Pinellas County School Board Meeting October 13, 2026

The Pinellas County School Board meeting on October 13, 2026, focused on school consolidations and facility changes under the Planning for Progress initiative. The board approved the revised Tarpon Springs plan 6–1: combine Sunset Hills Elementary and Tarpon Springs Middle into a traditional K–8 school at the middle-school campus, and relocate and gradually expand Tarpon Springs Fundamental into a K–8 program at the Sunset Hills campus, beginning in 2027–28. The proposal includes facility modifications; public comments cited approximately $3 million in planned improvements. The district said it could bring design and construction procurement items to the October 27 meeting if the proposal passed, so no construction contract or procurement award was made at this meeting. The board also approved other school closures, relocations, and program changes, including actions affecting Kings Highway, Pinellas Park and Blanton, Azalea, Bear Creek, and Lyman Innovation Academy.

The consent agenda passed 7–0 and included a Graduation Alliance agreement for student re-engagement and dropout-prevention services; the transcript gives no contract amount. Board members discussed monitoring the agreement’s student outcomes and cost effectiveness. The board also approved the naming of Bay Point K–8, and advanced proposed updates to the district’s application-program policy manual for a public hearing and second reading scheduled for November 10. The meeting included substantial public comment on the Tarpon Springs plan, particularly requests for more time, facility and safety details, and consideration of alternatives.