Thousands of Pinellas students may have to change schools

More than 18,000 Pinellas elementary school students would be forced to change schools next year under a plan that the Pinellas School Board gave tentative approval to today.

Most of the students affected are currently in schools they got into under the old choice plan; they did not move to their new zone school when the student assignment system was changed last year. But thousands of additional students will probably be affected as well because the district plans to redraw the entire zone map for elementary schools. That means students sitting in their zone school now could be redrawn out of that zone and reassigned to a new school.

The message to families with a child in a regular Pinellas elementary school next year: No matter your situation, assume nothing about what your school will be.

The move, which still must be formally approved, is part of an effort to reduce busing costs for the district and help address a projected $40-million shortfall.

The board also tentatively decided to close five elementary schools next year: Gulf Beaches, Kings Highway, North Ward, Palm Harbor and Rio Vista.

Board members expect a strong reaction from parents. "We have to strap in because it's going to be a rough ride," board member Carol Cook said.

Said board member Mary Brown: "We've got to go back to the drawing board and tell parents, 'What we gave you last year, we can't afford to do it any more."

- Thomas C. Tobin, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[K2]

I agree 8:00 and lets get rid of all of the arts programs: band, theater, chorus, art, ect... Talk about useless.

[Tito]

In response to k2, it appears atheletics are more important than finding money for academics.

[Kentvermeer]

I think I have a resolution.
Get rid of athletics

[K2]

Maybe all of the great teachers and students at PH elem can raise the grades at the surrounding schools.

It is so much fun watching the North County parents complain... "Not my kid" "Not my school" "Close the poor school" "Don't close the rich white school"

HA HA HA HA HA

[AlexJ]

Surely ending grandfathering may save the school board a little more money than just ending transportation for it, but just how much? I think before disrupting 18,000 students, an attempt at coming up with some approximate cost different between those two options should be known. I mean really, because of grandfathering, how many elementary students are being displaced from their ‘close to home school’ to a different school that are requiring busing? There should be an easy to print out report that will show the numbers. My guess is the student count and cost will be low, when compared to disrupting 18,000 students academic careers. Apparently they no longer attach any value to our childrens education. :(

[K2]

I'm am shocked by the stupidity of the posts. Especially by the one at 7:51. Even if the district sold off it's properties the money would go into a different funding source. It CANNOT be used to offset the operational budget.

Idiots....

[angry]

THROW THE IDIOT BUMS OUT !!!
KEEP PALM HARBOR ELEMENTARY !!
IT IS AN A RATED SCHOOL YOU FOOLS !!!
I BET YOU'RE KEEPING D & F RATED SCHOOLS OPEN !!!! NO WONDER THE SUPERINTENDENT TOOK OFF !!

[shocked by stupidity]

You are closing Palm Harbor Elem ????An...A....school ????? You dolts are in charge of education ??? No wonder Fla schools are a JOKE !
SELL ONE OF THE PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE SCHOOLS GET MORE THAN 40 MILLION !!!!!!

[Andrew]

I, for one, am tired of seeing all my neighborhood kids lining up for three different buses, including two that are just around the corner, because of school choice "hangover", and because the parents don't want to have to go to through the "car circle". Busing represents a disproportionate expense for the few that it benefits.

[Crilly]

Ms. Brown; You didn't GIVE us anything last year, we paid for it (probably over paid). Let me guess- this will affect mostly So. Pinellas schools and none in East Lake or Palm Harbor (east of U.S. 19 ), right?

[K2]

Go to pcsb.org a click on the workshop ppt. Just look and see how they are going to cut 40 million.

No buses for extra curriculur activities. I guess I will have to find a safe and cheap way of transporting my 80 JV football players next year.

[K2]

GOOD JOB FLORIDIANS. MAYBE NEXT TIME CHARLIE CHRIST TELLS YOU TO VOTE FOR AMENDMENT ONE YOU WILL DO SOME RESEARCH. Lemmings.... I hope you all enjoy your $50.00 savings on your property tax. While the schools continue to drown.

[PalmHarbor Parent]

We should be protecting our children and education system. The children in these schools are in the middle of the school year and should not be subject to the disruption going on around them right now. Find the 40 million somewhere else! Leave our kids alone to be educated and not disrupted. Why are the schools always the first to be affected?

[ED]

Please do not tell me by closing these 5 schools and relocating thousands of innocent children is your plan to save 40 million. Once again, maybe you can violate the contract of every teacher.

[Tom]

Oh, boy!

[ED]

Question for Mary Brown: You did not and still do not have the money for last year, where do you expect to get it? Maybe you can violate the elementary teachers contract as well.