TAMPA, Fla. — While Monday night’s meeting at King High School was not as well attended as some of the community meetings held last month, those who attended were able to ask Superintendent Addison Davis directly about scenario four.
“I haven’t actually heard too much about what this recommendation is, so I just am trying to gather some more information on that,” said Rachele Pawlowski, who has a child in eleventh grade at King and another who’s a seventh grader at Terrace Community Middle School.
What You Need To Know
- Officials with Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) are looking at four scenarios that would involve changing boundaries and repurposing schools
- The next meetings are scheduled for Wednesday (6 p.m.) at Webb Middle and Thursday (6 p.m.) at Madison Middle and Chamberlain High
- Thus far, the different scenarios would reportedly affect at least 11,000 students and as many as 24,000
- RELATED coverage: Hillsborough superintendent urges public to give input as redistricting meetings begin
“I have not a lot of knowledge about the particular zones or particular suggestions that they have, but I want to find out more information,” said Mark Hart, a King HS alumnus. “I know that the county is changing. When they come up with something this significant, it’s important for everyone in the community to be aware and be informed.”
Pawlowski said one of her questions was whether there were any other options the district could look at instead of redistricting.
“I think there’s probably some other areas that they could make changes in. I don’t think that necessarily moving the kids is the best way to cut budgets,” she said.
Davis told those at the meeting one thing is clear — doing nothing isn’t an option.
“We’ve got to get to space where we consistently have an educational offering for our children where they’re in front of highly-qualified, skilled teachers every single day. And also to be able to allow our students to be able to be involved in our master schedules, which address equity, to be able to have exposure to specials everyday versus every other day, to be able to be exposed to accelerated courses in their classrooms,” said Davis. “In underutilized schools, they may not have that affordability. And then also, it’s about being fiscally responsible. We have got to remain fiscally responsible every day in Hillsborough County, to make sure we’re maximizing our taxpayer dollars within our organization.
So, those are the priorities that we implemented. We have to do something now, and we cannot wait and allow this to be on the sidelines.”
Davis said while the district’s financial situation is not as dire as it was three years ago, the savings the redistricting plans would create are important to HCPS.
He said he’ll recommend to the school board that any savings are invested into employee compensation packages.