Clearwater Florida - Wednesday I was one of about 50 Pinellas County REALTORS (out of 9000 members of the Pinellas Realtor Organization) who attended a special session with Jim Madden from Pinellas County Schools.  

Jim is the man in charge of Pinellas County student school assignments - he joked that “he’s got job security” - I can only imagine :). We recently had changes to the School Choice plan and Pinellas County home buyers and current residents have lots of questions about..

Where will by child go to school?” -That’s why we made sure we were there - up-to-date information is critical to the families we help that are moving to Pinellas County or want to sell their home and move within the county.  The most important thing we took away was the fact that No school is automatic for non-entry level grade students.

If you’re wondering how we got here - School Choice was court-ordered to end the 30 year desegregation ruling / plan in Pinellas County. The 2007/2008 was the first year that the School District didn’t have specific min / max ratios to manage for each school.

When creating a new plan the parents, the community members and the School Board members found people overwhelmingly wanted a Student Assignment plan that included these 3 things:

1. Give us Predictibility
2. Still wanted Choice(s)
3. Diversity

A major issue is the rising cost of transportation.  In the future, Pinellas County will continue to transport students to their school of “Choice” for 4 more years then parents will have to provide transportation to their “non-close-too-home” school.

Note: The new Pinellas County Student Assignement plan doesn’t change anything for Magnet and Fundemental schools          

Key Components of the new Pinellas County School Plan

1. Transition from the Pinellas County Choice Plan
2. Getting Back to Close-to-home schools or zoned schools
3. Predictable feeder patterns
4. Multiple choice options
5. Reduce transportation issues and costs
6. Diversity
7. Equitable distribution of resources

What Pinellas County Home Buyers / Residents Should know during the Transition Period

1. All students except those entering Kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade - will stay where ever they were last year
2. Students entering Kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade will get their close-to-home school this year (or they can also opt for an older sibling’s school)   
3. New students (not in one of the 3 grades listed above) are assigned on a space available basis to the close-to-home school or the next closest school. The challenge here is that the Florida Class Size Amendment limits the number of students that can be assigned to a school.
4. 3 schools were closed this year - South Ward, Largo Central and Riviera Middle that are impacting mid county assignments

Jim Madden explains how new School Assignment will work to Pinellas County REALTORS 

 I’ve included some video of Jim’s presentation so you could hear how Pinellas County School assignments will be handled in Jim’s words:

 

 Jim talks about the new Pinellas County Student Assignment software and interactive map functions that are coming soon (hopefully by mid-September)  

  

 

Got More Questions? 

1. If you have any questions you can contact Jim Madden directly at 727-588-5186 or email him at maddenj@pcsb.org or
2. Call the Student Assignment Department at 727-588-6210 or
3. District Call Center at 727-587-2020
4. Visit their website at www.Pinellask12.fl.us

What do you need to enroll in school?  Proof of residency - a power bill, rent receipt, cable bill, phone bill, etc. - in some cases a purchase contract to buy a home or a lease agreement will also be accepted. Exceptions handled on a case by case basis.

Pinellas County Real Estate matches up to Pinellas County Schools

Get 25% more Property tax savings in November

Buying Pinellas County Real Estate less Complicated Now

Want more info about all our Pinellas County Real Estate - feel free to call Cyndee and Jack,your Pinellas County Realtors at (727) 710-8035. Want to see all the Pinellas County homes for sale - Feel free to search the Tampa Bay MLS.

Cyndee and Jack Haydon, Clearwater Real Estate Agents,  Charles Rutenberg Realty 1545 S. Belcher Rd Clearwater FL 33764

Call me at (727) 710-8035

http://www.clearwaterrealestatetampahomes.com/004006