Good Neighbors

Dunedin Autism Teacher Collects iPads for Children's Homes

An Autism Spectrum Disorder teacher at San Jose Elementary recently launched an initiative to bring communication devices into children's homes.

Jennifer Auletta Lumm teaches six students with autism in her San Jose Elementary classroom. Some of the children's autism signs are so severe that they do not communicate verbally. To get through, Lumm says she's had to find other ways to talk with the children.  "So far, sign language and the communication boards on my iPad are the ones that have been the most successful," she said. She installs specially-designed, early education apps for children with autism. The apps help with speech communication, math and social skills, behavioral intervention and more. Lumm says iPad communication in her Autism Spectrum Disorder class has significantly reduced tantrums and behavior problems, which is exactly why she launched an initiative to bring …

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Vendor Spots Still Available in 'Ain't Your Momma's Rummage Sale'

Spaces are still available to commercial and private vendors for a great price in this gigantic rummage sale set for Saturday.

Dunedin, School District Join Forces in Bus Battle Against State

Dunedin and Pinellas Schools officials are now on the same side in a fight for about 50 San Jose Elementary students who may have to cross State Road 580 to get to school next year. Officials are readying to battle the state.

Dunedin and Pinellas Schools officials are now on the same side of a fight for about 50 elementary students who may have to walk across State Road 580 to get to school next year. Now city and school officials are preparing to take the busing battle to the state level. And Dunedin's list of allies is growing, City Manager Rob DiSpirito said during a recent commission meeting. "We've got some ammunition," DiSpirito said. Dunedin leaders publicly criticized Pinellas County Schools officials for "bureaucratic silliness" in January for their plan to discontinue transportation for about 50 San Jose Elementary students who, as a result, would be made to walk across the awkward-angled intersection at State Road 580 and Bass Boulevard. The plan …

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Barnette Pleads to School District for Safety of Kids Crossing Highway

City Commissioner Ron Barnette sends an email plea to Pinellas County Schools to reconsider a plan that forces some Dunedin children to walk across a five-lane state highway to get to San Jose Elementary next year.

City Commissioner Ron Barnette spoke passionately against a Pinellas County School Board plan to end busing for about 50 elementary students in Dunedin. The plan would force children to either find alternate transportation to school or to walk across State Road 580.  He recently reinforced his position in an email plea to the School Board. Barnette's email exchange with Debbie Beaty, administrative assistant to the board, follows: Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 7:23 PM To: +Board Office Subject: A Dunedin Commissioner's Plea for Child Safety Dear Board members, I am Ron Barnette, a Dunedin City Commissioner, who is writing to PLEASE address responsibly our City Resolution sent to you regarding the continued safe bus passage for some 50 …

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Dunedin Leaders: Pinellas Schools Disregards Safety, Communication

"My God, if we can't figure out an effective way to communicate to a school board, how do we expect residents to?" Mayor Dave Eggers said during a Jan. 24 meeting at City Hall.

No one on the Pinellas County School Board seems to care, Dunedin officials say. Their concerns for children forced to cross a busy five-lane road because of the school district's decision to drop bus services next year may not be heard — not unless city leaders can sum it up in three minutes or less, a Jan. 23 city memo from Rob DiSpirito explains. "My God, if we can't figure out an effective way to communicate to a school board, how do we expect residents to?" Mayor Dave Eggers said during a Jan. 24 public meeting at City Hall. "We should be able to effectively get in front of our representatives." DiSpirito says that if city leaders can provide information to the school district before the end of the month, then their concerns would be …

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Dunedin Leaders to Challenge Pinellas Schools on Safety

Dunedin commissioners are reviewing a resolution against the Pinellas County School Board's plan to stop busing elementary students across State Road 580 at Thursday's public hearing at City Hall. Discontinued busing could cost taxpayers up to $56,000 a y

