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New early childhood education office opening in east Pasco

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 29, 2009

DADE CITY - Starting today, it will be more convenient for east Pasco residents to sign up for services provided by the Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition.

The coalition is opening an office at 15000 U.S. 301, Dade City, where parents can enroll children in Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten program and in a school readiness program that provides assistance to low-to-moderate income working families by paying a portion of their child care costs.

This marks the first time the coalition, which works with about 300 child care providers, has had an office with a fulltime staff on Pasco's east side. Jim Farrelly said establishing the office became a priority for him soon after he became the coalition's executive director.

"When I arrived in November 2007, one of the things I heard from the providers is, 'We need a presence in east Pasco,' " Farrelly said.

The Dade City office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. The telephone number is (352) 834-0052. A receptionist and two eligibility specialists will work out of the office.

VPK has no eligibility requirements other than children must be 4 on or before Sept. 1. The readiness program has income and other eligibility requirements.

The coalition, along with the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, held a ribbon-cutting Friday.
Fifteen children from Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center in St. Joseph provided the entertainment, singing "My Florida Alphabet."

Kathy Barthle, a VPK teacher at Sacred Heart, said the office will be a good thing for east Pasco.

"I am really looking forward to it because I have gone to their office half way on the other side of the county," Barthle said. "I'm really excited about it."

In addition to offering tours of its new office Friday, the coalition also showed off its mobile outreach van, driven by Shannon Dewey. The van carries educational toys and books and makes the rounds to childcare providers, which can borrow the items until the next time the van comes by.

"This job is very rewarding," Dewey said. "Kids are always glad to see me come."
Barthle said she is, too. Childcare providers can't always afford new materials, and the van provides additional resources for their classrooms, she said.

"During these economical times, we appreciate the support of the coalition," Barthle said.
Farrelly said the coalition is hoping to add a second van.

The Dade City office is one of three new offices the coalition is opening Monday. The others are at 7334 Little Road, Suite 102, New Port Richey, and at 26 S. Brooksville Ave., Brooksville.

The New Port Richey location has the same hours as the Dade City office. The telephone number is (727) 569-1004. The Brooksville office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additional hours are available by appointment. The Brooksville telephone number is (352) 754-5068.

Opening the offices is part of a cost-saving effort for the coalition, which previously contracted with Child Development Services Inc. to provide the services that the coalition will now handle itself.

Child Development Services had an office in west Pasco, but in east Pasco had just one part-time employee and for most of the last year had no one on the east side, Farrelly said.

The Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition is one of 31 such coalitions in Florida.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 259-7065.

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