Questions, answers about Pinellas cuts, school closings

Updated 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12

Have a suggestion for cutting the Pinellas schools budget? Join the conversation.

(See Useful Links below)

Q: What is happening?
A: Faced with declining enrollment and a projected budget shortfall of $63-million to $68-million for the 2009-10 fiscal year, the Pinellas School Board has approved several major changes that will save money but affect thousands of families. Effective next year, the district has:
* Closed five elementary schools -- Gulf Beaches in St. Pete Beach; Kings Highway and North Ward in Clearwater; Rio Vista in St. Petersburg; and Palm Harbor Elementary.
* Merged four middle schools into two. Southside and Coachman fundamental middle schools will move to larger facilities. Southside will be "consolidated" with Madeira Beach Middle School and Coachman with Kennedy Middle. The Madeira campus will be a K-8 fundamental school that includes Madeira Beach Elementary.
* Revoked bus service for about 17,000 elementary students who don't attend their zoned schools.
* Redrawn middle school zones as Kennedy and Madeira Beach will cease to be zoned schools. The change will have a domino effect across the county, altering middle school options for hundreds of students entering sixth grade next year.
* Redrawn the school zone map for elementary schools to account for the closings.

Q: Is this final?
A: Yes. School Board members voted Tuesday, Jan. 13, to close the elementary schools, merge the middle schools and revoke busing for non-zone students. They also approved a new zone map for middle schools. The board approved a new elementary zone map on Feb. 10.

Q: Why the rush?
A: The district says it needed to make the changes in time for the 2009-10 application period for special programs such as magnet and fundamental schools. The application period, which kicks off the student assignment process, began Jan. 26 and ends Feb. 16. The budget cutting process could have started earlier, but the previous School Board decided it was best for the newly elected board to make key decisions on the new budget. The new board was elected Nov. 4 and was not seated until Nov. 18. Two hours after they were sworn in, Superintendent Julie Janssen proposed the school closings and other measures.

Q: Why is the district redrawing zones? Isn't that disruptive?
A: It is, but the district says it has to be done to account for the school closings. Parents have implored the board for a school system that offers more stability. Many have said all the changes prevent them from knowing where their kids were going to go to school year to year. But district officials say they can offer no guarantees in an era when declining enrollment and state budget cuts will force the district to make periodic adjustments.

Q: Why is the district revoking bus service for some students?
A: When the board devised a new system of zoned schools last year, replacing the old choice system, it allowed thousands of students to finish out at their old choice schools. These so-called "nonzone" or "grandfathered" students also got bus service, and their siblings could join them when it came time for them to go to school. A year later, amid a horrible financial climate, those arrangements have been deemed unaffordable. Board members initially considered revoking grandfathering for all nonzone elementary students and forcing them into their zoned schools to save money on busing. But after hundreds of parent complaints, they agreed to a compromise: Nonzone elementary students - about 17,000 in all - could remain in their schools but the district no longer will provide bus service.

Q: Why is the district only revoking busing for elementary school kids? Why don't they do it for middle and high school students too?
A: The main reason is that the bulk of the savings are in elementary schools, which have about 17,000 nonzone students compared to 3,900 in middle schools and 6,700 in high schools. Also, students are in elementary school longer than the other levels, which translates to more costs. The board decided to retain grandfathering at middle schools because it won't be an issue after next year when the last class of grandfathered students cycles into high school. As for high schools, board members were reluctant to disrupt grandfathered students who had formed strong ties to their schools through sports teams, clubs and other activities. Not all secondary school students are untouched, however. On Jan. 13, 2009, the board voted to provide only arterial bus service for high school students not attending their zoned schools. The same will hold true for students at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School and Osceola Fundamental High School.

Q: How do all these changes save money?
A: The district says it will save $4.26-million in operating costs by closing the five elementaries and $1.95-million by merging the four middle schools. It also will save about $7-million in busing costs by revoking transportation to grandfathered students. That's a total of about $13-million - just a start toward the total amount that needs to be cut.

Q: Is the district looking at other places to cut besides closing schools?
A: Yes. Superintendent Julie Janssen is looking at cuts in several areas. Among them: across-the-board cuts in individual schools, a more affordable health plan for district employees, furloughs for district employees, reductions in leased portable classrooms, cuts in the number of drivers and supervisors in the transportation department, tightening constructon procedures and reducing high school sports programs.

