The Brief
- Pinellas County Schools is hosting three community meetings Wednesday as it prepares for the next phase of school closure and consolidation recommendations.
- District leaders say declining enrollment, aging buildings and underutilized campuses are forcing difficult decisions about the future of schools.
- Community feedback gathered this summer will help shape recommendations expected to go before the School Board in early fall.
LARGO, Fla. – The Pinellas County School District is asking parents, staff and residents to help shape the district’s next round of school closure and consolidation recommendations as leaders continue to respond to falling student enrollment and the rising cost of maintaining older campuses.
Three community meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Dunedin High School, Pinellas Park High School and St. Petersburg High School. District officials say residents can also submit feedback online through the district’s Planning for Progress initiative.
Pinellas County school closures
The backstory:
Pinellas school leaders say the district is trying to make more efficient use of taxpayer dollars as enrollment continues to decline and repair and maintenance costs for aging buildings rise.
Earlier this year, the School Board approved closing Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy at the end of the school year after officials determined both schools were significantly under capacity and required millions of dollars in repairs. The board also approved several campus reconfigurations, including expanding some schools into K-8 campuses.…