Local Schools To Benefit If Half-Cent Education Sales Tax Passes Next Month

The heat isn’t going away. Neither, then, are the uncomfortable conditions still being faced by many students in Hillsborough County, where the air conditioning systems at some schools appear to be held together by staples and duct tape.

Looking to address that situation, as well as many others, the Hillsborough County School Board (HCSB) voted to place a referendum on the General Election ballot on Tuesday, November 6, to help fill a gap in funding that has led to myriad of problems in our schools.

A half-cent sales tax increase referendum was hurried and approved in late August by the School Board, despite concerns the chances of passage would be hurt by competing against a transportation referendum already asking for a one-cent sales tax increase.

The education referendum for Hillsborough County Public Schools, the eighth-largest school system in the country, would raise an anticipated $131 million annually, or $1.3 billion over 10 years. Nearly half of that would go to fixing or replacing air conditioning systems in roughly 200 of the county’s 250 schools.

In New Tampa, every school would have its air conditioning systems replaced or overhauled by 2023, with the exception of Hunter’s Green and Tampa Palms elementary schools and Turner/Bartels K-8, all of which would have theirs done between 2023-28.

Every school in Hillsborough County is expected to receive at least $500,000 of benefit from the tax.

School Superintendent Jeff Eakins has been on the town hall circuit this month and last, visiting schools across the county (see picture).

He held a town hall at Wharton High on Oct. 1.

Ahead of his New Tampa visit, the Hillsborough County School District released a list on Sept. 21 of 1,785 projects that would be funded by the tax increase.

Here are the projects for New Tampa schools to be funded by the tax:

Benito Middle School — Years 1-5:  Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Carpeting Replacement Project, Generator Project, Hard-Surface Flooring Replacement Project, Repave Athletic Tracks, Replace Security System, School Interior Repainting Project

Years 6-10:  Replace Fire Alarm System

Chiles Elementary School — Years 1-5:  Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Carpeting Replacement Project, Fire Evacuation Improvements, Hard-Surface Flooring Replacement Project, K-3 Playground Replacement, Replace Fire Alarm System

Years 6-10: Grade 4-5 Playground Replacement

Clark Elementary — Years 1-5: Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Carpeting Replacement Project, Fire Evacuation Improvements, Grade 4-5 Playground Replacement, Hard-Surface Flooring Replacement Project, Replace Fire Alarm System

Years 6-10: Replace Aging Roof, K-3 Playground Replacement, Pre-K Playground Replacement

Freedom High — Years 1-5:  Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Carpeting Replacement Project, Elevator Modernization, Hard-Surface Flooring Replacement Project, Upgrade Classroom Network Infrastructure, Generator Project. 

Years 6-10:  Replace Aging Roof, Repave Athletic Tracks, Sand and Recondition Gym Floor, School Interior Repainting Project

Heritage Elementary —  Years 1-5: Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Fire Evacuation Improvements, Hard-Surface Flooring Replacement Project, School Interior Repainting Project, Upgrade Classroom Network Infrastructure

Years 6-10: Grade 4-5 Playground Replacement, K-3 Playground Replacement, Pre-K Playground Replacement

Hunter’s Green Elementary — Years 1 to 5:  Fire Evacuation Improvements, Grade 4-5 Playground Replacement, K-3 Playground Replacement, Replace Aging Roof, Replace Stage Lighting, Upgrade Classroom Network Infrastructure

Years 6-10: Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Exterior Paint and Waterproofing, Outdoor Court Replacement

Liberty Middle School — Years 1-5:  Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Exterior Paint and Waterproofing, School Interior Repainting Project, Upgrade Classroom Network Infrastructure

Years 6-10: Elevator Modernization, Replace Fire Alarm System, Replace Telephone System, Sand and Recondition Gym Floor

Pride Elementary — Years 1-5: Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Fire Evacuation Improvements, Grade 4-5 Playground Replacement, Pre-K Playground Replacement, Replace Aging Roof

Years 6-10: Elevator Modernization, K-3 Playground Replacement, Outdoor Court Replacement, Replace Telephone System