Q: All but one of the seven schools being closed or merged received A grades from the state. Why would the district close these schools?
A: District officials say the budget shortfall and declining enrollment have put them in the position of having to close schools using factors that they say outweigh a school's grade. Those factors include the age and size of the school, the per-student cost to operate the school, the projected costs to maintain the school and the proximity of empty seats that could accommodate students from closed schools. District officials also argue that the students who contributed to the A grade at their soon-to-be-closed school will do the same for their new school.

Q: Why is the district dealing with declining enrollment by closing schools? Why not just reduce the number of portable classrooms?
A: In fact, the district is getting rid of 319 of its 894 portables next year and will cut more as enrollment continues to drop. Portables help the district adjust school capacities based on where families with children live in Pinellas County. The district's enrollment is declining, but the losses of students are scattered across the county so it's difficult to simply remove portables in big clusters. The class size amendment, with its strict limits on how many children can be in a classroom, also limits the district's flexibility on portables.

Q: These closings and re-zonings create uncertainty for families. Will it all end after this year?
A: Probably not. District officials now say that declining enrollment will prompt several re-zonings in the next few years. The district says it has lost 10,000 students since 2003 and plans to lose an additional 10,000 by 2013. As that happens, the district says it will be forced to "right size" by closing more schools, which leads to zones having to be redrawn. At some point, the district says it may have to look at closing a high school.

Q: How will the proposed middle school mergers work?
A: Generally, students at Coachman Fundamental Middle will end up at Kennedy Middle. Students at Southside Fundamental Middle will be asked to indicate whether they want to be enrolled at Madeira Beach Middle or Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle, which is closer for many Southside families. As of this writing (Feb. 12, 2009) it is unclear whether Marshall has enough space for all Southside students who will want to go there. The district is surveying Southside families to get an idea where they want to go, and will proceed from there. Any student who didn't get in at Marshall would have a seat at Madeira. Initially, the staffs at Coachman and Southside will be assigned to their respective receiving schools, and the staffs at the receiving schools will stay put until it is clear how many students the newly "consolidated" schools will have. If there are more teachers and support staff than are needed at a school, the new principals will conduct interviews and select a staff. Those not selected could transfer to other schools using rules set out in union contracts. For each merger, committees composed of parents, teachers, administrators and other interested parties will decide other issues, such as names and operational details for the new schools. Teachers will likely fare better than support staff such as plant operators and cafeteria workers. That's because the district needs as many teachers as it can get to comply with the class size amendment. The district says it will try to find other jobs for support staff, but the prospects are not as good.

Q: How will my middle school student be affected by this plan?
A: Some middle school students have been rezoned to different schools. That's because the Coachman/Kennedy and Southside/Madeira Beach "consolidations" triggered a redrawing of the middle school boundaries across the county. For example, some students slated to attend sixth grade at Madeira Beach Middle next year were rezoned to Azalea Middle, Osceola Middle or Seminole Middle, depending on where they live. The district created space at those schools by shifting the boundaries in places to match kids with empty seats. So, some kids in the Azalea zone will end up next year in the John Hopkins and Tyrone middle school zones. Similarly, some kids in the current Osceola zone have been reassigned to Largo and Pinellas Park middle schools. In the northern end of the county, the Coachman/Kennedy merger triggered a similar chain reaction of boundary line changes. Students have the option of accepting the new assignment or staying in their current school. To see the zone maps, consult Useful Links below.


Useful Links:

New middle school zone map, approved Jan. 13, 2009

New elementary school zone map, approved Feb. 10, 2009

NOTE: Can't tell what your school is from the zone map? Use the district's new Zoned School Locator and type in your address. Still confused? Call the student assignment office at (727) 588-6210.

Jan. 13, 2009, power point given to School Board.

Video of the School Board's Dec. 18, 2008, workshop.

Dec. 18, 2008, power point given to School Board.

Searchable video of the School Board's Dec. 9 public hearing. (Go to item 2 under "Nonconsent" portion of the agenda.)

Dec. 9 power point given to School Board.

Latest budget update, distributed Friday, Dec. 6.

Dec. 2 power point given to School Board.

Nov. 18 power point presentation given to School Board.

Two recent memos describing the district's financial situation. One is dated Oct. 22, the other Nov. 12.

