Compromise may allow Pinellas students to stay put

Friday, January 9, 2009

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Compromise may allow Pinellas students to stay put.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Pinellas County School Board members are considering a compromise to the huge student re-shuffling plan.

Until now, it appeared that up to 18,000 students "grandfathered" into their schools would have to move next year. But according to Bay News 9's partner newspaper the St. Petersburg Times, school board chairperson Peggy O'Shea said those students might get to stay put.

But there is one stipulation.

Pinellas Superintendent Julie Janssen said her staff has come up with an option for school board members to consider: allow students to stay at their schools without bus service.

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That would leave parents with the responsibility of getting their children to school. It is a cost-cutting move that many parents seem to be in favor of while several others oppose, according to officials.

The school board will vote on the measure next week.

The district is trying to patch a projected $48-million hole in next year's budget. In addition to revoking grandfathering, the first round of cuts involves proposals to close five elementary schools and merge four middle schools into two.

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