Pinellas Supt. gives update on possible school closures, consolidations

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County Superintendent Kevin Hendrick gave his recommendations on possible school consolidations and closures during a school board workshop Tuesday.

The workshop began at 9:30 a.m. at the district headquarters, which included a presentation and discussion led by Hendrick. He provided an overview of Planning for Progress and gave recommendations, which have been months in the making.

Earlier this year, the district shared that they have been losing students at a steadily declining rate over the last 20 years. Pinellas County Public Schools has just over 3,600 fewer students enrolled this year compared to the start of last school year, which includes a 9% drop in kindergarten enrollment.

Recommendations from Hendrick:

Bay Point Elementary and Middle combined to make a K-8 school

• Beginning 2027-2028, consolidating two sites into one
• Housed at the middle school campus 
• Elementary school would remain a magnet school
• Looking at potentially leasing elementary campus, potentially child care
• Elementary school has 302 students, 47% utilization rate. Middle school has 35% utilization rate. Combining raises to 60%.
• Opened as a K-8 in 1962 before splitting
• Savings in $2.8 million per year 
• Leasing elementary campus could increase revenue for district 
• This was done at Walsingham Oaks last year

Expand Oldsmar Elementary into a K-8 school

• Beginning 2026-2027
• 53% utilized currently
• Add one grade per year 
• Students who live in Oldsmar Elementary’s zone can stay for middle school or attend another zoned middle school
• The city of Oldsmar made a resolution to support this plan 

Expand employee child care program to McMullen Booth Elementary

• Expand employee child care program in 2026-2027
• No other change or impact to school

Cross Bayou Elementary closing

• Close at the end of May 
• 245 students pre-K through 5
• Includes Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing program, which would relocate 
• 40% utilized campus 
• West side of zone to Bardmoor Elementary, east side to Pinellas Central
• The building is older and needs millions in upgrades to keep it going. Looking to sell or lease property as is.

Disston Academy closing

• Close at the end of 2025-2026
• Has 52 students in person 
• 52 students reassigned to other academic programs; more like 38 students. Could go to a number of different schools 
• Needs $2 million in renovations 
• At 17% capacity 
• $1.9 million in savings annually

A final vote is set for a Feb. 24 school board meeting. Multiple smaller school meetings at affected schools will happen before then.

Last fall, the district held five community meetings they called “Planning for Progress.” In all, roughly 275 parents attended. Each meeting included a debrief from district staff that included data on declining enrollment, and also gave parents the chance to leave written feedback on what’s important to them when it comes to a school community.

The district compiled the written feedback into a 33-page document of recommendations. It’s not clear how the district plans to use that information when making decisions about school closures or consolidations.

Reagan Miller has an eighth-grade student and says the lack of clarity from the school district on what the possible changes could be has created a lot of fear for parents.

“Everyone thinks their school is on the chopping block,” she said. “Because of the declining birth rate and because there are fewer students in the schools… everyone’s wondering, ‘Is it me? What’s going to happen?’ Everyone is trying to plan and prepare for that.”

Pinellas County operates 116 schools, not including charter schools.

At a school board workshop earlier this year, Hendrick said the district is looking at building capacity, current utilization and improvements a school building might need, as they assessed the next best steps.

“I think it’s made people look at alternatives. Is there stability outside of the public school system?” Miller explained. “Which is unfortunate, because we have great public schools here in Pinellas County and I think the uncertainty is scaring people, and they’re looking for stability and reassurance from the district that their school is going to be around and exist in its current state.”

Tuesday’s workshop will be followed by a formal school board meeting set for Jan. 27.