Pinellas County School District discusses future of schools ahead of Tuesday’s vote to consolidate, move learning facilities
WFLA | By: Emi Darquea | October 12, 2026
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (WFLA) – On Tuesday, Pinellas County School Board members will face a tough decision: whether to close or consolidate several schools.
The moves are part of the district’s Planning for Progress initiative; The district says the moves would save them 25 million dollars. But some parents aren’t happy about the proposals, and on Monday they heard more information about the possible closure of the Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School building.
“The parents and the kids and all the teachers are happy, and I don’t think it really needs to be changed, so they can fix the ones that are not working fine,” Albert Llenas, a Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School Parent
There was a full house in the Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School cafeteria on Monday, with parents hearing more about the district’s recommendation: to move their school and change it from an elementary model to a K-8.
“We’re happy to stay in our current school, but we never asked to move to a bigger school or any of these other options,” Jeanette Arahood, a Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School parent, said.
The district says the decision to possibly close this building will minimize operation costs and save taxpayer dollars amid a declining student population in Pinellas County. Parents say they want the quality of their kids’ education to stay the same.
“I want to reiterate that no staff will lose their jobs regardless of the recommendation,” Jennifer Dull, Chief Operations Officer for Pinellas County Schools, told parents.
The district’s plan is to close the Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School building.
Students would move from this school to the Sunset Hills Elementary School Building, creating a new K-8 school.
“This is not an adding on all at once thing; this expansion would be 6th grade next year, 6th and 7th the year after that, 6th, 7th, and 8th the year after that,” Jennifer Dull, Chief Operations Officer for Pinellas County Schools, told parents.