A summary of this year's budget.

A comparison of how Pinellas stacks up to other large Florida counties in several spending categories (takes awhile to download)

Comments

Cut 5% pay across the board. Very easy solution. Teachers pay have gone up huge the last 5 years in Pinellas, plus they get extra money through our property taxes that other counties do not.
Everyone must live within their means including government and schools.

[**]

I read with interest all the planning for school cuts. It seems that the school system isn't taking this as seriously as they might. There is a person living in Pasco County (Land O' Lakes) who drives home a state licensed car with side markings for the Pinellas County School System. At times the markings aren't visable so I presume they are removable or covered. What's their problem, embarrassed? How can they justify cutting programs when they do not look after their own money wasting dirty laundry?

[just a peon]

Keep investigating the waste--
even in midst of budget crisis, they are still spending money on non-essentials.
I went to a training on Friday and there were 2 trainers that had been flown in from Texas. What the heck?! We don't have capable folks here that can do training?
How do they get away with this stuff?

jd
have you lost your mind? it is not a school's responsibility to raise a child. if you can't step up to the plate and parent your children, don't have them!!! stop the madness!

[jd]

When there are cut backs to be made, why are the schools always the first to go. The parent are not teaching their childern about life, morals and becoming an adult, (honestly have you seen these kids lately) that's why we need schools to do it for us. Why not try cutting the upper management salaries, and putting them in a class on ECONOMICS. The schools receive fund from the tax payers and from other avenues. My question is WHERE IS ALL THE MONEY!!!!

[SchoolChoiceMom]

The Board is having a workshop to address the budget issues. I don't remember when, but it should be on the website.
The school board appears to be incapable of independent thinking. They ask questions that are never answered. The bottom line is that the administration tells them what to do and they rubber stamp it.
If you don't like it, vote them out.

Tom, You are doing a great job covering the changes the school board is making, but who is investigating the efficacy of what they are doing.

Certainly informing the public of the changes is necessary and appreciated, but it will not lead to better governance.

Where are the justifications for the closings? Where is the math behind the budget suggestions?

We hear numbers like $22 million, $28 million and even $40 million.

WHERE THE HECK IS THE OTHER $1 BILLION $300 MILLION THE DISTRICT IS SPENDING?

These cuts are big, but the rest of the budget is BIGGER!!!

Are we to simply assume the other 90+% of the budget is being spent well? So much so that we have to close small schools in close knit communities which are very effectively educating our students?

The district is still pushing ineffective curriculum and testing on the schools. The district is still bloated at the top. The district still employs double dipping administrators. They also pay people year round, provide ineffective customer service to both schools and the public.

Any chance the public will get to review, evaluate and prioritize its own needs? Any chance the school board will at least be presented with line item budgets to make some critical judgements of their own?

[Tom Tobin, St. Petersburg Times]

To just wondering:
That's one of the many "operational" issues that still need to be worked out by the transition team. The fact that kids no longer will be bused there certainly gives the school flexibility to change the start time. But I don't have a hard answer for you yet. Sorry.

[just wondering]

Tom, will the start time for Mad. Beach still be 9:38 or will it be 7:45 like Southside?Thanks for all your help.

[ttrboi]

sfms has got to be one of the cheapest schools, there's no buses, its very small, its an A school. SOOO why would they close it!?!?

[Gator Mom]

Dear Tired of It All,
The parents of SFMS will never abandon their faculty (Coachman as well). Both schools are successful because it's a team effort. Please don't give up!! Continue the fight for the program that has a track record of success...the "Fundamental" school system works for a reason...and since 1976 the record speaks for itself. I am still hoping that a complete agenda for Tues. is released...in the meantime use Southside as a model and replicate it. SFMS has a diverse student population and brings out success in all of their students. If Mad Beach is closed then it is imperative that a Fundamental Principal and faculty is placed so children will have a 100% Fundamental transition...no need to wait three or four years(see Pinellas S.B.Dec. 18th Power Point Presentation).

[Tired of it all.]

Thank you Tom for the great article on our fat cat/high paid administrators at our Central Admin. I have been working my *** off this year teaching an extra class for last years pay. Central Administration still hasn't held up their part of our contract but they make sure all their people are taken care of. Will teachers ever get the respect they deserve? Not in my life time!!!!! 35 years and can't take it anymore.

