At its Tuesday meeting, the Pinellas County School Board voted to close more schools and restructure others in response to enrollment decline. 

St. Petersburg’s Blanton Elementary and Bear Creek Elementary will cease operations at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. Clearwater’s Kings Highway Elementary Magnet School and Lealman Innovation Academy will close as well. 

The county will also transition St. Petersburg’s Azalea Elementary School into a K-8 institution on the current Azalea Middle School campus. Azalea Middle School will be relocated to the Boca Ciega High School campus and renamed.  

Tarpon Springs Middle School and Sunset Hills Elementary will merge and become a new K-8 school on the Tarpon Springs Middle School campus in the 2027- 28 academic year. Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School will expand into a fundamental K-8 institution on the current Sunset Hills Elementary campus. 

Pinellas Park Elementary School will also close at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. It will be converted into a K-5 fundamental school. 

According to Pinellas County Schools’ website, fundamental institutions focus on a “structured, traditional approach to education. These programs typically feature clear expectations, routines, and accountability measures for both students and parents.” 

READ MORE: Pinellas County considers closing more schools 

The closures and restructuring efforts are a part of the Pinellas County Schools’ Planning for Progress initiative. 

A comment period was held prior to the School Board’s vote. Approximately 60 parents, teachers and students spent three hours ensuring their voices were heard. The merger between Tarpon Springs Middle School and Sunset Hills Elementary was the main focus. This recommendation was a part of a revised plan after receiving community feedback. 

“I’m concerned that merging Sunset Hills with Tarpon Springs Middle School could fundamentally change the qualities that have contributed to our school’s success and identity,” said Sunset Hills Elementary teacher Alison Harris. “I respectfully ask that the board delay the vote to allow for greater transparency, meaningful community input and consideration of additional options that best serve all of the schools in Tarpon Springs.” 

Tarpon Springs resident Trenton Lambart was one of the parents who argued against the change. 

“I feel that the Planning for Progress name is just a little misleading,” he said. “To me, effectively shifting not one but two schools out of the environments that they are both thriving in does not feel like growth or more advancement for anybody. It sounds like a quick move to balance the budget, which I understand has to be done.”

“While I respect the concerns that have been raised tonight and in other communications to the board and appreciate the feedback we have received, I also believe we have a responsibility to make decisions proactively rather than reactively,” said Pinellas County School Board member Eileen Long via Zoom at the meeting. “The recommendations before us are not about looking backward. They are about positioning Pinellas County Schools to remain strong, sustainable and focused on student success for the years to come.” 

In February, the School Board voted to close Pinellas Park’s Cross Bayou Elementary and Gulfport’s Disston Academy at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. St. Petersburg’s Bay Point Elementary and Bay Point Middle will become a K-8 school on the middle school campus in the 2027-28 academic year.