Pinellas County School District

School board members said they will discuss closure plans again during an Oct. 6 workshop before the final vote on Oct. 13.

The school district may have to close a number of campuses and merge others. District officials have difficult choices confronting them amid concerns for students, staff and teachers.

Parents believe the closures and mergers will create cramped classrooms and displace teachers, students, and staff.

Pinellas' superintendent said the proposal could save $25 million a year and reduce unused student seats by nearly 5,000.

A more affordable day care option in Pinellas County is set to open late July. The district will expand its services to offer 160 seats.

The Disney movie was under review following a complaint by a parent.

After published reports that it was banned, Pinellas County is reviewing "Ruby Bridges," which chronicles a 6-year-old's school integration in New Orleans during the 1960s. It will not be shown again this year at one Pinellas elementary school.

The arrangement with schools in Pinellas marks a foray into education for the Bucs' superstar and his methods — including some that have been criticized as pseudoscience.

Principal Keila Victor said building a community — or as she puts it, “a village” — for her 300 students is the most important part of her job.

The Hillsborough County School District was the only one in the Tampa Bay region to have more schools improve their grades since 2019 than decline.

The agreement provides an average raise of 3.25% and covers increases in health care and pension costs.

The deal would provide an average 3.25 percent raise and give teachers up to 15 additional hours of paid planning time.