LARGO, Fla. — Pinellas County community members got to hear from the school district Monday night at Largo High School.
This is one of the meetings they’re hosting to address declining enrollment.
What You Need To Know
Pinellas County saw enrollment decline by 3,651 students from last school year to the current school year
Attendees got the chance to leave feedback for the school district
The next meeting is on Dec. 2 in Dunedin
From shrinking enrollment to possible uses for empty school buildings, Jennifer Dull, the Chief Operations Officer for Pinellas County Schools, gave a presentation to address parents’ questions and provide them with an opportunity to weigh in.
“We’re trying to be really thoughtful about what is happening in our community and also taking into consideration and being thoughtful about what our community is really looking for as we go through a long-term planning process,” Dull said.
According to the school district, enrollment has gone from nearly 78,000 last school year to just over 74,000 this school year. The official decrease is 3,651.
Dull said with enrollment not expected to increase in future years, that’s why they’re hosting these meetings.
No questions were taken during the meeting, but the district wants to make sure they hear people’s concerns.
Boards were set up in the back, and attendees wrote dozens of posted notes, leaving suggestions for what they want to see.
“That feedback is important to our board and to our superintendent that our school community really comes forward and kind of helps us determine as we make recommendations for what Pinellas County Schools looks like in the future,” Dull said.
This is not the last of these meetings the school district is hosting.
While the presentation won’t change, there are still three meetings to give community members across Pinellas County a chance to listen.
The next one is in Dunedin on Dec. 2.