PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County Schools leaders are scheduled this week to discuss additional school closures.
On Tuesday morning, officials will gather at a workshop to discuss potential school closures on the table for next year.
Superintendent Kevin Hendrick is recommending the board close seven schools and repurpose others.
The latest round of recommendations includes closing and combining schools because district leaders say there are not enough students to fill all available seats, and that trend is expected to continue.
Hendrick is proposing these Pinellas schools close at the end of the school year:
Tarpon Springs Fundamental
Lealman Innovation
Kings Highway Elementary
Blanton Elementary
Bear Creek Elementary
Sexton Elementary
Azalea Elementary (Moving to the Azalea Middle School campus for the 2028-29 school year and operating as a K-8 school)
One proposal also would close Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary and Tarpon Springs Middle School, then open a fundamental K-8 school on the middle school campus.
Several community meetings are scheduled so that the board can hear more feedback directly from parents and students.
Last month, Hendrick said the next round of community meetings would be delayed until after tomorrow’s workshop so board members would have more time to discuss the feedback and potentially make adjustments to the proposals.
Upcoming community meetings:
at Blanton and Pinellas Park elementary schools, Tuesday 6 p.m.
at Bear Creek and Kings Highway elementary schools, Wednesday 6 p.m.
On Thursday, Lealman Innovation meeting scheduled at 3 p.m.
All meetings will be held in each school’s cafeteria.
The school board is scheduled to hold a final vote on school closures on October 13.