LAND O'LAKES There are two new schools under construction in Wiregrass Ranch, but, will they be ready for the 2006 school year? Pasco County School superintendent, Heather Fiorentino, said; "It's going to be close. It's going to be really close."
Wiregrass Ranch High School may have only the classrooms complete. There will be a place to park but probably not a parking lot, but more like a parking area. It is highly unlikely that the other facilities; i.e., gymnasium, stadium, and track; will be ready by the start of the school year. If the cafeteria is not complete, plans will include catering from other schools.
It seems that the scheduled construction start dates have been delayed by several departments. Permits have not yet been issued from either the Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The director of new construction, John Petrashek, says they needed to start construction in January. Now he is hopeful they will start in July.
The middle school, still-unnamed, is expected to be complete and ready, but at the last possible moment. Construction should have begun April 1st
The school district has two elementary schools planned to open this coming school year. Longleaf Elementary and Seven Oaks Elementary are both on schedule. There are four more elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school planned for 2006. Most of the construction is still on schedule.
The two schools in the area of Wesley Chapel are absolutely necessary to provide relief for the district's most crowded schools.
