OLDSMAR — Oldsmar city officials have formally backed a proposal to explore a restructuring of Oldsmar Elementary School, with the goal of expanding it into a kindergarten through eighth-grade facility.
The move aims to keep local middle school students in the community and address parental frustrations over student commutes and family involvement.
On Nov. 18, the City Council moved to officially draft a resolution supporting the K-8 model, signaling a critical next step for an idea that has been championed by Pinellas County School Board member Eileen Long.
The core of the initiative is a concern for the quality of life for Oldsmar families. There are no public middle schools within the city limits, and students are zoned for either Carwise Middle or Safety Harbor Middle, schools that board member Long noted are “not that close.”
Long, a 35-year veteran educator, gave a passionate appeal, highlighting the severe time commitment for students.
“To think that sometimes the kids are on the bus an hour, hour and a half, that’s ridiculous. It’s terrible,” she stated. Long pointed out the lost opportunities for children who are stuck in transit, “like baseball.”
She argued that the long bus ride, especially along the congested East Lake Road, unfairly restricts family participation. “I don’t want to see parents missing open house or grandparents not being able to go to a play or a musical because they’re too far from the school. That’s not fair. We’re robbing you of things that are important to families.”
Oldsmar resident Jarrod Buchman, a former City Council member, strongly supported the K-8 model, drawing on his personal experience as a parent who had children simultaneously enrolled at OES, Carwise and East Lake. He offered an account of the strain on his family life, saying, “Having children spread across campuses created a lot of logistical and emotional concerns for our family.”
Buchman detailed difficulties that ranged from coordinating after-school sessions to busing mishaps. “A K-8 school here right here in Oldsmar will mean siblings will stay together longer. Transit times are reduced or eliminated,” he concluded, arguing that this consolidation promises more meaningful family time, which research suggests “correlates with better student outcomes.”
Another parent, Pamela “Pammy” Geary Florence, revealed the financial strain, stating she pays $10,000 a year for private school for her eighth grader because she felt she had “no other options.” She added her frustration with high school zoning, noting Oldsmar is only two miles from Countryside High School but students are bused to East Lake, leading to students being outside “at like 4:30 in the morning, try and catch a bus.”
Beyond improving convenience, the proposal is also being presented as a critical defense measure for the local public school system. Long warned the City Council about the state’s controversial “Schools of Hope” legislation.
She explained the law allows outside, for-profit charter companies to take over unused space within public school buildings if the school is not at full capacity. “They can come in, they can use our schools any way they want. We will pay for it, and the state will give them money to run their business,” Long cautioned.
By converting Oldsmar Elementary into a K-8 school, which would add hundreds of students and additional grade levels, the facility would significantly increase its enrollment and utilization, potentially shielding it from being targeted by these outside organizations, which Long noted are often from out of state and have “no understanding of Florida law.”
While the concept was met with enthusiasm, some attendees raised practical concerns about the conversion, specifically regarding the suitability of the current elementary campus for older students.
Teacher Carol Connelly noted the potential for “behavior issues” and questioned whether the existing Oldsmar Elementary campus could physically separate “the bigger eighth graders, seventh and eighth graders from the little guys,” suggesting the current facility is fundamentally different from other K-8 campuses in the county.
Long addressed these concerns by assuring the public that the district is exploring modernization options for the campus to create distance between the grade levels. Long also acknowledged a potential trade-off, stating, “the one disadvantage of a K through 8 school is that children will not get every elective.” She promised, however, that essentials like Spanish and P.E. would be offered, with a survey planned to determine other middle school course offerings based on community feedback.
Mayor Katie Gannon emphasized that the goal of the motion was to secure a resolution of support and “get the research and get the conversation going” on the logistics.
The city council vote was unanimous to request the drafting of a resolution in support of the K-8 conversion. The drafted resolution was expected to be brought back for a potential vote at the Dec. 2 meeting.
The effort is poised to start with significant community resources already compiled.
Liz Martin, founder of Operation Jack’s Village, a nonprofit dedicated to adolescent suicide prevention and awareness, offered her organization’s extensive data to the district, saying, “Anything and everything that you want to know specifically around the Oldsmar area, we’ve got a ton of feedback for you already to start and data that will make your eyes bleed.”
In the meantime, Long has committed to returning to Oldsmar with the school superintendent and facilities leaders to host a town hall meeting. The forum will serve as an opportunity for the community to ask questions, share their vision for the school, and discuss specific logistical details.
“We want to make this school the best that it can be, and we need your input,” Long concluded.