Tampa Palms Elementary — Years 1-5: Grade 4-5 Playground Replacement, K-3 Playground Replacement, Replace Stage Lighting

Years 6-10: Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Carpeting Replacement Project, Generator Project, Hard-Surface Flooring Replacement Project, Outdoor Court Replacement

Turner Bartels K-8 School — Years 1-5:  K-3 Playground Replacement, Pre-K Playground Replacement

Years 6-10:  Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Elevator Modernization, Outdoor Court Replacement, Repave Athletic Tracks, Replace Telephone System, School Interior Repainting Project

Wharton High — Years 1-5:  Air Conditioning Replacement or Overhaul, Fire Evacuation Improvements, Replace Aging Roof, Replace Fire Alarm System

Years 6 to 10: Carpeting Replacement Project, Repave Athletic Tracks, Sand and Recondition Gym Floor, School Interior Repainting Project

Wharton Volleyball Team Already Finding Its Groove At Midseason

This season’s Wharton volleyball team may not have the one standout player who can take over and dominate a match like it has had in the past — most recently embodied by 2017 graduate and current Yale University standout Kathryn Attar — but that isn’t stopping the Wildcats from enjoying early success so far this season.

A theme of “we, not me” was implemented by head coach Eric Barber in the preseason and with that principle, Wharton has flourished through the first month of the 2018 season.

The Wildcats have posted a 14-2 record through their first 16 matches, including capturing the title at the Academy of the Holy Names (AHN) Tournament Sept. 21-22.

“We do a lot of out-of-the-gym-type practices where we talk about what we want to be, not just in volleyball, but as human beings, because it is important for us our whole lives to understand how relying on the people around you is the best way to achieve success,” Barber says. “Discussions like that easily integrate back to athletics, especially in a game like volleyball, where it is vital that everyone is a part of it, that everyone is dialed in.”

Jeanette Henderson

But a “we” mentality doesn’t mean the Wildcats are without players who can dominate. It would just be more appropriate to say that the breadth of the team’s depth has spurred on the early success.

“We love each other like a family, so we play together,” says junior outside hitter Jamie Koopman. “We do it in a way where we try to make sure everyone else has the best match they can. If I’m off, it’s as simple as, ‘You know, maybe you don’t set me here, set the middle instead.’”

It’s been a perfect formula.

Wharton attacked the AHN tournament impressively. The Wildcats won all five of their best-of-three set matches without dropping a single set — including avenging a regular season loss to Wiregrass Ranch High in Wesley Chapel by beating them twice by 25-21, 25-12, and 25-19, 25-20 scores.

The Wildcats kept it going the week following the tournament, winning their next two matches 3-0 over Durant and Gaither.

That stretched the squad’s winning streak to nine games, including a 16-0 edge in sets won over the last seven matches.

Juniors Jeanette Henderson and Koopman lead the attack with 120 and 117 kills, respectively, but not far behind is the trio of senior Amara Eziakonwa (91 kills), junior Lexi Morse (76) and senior Devyn Kettner (74).

Setting up the attack is senior setter and co-captain Gracie Viloria (who shares that role with Henderson and Kettner). Viloria leads the Wildcats with 192 assists, with junior Jackye Kelley adding 188 of her own.

Jamie Koopman

Defensively for the ‘Cats, senior Alanis Ortega (186 digs) and Henderson (116 digs) have led the way.
“In the past, we’ve had that one really strong player, like Kathryn Attar, and she was really good and just in the right spot most of the time,” Viloria says. “But sometimes, we really were forcing plays in her direction. But this group really seems to know each other … everyone on this team has a team mentality, and as a setter I’m always comfortable with putting the ball where the play is leading, because I feel like it can really go to anybody right now.”

And that is the goal.

“Whenever you can get a team that achieves true balance, meaning whatever rotation you’re in it can go up to three hitters and you are confident in them,” Barber said, “that is an incredible advantage to have.”

After dropping Class 8A, District 8 matches to Plant and Wiregrass Ranch, the Wildcats have settled into second place in the district. Wharton is 5-2 in 8A-8 as it heads into the upcoming district tournament hosted by Freedom the week of Oct. 15.

