Pinellas County Schools spent more than $900,000 upgrading John M. Sexton Elementary over the past five years. Now the district wants to close it — and hand the building to an unnamed nonprofit it won’t yet identify.

Sexton is one of seven schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick has recommended for closure as the district cites declining enrollment and rising costs. The Pinellas County School Board votes on the plan October 13.

The numbers behind the recommendation have parents asking pointed questions. Sexton runs at a 47% utilization rate — higher than roughly 20 other schools in the district, according to a district planning presentation. Nearby Woodlawn Elementary, which would absorb some displaced Sexton students, operates at only about 25% capacity. If a school’s low usage justifies closure, parents want to know why a comparatively well-utilized, recently renovated building is on the chopping block instead of the emptier ones.

District officials haven’t offered much clarity. During last week’s announcement, Hendrick acknowledged the obvious tension himself, telling reporters that choosing Sexton — “a relatively newer building compared to some others” — raises “an obvious question.” His answer: the district has been in “lengthy conversations” with an unidentified nonprofit interested in taking over the property, a partnership he says grew out of suggestions raised at community meetings. He offered no name, no timeline beyond “this fall,” and no explanation of why a private deal with an undisclosed partner should factor into which public school closes.

Parents aren’t buying vague reassurances. Sarah Henley, who has three children at Sexton, described a school community blindsided by the announcement.

“Tears were flowing from the teachers, the staff, the kids … everyone,” Henley said. “We don’t want to wait until October 13. We want answers before then. We want answers now for our children.”

Jaquelyn Hussey, another Sexton parent, launched a petition to keep the school open and has been rallying support in the car line each morning. She’s skeptical the district’s mind isn’t already made up.

“I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt that they haven’t already made up their minds and will listen and hear our voices,” Hussey said. “We’re going to show up in numbers and fight the good fight until we can’t anymore.”

Parent Adriana Diaz raised a separate concern: Sexton offers programs that the schools absorbing its students don’t currently have.

“We’re going to be struggling to build things for the students that most need the support,” she said.

The district projects closing Sexton would save about $4.1 million a year — a number worth weighing against the $900,000 already sunk into the building and the costs of standing up equivalent programs elsewhere for displaced students.

Hendrick is expected to attend a community meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Sexton cafeteria, where a large turnout of parents is anticipated. Similar meetings are scheduled the same night at Boca Ciega High School and Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary, two other campuses on the closure list.

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