Deadline for open enrollment for 2016-17 is March 1

Pasco County families seeking to move their children from one district school to another may apply through March 1.

The school district's open enrollment process offers students a chance to attend schools outside their assigned attendance zone, if their preferred school has seats available. Unlike magnet programs, open enrollment does not come with free bus transportation.

Students already in a school through open choice do not have to reapply, unless they have changed their home address, live outside Pasco County or are moving from one school level to the next.

Families with more than one child must submit a separate application for each student.

To apply online, go to the district website and click on the "school choice" banner at the top.

WHAT'S IN A NAME? The Pasco County School District wants recommendations for the name of its newest elementary school, scheduled to open in the fall.

Located across Mansfield Boulevard from John Long Middle School in Wesley Chapel, the under-construction campus currently is referred to as Elementary W. The School Board aims to give it a real name in March.

It is accepting proposals through Feb. 29. District rules allow for using people's names, but if they are a district employee or elected official, they must have been dead or out of office at least two years.

Have an idea? Send it, along with a brief explanation, to district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe via email with the subject line "Elementary W," or send by mail to Linda Cobbe, Communications & Government Relations Dept., 7227 Land O'Lakes Blvd., Land O'Lakes, FL 34638.

IN THE HUNT: Incumbent School Board member Alison Crumbley has made her re-election bid official.

Crumbley filed her candidacy paperwork with the county elections office Tuesday afternoon, formally kicking off her quest for a third term representing District 4.

"Although I think our district is doing well, there is always a lot of work to do," Crumbley said. "We need to continue enhancing our career and technical education, and, as always, enhancing the arts."

She also talked about the need to lower district dropout rates and provide added academic options for students.

"We can't always make budgets the excuse," she said. "We have to be more creative than we have been."

Crumbley was first elected in 2010 to a partial term. She won re-election unopposed in 2012. She currently faces no opposition.