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Robinson High School 6311 S. Lois Ave., Tampa, FL 33616
Volume 59, Issue 4 |April, 2019
Feature news
What’s inside Learn all about this years senior hall of fame
pg 2
Meet the custodians who work at Robinson
Mopping up the Employees?
Fun and Unique things to do over summer By Morgan Brazier and Racquel Ingram managing editor and Staff Writer
Hillsbourough county school district considers outsourcing custodians
DIY-ing your clothes is one of the biggest trends on social media, and for good reason. It's cheap, good for the environment and fun to do with your friends. You can make your plain shoes more decorative or embroider a jean jacket.
Opinion
Knight Writers staff explains why red shouldn't be a school color
Take art classes
sports
pg 5
A&E
pg 6 Why Disneys live action remakes are a bad idea
pg 8
SAVE THE DATE May 1
IB Students' last day
May 6
AP exams begin
May 21
Traditional Students last day
May 24
Semester exams begin
May 27
No school
May 29
Graduation
May 31
Last day
After the initial bliss of not having to go to school, summer boredom sets in fast. Here are some fun things to do over break, whether you do it alone or with friends.
Learn to DIY (do-ityourself)
PG 4
Robinson’s Tennis team manages without a coach
By Amelia Foster A&E Editor
Custodians, unlike janitors, have an involved relationship with the place they work and do more than just cleaning.
Photo by R. Ingram
If a private company ends up taking over the county’s The Hillsborough county public school system employs custodial services, it is likely that the schools current cusover 1,500 custodial workers, who spend their days taking todians would remain in their current positions. However, care of schools and their students, a job which provides they would no longer receive state benefits as they would them with certain benefits and retirement insurance - but be employed by a private company, not the state. There is this may no longer be the case. no guarantee that the company would provide the same, Deputy superintendent Chris Farkas sent out a letter in or similar benefits to those that district custodians are March of 2019 stating that the county is looking into subcurrently entitled to. contracting custodial services, meaning a private compa“There are people who’ve worked here 20 years 15 years ny will hire and manage custodians for the schools. This and they were counting on retiring here too, it’s not that change has been proposed in an effort to save the county anybody makes that much money, it’s like teachers you money and use funding more efficiently. know you come because you like kids or your coming ”Nothing is changing at this time and we don’t know if for your future and your benefits and retirement,” Stovall anything will change...We respect what our hard-working said. custodians do everyday for students,” Robinson’s principal, Robert Bhoolai saidTanya Arja, a media outreach repWe feel like we're a part has expressed similar concerns regardresentative for the district. ing what will happen to those who Outsourcing custodial services could of the place and then currently work at the school. potentially save the school district money people just push us all ”My main concern is my people you but if the custodial staffs are no longer away. -Pat Stovall, Head know I want them to be taken care of employed by the district they will no they’re part of the Robinson family...I Custodian longer receive state benefits such as state want them to maintain that relationretirement and health care. According ship with us, ” Bhoolai said. to Naze Sahebzamani, a social studies Bringing in a private company could possibly reduce teacher at Robinson and the schools Classroom Teacher the amount of custodians on campus during the day Association representative, it is not guaranteed that outwhich would make those who clean up and take care of sourcing would save money. the school more like janitors than custodians. ”It’s gonna potentially cost the district more money... ”Janitors and custodians are like really different beevery time something happens on campus, it’s our cuscause janitors come into an office at night cleaning where todians who take care of it,” Sahebzamani said. “If it’s a custodians get more involved with the school we know private company, they can say ‘well we don’t do that, that’s who people are, ” Stovall said. not part of our contract you have to pay us more money’, At the current stages of the districts research, no so it ends up costing more money in the long run.” decision has been made on privatizing custodial cervices. Privatization has proven successful in other districts Companies are bidding for the rights to the contract and around the country. However, there have also been cases there was a school board meeting on Tuesday April 2 where a district made the change to privatized custodial which was attended by many people opposing the proposservices but ultimately chose to return to county managed al and speaking out against it. custodians. ”It’s sad if you’ve been some place a lot of years, my "They have already gone to another state, to Chicago, kids all went to school here, I’ve been here forever,” Stovall and visited to see how counties do that are privatized...I said. “We feel like we’re a part of the place and then peoknow a lot of places it doesn’t work, I heard that they tried ple just push us all away...it kinda makes you feel like we’re it in Lakeland, Polk county, and that it didn’t work for not important. ” them,” Patricia Stovall, Robinson’s Head Custodian said.
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Art classes aren't always just about painting- you can learn to knit, sculpt or do any other craft. Art is a great way to express any emotions you're feeling or can just be a way to pass the time.
Go to museums If you're one of the few people who enjoy learning even over summer, go to some of Tampa's museums. You can learn about maritime history while on a warship, go to the Tampa Bay History Center or check out art at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Have a picnic You're never too old to have a picnic, and the best part is you can have one almost anywhere. Create a picnic basket filled with snacks and go to the beach, a local park, or even host one at night while ghost-hunting with your friends.
Do your summer homework When you have two months off, it isn't smart to spend the entire time procrastinating. Create a timeline of when you want to finish your homework and stick to it. Once you're done, you can have a carefree summer without that weight on your chest.