At the Pinellas County School Board\u2019s Thursday workshop, superintendent Kevin Hendrick discussed plans to close several schools in the wake of enrollment decline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The district proposed closing St. Petersburg\u2019s Blanton Elementary, John M. Sexton Elementary and Bear Creek Elementary at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. Additionally, Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary, Clearwater\u2019s Kings Highway Elementary and Lealman Innovation Academy may cease operations at the end of the 2026-27 academic year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pinellas County Schools also recommended transitioning St. Petersburg\u2019s Azalea Elementary into a K-8 institution on the current Azalea Middle School campus. Azalea Middle School would be relocated to the Boca Ciega High School campus in the 2027-28 school year and renamed. Students would begin attending the K-8 institution in the 2028-29 academic year. Similarly, Tarpon Springs Middle School may close in order to create a new fundamental K-8 school on the property.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Pinellas County Schools\u2019 website, fundamental institutions provide \u201ca structured, traditional approach to education. These programs typically feature clear expectations, routines and accountability measures for both students and parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additionally, the district plans on converting Pinellas Park Elementary School into a fundamental K-5 school in the 2027-28 academic year.<\/p>\n
These planned mergers and closures are a part of Pinellas County Schools\u2019 Planning for Progress <\/a>initiative. Additional recommendations addressed facility and school boundary zoning updates and the expansion of early learning opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very important to know that no one in the school district or on the school board wants to close a school,\u201d said Hendrick at the Thursday meeting. \u201cHowever, we do have an obligation to balance the budget and to be competitive in the ever changing landscape of school choice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n