Pinellas County Schools is moving toward closing seven schools at the end of this school year, part of a push by Superintendent Kevin Hendrick to cut $25 million in recurring annual expenses.

The district says shrinking enrollment is driving the school closure and consolidation plan. Hendrick pointed to a 25% drop in local birth rates over the past 35 years, leaving the district with more than 45,000 vacant student seats. The district is paying to operate buildings that a smaller student population no longer fills.

Tarpon Springs plan revised

The proposal drawing the most attention involves three Tarpon Springs schools. Hendrick now recommends creating two K-8 schools. Under the amended plan, Sunset Hills Elementary students would move into Tarpon Springs Middle School. Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary would expand into a K-8 school on Sunset Hills’ current campus. The School Board is scheduled to vote on that proposal Tuesday, Oct. 13.

At a Tuesday workshop, Hendrick also postponed a vote on closing Sexton Elementary, giving board members more time to consider other options for the school. The other schools named in the potential closure plan are Lealman Innovation Academy, Kings Highway Elementary, Blanton Elementary, and Bear Creek Elementary.

The superintendent’s other recommendations include:

• Expanding seat capacity at East Lake Middle School Academy of Engineering
• Relocating and renaming Azalea Middle School
• Relocating Azalea Elementary and converting it to a K-8 with an expanded zone
• Opening a fundamental K-5 school on the Pinellas Park Elementary campus

Parents weigh in

Hendrick said the district has gathered feedback for more than a year through thousands of surveys and sticky-note comments at public meetings. He acknowledged that “you’re not going to make everyone happy,” and said he expects more input as families see how the changes would affect their own schools.

Families at Pinellas Park Elementary and Blanton Elementary attended community meetings Tuesday. Parent Angela Gilkes said she is concerned about moving her second-grade son away from the teachers and classmates he knows. More community meetings are scheduled at several affected schools this week.

Unanswered questions

The district has not said whether it will need more closures in three, five, or 10 years to manage excess capacity. With enrollment pressures still unresolved and the Sexton decision pending, families and taxpayers may not have seen the last round of consolidation.

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