Wilcox names schools for possible closure

Pinellas schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox today named a number of schools for possible closure, a move prompted by district enrollment declines that are expected to continue for years.

Wilcox named nine elementaries that are among schools that could close at the end of the 2007-08 academic year: Anona, Clearview Avenue, Gulf Beaches, Largo Central, North Ward, Orange Grove, Rio Vista, San Jose and South Ward. Also slated to close is Riviera Middle School.

The School Board last month authorized Wilcox to start choosing schools he would close as part of a push to reorganize the system. At the time, Wilcox said  likely candidates would be schools that are older, have low enrollment or lie in flood-prone areas of the county.

Wilcox cautioned board members at an afternoon workshop that the list is preliminary and subject to change. Wilcox, however, did say that principals at most of the schools have been contacted about the possible closures.

The district has seen enrollment decline for three years and expects another drop when classes resume Aug. 21. By 2010, the state projects Pinellas will be down to 102,801 students - a drop of nearly 10,000 from the high of 112,520 in 2003-04.

Comments

[KRISTI GOODRICH]

RIVIERA IS IN NEED OF HELP. MY ELDEST NOW IN COLLEGE WAS GLAD TO LEAVE DUE TO IT'S MAINTENANCE CONDITIONS.
HOWEVER, MY YOUNGEST WHO IS NOW IN 7TH AND IN THE ENGINEERING PROGRAM AS WELL AS ADVANCED BAND IS GREATLY DISAPPOINTED OF IT'S PENDING CLOSURE. WHERE WILL HE BE SENT!!!!!!

[allie]

Im a student at riviera middle school and im happy to know they are closing it down. seems like a prison in there. everything fall apart. but i wont be attending there when they close it. i'll be in high school.

[julia]

It makes me wonder if some of these will close and be reopened as fundamentals. Remember, Wilcox has said he wants a fundamental in every new zone. Clearview and Rio Vista would be great choices for the cental and north parts of St. Pete. The rumor has been going around for a long time that Riviera would become a fundamental. It will be interesting to see.

[Another Pinellas County School Employee]

I agree with Sandy's statement. What matters is the students learning and achieving. It's funny how some people talk about schools not being "A" schools, so they send there children elsewhere. However, six of these schools on the possible closure list received "A"s (Anona, Largo Central, North Ward, Orange Grove, Rio Vista, and San Jose). It doesn't make sense to close schools where there is actual learning taking place.
What really doesn't make sense is closing a school (Rio Vista) that is in the process of getting new interior paint (and just got new exterior paint last summer), a cover for the P.E. court, a new intercom system, and new concrete walkways to replace boardwalks. It sounds like some of these other schools are getting "upgraded" as well. What a waste of taxpayer money.

[native]

Jake...
FYI, the kids are not the way they are because of the schools. They behave the way they do because they have no parental involvement, have parents that choose to work vs care for their kids, and my all time favorite.. have broken homes with parents to wrapped up in their own wants to care about their kids. Do you fall into any of that mess? I certainly hope not. The parents are the BIGGEST PROBLEM.

[Wayne]

No one would be up in arms with the decisions over School Choice, schools closing or even fuel expenditures if all the schools were brought into the standards of "A" rated schools. My wife and I opted for a Charter School farther away from the local schools due to this factor. I do not mind driving my son farther away if it means a better education. Which will give him a superior chance to compete in his future.

[wb]

Thirty some years of busing didn't work, the choice program meant for many, "no choice." Neighborhood schools have always made sense for families. We need to give it a chance and not be afraid of change.

[Linda]

Thank goodness someone decided to close Riviera Middle! As a neighborhood school of Shore Acres, I would love to see a new school built in it's place. The only reason for poor attendance is it is out-dated and the rumors of rats keep me and many other parents away.

[Linda]

Thank goodness someone decided to close Riviera Middle! As a neighborhood school of Shore Acres, I would love to see a new school built in it's place. The only reason for poor attendance is it is out-dated and the rumors of rats keep me and many other parents away.

[Sandy]

Whether the schools are archaic, shouldn't matter, it's the learning that takes place that counts!!! The county spends too much money on gas and resources for buses!! What is going to happen to the teachers and staff of these schools? So with closing of schools and loss of jobs, does that mean we need to cut some school board members too?

[Pinellas County Schools Employee]

Wow -- talk about waste of taxpayer money! Anyone see the renovations that they are doing RIGHT NOW at Orange Grove Elementary? How much is that costing? All for it to be possibly closed down? I'm confused...didn't anyone know about the possible closures before the construction?

[Marcella]

Two of these schools I know for a fact are "must haves" when parents make their choice ... Anona and Orange Grove - small neighborhood schools with waiting lists. It would be a shame if these wonderful schools close.

[Mason]

I have seen a few of the comments about waste of $$ dealing w/ busing and then they want to waste $$ w/ a bunch of closed buildings that are collecting dust?? Can we say future condo sites!!
Well, back to the ROOT of this counties idiotic problem--your dumb busing is going to change and you know that!! Brown vs. Board was overturned basically by the supreme court about a week ago, so, what is the boards answer going to be about busing? I think this is going to get interesting here in both Pinellas and Hillsborough!! For almost 20-30 years, you all have been whining about loss of money, and we need more money, but you have been burning MILLIONS of DOLLARS in smoke, called GAS!!!!! It is about time that these counties HOLD PARENTS RESPONSIBLE to get children to their "CHOICE" SCHOOLS by DRIVING THEM!! (There is an idea!!)) And better yet, do what Ohio and Pa. do to kids that go out of their zone.........CHARGE EXTRA to that family!!! Pinellas and Hillsborough continue bragging about how large their stupid districts are and they must be like 3 blind mice, because that is our problem, these county-wide districts are stupid!!

[voxpopuli]

hey I thought Clayton gave up blogging ..... (7:17)

[In the know]

Many of those older schools have been neglected for 3 to 4 decades. Other schools have been built and rebuilt in that time frame. Our/yours/and mine kids need 21st century environments not 19th ones. Clearwater High is at its 3rd location and has been remodeled with in the last decade( and some would say its due for a new school), but it's original 1906 structure it still in use at South Ward Elemenary. Part of North Ward was a Gas Station at one time. It is time to cut these defiecant structures lose.

Parents the district needs to close these school to SERVE your kids better. Closing schools means more money to educate your kid, plan and simple. This district will be better for it.

[Jake]

Parents will continue to homeschool or to send their kids to private schools until discipline and respect return to public schools. Who cares what schools are closed? Certainly, I do not.

[Lisa G.]

My children are enrolled at Clearview Elementary. I would really be upset to see that school close!!! It is an excellent school, and the new principal Karen Russell has really started to turn the school around. I don't understand why the school board would allow a school to make imporvements to the school over the summer, and then close it. That makes absolutely no sense! What a waste of tax payers money. Maybe if the school system wasn't paying so much in bus transportation due to the "choice" program, it would be able to keep the small neighborhood schools open. I can guarantee you that the parents of Clearview Elementary students will not let this school close without a fight.