Plant, which started the season 15-0 and is one of the top-ranked teams in the state, has been a big obstacle for Wharton for a number of years.

Head coach Eric Barber

Plant has ended the Wildcats’ season four of the last five postseasons, including two Regional semifinal defeats in the last three years.

The two are likely to meet in the District 8A-8 finals and Regional playoffs again.

The Wildcats hope to change that trend this season; however, the “we, not me” philosophy means much more to these players and their volleyball “family.”

“When I came on the team as a freshman, the team was primarily seniors, and a lot of them were committed to a college already,” Viloria said. “But that never kept them from relating to me and bringing me in, showing me what I can bring to the future of this program.”

Koopman, a junior, agreed that the success this current Wildcats team is enjoying owes itself in part to the players from the past.

“This team has always been so welcoming, I was lucky as a freshman that the team needed my position so I had a chance to play (on varsity),” Koopman said. “At first, I was so scared, but the (upperclassmen) were so immediately welcoming, helping you get better … now, as a junior, that has continued and now it’s the turn of the older players to make the new players feel that, feel welcomed like that and I really love that part of this team.”

Grandma Claire’s Reading Room Dedicated At New Tampa Library

Grandma Claire’s Early Learning Hive, a space handcrafted to combine youth recreation & education into a single experience, has been unveiled at the New Tampa Regional Library (NTRL) on Cross Creek Blvd. About 50 people, including the family of the longtime educator and librarian the room was named for, attended the ceremony at NTRL on Sept. 22.

Claire Unnasch, whose plaque is proudly displayed in The Hive, was a special education teacher, school librarian and middle school math teacher at South End School in Cedar Grove, NJ. However, the nickname “Grandma Claire” wasn’t coined until her later career as a volunteer at local libraries, where she discovered her immense affection for preschool-age children. Grandma Claire passed away in 2016.

Thomas Unnasch, Grandma Claire’s son, spoke at the unveiling, as children raced around playing and grabbing books.

“She would be beyond herself if she could see what we’ve created here,” Thomas said.

District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera and Hillsborough County’s director of library services Andrew Breidenbaugh also spoke at the podium, sharing their vision of recreating Grandma Claire’s Early Learning Hive for libraries across the District in the years to come, to spread Claire’s love for children & education even further.

The New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) is open every day.

 

New Sign For Freedom High As Eagle Project

Austin Channels (left), a Boy Scout with Troop 180, built this sign for Freedom High in Tampa Palms as his Eagle project. Austin (with Freedom principal Kevin Stephenson) will graduate from the school next May.

To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank for scouts with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Austin Channels had to lead a project that would help his community.

As a student at Freedom High in Tampa Palms, who will start his senior year this fall, Austin wanted to do something to impact his school for good.

“In previous years, there was a football sign that was up with the football schedule,” Austin explains. “Every year, they had to make a new sign and print it just for the new football schedule.”

So Austin — with the help of his mom, Kim — came up with the idea for an interchangeable sign that could make announcements for all the sports and other important school-related info.

Austin got approval from the school and led a team of fellow scouts and family members to conceptualize, design, build and implement the sign, plus add lighting and landscaping. He had to do his own fund raising to purchase materials, and says he met his goal of about $800 by selling T-shirts.

He worked to pick the perfect spot for the sign, where it could be seen by cars both entering and leaving the school.

Now, Austin’s sign will be maintained by the school, with student assistants changing the words on it as needed.

A final phase of the project will be to add clear plexiglass and a lock, so that no one can switch the letters around without the school’s authorization.

Austin is glad to be able to use his Eagle project as a platform to do something significant at his high school.

“It was cool to give back,” Austin says. “After being there for years with everyone teaching you, it’s good to give back to the school a little bit.”

Austin’s Eagle project is the culmination of his many years in Scouts, starting with Cub Scouts, when he was in third grade at Tampa Palms Elementary.

To achieve the Eagle rank, he’ll need to complete a Board of Review, which he expects to do soon. Once he earns the Eagle rank, his family will host a celebration this fall.