[Jennifer]

Here we sit at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon without a clear picture of what the school board agenda for Tuesday (3 days away!) actually is. There is so much speculation going on. I think it is ridiculous. You say that the agenda needs to be out one week prior to the meeting. If the changes that are being made to an item are not published then you are not telling people what is on the agenda. We deserve to have some answers about whether our schools are going to close or not.

[Tom Tobin, St. Petersburg Times]

To Grandfathering:

It looks as if a plan is afoot to preserve grandfathering after all, albeit without giving grandfathered students a bus ride. See the latest post on The Gradebook. Here's the link:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/schools/2009/01/pinellas-contro.html

[Grandfathering]

If the board votes to close schools as planned, the next vote better be to end grandfathering! If grandfathering is allowed, they cannot guarantee seats at surrounding schools for the students who are being displaced. Does this mean that those displaced students will have to be bussed further away? What about wanting everyone in their zoned school?

Close schools, bus students further away from home and put them in portables? Does this sound like a solution?

C'mon, man.

[Tom Tobin, St. Petersburg Times]

To Cathy and Jodi:
The district expects to release more information on the agenda item tomorrow.

[Tom Tobin, St. Petersburg Times]

To Anne at 3:58 Jan. 7:

The School Board already has agreed to start a full-fledged gifted program at Thurgood Marshall and two other middle schools (Dunedin and Morgan Fitzgerald). Instead of students having one, two or three gifted classes, their whole day will be spent in gifted classes. The program will be phased in starting with the sixth grade class for 2009-10 (about 125 students at each of the three schools). At Thurgood Marshall, the maximum total enrollment will be 925-950 kids or about 310 for each grade. Eventually, each grade will have about 125 students in the program, which leaves about 185 non-gifted slots in each grade. You can see the information in the district's 2009-10 program guide at this link:

http://www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/SchoolOptions/files/Program%20Guide%2009-10.pdf

[Susan]

Speaking of the agenda-did anyone else notice the following: ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS
Collins, Elizabeth P. (W) Assistant Principal,Countryside High,February 2, 2009 Rehire from DROP
Salary: Pay grade C08; 11 months; $71,113 annually*
With the budget woes and all the critism of rehiring DROP employees what is going on. This is exactly why there is a financial crisis. Now is the time to cut back on administration not keep adding. There is a hiring freeze-yet it doesn't apply to high paying administrative jobs apparently.

[BBMOM]

Last I heard they were going to try to go through with the Gifted program at Thurgood. There is room I believe to add 150 more students to the current student body. Thurgood now has appx 750 and I believe they have the capacity for 900 or 950. Maybe they will mention this and a decision on it at the meeting next Tuesday.

[Anne]

Has anyone heard the rumor that Thurgood Marshall is going to be a gifted center for middle school? I have heard it more than once but was wondering if it is true or in the works? That would eliminate alot of openings for general ed

[Jodi]

It really bothers me that the school district is not being totally transparent about this whole issue. In the most recent agenda for next week they posted the second reading of school closures, transportation, student assignment with a footnote that their have been changes since the first reading. They did not however post what those changes were. So how are we supposed to know what changed before the meeting?

[Cathy]

The agenda for the upcoming school board meeting has been posted, however the supporting documentation for the agenda item that includes closing schools/transportation/student assignment, etc. is missing from the 223 page packet. Doesn't this information have to be made available to the public one week prior to the meeting? Why is this the only information missing?

[Jen]

And people wonder why the ranks of homeschool families are growing by leaps and bounds.

Al, you make a great point, but unfortunately the school board is only thinking about money and not the impact on the A schools.

[Al]

Granted, the school system needs to make major budget cuts, but why are they closing A-rated schools? How much did the taxpayers pay for the testing and ratings, and what was the purpose of all that? Keep the A-rated schools open, and figure out what they are doing right. Close the lowest-graded schools.

[Tom Tobin, St. Petersburg Times]

To Kay:
You asked a good question yesterday. The consolidations of the four middle schools would trigger a redrawing of the middle school boundaries across the county, a consequence of this plan that often gets overlooked. You asked about your child who was slated to attend sixth grade at Madeira Beach Middle next year. Madeira's current zone would be split between Azalea, Osceola and Seminole middle schools, so your child would be zoned for one of those schools - depending on where you live. The district will create space at those schools by shifting the boundaries in places to match kids with empty seats. Consequently, part of the Azalea zone will be carved off and those kids will be sent to John Hopkins and Tyrone middle schools. Similarly, some kids in the current Osceola zone will be reassigned to Largo and Pinellas Park middle schools. For a map that attempts to show all of these moves, see slide 24 of the Dec. 18 power point given to the School Board. You can click on the power point under Useful Links, above.

