R-26-153 Newspaper in Education Week Tampa Bay Times

39:44Okay, resolution. R S three. Resolution number 26153, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, declaring March 2nd through the 6th, 2026, as newspaper in education week in Pasco County and commending the Tampa Bay Times for its participation in this program.

40:05Is anyone here from the Tampa Times? Please come forward. There you go. Thank you.

40:09Whereas Newspapers and Education Week, an initiative of the American Press Institute, is an international program that encourages the use of the daily newspaper as an instructional classroom tool and is celebrated annually during the first full school week in March. And whereas for more than half a century, the Tampa Bay Times newspaper in Education program has served Tampa Bay educators, students, and families by providing print

40:40and digital newspapers, award-winning original educational publications, teacher guides, lesson plans, educator workshops, and many more resources at no cost to schools, teachers, and families. And whereas during the 24-25 school year, newspaper and education provided more than 10 million e-newspaper licenses and almost 200,000 print copies of the Tampa Bay Times to classrooms across the Tampa Bay

41:10and served 772 educators at 453 schools in Citrus, Hernana. Hillsborough, Manatee, Penellas Polk, and Pasco County. And whereas in 24-25, Newspaper in Education provided 34,776 print copies and 203,520 digital licenses to 69 teachers in 28 Pasco County schools. And

41:41whereas research shows that students using the newspaper as an educational resource score more highly on standardized tests, develop the habit of lifelong reading, and are more likely to become engaged citizens and regular voters. And whereas incorporating the times into classroom instruction on a regular basis helps students develop daily reading habits that will carry with them throughout their lives. and whereas studying today's critical issues,

42:11events, and people helps students understand the past and see a role for themselves in the future. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby declares March second through the sixth twenty twenty six as Newspaper in Education Week in Pasco County and commends the Tampa Bay Times for its participation in this program. Denner resolved in regular session with a quorum prison voting this tenth day of March

42:42twenty twenty six.

42:43Move approval.

42:45All in favor say aye.

42:46Aye.

42:48Mr.

42:48Oakley? Well thank you for being here today with us and uh I guess we get we on we use computers to read papers anymore. So I'm so used to way back picking up a paper and seeing the pictures and all the things that we have in papers that say the news. I I kind of miss that really. So but uh great work and great things that y'all are doing and keeping the news going. for in Pasco and make sure it's it's

43:18a shame that we have to print all the bad stories at times because things do happen, accidents and things carry on. But there's a lot of good things happening in Pasco County and we're very appreciative of you reporting about all the things happening. Thank you.

43:34Thank you.

43:37Thank you for being

43:37here

43:37today. Mr. Starkey.

43:41And I read the paper every day. Some sometimes it's not I don't make it on the date. I have to go back a few issues, but I I I listen to news and I read the news and so um I'm grateful that we still have that ability to to get news out from various sources. I don't know if people realize it but But my husband's family started the Saint Pete Times when it was the Dunedin Evening Weekly or something and then and they brought it to Saint Pete and called it the Saint

44:12Pete Times. So if you look inside you'll see William Straub and uh that was my husband's great grandfather. So that's congratulations.

44:20Yeah. Who's Jacob?

44:22So um I when I taught in uh River Ridge High School, I would use the newspaper and have the kids pick out current events. And it really educated them on things going around in the world locally and opened their mind and the dialogue we had after they read the articles was really fascinating. So I'm I'm super glad that you guys um d do that and it really is helpful um to the students. So thank you.

44:51Yeah. I'd like to thank you for being part of our education. It's very important for our kids. So thank you for always doing that. Would you like to say a few words?

44:58Thank you so much. Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. So on behalf of the teachers and students and families that we serve, thank you for your support. And the goal of newspaper and education is to build lifelong readers, critical thinkers, and informed and engaged citizens. Um we are proud to provide educational materials in print two days a week and then online the rest of the week to Pasco County students and teachers. And in addition, we're honored to work with the utilities

45:28and solid waste departments to produce educational publications about water conservation and recycling for all of our Pasco County citizens. So thank you again for supporting our mission and for recognizing NIE Week 2026.

45:41Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Just gonna take a picture.

46:16Yeah.

46:17that's perfect. Thank you.

46:21Three,

46:21two.

46:43Yeah.