Dunedin taxpayers could be on the hook to shell out an extra $56,000 a year because the Pinellas County School Board refuses to bus students across State Road 580. The school district's plan to stop busing about 50 elementary students deemed close enough to walk seems to defy common sense and undermine public safety, commissioners said, picking it apart during a Jan. 10 meeting at City Hall. Dunedin leaders are expected to formally oppose the school district's plan on Thursday. The move would save the Pinellas School Board about $28,000 a year — the cost of one bus. After city leaders called it "crazy" and "bureaucratic silliness," they vowed to "fight the fight" for roughly 50 San Jose Elementary students who would be forced to either …

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City 'Fights' for Elementary Students Crossing State Road 580

City officials picked apart Pinellas County Schools' decision to eliminate busing for some San Jose Elementary students during Thursday's public meeting, calling it "bureaucratic silliness" for forcing kids to walk across State Road 580.

City commissioners want to make it clear to Pinellas County Schools that Dunedin will "fight" for San Jose Elementary students who may have to cross five lanes of State Road 580 to get to school next year. "If I'm not mistaken, we can't even cross golf carts there," Commissioner Heather Gracy told Mike Burke, route and safety auditor for the Pinellas County School Board Transportation Department. Burke began with a concession that officials deserved an explanation for a letter he issued to the parents of children effected by a miscalculation of the school system's two-mile radius rule, which only provides bus transportation to children who live farther than two miles.  Burke explained that 20-year-old software used to calculate the walk …

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Kelly Fay

5:19 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013

It's refreshing to see a city standing up for it's youngest citizens! Bravo Dunedin! I pray the good guys win this and these kids will not have to cross Main St.   more ›

Students' Walk to San Jose Elementary Could Cross Five-Lane Highway

The Pinellas County School Board's recent audit of the 2-mile walk zone for San Jose Elementary reveals that the city may have to shell out some cash for safety improvements so students can cross State Road 580.

Some San Jose Elementary students may have to cross five lanes of traffic to get to school next year. And Dunedin city officials are none too pleased. The Pinellas County School Board recently issued a letter to the parents of 53 children affected by a miscalculation of the school system's 2-mile radius rule. "Only those students residing more than 2 miles from their zoned school are eligible for transportation," writes Mike Burke, route and safety auditor for the Pinellas County School Board's Transportation Department. Software used to calculate the walk zone radius from the school access points did not pick up on the pedestrian entrance at San Salvador and San Helen Drive, the letter states.  The school system said it would continue …

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San Jose to Turn Rags to Riches

San Jose Elementary School is starting a new recycling fundraiser that will help clothe people in impoverished nations.

San Jose Elementary is collecting old clothes and shoes as part of a national campaign to help impoverished countries. The old clothes and shoes will be collected in a recycling bin in the parking lot and later be turned into rags and textiles or resold in other nations through City Recycling Group, according to a recent San Jose Elementary newsletter. San Jose Elementary receives 11 cents for every pound it collects. Businesses wishing to sponsor a 4-foot-by-4-foot clothing and shoe recycle bin, contact Janine Munns, school family and community liaison for San Jose Elementary, at 727-469-5956. San Jose has been named the most energy-efficient elementary school in Pinellas County for the past two years.

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5 Things to Know Today: Wednesday, Aug 15

Scoring free school supplies or free movie tickets is as simple as reading this.

1) National Weather Service forecast: Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms (30 percent chance) around midday. Otherwise, it'll be mostly sunny with a high near 91; although heat index values will make it feel as high as 100. Tonight, expect continued isolated showers and thunderstorms, with a low around 76.  2) The lowest reported gas price in Dunedin is $3.53 (cash, regular) at the Super Shop, 1001 Broadway, and the Valero, 3000 Belcher Road, according to TampaGasPrices.com. 3) If you're taking down campaign yard signs after the Florida Primaries today, keep San Jose Elementary in mind. The school wants to reuse the wire stands so it doesn't have to purchase its own replacements for some signs that were damaged and worn out. 4) …

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