Training for What We Hope Never Happens — But Must Be Ready For

On Wednesday, I joined fellow school leaders, administrators, and district team members to observe one of the most intense and important trainings we conduct each year. Together, we watched our elite Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies, School Resource Officers, School Board Police Department, and School Guardians undergo a real-life Active Assailant Training — one they hope they will never have to use, but one they take incredibly seriously to ensure that, if needed, they are fully prepared to protect our students, staff, and every person on campus.

This year’s training, held at Rock Crusher Elementary, was more than a classroom session or tabletop exercise. It was a live simulation, complete with mock students from the CCSO Explorer Program, simulation victims, and team members acting out scenes of chaos and crisis — all in service of building rapid, coordinated responses that could save lives in the face of a real emergency.

As I shadowed the participants navigating a simulated tragedy — including a full school lockdown, classroom clearing, and a pursuit of an active assailant — I was struck by the realism and gravity of the moment. The screams, the urgency, the sound of live training rounds, and the raw emotion acted out by CCSO team members and student volunteers made it all feel incredibly real. My own heart pounded. My adrenaline surged. And I was reminded that while most of us only imagine such a nightmare, these professionals train to meet it head-on.

This was not just training for the sake of checking a box. It was preparation with purpose — scenario-based, emotionally intense, and deeply rooted in the goal of protecting lives.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Sheriff David Vincent, Chief Rachel Montgomery, the entire Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, School Board Police, our School Guardians, and all those who participated. Your dedication, discipline, and courage give our schools the foundation of safety they need to thrive.

We pray these moments never come.
But because of your work, we know we are not only safer —
We are ready.

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Back to School Means Back to Fueling Success: The Role of School Meals in Student Achievement

As summer winds down and the first day of school approaches, families across Citrus County are preparing for a new academic year. While school supplies, schedules, and routines are all top of mind, there’s another critical element that plays a major role in student success: nutrition.

In Citrus County, over 70 percent of our students are recognized as economically disadvantaged. That means school meals aren’t just helpful; they are essential. Thanks to the USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP), students across our district have access to nutritious meals every day at no charge. During the 2024–2025 school year, Citrus County Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services Department served 849,012 breakfast meals and 1,770,628 lunch meals to CAP (Community Eligibility Provision) students. On average, that’s 4,824 breakfasts and 10,060 lunches per day.

These numbers don’t just represent meals. They represent opportunity, access, and care. In fact, with such a high daily volume, Citrus County Schools operates the largest restaurant system in the county—and one of the most important. In addition to main meals, the department also offers à la carte items, healthy snacks, desserts, and drinks to meet a variety of student needs and preferences.

President Harry S. Truman (seated) signs the National School Lunch Act surrounded by the Secretary of Agriculture and members of Congress, June 1946

A Legacy of Nutrition and National Strength

Feeding school children in the United States is not a recent innovation. The roots of the National School Lunch Program go back to the post-World War II era. During the war, alarmingly high rates of malnutrition among military recruits—up to one in four were found unfit for service—sparked a national movement to improve the health of young Americans.

In response, President Harry S. Truman signed the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) into law in 1946. This legislation formally established the NSLP with a goal of protecting the health and well-being of the nation’s children and supporting agricultural markets by using surplus foods. In President Truman’s own words, the program was intended “as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s children.”

While the origins of the program are tied to military readiness, today its value lies just as powerfully in educational readiness. A well-nourished child is a more focused, energized, and capable learner. When students have access to balanced, consistent meals, they are better able to concentrate, retain information, and perform academically.

Standards that Support Student Health

Meals provided through the NSLP and School Breakfast Program must meet strict nutritional standards. These include:

• Fruits and vegetables offered daily
• Whole grains required for grain-based items
• Low-fat or fat-free milk
• Calorie ranges based on age or grade groups
• Limits on sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat

These guidelines are grounded in nutritional research to ensure meals support student growth, energy needs, and long-term health. They also help students establish lifelong healthy eating habits.

