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Roommate Wanted: Quiet, studious, pays in pencils

Florida just turned public schools into something like educational roommate ads. The state okayed rules that let charter schools move into underused classrooms inside district schools. Districts would cover maintenance, safety, food service, and transportation at no charge as part of the Schools of Hope expansion. Fans say it’s smart sharing. Critics say it siphons students and resources.

Picture the corkboard post:
“Roommate wanted. Enjoys cafeteria pizza, tolerates pep rallies, and splits custody of the whiteboard. Utilities included. No glitter.”

In practice, your high school could host a charter down the hall from AP Chem, sharing the cafeteria and bus loop. There’s a world where that’s efficient. There’s another where it’s two families sharing one kitchen. Who gets the Tuesday field trip bus seats? Who owns the laminator key?

Funniest phrase in all this: “underused classrooms.” In Brandon, Valrico, and FishHawk that’s right up there with “short carline.” Most campuses are juggling portables and AC units that sound like jet engines.

This is on the books now, so proposals will follow. If it means more kids get what they need without building new wings, great. If principals become landlords, less great. If your kid shows up and there’s a new logo on the door, congrats. They just got a roommate.

Things to do

🐝 WHAT’S BUZZING AROUND TOWN 🐝

Water Rules Update

Not the splashiest headline, but it’s about the water you drink. Hillsborough County is updating its Wellhead and Surface Water Resource Protections. The maps that draw buffers around public drinking-water wells and sensitive lakes and creeks, plus the development code that goes with them. These rules date back to 1992, and it’s time for a refresh.

What’s changing: new proposed protection maps for wellheads and surface waters, and clearer code language so everyone’s playing by the same rulebook. Those maps live inside the Comprehensive Plan’s adopted map series, and the update would swap in revised versions.

Timing: the County’s virtual engagement is open through Tuesday, Sept. 30. Two open houses were held this week, including one at Bloomingdale Regional Library in Valrico.

Why it matters here: Brandon, Valrico, and FishHawk sit on the same groundwater system that feeds public wells. These protections shape what can be built near wellfields and shorelines, lowering the odds of contaminants getting into our drinking water or creeks after a storm. It’s the unglamorous work that keeps taps clear.

THE BEES KNEES

Not really sure what it means, but we’re sure you’ll find it here.

Local Sports

Football

Brandon vs Blake, Friday 10/10 @7:30 PM - Away

Bloomingdale vs Berkeley Prep, Friday 10/3 @7:30 PM - Away

Durant vs Newsome, Friday 10/3 @7:30 PM - Away

Newsome vs Durant, Friday 10/3 @7:30 PM - Home

A Final Note

The Brandon Buzz, more than news, it’s a lifestyle.

Until next time,

Buzzing Local