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Hernando schools accept $489,543 in community donations; Tampa General signs three-year allied health partnership
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Summary
The Hernando County School Board approved $489,543.13 in donations from the Hernando County Education Foundation and heard details of a three-year memorandum of understanding with Tampa General Hospital that includes $150,000 in direct funding and $150,000 in in-kind support for allied health programs.
The Hernando County School Board on Aug. 12 approved $489,543.13 in monetary and in-kind donations from the Hernando County Education Foundation and received details of a separate three‑year memorandum of understanding with Tampa General Hospital to support allied health programs at three district high schools.
Tammy Brinker, chief executive officer of the Hernando County Education Foundation, told the board that 13 schools received donations through DonorsChoose totaling $9,750.22 and listed additional gifts and grant awards that, taken together, sum to $489,543.13. "Parent Academy received 3,000 in in kind donations for their family engagement mobile unit, 1,500 from Home Depot, and 1,500 from Register Chevrolet," Brinker said. She also detailed donations to athletic programs and individual schools, including Central High School ($26,294.96), Nature Coast High School ($26,162.09) and Weeki Wachee High School ($24,118.13).
Board members voted 5-0 to approve the various donations after the foundation's presentation. The board earlier approved a revision to the meeting agenda to include a $150,000 donation from Tampa General Hospital; that action also passed 5-0.
Beth Lastra, supervisor of college and career programs for the Hernando County School District, described the Tampa General partnership as a three-year memorandum of understanding that designates Tampa General as the district's "student education and wellness partner" for allied health, EKG and pharmacy tech programs at Central, Springstead and Nature Coast. "This collaboration will provide not only a 150,000 as you've heard in direct financial contributions to support scholarships, events, and program enhancements, but also a 150,000 in in kind resources such as clinical shadowing experiences, hospital based externships, guest speakers, job preparation workshops, and even custom branded, scrubs for our students," Lastra said.
Jennifer Syme, senior director of strategic growth and government affairs for Tampa General, said the hospital views the agreement as a way to build local career pathways and a workforce pipeline: "Through the student first partnership, we can distinguish ourselves regionally, statewide, and nationally creating pathways for future employment of Hernando County students." She listed potential roles beyond bedside clinical work, including health-care administration, culinary arts, plant operations and security.
Brinker provided additional examples of donations and grants approved by the board, including $35,000 from a donor‑advised fund to support a playground and a $40,150.55 community Boosterthon contribution. She also announced grants awarded to schools for conferences, field trips and specific programs; totals and individual awards were presented during the meeting and included in the foundation's request for approval.
No board member recorded a dissenting vote. The board also invited three teachers who run allied health and EKG programs to receive a ceremonial check and posed for a photograph with foundation representatives and Tampa General staff.
The board did not take further immediate action on the Tampa General memorandum beyond acknowledging the partnership details and approving the donations list; the agenda revision to include the Tampa General donation had been approved earlier in the meeting.