Leading with Excellence in Citrus County

Citrus County is fortunate to have an exceptional Food and Nutrition Services Department under the leadership of Director Roy R. Pistone II, RDN, M.Ed., SNS. Along with his remarkable team of professionals at both the district and school levels, Mr. Pistone and his team ensures that every student has access to nutritious meals that fuel both body and mind.

These nutrition professionals are not just cooks or cafeteria staff. They are educators, nurturers, and frontline health workers. Their work helps remove barriers to learning and provides a daily foundation of wellness for our students.

As we welcome our students back this school year, let’s celebrate and support the systems that keep them nourished and ready to learn. Behind every successful student is not just a good teacher or a strong curriculum—but also a full stomach.

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Engaging the Next Generation: A Visit to the Old Homosassa Civics Summer Camp

On Wednesday, I had the distinct pleasure of joining a remarkable group of middle school students at the very first Civics Summer Camp, held at the Old Homosassa Learning Center. It was an inspiring morning—one that reminded us all of the importance of civic education and how critical it is to invest in the next generation of leaders.

The camp, coordinated by Learning Center Coordinator Jessica MacRae, is part of the center’s expanded summer programming and was specifically designed to immerse students in their rights and responsibilities as citizens. This civics-based experience allows students to see how government works—not just from a textbook, but through real-life interactions and hands-on learning.

Joining me at the camp were County Commissioner Dr. Jeff Kinnard, Mosquito Control Board Member Joe Adams, Homosassa Special Water District Commissioner Rodney MacRae, and representatives from the Old Homosassa Civic Club. Each of us had the opportunity to share with the students our roles in government, the agencies we represent, and what civic leadership looks like in action.

We spoke not only about the technical aspects of our jobs but also about the larger responsibility of public service. We discussed how local decisions are made, what it means to represent a community, and the importance of being informed, engaged, and active citizens. And, most importantly, we took questions—thoughtful, curious, and sometimes challenging ones—from students eager to understand how they fit into the democratic process.

Jessica MacRae shared with us, “We believe that hearing directly from a government official like yourself would be a meaningful and educational experience.” I couldn’t agree more.

One of the highlights of the week came from the classroom itself. Cyndal Houts, a social studies and civics teacher at Crystal River High School, brought energy and creativity to the camp as one of the teacher-counselors. On the first day, students drafted laws to govern their group for the week. Some laws were lighthearted—like mandatory breaks to dance to a favorite song—while others focused on behavior and accountability. The next day, they amended those laws, reflecting on what worked and what didn’t, and demonstrating real legislative thinking.

These exercises weren’t just fun—they were profoundly educational. They mirrored the structure of how laws are created, debated, and changed at the state and local levels, giving students a tangible and memorable introduction to civic engagement.

Programs like this don’t just teach kids about government; they show them that they are already part of it. When students learn they have a voice—and that their ideas and questions matter—they begin to see themselves as citizens, not someday, but today.

And the civic learning didn’t stop in the classroom. Throughout the week, other community leaders and organizations also participated. Citrus County Fire Rescue visited to teach the students CPR and how to use an AED. They also brought a firetruck and spent over an hour engaging with the students, inspiring the next generation of first responders. Veterans from The Bridge 4 Veterans, Inc. came out as well, demonstrating how to properly fold and hoist the American flag—reinforcing the importance of honor, patriotism, and tradition.

Students also went on a special field trip to the Old Homosassa Post Office. Monkey Island Riverside Resort and Manatees and Mermaids generously loaned golf carts so the students could travel safely and in style. The camp also included a beautification project, thanks to Sweet SassaLicious, which donated hibiscus plants, and Fowler Lawns, whose team not only showed students how to landscape, plant, spread mulch, and install an irrigation system—but also donated the materials used.

It was a true community effort, and we are all grateful to every Old Homosassa Learning Center partner and volunteer who contributed their time, talent, or resources. Most of all, we are grateful to the students, who showed us that the future of civic leadership is already growing right here in Citrus County.

With programs like these, our future is in good hands.

You can learn more about the Old Homosassa Learning Center at https://homosassacivicclubinc.org/old-homosassa-learning-center/

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