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New schools ready to begin making memories

Tribune photo by GEORGE NEWMAN

Strawberry Crest High School opens Tuesday near Interstate 4 in Dover.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: August 19, 2009

DOVER - Summer vacation comes to an end Tuesday as Hillsborough County students march back into the classroom.

Some students will be lucky enough to walk into brand new schools: David E. Bailey Jr. Elementary and Strawberry Crest High. The schools are opening in the 4600 block of Gallagher Road, near the Interstate 4/McIntosh Road interchange.

Staffs at both schools are working hard, unloading boxes of books and classroom materials for distribution around each campus.

"We have a lot of work to do before school starts," Bailey Principal Amy Zilbar said. "But we are all excited with the opportunity to welcome our students into a new facility. We are looking forward to see our classrooms and halls busy with students and faculty working together as a team."

Bailey Elementary, named in honor of retired educator and local historian David E. Bailey Jr., was built at a cost of a little more than $16.6 million, plus nearly $1.5 million for furniture and equipment, county officials said.

Zilbar, 45, has been in the Hillsborough County School system for 20 years. She was most recently the principal at Buckhorn Elementary in Valrico.

Strawberry Crest, named for the local strawberry industry, was built on a much larger tract, including a former berry farm, for about $63.6 million, and another almost $5 million for furniture and equipment.

Both schools were built by the same contractor, the Beck Group of Tampa. The schools feature similar designs and use some of the same types of materials.

Strawberry Crest will have a total of 1,275 students in grades 9 through 11. Seniors at feeder high schools such as Plant City, Armwood and Durant are allowed to continue at those schools to complete the 12th grade during the upcoming school year.

"The freshman class will be our largest by far," Strawberry Crest Principal David Brown said. "We have about 700 ninth-graders enrolled. That's not unusual. Most high schools have freshman making up the largest segment of enrolled students. As our senior class fills next year the percentages between grades will look more like the norm."

Brown, 44, said 150 of those freshmen will be enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program and will complete a very intense curriculum.

"Strawberry Crest joins Robinson and King high schools with the International Baccalaureate students on campus," Brown said.

Brown has been working in the Hillsborough County school system for 18 years. He comes to Strawberry Crest from Leto High in Tampa, where he was principal during the last three years.

Both principals are excitedly anticipating the coming school year.

"I was appointed principal by the school board in March," Zilbar said. "In April our staff began ordering books and equipment for the school. We were given a little leeway in ordering some of the technical equipment and other learning materials such as computers and monitors."

Before the 2008-09 school year ended Zilbar went to the six area elementary schools that would feed Bailey this year. Students from Lopez, Cork, McDonald, Knights, Bryan and Dover elementary schools met Zilbar and voted on the school mascot name.

"The Bailey Bulls was an overwhelming selection," Zilbar said. "The students were enthusiastic and excited to be coming to a brand new school.

"This summer the faculty and staff had a meet-and-greet where we made plans for the coming year. I can't wait," Zilbar said.

Brown said he was honored to be entrusted with the principal position at Strawberry Crest, home of the Chargers.

"The excitement in opening a new school, establishing new traditions with the students, working with the staff and parents is a wonderful opportunity," Brown said. "Working together we will set new goals and standards, watching new traditions grow, and watch the students place their brand of excellence within the school. Communication will be the key ingredient."

David E. Bailey Jr. Elementary School

ADDRESS: 4630 Gallagher Road

TELEPHONE: (813) 707-7531

FEATURES: 46 classrooms, a cafeteria, media center, outdoor playgrounds and multi-purpose asphalt court; 85,000 to 86,000 square feet of space

STAFF: Two administrators, one counselor, 46 classroom teachers, one full-time and one three-day physical education teacher, plus other employees

ENROLLMENT: 550 for 2009-10; capacity for 950 students

SCHOOL COLORS: Green and gold

MASCOT: Bulls

PRINCIPAL: Amy Zilbar

AGE: 45; born and raised in Manchester, Conn.

EDUCATION: Graduate of Manchester High, 1981; bachelor's degree in finance from University of Connecticut, 1985; master's in elementary education, University of Connecticut, 1987

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Taught at Vineland Elementary in Port Charlotte, 1988-89; first-grade teacher, Brooker Elementary in Brandon, 1989-95; first-grade teacher, Hunters Green Elementary in Tampa, 1995-98; administrative resource teacher at Hunters Green, 1998-99; assistant principal at Limona Elementary in Brandon, 1999-05; principal at Buckhorn Elementary, 2005-09.

Strawberry Crest High School

ADDRESS: 4691 Gallagher Road

TELEPHONE: (813) 707-7525

FEATURES: 101 classrooms, a media center and cafeteria, ample sports facilities; 193,000 square feet of space

STAFF: Six administrators, four counselors, 75 teachers, 20 coaches, plus other employees

ENROLLMENT: 1,275 students; capacity for 2,300 students

SCHOOL colors: Red, black and silver

MASCOT: Chargers

PRINCIPAL: David Brown

AGE: 44; born and raised in Tampa

EDUCATION: Graduate of Robinson High, 1983; bachelor's degree in history from University of South Florida, 1987; master's degree in educational leadership from Nova South East University, Tampa, 1996

PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Social studies teacher at Bloomingdale High in Valrico, 1991-98; assistant principal at East Bay High in Gibsonton, 1998-01; assistant principal at Freedom High in New Tampa, 2001-04; assistant principal at Leto High in Tampa, 2004-06; principal at Leto, 2006-09.

Parents, students can visit schools

Students who will attend Strawberry Crest and David E. Bailey Jr. Elementary will have opportunities to visit the campus before school starts Tuesday.

Strawberry Crest High, 4691 Gallagher Road, will open its doors from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Students and families will be able to purchase physical education uniforms, obtain athletic information and join the Parent Teacher Student Association. The Thursday meeting is a formal open house, and the teachers will be there. The open house on Saturday will include a campus tour, but the teachers will not be available.

Bailey Elementary will hold a Meet the Teacher Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 731-8161.

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