[I support educators]

there is no union for teachers it is an association that does very little. With the laws the way they are the school board can trample all over the workers in there schools and teachers can do very little as evidenced by the blatant violation of the contract for middle school teachers. I am certain if teachers had the ability to strike like a real union would do then teachers would have more respect and the whole community would realize just how valuable schools and their personnel are.

[Bill2]

If you are currently working full time with PCSB this school year and not ready to retire, they will have to place you in a job somewhere the next school year. That is why the Unions are here, to protect you from being layed off. I would suggest to everyone working in PCSB that they should join their Instructional or Support Service Unions NOW for protection of your job and many other things.

[Julia]

Kay - I believe they will simply rezone your incoming 6th grader to another area middle school. Actually, fundamental programs are all countywide. You can apply to all of them no matter where you live. That's the point of magnet and fundamental programs:) I know it is frustrating not knowing where the new zones will be :(

[Bill]

When teachers and support personel get laid-off will they be able to collect unemployment benefits? I've heard they won't be able to because the SB doesn't pay into the system. Is this true and what are the benefits here? I'm new to the area and would like to be able to plan ahead.

[kay]

Tom, What will happen to the students who were zoned to Madeira Beach middle? My child was slated to attend next year as a 6th grader. Where will they go now? Also, what will happen to all the displaced Madeira students? The middle schools nearby are already populated so much they have portables. Some will be getting more. I wonder if the board has studied the effect of overcrowding at other middle schools as a result of using Madeira's middle school campus as a fund school. In three years, if Madeira is a fund, the other schools will have to absorb the capacity lost by the program change. I don't think that many students have left mid county. Additionally, have they studied the increased transportation cost associated with bussing the madeira kids to other sites. There are so many variables and questions. Could the school board have MBMS a mid county fund TGM a south county and coachman a north county. That way all three sections have a fund school and local students around each area could apply to attend a fund near them. I am a mid county parent. If all the fund schools south county apply for the MBMS, then mid county will loose several hundred seats for their children and the mid county middle schools will be overloaded as a result.

[BBMOM]

Jill- Happy Holidays to you also.

As I said to Lisa I was just curious being she had experience with both schools. I have only had experience with TM. I personally am fine with what they are doing, and my kids have no problems, except when they were at school they haven't been involved. If you reread my post I was asking what her comments meant. As I said just curious. Have an eggnog and Merry Christmas.

[Jill]

Oh please BBMOM, can't you give it a rest? Every school is special to each and their own. Have a blessed holiday season and let's drop all this craziness for the sake of the children.

[BBMOM]

Lisa - all of SS won't be jojning us. There are only so many seats available at TM. A lot of SS will be going to MB. Unless they decide on private school. Why do you believe SS's program is stronger & more disciplined? And what do you think TM positives are? I am just curious. I do not believe SS is stronger just a different student body make up. Just my opinion.

[Lisa]

THURGOOD MARSHALL. I had a student go all the way through at Southside, now I have one at Thurgood. Both are great schools. While Southside's program is stronger and more disciplined, Thurgood has its positives too. We are looking forward to having Southside join us and make our program stronger.

[PASADENA FUND. PARENT]

TOM, THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFO. I THINK YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB COVERING THIS CONFUSING SITUATION. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

[Tom Tobin, St. Petersburg Times]

To Pasadena Fundamental Parent:
The short answer to your question is there should be enough room for your child at a fundamental middle school in south county, be it at Madeira Beach or Thurgood Marshall. Remember, the district is increasing the number of south county fundamental middle school seats to about 2,000 – up from about 1,400 now. Associate superintendent Jim Madden says he’s confident there will be space at Madeira for every Southside student who wants to go there, and that the same holds true for Southsiders going to Marshall. “I’m so confident I’d take it to the bank,” he told the school board last week. “I’ve just seen how numbers play over time with some of our schools.” (To see enrollment numbers for each school, consult the Dec. 18 power point presentation to the board, above) The district hasn’t released any information yet on the process for moving students, except to say it would work “individually” with Southside and Coachman families to get them where they want to go – as well as families from Madeira and Kennedy.

