The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Lunch at Explorer K-8, which found itself with at least 200 students more than the number projected, is broken into multiple sessions. Officials will move 19 teachers to Explorer. The school is continuing to enroll gifted students.
BROOKSVILLE — The Hernando schools this fall may be facing something nearly unheard of, after more than a decade of rampant growth: fewer students.
Officials counted 22,504 students at school Monday, 328 fewer than they had projected for the 10th day of school. If enrollment doesn't pick up, that could mean less state funding for the district this year, said finance director Deborah Bruggink.
But even with fewer students overall, several schools are full to the brim as the year begins, and officials are scrambling to move teachers where they're needed to alleviate overcrowding.
Brand-new Explorer K-8, which was projected to hold 1,759 students for regular and gifted-education classes, found itself with 1,980 students on the 10th day. Many classes are double-sized and need a second teacher, said business services director Heather Martin.
"We're going to be moving 19 teachers to Explorer," Martin added. "They're over 200 more than was projected, and they're continuing to enroll gifted students."
Nearly every school in the district saw its boundaries redrawn last spring to accommodate the new school in Spring Hill, but officials say it was impossible to predict exactly how many families might move to the neighborhood and register over the summer.
Other schools will gain a few teachers — three for Nature Coast Technical High, four for Powell Middle, two at Brooksville Elementary and one at Suncoast Elementary.
Deltona Elementary will give up seven teachers it no longer needs, while Pine Grove and Spring Hill elementary schools will lose six each. Moton and Westside elementaries will lose five and three teachers, respectively, and West Hernando Middle will lose two.
Those changes should bring some immediate relief to schools that need more teaching help, Martin said.
But if enrollment doesn't pick up, the lower numbers may become an issue in the ongoing contract talks between teachers and the School Board.
Bruggink said she put aside $3.3-million to cover two possible shortfalls — a lack of student growth and an expected 2 percent shortfall in state funding. If both of those things happen, the district will still be able to afford the 3.5 percent raise and 1.5 percent health care boost it has offered the Hernando Classroom Teachers Association union, she said.
But if the district actually loses students compared to last year's final enrollment of 22,704, then it will need more than $3.3-million to cover the shortfall. That could force the board to reconsider its latest salary offer.
"Right now, whatever the board is offering isn't taking into consideration what I see as the worst-case scenario," Bruggink said, estimating the potential gap at $1.5-million.
HCTA president Joe Vitalo said he was keeping his fingers crossed for more students.
"History has shown these kids show up as October comes around," he said.
Tom Marshall can be reached at tmarshall@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1431.
Hernando schools 10th-day enrollment
Projected
Actual
Brooksville Elementary
703
757
Chocachatti Elementary
940
933
Deltona Elementary
964
824
Eastside Elementary
640
592
Moton Elementary
868
772
Pine Grove Elementary
1,219
1,120
Spring Hill Elementary
728
641
Suncoast Elementary
886
895
Westside Elementary
852
821
J.D. Floyd K-8
979
1,012
Challenger K-8
1,475
1,476
Explorer K-8
1,759
1,980
Fox Chapel Middle
790
784
Parrott Middle
812
810
Powell Middle
905
1,009
West Hernando Middle
1,121
1,033
Central High
2,027
1,919
Hernando High
1,417
1,396
Springstead High
2,107
2,078
Nature Coast Tech High
1,400
1,479
STAR Academy
70
60
Prekindergarten total
170
113
District total
22,832
22,504
[Last modified: Sep 08, 2008 10:24 PM]
Comments on this article
by Yourboss
Sep 8, 2008 10:24 PM
Just fire Alexander. Lets start a ballot on how many teachers and administrators want him removed. Hey school board you will need to look for jobs come election time. You all allowed this to occur!
by angry parent/teacher
Sep 8, 2008 10:24 PM
Why is it such a cover up that Dr. Alexanders wife works for DELL?? He needs to be fired and they both need to be charged. Come on reporters do your job and help us get rid of him.
by justateacher
Sep 8, 2008 11:44 AM
Had the all knowing listened to the principals at the schools there wouldn't be this mess! He's so busy micromanaging everyone else he can't even do his own job...or take time to learn what it involves!Got a raise he hasn't even earned!
by questioning minds?
Sep 8, 2008 11:43 AM
I want to know why Ferrello was given the opportunity to hand pick (oh contact sorry.. LOL)some of his students.
Noone else has been able to do that.
Handpick the Title I kids who are gifted??? legal or ethical? I think NOT
by parent
Sep 6, 2008 4:25 PM
What a deal! A teacher has just spent $$$setting up a room, bonded w/the class of 20, set up procedures, centers & had parent conferences..great news you're being MOVED how wonderful. Get rid of THE MAN and maybe this district can be turned around.
by david
Sep 6, 2008 4:25 PM
Build more schools, that's the problem.
by Parent
Sep 6, 2008 3:02 PM
Cheryl great choice! Ferrello is terrible. Explorer has so many safety issues! Ferrello has burried his head in the sand to all the problems. He is just as arrogant as the man who spoon fed him his job! Thats what happens when you hire outside!
by AngryTeacher
Sep 6, 2008 2:44 PM
What a mess this school district has become since Dr. A has been running the show! "Shuffling" teachers when the school year has already started?! What a disappointment for students,parents,and colleagues. I don't think things could get much worse!!!
by Cheryl
Sep 5, 2008 10:11 AM
I'm so glad we really went with our gut and kept out gifted son at Challenger. Explorer...what a mess.
by The Reason
Sep 4, 2008 6:01 PM
I think the reason there are less children is because the regular earners w/children can no longer afford to live here. This number is likely to continue to decline until our representatives represent the regular people that live here. It's sad.
by mom3
Sep 4, 2008 5:04 PM
you should reconsider ALexander's salary first.
by Teacher
Sep 4, 2008 4:54 PM
As the CEO, Dr. Arrogance would have been fired immediately! A decrease in numbers? In the buisness world he would have been sent packing! I guess "The Man" is not the leader he thought he was. Lets call him "Humble Pie" Fire him! Solve the problem
by Cleartosee
Sep 4, 2008 4:54 PM
The transportation department refuses to accomodate parents, forcing students to find other educational routes. Do you blame the citizens for home schooling, or sending to private schools. Safety issues, upset teachers, no morale in a public school.
by Ashamed
Sep 4, 2008 4:54 PM
No mystery here! People are leaving this district because Alexander has run it into the ground! Numbers will only get worse. Remove Alexander, and you will see happy people. Transportation is certainly not helping with the poor supervision!
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