“It’s not as easy as other people made it look,” says Austin, who explains he’s seen many older scouts complete their Eagle projects, “because you’re leading everyone, you’re not just doing the project.”

Austin is a member of Troop 180, which meets at Compton Park in Tampa Palms. He says the best thing about his Boy Scout experience has been some of the incredible trips he’s had the opportunity to take, such as a 50-mile backpacking trip through the mountains of Wyoming, including Yellowstone Park.

He says his journey to earn the Eagle rank is just another part of his Scouting experience, and he looks forward to finishing out the year with his troop before he completes the program when he graduates high school.

“It’s like mountain climbing,” Austin says, “You climb one, but then there’s another one a little bit taller that you can climb.”

His dad, Steve, who is a teacher at Freedom, says Austin’s scouting experience has taught him skills and helped him to be more self-reliant than many kids his age.

“Austin has little side businesses repairing cell phones and doing car repairs that has taught him to appreciate money,” says Steve. “He bought his own car with his own money, after saving for several years. Not many teenagers do that.”

Steve says his son has spent a lot of his time this summer doing yard work for elderly neighbors, including one he drives to various appointments and whenever she needs a ride somewhere.
“It’s been a delight to follow his journey,” says Steve, “and yes, I’m really proud of him.”

Six New Tampa Public Schools Earns ‘A’ Grades For The Second Straight Year

School grades for the 2017-18 school year were released by the Florida Department of Education on June 27, and New Tampa’s schools continue to perform well.
Considering just the letter grades, all of the schools in New Tampa received the exact same grade as the previous year.

“The grades remained as they were,” says Anna Brown, Ph.D., the area superintendent for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Dr. Brown, who oversees all of New Tampa’s public schools, says, “We had no declines, but, within those grades, many schools actually increased their grade point, turning out an even stronger A.”
One such school was Chiles Elementary in Tampa Palms, which has had an A rating every year since opening in 2001. Principal Terri Evans says this year’s scores may be the highest ever achieved at the school.

“We have 32 points more than we had last year,” says Evans. “We had a big jump in learning gains and in the bottom quartile, and we’re especially excited about that.”

School letter grades are based on the compilation of individual scores on statewide tests, called Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs), at each grade level.
Learning gains describe how much each individual student gained from one year’s test to the next, and the bottom quartile describes the students who scored the lowest on their FSAs at the school.

“I think a letter grade is a bit of an overgeneralization,” Evans continues, “but I also think that to maintain that A every year, we have to be a really great school in a lot of ways. I’m hopeful that it reflects all that we do — that we have that kind of a school where kids want to go to school and learn and families want to be involved.”

The area’s other A schools are Clark, Pride and Tampa Palms elementary schools, and Benito and Liberty middle schools.
Turner/Bartels K-8 School earned a B, while four schools earned a C: Heritage and Hunter’s Green (HGE) elementary schools, as well as both of our area’s high schools, Freedom and Wharton.

While the consistency in grades is encouraging for the schools that continue to earn As, those that earned Cs are once again disappointed.

“For as hard as we work and what a wonderful school we have,” says HGE principal Gaye Holt proudly, “the letter grade doesn’t show what everyone expects of us.”
Dr. Brown agrees. “School grades are created by the state, with their definition of one way to categorize schools,” she says. “When you walk on the campuses, the grade of C is not reflective of the quality of teaching in each classroom or the quality of the relationships we have with our students and families.”

Despite some high-profile challenges at Wharton High, Dr. Brown says she is encouraged that its letter grade did remain the same, and didn’t drop.
She says that all of the schools in New Tampa have many very high-achieving students and excellent teaching and that all of our area schools are positioned well to provide excellent service to the students of New Tampa.

“The bottom line is, this is how we’re measured,” says Dr. Brown, “so we need to dig in and make sure we’re meeting every student’s needs at their individual level.”

Parents of Hillsborough County public school students who want to view their child’s FSA scores, including FSA End of Course exams, can view them at https://testscores.sdhc.k12.fl.us.

The complete DOE report is online at FLDOE.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/.