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© St. Petersburg Times, published July 30, 2002
Editor: The Pasco County School District is proposing a $583-million budget for the coming academic year that includes spending increases for teacher training days, a new mentor teaching program and instructional materials.
Where is the money for teacher raises? Even a simple cost of living increase would be nice.
Of course, this is not a high priority because the school district knows teachers will still show up at work, no matter what the pay.
And since Pasco lacks a strong teachers union, there will be no massive sickouts or demonstrations to force the School Board to give salary increases.
Pasco had better be careful. With nearby counties paying teachers more money, Pasco's teacher shortage is only going to get worse, and those who do come here will be the ones who couldn't get jobs in Pinellas or Hillsborough.
-- John F. Marretta, Port Richey
Editor: There was a great loss in the child care industry. Our profession has lost one of the most inspirational, energetic and positive people known. Paula Santiago passed away in her sleep on July 21.
She has been an early childhood educator and advocate for seven years and was director of Cedarview Learning Center in New Port Richey for four years.
Paula eased the fears and worries of many parents when their children were in her care. Throughout her years at Cedarview, she has touched many lives with her caring personality.
This can be seen in the following paragraph written by Lisa Jack, a parent at Cedarview: "She was a wonderful person and a great director. She made it easy for most of us to feel safe and confident in our choices to leave our children and go to work every day knowing that they would be loved and well taken care of. She knew all of us by name and always had a smile to share and a good word to say. It was because of Paula that I never doubted my choice as a mother to continue working. She made this choice easy for most of us."
Another example of Paula's commitment to child care was her coordinating the fundraiser that raised close to $10,000 for the Wilder family when they lost two young children in a car accident July 17, 2001.
The children had attended our center at the time, and as a tribute to Paula, Stephanie Wilder, the children's mother, is now coordinating the fundraiser for Paula's two children.
Cedarview Learning Center is setting up trust funds for them in memory of their mother.
The fundraiser is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 10. We will be having a 25-cent garage sale, bake sale and car wash, with all proceeds going directly to the trust funds for Paula's children.
Donations can also be mailed directly to Cedarview Learning Center, 5398 School Road, New Port Richey FL 34652.
Checks can be made payable to Cedarview and write Trust Fund in the memo section. Questions can be directed to Kim Bradford (727) 817-0515 or (727) 505-2814.
-- Kim Bradford, Cedarview Learning Center
Editor: The political action committee known as eLAMP, which formed to campaign for an environmental lands program in Pasco County, has been getting noticed by some well-respected agencies and groups in the area of environmental land protection.
The group has received an enthusiastic endorsement from Sonny Vergara, executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, stating that an environmental lands acquisition program could "expand the avenues available for future cooperation" on projects with the county.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Jan Platt, who was instrumental in the renewal of the Hillsborough lands program, enthusiastically describes her program's success and speaks of the critical urgency for all counties in the region to assist in "keeping Florida Florida by setting aside its very special lands."
Two land trusts, the 10-year-old Gulf Coast Conservancy and the year-old Tampa Bay conservancy, both endorse eLAMP's efforts and urge Pasco County to consider a program to work in concert with others in the area.
The Wildlife Fellowship headed by Rob Heath, former director of the Hillsborough lands program, points out that beyond the natural resource protection provided by a program, the "overall economic benefits far outweigh the cost of land acquisition and management in the long run."
Other endorsements include the Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and the Hillsborough River Greenways Task Force.
The group, eLAMP, decided not to pursue a referendum for the November 2002 ballot, but instead requested that the Pasco County commissioners establish a task force to research, develop and design an environmental lands program right up to the point of implementation.
The commissioners will formally consider a resolution establishing this committee at a meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13 in Dade City.
-- Peggy Gretchen, Wesley Chapel