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Pasco Schools shifting start times
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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. 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. See TIMES, page 11A
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Skaters show skills
Seven-year-old Jalen Diaz, of Tampa, watches skaters as they demonstrate their skills during the Skate Jam at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. The young competitor said he’s been skateboarding for two years. His father, disc jockey Dondy Telesford, of Tampa, provided music for the event. See more photos, page 1B.
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Gage Warner, of New Port Richey, positions his skateboard at the top of the starting ramp, as he prepares to start his three-minute run on the skateboard course.
Competing in the age 6 through 8 division, 8year-old Jude Crerand, of Dade City, gets set to take on the skateboard course.
Work resumes on State School board approves Road 52 widening By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Construction has restarted on State Road 52, near the Suncoast Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. A new contractor, PCS Civil Inc., began work on Oct. 25. The contractor is expected to spend a few weeks doing cleanup, surveying and other tasks necessary to safely resume operations, according to an update from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) District Seven office. Work on the project stopped on July 28, 2021, when the original contractor notified FDOT that it was halting work on the project. The state transportation department declared the contractor in default on Aug. 3. The FDOT requires its contracts to have bonds issued by a surety company. The surety company was required to obtain a completion contractor and chose PCS Civil Inc. The State Road 52 project calls for widening the road to a six-lane divided high-
way from the Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41. The contract also includes widening U.S. 41 for approximately 1 mile, approaching the State Road 52 intersection. A 12-foot wide multi-use trail — to be built along the north side of State Road 52 — is another element of the project. The estimated cost for the State Road 52 widening is $49.8 million, according to FDOT’s website. While work has resumed on State Road 52, it is expected to begin again soon on the State Road 54 widening, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road, according to the FDOT update. The prospective completion contractor is sending the surety company an updated price proposal. A completion contract is expected to be with the surety by Nov. 12, with execution of the contract to follow. Once that occurs, the contractor is expected to begin work within a week. See WIDENING, page 11A
$52.7 million magnet school
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Work is moving ahead on a new magnet school for sixth- through 12th-grade students, which is expected to usher in a broad array of new opportunities for students. The Pasco County School Board approved a $52.7 million contract with Ajax Building Company, during the board’s Nov. 2 meeting. The 6-12 school is planned on an 18.8acre site within the community of Angeline, south of State Road 52, north of the future Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard. The school board, acting as the Pasco County School Board Leasing Corporation, previously approved the sale of bonds to fiSee MAGNET, page 11A