News: Pasco County Schools Bell Time Changes

18 Oct

The following information was sent out to parents of students attending as Pasco County School.

“Due to the chronic bus driver shortage, many students are arriving late to school every day, which results in a loss of instructional time. To address the problem, the school district is proposing a mid-year change to school bell times. Under the proposed plan, school starting and ending times would be adjusted starting January 4, when students return from Winter Break.”

Download the draft Pasco County Schools Bell Schedule for 2021-2022 using the link below.

Pasco County Schools Draft Bell Times 2021-2022 School Year

Starkey Ranch / Trinity School Rezoning Information

30 Sep

With the scheduled opening of Starkey Ranch K8 school for the 2021 school year, there will be a rezoning taking place in order to evenly distribute the population across the available schools. Here is the latest information.

Questions and Answers

  • When will the boundaries change? If approved by the School Board, these changes will go into effect at the start of the 2020-21 school year.
  • Which students will be affected? Students currently zoned for Dr. John Long Middle, Pasco High, Pasco Middle, Quail Hollow Elementary, Wesley Chapel High and Wiregrass Ranch High Schools may potentially be affected.
  • How will I know which school my child will be attending next year? The maps posted on the rezoning page of the Pasco County Schools’ website, detail the impacted areas:  pasco.k12.fl.us/planning/page/rezoning
  • Will rising seniors be allowed to remain at their current school? Yes, students who will be seniors during the 2020-2021 school year will remain at their current school.  Bus transportation on a senior-only bus will be provided for those seniors who are currently eligible for bus transportation.
  • If my child was previously approved for school choice to attend an out-of-boundary school that is now impacted by boundary changes, do I need to complete a School Choice-Open Enrollment Application for the 2020-21 school year? No, for this rezoning, the Superintendent has determined that students currently on school choice, who are at a school that is being rezoned, will not have to reapply for school choice to remain at their current school.
  • Can my child attend an out-of-boundary school?  School Choice applications are accepted in December and January for schools that have available seats. Parents may submit a request for their child to attend one of those schools for the following year.  Siblings of rising seniors and students entering the highest grade served at a school (5th or 8th graders) will be given priority in the school choice process.  Click here for more information about school choice.
  • How do these boundary changes affect bus transportation for my child? Transportation is provided to zoned schools for students who live further than 2 miles from the school.  However, transportation to a non-magnet school, that is outside the student’s attendance zone, is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
  • My child is in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program. Will there be any change due to the new boundaries?  If the program your child is in is unique to the school you currently attend then no, the boundary changes should not impact his/her educational services at the newly zoned school.  If the same services are offered at the newly zoned school then yes, the boundary changes may impact the school your child attends.
  • How will decisions about school choice applications be made? The district has a Board approved Controlled Open Enrollment Plan.  This plan, reviewed and revised annually as needed, complies with state and federal laws.  It established preferences for school choice requests and guides all decisions for parental requests to attend a school of choice.  The plan may be viewed at: http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/library/ed_choice/Controlled_Open_Enrollment_plan.pdf

 

If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us:

Starkey Ranch: K-8 School To Open In 2021!

27 Aug

According to the folks over at Starkey Ranch, the long awaited Starkey Ranch K-8 School will open in August 2021, just in time for the 2021-2022 school year! The official ground breaking ceremony is scheduled for September 5th and actual construction will begin in October of this year. More information below compliments of Starkey Ranch.

Source

Groundbreaking alert! Starkey Ranch will soon be home to an innovative Pasco County kindergarten through 8th grade school right in the neighborhood. The new school, with gymnasium, playground, track, athletic fields and an exciting technical theater and library, will be located adjacent to Whitfield Park in a beautiful natural setting.

 

The school groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for September 5th. Mike Gude, Director of Construction Services and Code Compliance for Pasco County Schools, says that construction is set to begin in October 2019 and our new K-8 will be open in August of 2021 for the 2021/22 school year.

 

Mr. Gude was happy to share some highlights, “Like all new County schools, the Starkey Ranch K-8 will offer the latest innovative features and technology to support our STEM and Career & Technical Education (CTE) focus. We are doing our best to ensure the school design is flexible space-wise to accommodate the evolving Arts and Engineering curriculum. A digital design lab is being talked about and we’ll have great spaces for Family and Consumer Sciences. Plus, there will be a really innovative focus on the performing arts.”

An adjacent “technical theater” and library are also being built! At the theater, students can learn the basic technical aspects of running a real production and putting on performances. It will also be a wonderful venue for the K-8 drama, dance and music programs. “And remember,” Mike points out, “All of this is geared to K-8 students! It’s always all about the kids.”

Designed with a color palette compatible to Starkey Ranch and set against the natural Florida beauty of our community, we are sure our new K-8 will join the ranks of the top-rated schools our Starkey Ranch students currently attend. During non-school hours some facilities will be open for shared-use activities by Starkey Ranch and Pasco County.

Images and Renderings by Harvard Jolly Architecture. Click on the image for a larger version.

Looking to move to Starkey Ranch?

Interested in finding your new home at Starkey Ranch? You’ll want the experts by your side! Annie and Kevin Rocks of The Rocks Team are Starkey Ranch residents and the premier real estate agents in Starkey Ranch. Annie and Kevin Rocks will work with you understand your needs and help you get the home you’ve always dreamed of in one of the most beautiful communities in Tampa Bay!

www.TheRocksTeam.com
[email protected]
Office: 727.847.4444
Cell: 727.777.3264