[PASADENA FUND. PARENT]

WE WILL BE HAPPY WITH EITHER THURGOOD OR MADERIA. DOES THE S.B. KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ENOUGH SEATS AVAILABLE? WE WILL PICK MADERIA WHICH IS VERY CLOSE FOR US. IF WE DON'T GET IN DO WE AUTOMATICALLY GET INTO THURGOOD? WE HAVE SPENT 6 YEARS IN THE FUNDAMENTAL SYSTEM AND WANT SOME ASSURANCE THERE WILL BE A SPACE FOR OUR CHILD. IF NOT THEY NEED TO LEAVE S.S. OPEN ANOTHER YEAR UNTIL THEY CAN WORK IT OUT. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE? THAKS.

[bt mom]

Here is an idea...... How about ALL schools be fundemental? Teach the three R's a bit of music and art to round out their lives. Bad behavior, send it off to reform schools. Yes that nasty word called reform school., If parents don't want to keep their child in control for 6 hours a day, too bad go to reform school. Let the others learn in a loving and creative environment.

Parents, step up to the plate! School is not a place you abdicate your responsibility of parenting. Your child will be what you want your child to be. Be the role model and show them personal responsibility. Or have I forgotten that personal responsiblity is antiquated? There is a generation of kids growing up that thinks school is a playground, show up get fed, and go home.

I have two children who graduated PCS in 05 and 07. One has graduated and one in college, both took all advanced this that and the other and both say there was nothing that high school prepared them for in college! Lucky for them, I instilled in them to work to get where they want to be in life. The 05 grad has graduated university and is in Masters program in a mere 3.25 years. It can be done, but it takes PARENTS to show them the way. Parents melting down and protesting at meetings shows your kids how to whine to get their way. Parents are you going to follow little Johnnie and little Suzy around their whole life?

why not do away with sports all together in middle and high school and get back to the meaning of schools, (education to go out in the real world and earn a real wage)Orlando is talking about this.

[justthinking]

Cut all money to fund football, soccer, baseball, swimming, etc. Make booster parents raise the funds to pay for all the sports equipment, busing needs, travel expenses, uniforms etc. The parents of the kids in the music programs like Syndicated Sound at TSHS have to raise the money for all of their trips and uniforms, and competitions. So, let the parents of the kids who play sports do the same. That should save some money. After all, all kids need to learn but not all kids play sports or perform in music shows.

[Frans van Haaren]

The personnel recommendations of the Superintendent is where the action is ( hammer pieces during school board meetings, no questions asked, ever). Food for thought for anyone interested in how the system really works!

[Tom Tobin, St. Petersburg Times]

Readers:
Regarding the DROP people in the April 15 minutes, the agenda packet for that meeting is not available on the district's web site. I will ask for it tomorrow. ALSO: Many of you have been involved in a discussion about Southside and Thurgood Marshall middle schools. See an update on today's Gradebook.

Any update?

it was on the agenda put out by the SB 1 week prior to the actual B meeting. Some digging needs to be done by Tom Tobin maybe!!!!!!!!!!!!

No I went and looked at the minutes and the recommendations are not attached in the approved version. Just says recommendations were approved, not what they were. I would still like to see the names and amounts and positions.

It is all public record Names and amounts, just check out the 4/15/08 minutes of the SB. Under personel recomendations of the superintendent.

[Public Has Right To Know This Info If True]

"Tired of it all" just put some of this in a whole new light.

Question for "Tired of it all" (or Tom Tobin): WHO were the 13 re-hired after DROP? If this is true I think the public needs to know their names, positions, and why it was necessary to rehire them .

If "Tired's" post is true -- that 1.3 million in admin. costs could be saved by dropping those at the end of their DROP -- at least one and maybe more of the schools on the closure list, depending on which ones you decided to save, could remain open, based on the district's own figures of how much money it saves by closing each school.

What is the priority -- more administrators in Largo or keeping schools open?

Something for the school board to think about.

[tired of it all]

How about the 13 district administrators rehired after drop on 4/15/08 at a cost of 1.3 million just 2 weeks before the 23 million budget cut.

me again: Concerning should be considering