Pinellas County Schools
Pinellas County Schools is the public school district serving Pinellas County, Florida. The district is based in Largo. With over 104,000 students served in more than 140 schools and centers, the district is the 7th-largest in Florida and 26th-largest in the nation.[1]
History
The district was created upon Pinellas County's split from Hillsborough County in 1912. Dixie M. Hollins was the county's first superintendent of schools. Michael Grego, the current superintendent, has over 30 years of educational experience, having previously served as a teacher, Assistant Superintendent for Hillsborough County Schools, and Superintendent of Osceola County Schools.
Like other school districts in Florida and the South, Pinellas County has had to deal with issues of desegregation, court-ordered busing, and school choice. In 2000, the district received "unitary" (desegregated) status from the court assigned to monitor integration issues, and from 2003 to 2007 operated a "controlled choice" program which set minimum and maximum percentages of black pupils in individual schools. In 2007 the "Choice" program was replaced with a "close-to-home' school program, where students go to the school that is nearest to their residence. Exceptions to this plan are the district's various magnet programs, including the fundamental schools and the high schools with Academies of Excellence, which require application and acceptance.
In March 2009, Pinellas County Schools announced that all schools would close one hour early every Wednesday starting with the 2009-10 school year. The district said that this schedule change was to provide teachers with more planning period time. After much controversy, the school district voted in September 2012 to discontinue early release Wednesdays beginning with the 2013-14 school year.
Superintendents
- Dixie M. Hollins (1912-1920)
- Robert S. Blanton (1920-1928)
- George M. Lynch (1928-1935)
- George M. Hoffman (1935-1936)
- Green V. Fuguitt (1936-1948)
- Floyd T. Christian (1948-1965)
- Paul D. Bauder (1965-1966)
- James F. Gollattscheck (1966-1967)
- Thomas B. Southard (1967-1971)
- Nicholas G. Mangin (1971-1972)
- Gus Sakkis (1972-1981)
- Dr. Scott N. Rose (1981-1991)
- Dr. J. Howard Hinesley (1991-2004)
- Dr. Clayton M. Wilcox (2004-2008)[2]
- Dr. Julie M. Janssen (2008-2011)[3]
- Dr. John A. Stewart (2011-2012)
- Dr. Michael A. Grego (2012–present)
School Board
The members of the school board are as follows:
- Carol J. Cook, Chairperson - Single Member District #5 (2000–Present)
- Peggy L. O’Shea, Vice Chairperson - At-Large District #3 (2006–Present)
- Janet R. Clark - At-Large District #1 (2004–Present)
- Terry Krassner - At-Large District #2 (2010–Present)
- Robin L. Wikle - Single Member District #4 (2008–Present)
- Linda S. Lerner - Single Member District #6 (1990–Present)
- Rene Flowers - Single Member District #7 (2012–Present)
Districts 1-3 are at-large districts, elected by the voters of the entire school district. Districts 4-7 are single-member districts, voted on only by the voters who reside in the member district. The members from single-member districts are also required to reside within the district from which he or she is elected.[4]
Schools in Pinellas County
The district covers a total of 142 institutions: 76 elementary schools, 22 middle schools, 17 high schools, 6 alternative & exception education schools, 9 adult/vocational schools, 16 centers, and 14 charter schools. With more than 17,000 teachers, administrators and support staff, the district is also Pinellas County's largest employer. Additionally, over 20,000 people serve as volunteers.[5]
High schools
Middle schools
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Elementary schools
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Alternative and exceptional education schools
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Career technical and adult education
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Charter schools
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See also
- WPDS-LD (Pinellas Schools' TV station)
- List of school districts in Florida
References
- ↑ "Home." (Archive) Pinellas County Schools. Retrieved on August 28, 2011. "301 Fourth St. SW Largo, FL 33770"
- ↑ Tampa Bay Newspapers, Apr. 17, 2008. School superintendent tenders resignation
- ↑ Pettiford, Trevor (2 September 2011). "Janssen leaves post with memories, few regrets". Bay News 9. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- ↑ https://www.pcsb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=389&Itemid=1558
- ↑ https://www.pcsb.org/
- ↑ https://www.pcsb.org/images/stories/Communications/publications/Media_Guide/school_list_2011_12.pdf