Don Graham, representing Iron Workers Local 397, accepted an award of appreciation from Nicola Barlow, Manager of Career Enhancement for Suncoast Technical Education Center. From the early stages of the welding program, the union has partnered with the school. The union is now donating the cost of the required textbook bundle for all 2016-2017 students in the welding program, at a value of $850.
Dr. Marcia Austin, Supervisor of Secondary Programs, advised the HCSB of a gift of $10,000 from Career Source Pasco-Hernando, represented by Brenda Gause. The money will be used in the Career Technical Education Academies. Austin stated that employers are requiring that the workforce have better education and skills, which the schools are providing with the help of partners like Career Source.
Nature Coast Technical High School Principal Dr. Toni-Ann Noyes presented several gifts to the school. According to Noyes, knowing the constraints of the district’s budget, Head Coach Dave Pisarcik has been active in the community seeking assistance to replace or upgrade old equipment. The scoreboard at NCTHS has been in need of replacement, and the gift of $1,000 from Lowman Law Firm will help the school reach that goal. LegoMatic Construction LLC donated $1,000 to the boys’ basketball team. Noyes stated that realtor Robert A. Buckner, who typically supports the boys’ tennis team, gave a special gift of $2,000 in appreciation of help given during the Blueberry Festival. Noyes also requested that the HCSB accept a gift of $2,000 from Brookridge Friday Bingo, stating, “Brookridge has been very generous to us this year.”
The Kiwanis Club of Weeki Wachee donated $600 to the district for the 2016 Superintendent’s Summer Reading Challenge. Nearly 500 students are participating in the challenge, which has reached the halfway point. On 06/20/16, gift baskets donated by business and community partners were awarded to a boy and girl from each school.
Each of the donations were approved unanimously by the Board, which expressed thankfulness to the community for the generosity to the students.