Schools roundup
Hillsborough County Public Schools announced June 30 the Class of 2020 will graduate virtually following a spike in COVID-19 infections.
“Each school will have a drive-thru diploma ceremony with social distancing in mind,” HCPS said in a series of Tweets. “We have also contracted with an outside vendor to provide virtual graduation videos for each school. Our district explored the possibility of holding graduations outside at each high school stadium. However, the seating arrangements at our sports stadiums would prove even more difficult for social distancing. Our staff reached out to other outdoor venues but the cost to rent the facilities and sanitize them between graduations was not fiscally possible. Our staff consulted with the health department and medical experts were in agreement that we should avoid any large gatherings.”
Superintendent Addison Davis also announced this week that face coverings will be required when students and staff return to school in August.
The Florida Department of Agriculture announced July 1 the new guidelines for free and reduced-price meals or free milk for students who meet the requirements of the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk Program.
“We’re proud to partner with USDA to serve free and reduced-price school meals to over two million Florida children, ensuring access to fresh foods for students throughout the state,” Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said. “For the many children that count on these meals, school lunches provide dependable nutrition that helps students stay focused and succeed academically.”
The guidelines are viewable online at fdacs.gov/Food-Nutrition/Nutrition-Programs/National-School-Lunch-Program/Family-Application-for-Free-and-Reduced-Price-School-Meals. Free and Reduced Price applications are being sent to homes and those interested in applying are asked to complete the forms and return them to their child’s school. Households receiving SNAP or TANF benefits only need to list their child’s name and SNAP/TANF case number on the applicaiton. Households may apply for the program at any time during the school year.
Visit the website for more information.
BayCare Faith Community Nurses working in local medical clinic
Clients of the San José Mission Clinic, 3228 San José Mission Drive, Dover, are still able to get treated by BayCare’s Faith Community Nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
BayCare announced last week the nurses, who work with BayCare in a partnership with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, are still able to offer primary care services at the facility. San José offers free medical services to migrant workers and underserved individuals in Hillsborough County not covered by another program or insurance. Though there is no COVID-19 testing available there, nurses are fully equipped with PPE and perform as many services outside as possible to help with social distancing.
Primary care, acute primary care, follow-up and referral services, screenings, routine well woman exams, health promotion and disease prevention services are offered there. Routine clinics are held on Mondays and diabetic/hypertensive patients are seen the first Friday of each month. The clinic registers patients between 5 and 7 p.m., begins seeing patients at 6 p.m. and stops when all registered patients have been seen.
Call 813-707-7376 for more information.
Vote by Mail numbers up
The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office is urging residents to consider voting by mail, citing a large increase in mail-in ballot requests.
Craig Latimer’s office said more than 290,000 Vote by Mail ballot requests are in the process of being fulfilled. That is nearly double the number fulfilled in the initial mailing in the 2016 Primary Election.
The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation is July 20. The deadline to request a Vote By Mail ballot is August 10. Early voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 3-16. Mail ballots can be requested at VoteHillsborough.org or by calling 813-744-5900.
Plant City Black Community and Information Meeting
St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 108 S. Warnell St., is hosting an informational meeting for the community from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight.
All who attend will be required to wear face masks and practice social distancing. Masks will be provided for those who do not have one.
Call Maurice Wilson at 863-804-9788 or Patricia McDonald at 813-305-9232 for more information.
Virtual career fair for veterans
DAV and Recruit Military are preparing to host a virtual career fair for veterans of the United States Armed Forces next week.
The Tampa Virtual Career Fair for Veterans will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 16 and is open to “all members of the military community, past and present, as well as military spouses and dependents.” It’s a free event that looks to turn around an unemployment trend among veterans that RecruitMilitary said is “holding steady” around 9 percent. The firm said veteran unemployment jumped from 3.8 percent in march to 11.8 percent in April and has held around 9 percent since May.
Register online and get more information at recruitmilitary.careereco.com/Fair/EventDetails?fairId=66d56996-8523-4756-9688-abb100d2225f.