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COVID-19 complicates school start
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Students in Pasco and Hillsborough counties are set to begin a new school year on Aug. 24, but not all of the students will be headed to campus. In Pasco County, students have three options for learning — amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic. Some students are expected to arrive at Pasco campuses on Aug. 24, while others opt for two versions of online learning. In the mySchool Online version, students are con-
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nected virtually to their assigned schools. With Pasco eSchool, they have more flexibility in the schedule and pace of learning. In Hillsborough County, classes begin on Aug. 24, with all students beginning the school year through online learning only, until campuses open for students on Aug. 31. Like Pasco, Hillsborough is offering three learning options — face-to-face instruction and two virtual approaches. Of course, there’s nearly a week before school begins, so it’s not inconceivable that these plans could change again. As of press deadline for The Laker/Lutz
News, there were two legal actions pending over whether school districts must comply with Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s Emergency Order that requires a face-to-face learning option on public school campuses. The school year is already starting later than initially planned, with both Hillsborough and Pasco starting on Aug. 24, rather than Aug. 10. The Hillsborough County School Board then voted to begin the district’s school year See COVID-19, page 7A
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Sienna Gizelbach couldn’t wait to meet some new friends at Bexley Elementary School. The girl’s family had just moved to the area from Virginia last year, and her mom, Verena Gizelbach, said they received a warm reception from the school.
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Silas posed on his first day of second grade last year, while his older brother, Evan, was getting ready for his first day of fourth grade. The Carozza boys were at their home in Heritage Harbor in Lutz.
Panelists share insights Progress continues on youth issues in Pasco on New River Library renovation
By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
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INSIDE, PAGE 1B
The first day of school, because of COVID-19, will be anything but routine for the 2020-2021 school year. Some students will be attending classes virtually, while others will be strapping on masks, and heading to school campuses. It’s become a tradition for us to share First Day of School photos with our readers, and we would love to share yours. We don’t care if your child is heading to kindergarten, or heading off to college. We welcome group shots of siblings, but please identify each child in the photo, from left to right. When submitting your photo, please tell us your child’s name and age, what community you live in, what school the student attends (or if the child is homeschooled) and the grade of the student. Please email your photos to news@lakerlutznews.com by Sept. 2.
Each summer, a panel of Pasco County teenagers share their perspectives on substance abuse and other problems facing youths, both in the community and in the school system. Typically, the event is held at the community center at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. But, this time, panelists shared their insights again in a July 28 forum held virtually, in light of COVID-19. The new format didn’t affect the substance:The panelists — who make up Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND) — still got their points across. The forum was arranged by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP).This is the fifth year that STAND members addressed numerous community stakeholder groups. They shared their views on various health and safety issues facing Pasco youths. The group of youth leaders who make up STAND are working to end youth substance abuse in Pasco County by sharing their observations and knowledge with teachers, police, business owners and other community members. Besides helping to build understanding, they also suggest solutions. During the hour-long online discussion, STAND speakers warned that vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes, is a growing problem among youth countywide. Anclote High School student Iker Dorta went so far as to label it “the biggest drug-related issue” in local high schools and middle schools. Besides vaping nicotine, kids also vape THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), and other illicit substances that can be smoked, he said. Iker noted that vaping has become more popular among teens because it’s “easy to hide in your pocket and go to the bathroom and use it.” Fellow STAND members agreed. “Vaping is a huge problem in schools and such,” said Chasco Middle School student Alyssa Saldana.“I’ve had some of my friends tell me that one of their older friends offered them a vape, so it’s definitely a big problem that we need to start looking at more.”
Maddie Horn underscored the issue by recalling an incident during a Chasco Middle School pep rally when a student was caught vaping. “I think it’s a very common thing that’s happening in all our schools,” said Horn, a rising freshman at Gulf High School. Many teens get roped into substance use through peer pressure and they use substances to become popular, Horn said. “It’s very much a popularity thing. So, like if one person does it and they become popular, everyone else will want to do it because they want that ‘fame’ in the school,” Horn said. Besides vaping, marijuana use continues to be “a big issue,” said Land O’ Lakes High School student Jocelyn Meriwether. “We have a lot of kids who think it’s a cool thing to do, and you have to, like, join the club of high school that way, through smoking weed in bathrooms and trying not to get caught.”
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Using substances to become more popular is just one issue, panelists said. Youths also turn to substances as a way to escape from dysfunctional home life, or to cope with inner feelings, they said. They urged an increase in mental health services. “Mental health is the key to everything right now,” Dorta said.“For a 15- or 16-yearold to go through trauma and leave it unchecked…really impales society as a whole, because that’s what’s going to make up our next generation as a whole, so the very next step before overcoming drugs and vaping, first, is taking hold of our minds.” Panelists said that mental health must be taken more seriously by the Pasco County Schools — from guidance counselors to teachers and administrators. They advocate greater funding for staffing at schools to give students quick access to help, when they need to talk to someone about their problems. As it stands now, instead of an open door policy, a student must make an appointment of sorts by placing a notecard in a counselor’s mailbox, Meriwether said.
No specific completion date has been set yet, but Pasco County library officials expect the makeover of the New River Branch Library to be wrapped up by the end of this year. The library, at 34043 State Road 54, sits on the edge of Wesley Chapel — not far from Zephyrhills. Workers are busy on a massive remodeling that began last fall. The total cost for the project, including design, construction, furnishing, technology and other associated expenses is approximately $2.8 million, said Bob Harrison, program manager for the Pasco County Library System. All seven county libraries are slated for substantial improvement, using funds generated from General Obligation bonds approved by voters in November 2018. When the New River renovation is finished, patrons will notice a number of obvious improvements, such as faster Internet speeds, a covered walkway, a makerspace that opens into a shaded “classroom” that opens into a much larger community garden. Improvements also include an upgraded air-conditioning, heating and ventilation system. Like just about everything else in life these days, the project has been affected by impacts of COVID-19. “We had some manufacturers that had shut down for a time,” Harrison said. That shutdown caused a delay in getting supplies needed for the library project, Harrison explained. When the library reopens, it will offer much more than books, said Harrison, who is excited about what await patrons when operations resume. Libraries are literacy centers and social hubs, he said. Libraries are places where children come for story time, job seekers come to research new opportunities and entrepreneurs come to learn from experienced business mentors who offer free workshops.
See YOUTH, page 7A
See LIBRARY, page 7A
GREATER FOCUS NEEDED ON MENTAL HEALTH