Sexton Elementary has been pulled from next week’s Pinellas County School Board vote on school closures. Parents who organized against the plan have won at least a temporary reprieve.

Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said the district will take another look at options for schools in the Lealman area and north of downtown St. Petersburg. The move follows mixed reactions from board members to the original proposal.

“I’m hopeful, a glimmer of hope, because other board members asked the same questions we all have,” said Sexton parent Sarah Henley. She said families want to know why their school was chosen and what the larger plan is.

Board members have asked district staff to run two analyses. One would study rezoning Sexton students entirely to Lynch Elementary. The other would study closing Woodlawn Elementary while keeping Sexton open.

Parents spent recent weeks circulating a petition and pressing district leaders to reverse course. They argue that Sexton has a higher utilization rate than many nearby campuses and recently received about $900,000 in improvements. They question why a school with a fresh public investment and fuller classrooms landed on the list. The YMCA had also expressed interest in taking over the Sexton property, which was one factor in the district’s original proposal.

Hendrick said he knew there was no consensus and wanted the board to debate the issue openly. He said board members hold strong feelings on both sides, and he wants to see whether a solution for those neighborhoods can win broader agreement.

The board is still expected to vote next Tuesday on closing six schools, down from the seven in the original plan, along with proposals to repurpose other campuses. Hendrick said the board will return to Sexton later this month.

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