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New school year offers three options
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Students will have three options when classes resume this fall in Pasco Schools. Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning announced his ReOpening Pasco Schools plan in a news release issued June 18. “Parents sent us a message loud and clear: they wanted options,” Browning said, in the news release.“Many are eager to have their student return to school and see their teachers and classmates. But, many aren’t
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ready for that yet.There’s an option here for everyone.” Here are the choices outlined in the district’s 2020-2021 reopening plan: • Traditional – A return to campus and classroom with the standard school schedule and bell times. This option includes a heavy emphasis on health and safety precautions. Students will practice safe social distancing to the greatest extent possible. Schools will use signage and consistent communication to discourage the gathering of large groups of students. Students will be expected to wear
masks or cloth face coverings on the school bus, but masks will not be required in classrooms. • mySchool Online – Virtual learning with a connection to the student’s enrolled school. This option requires that students follow the standard school schedule and bell times. It features lessons and virtual interaction with teachers during each class period – all conducted online. • Virtual School – Online learning See OPTIONS, page 13A
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A pageant, games & juicy watermelon
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Concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19 has kept many people close to home since mid-March, canceling all sorts of events. But, the first annual Lutz Watermelon Festival drew a crowd to enjoy games, grab a bite to eat and watch little girls vying for the title of Little Miss Watermelon in several age categories. Above, Stephanie Ensor, Lutz, center, and Alara Donaldson, of Lutz. The ladies were selling shirts to support the preservation of the Old Lutz School, a historic building in downtown Lutz. For more on this story, see page 1B.
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Kinsley Joy Slocumb, age 6, Lutz, strikes a pose for the crowd as she was crowned winner in the ages 6 through 9 category of the Little Miss Watermelon contest.
Face masks required Pasco Sheriff named in Hillsborough County to Homeland Security Florida’s COVID-19 cases surpass 100,000 By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Hillsborough Emergency Policy Group has approved a requirement that face coverings be worn by employees and patrons when social distancing is not possible within businesses. The order will apply for seven days only, unless renewed. Under the order, business operators must enforce the requirement for face coverings, except for categories exempted in the order. Individuals cannot be charged for failing to wear masks. The emergency policy group approved the order on a 5-3 vote on June 22, after extensive discussion among policy group members, testimony supporting the requirement from the medical community, and public support and opposition. The emergency policy group’s action comes at a time when the number of positive cases in Florida surpasses the 100,000-mark, based on figures reported by the Florida Department of Health. The state figures show Florida had 100,217 positive cases, including 98,047 Florida residents and 2,170 non-residents.
Case totals
Statewide: 100,217, including 98,047 Florida residents; 2,170 non-residents Pasco County: 872, including 861 Florida residents, 11 non-residents Hillsborough County: 5,973, including 5,904 Florida residents, 69 non-residents
advisory role
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
The state’s death toll stood at 3,173, including a 17-year-old male from Pasco County, whose death was recorded on June 19 in Florida Department of Health records. Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the state’s rising numbers during a news conference on June 20. He said the increase of positive cases results partially from widespread testing, but he also said that people in the 20-to-30 age group that are testing positive at a higher rate. “Our cases are shifting in a radical direction, younger,” DeSantis said. The governor said the state’s Department of Business and Professional
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco has added another leadership responsibility to his plate —an advisory role with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Pasco Sheriff is one of seven new members named to the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) by acting secretary Chad Wolf. The announcement came from the federal agency last month. The HSAC is a Department of Homeland Security federal advisory committee that provides the secretary with independent, informed recommendations, and advice on a variety of homeland security issues. It’s comprised of national policy makers, representatives from state, local, and tribal governments, emergency, and first responder communities, academia, and the private sector.The 35-member council is chaired by former CIA and FBI Director Judge William Webster. With the appointment, Nocco becomes the only elected official from Florida to serve on the council. In an interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Nocco called the selection “a humbling honor,” that will give the area “a seat at the table” when it comes to providing and
See COVID-19, page 13A
See SHERIFF, page 13A
Death counts Statewide: 3,173 Pasco County: 17 Hillsborough County: 115
(Most recent data available)