Community Corner

Five Things To Know: Brandon Wrestlers Dominate, Child Poverty Grows, Budget Concerns and More

A quick look at moments to digest, facts to consider, issues to digest, a fund to support and ribbon-cuttings to acknowledge.

Start the week with five things to consider, including the dominance of Brandon High School wrestling, so often taken for granted, as it pushes forward to another sate championship drive; the dramatic increase in Hillsborough students living in poverty; school district concerns with the coming state budget; a local benefit to support the fund established in memory of the police officers slain in St. Petersburg; and some business growth in Greater Brandon, as reflected in three upcoming ribbon-cuttings.

  1. High School Sports — Brandon High wrestlers continue their domination en route to what’s likely to become the team’s 11th state title in a row. The Eagles on Feb. 5 staked claim to the Class 3A, District 6 title by winning individual titles in all 14 weight classes. It was the second year in a row the Eagles won the district title with a clean sweep. Moreover, the team won its 38th consecutive district title with 323.5 points, more than three times as many as second-place Bloomingdale High (107). Rounding out the top-five placeholders: Wharton (99), Riverview (98.5) and Newsome (96). Next up: Regionals, at Kissimmee Osceola, on Feb. 11-12.
  2. Economic Baromter — The state of the local economy is reflected in its schools. In 2007 there were 28,444 school-age children (ages 5 to 17) living in families living in poverty in Hillsborough County, according to school records based on census figures. Census figures for 2009 show that number increasing to 43,351 children. This 52 percent increase in Hillsborough is dramatically larger than increases in Broward (10 percent), Pinellas (12 percent) and Orange (22 percent) counties. The rise in Palm Beach County was 46 percent.  The School Board on Feb. 8 convenes a board workshop on Title 1 funding and parent and community involvement 
  3. State Budget, School District Concerns — Gov. Rick Scott is expected to release his budget today, Feb. 7, prompting a Feb. 4 school budget update from Hillsborough County Superintendent of Schools MaryEllen Elia. “We would be wise to keep things in perspective and not overreact,” Elia said in the update. “Gov. Scott has indicated that he pans to maintain funding for education,” she noted. That’s “good news,” she said, but deftly added that “it will require skillfull handling of the budget, since the Governor has also pledged to reduce property taxes, which is a major source of revenue” for school districts. Elia added that while the district has undergone some $120 million in budget cuts, legislation coming soon “could have an enormous impact on our overall budget and on our retirement benefits.”
  4. Benefit To Honor Slain Officers — Participating locations of Beef ‘O’  Brady’s plan to honor and support the families of slain St. Petersburg police officers Sgt. Thomas Baitinger, 48, and canine officer Jeffrey Yaslowtiz, 39.  Restaurant owners plans to contribute a percentage of sales Feb. 9 to the Jeffrey Yaslowitz/Thomas Baitinger Memorial Fund.
  5. Business Ribbon-Cuttings — Upcoming Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cuttings have been announced for Brandon Volkswagen, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. (9816 E. Adamo Drive in Tampa); Valrico Spine and Rehab Center, Feb. 11 at 11:30 a.m. (4341 Lynx Paw Trail in Valrico); and Carr Pediatric Dentistry, P.A., Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. (11936 Boyette Road in Riverview).


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