressed empathy for the impact the scheduling changes will have on families, students and the community. But they said the district must do what it can to ensure students don’t miss out on instructional time.

The superintendent initially had called for the new schedule to be in effect for the second semester of this school year and for the entire school year, in 2022-2023.

But he has stepped back on that recommendation, agreeing, instead, to reassess the situation in May to determine whether the change will be necessary for next school year.

The district also will continue its efforts to recruit more drivers.

One way it hopes to entice applicants is by making sure potential drivers know that the district offers flexible scheduling.

Drivers can take morning shifts, afternoon shifts, or both. They also can choose to work only on specific days of the week, Kuhn said.

PROPOSED BELL TIMES
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
School                         Start                End
Bexley                         10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Centennial                   9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Chester Taylor            10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Connerton                   10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Denham Oaks             10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Double Branch            9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Lacoochee                   8:10 a.m.         2:20 p.m.
Lake Myrtle                 9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
New River                   10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Oakstead                     10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Odessa                        10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Pasco                           8:10 a.m.         2:20 p.m.
Pine View                    10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Qual Hollow                10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Rodney B. Cox             8:10 a.m.         2:20 p.m.
San Antonio                9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Sand Pine                    9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Sanders                       9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Seven Oaks                 9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Starkey Ranch K-8       9:10 a.m.         3:30 p.m.
Veterans                     9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Watergrass                 9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
Wesley Chapel            9:10 a.m.         3:20 p.m.
West Zephyrhills         10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.
Wiregrass                    8:10 a.m.        23:20 p.m.
Woodland                   10:10 a.m.       4:20 p.m.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS
School                         Start                End
Centennial                   8:10 a.m.         2:30 p.m.
Rushe                          7:15 a.m.         1:42 p.m.
Cypress Creek             8:10 a.m.         2:30 p.m.
John Long                    9 a.m.              3:20 p.m.
Pasco                           7:10 a.m.         1:30 p.m.
Pine View                    9:10 a.m.              3:30 p.m.
Stewart                       9:10 a.m.              3:35 p.m.
Starkey Ranch K-8       9:10 a.m.         3:30 p.m.
Weightman                 8:10 a.m.         2:30 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOLS
School                         Start                End
Cypress Creek             7:10 a.m.         1:37 p.m.
East Pasco Education Academy    8:10 a.m.         2:35 p.m.
East Pasco Education Academy    9:10 a.m.         3:35 p.m.
Land O’ Lakes              7:10 a.m.         1:35 p.m.
Pasco                           7:15 a.m.         1:45 p.m.
Sunlake                       7:10 a.m.         1:44 p.m.
Wesley Chapel            7:10 a.m.         1:34 p.m.
Wendell Krinn             8:10 a.m.         3:05 p.m.
Wiregrass Ranch         8:10 a.m.         2:36 p.m.
Zephyrhills                  7:10 a.m.         1:36 p.m.

Note: These schools are located in or near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. For a complete list of schools and proposed bell times, visit the Pasco County Schools’ website at Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Published November 10, 2021