Board mulls closing schools, enlarging others
LARGO — The Pinellas County School Board is faced with closing some schools while expanding others as student enrollment continues to decline.
The recommendations were unveiled during a Jan. 20 workshop.
They would:
• Close Disston Academy and Cross Bayou Elementary at the end of the school year
• Combine Bay Point Elementary and Bay Pont Middle to form a K-8 school that would be located on the middle school campus beginning in the 2027-28 school year.
• Expand Oldsmar Elementary into a K-8 school beginning the 2026-27 school year.
• Expand the district’s Employee Child Care program to McMullen Booth Elementary for the 2026–27 school year.
“These recommendations were not made lightly,” said Superintendent Kevin K. Hendrick. “The academic excellence across Pinellas County Schools continues as an ‘A’ district, but we also face a declining school-age population and changing conditions that require us to thoughtfully plan for the future. Our responsibility is to ensure every student has access to high-quality instruction and schools that are positioned for long-term success.”
No school-based staff members will lose their jobs as a result of the recommendations. All employees will be offered placements within the district.
The school district will host on-site community meetings at all impacted schools through Feb. 6. The school board will continue discussion of the recommendations at a workshop scheduled for Feb. 20, with a final vote at the Feb. 27 School Board meeting.
Construction Licensing Board seeks applicants
Applications are being accepted to fill two vacancies on the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB). The PCCLB consists of 15 members from various trades, along with building officials, a fire official and two consumer representatives.
Candidates are needed in the following areas:
• Residential Contractor: Must be licensed to do business in the state and actively engaged in the profession. The appointee will complete a current four-year term expiring September 2026 and will be eligible to reapply.
• South County Building Official: Must be from Gulfport, Kenneth City, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg, Seminole or South Pasadena. Government building officials are not subject to term limits.
Applications are available on the Boards, Councils and Committees page on pinellas.gov. Applications must be received by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18.