Community News

Pinellas County Schools Assignment Update at Pinellas Realtor Organization

August 7th, 2008 Categories: Community News, Pinellas County Real Estate, Real Estate News

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:

Give us Predictibility
Still wanted Choice(s)
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

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

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

All students except those entering Kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade – will stay where ever they were last year
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)
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.
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?

If you have any questions you can contact Jim Madden directly at 727-588-5186 or email him at maddenj@pcsb.org or
Call the Student Assignment Department at 727-588-6210 or
District Call Center at 727-587-2020
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

About Cyndee Haydon

Cyndee Haydon, Realtor with Future Home Realty specializing in luxury waterfront and beach homes of Clearwater Beach - St Pete - Tampa Bay area with her husband and partner, Jack Haydon Cyndee's Google Profile

Posted by Cyndee Haydon | Currently Comments Off on Pinellas County Schools Assignment Update at Pinellas Realtor Organization

Clearwater Real Estate Agents Guests on Defending your Dollar AM1040 Radio Show Today

August 2nd, 2008 Categories: Community News

Clearwater Florida – Today! Saturday August 2nd! From 11 – Noon what are you doing? If you’re in the Tampa Bay listening are we hope you’ll listen to Defending Your Dollar on AM 1040 and even call in and discuss real estate topics on your mind. We will be discussing issues effecting the Clearwater Real Estate market today as well the whole Tampa Bay real estate market for that matter. The host, Niamh McAnnally asked us to be prepared to discuss the following topics however the best part is you can call in and ask your own questions!

How to call in or watch the Radio Show

Numbers to call to be part of the show:

Pinellas & Pasco County 727-577-1040
Hillsborough County 813-289-1040
Toll Free 877-355-1040

For our readers out of town you can actually watch the show live on internet at http://wwba1040.com

Real Estate Topics for August 2nd

What’s the Tampa Bay Market Doing Today?
What’s the Amendment 5 Property Tax proposal all about?
Tips for selling your Tampa Bay home in todays real estate market

We will add some additional info after the show based on your questions and interests as well.

Additional Helpful Resouces

You can get more details on the upcoming Property Tax Amendment 5 at http://giveme5florida.com and http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/12-6.pdf

If there were questions you had that didn’t get answered or you just thought of you can always call us at (727) 710-8036 or (727) 710-8035, you can leave them in the comments section or if you want your privacy you can use the “contact us” feature and email us your questions. Thanks for stopping by and checking out our site.

Also is there Clearwater Real Estate information you’d like us to include? Features? We are constantly working and re-working this site based on what YOU want – since it’s for you!

About Cyndee Haydon

Posted by Cyndee Haydon | Currently Comments Off on Clearwater Real Estate Agents Guests on Defending your Dollar AM1040 Radio Show Today

googlefe5b48ea6547ad33

May 4th, 2008 Categories: Community News

About Cyndee Haydon

Posted by Cyndee Haydon | Currently Comments Off on googlefe5b48ea6547ad33

Pinellas County Real Estate and Pinellas County Schools NOW match – See Maps

April 14th, 2008 Categories: Community News

When Buying Pinellas County Real Estate – Now youll know your Close to Home School!

Pinellas Countys new Neighborhood School Maps are now available. As
a Pinellas County
Realtor I have to tell you I am thrilled. One of the hardest things we have
to do when selling Pinellas County Real
Estate is explain our previous ˜School Choice and how you would have to
buy a home without knowing where your child would end up going to school.

kids getting on school bus I had a good friend move from Tampa last year with 2
boys – one in 2^nd grade and one in 3^rd. When moving to Pinellas County mid-year and these 2 boys were
assigned to DIFFERENT elementary schools. How crazy is that???

I think as Pinellas County parents and
taxpayers the rising cost of gas helped stop this School Choice
madness. I still cant believe that weve been bussing school children in a way that sustantially raises
transportation costs since it was NOT an efficient plan having buses from multiple schools have to go to the same neighborhoods.

In addition, many home buyers relocating to the Tampa Bay area told us that this was a substantial
negative in their decision process to buying
real estate in Pinellas County versus Hillsborough County or Pasco
County.

My Kids go to Pinellas County Schools Now – so whats it mean to Us?

Heres the info provided by the Pinellas County School Board in their recent press release:

If in 5^th-8^th grade now

For currently enrolled 5th- and 8th-grade students
you will be mailed a notification letter by April 18 that tells you your
childs assigned close-to-home school except in the following cases:

Siblings will be
assigned to the older siblings school.
Students eligible
for extended grandfathering will be assigned to the extended grandfathered
school.
Those who would
prefer the close-to-home school may make that change using the Student
Reservation System that will be available beginning April 21.

If entering 6th or 9^th grade next year

Students entering 6th- and 9th-grade will be
assigned to their close-to-home school, except for the following:

Siblings will be
assigned to the older siblings school.
Students eligible
for extended grandfathering will be assigned to the extended grandfathered
school.
Those who would
prefer the close-to-home school may make that change using the Student
Reservation System that will be available beginning April 21.

What if my child is currently in or was accepted to: a Magnet,
Fundemental or Career Adademy school?

Dont worry – They have been assigned to the
applicable schools.
All current K-4, 5-6 and 9-11
students will be assigned to the school they currently attend.

Where are the maps to match where I live to where Ill go to school?

All Close-to-Home School
Maps are now available online.

If you need more information you can call:

Student
Assignment at (727) 588-6210 or
District Call Center at (727) 587-2020

3 Steps to Enrolling Child in Pinellas County Schools

1.
Parents may visit
any nearby elementary school to get a User I.D. and password to access the
Student Reservation System.

2.
Parents will then
have the opportunity to enroll their child online using the student reservation
computer at the school or from a home computer.

3.
Once the child is
enrolled, the parent will deliver the required registration documents to the
assigned school.

What Documents are required to enroll my child in school?

1.
a birth
certificate or other proof of identity/age,

2.
proof of
residency,

3.
childs Social
Security number (optional),

4.
a Florida
Certificate of Immunization form and

5.
a physical
examination certificate within the past 12 months.

What if I dont like the school my child got assigned to – what can I
do?

Parents may try to request
another school on a ˜space-available basis during the open enrollment period
(August 4 through August 15, 2008). The process for the open enrollment period
has not yet been finalized and the dates are subject to change.

Buying Pinellas County Real Estate Just Got less Complicated

If youre looking to buy a home or sell a home in Pinellas County (Clearwater, Seminole, Palm Harbor) you should be thrilled with this announcement. For the first time in 5 years families will actually know where their kids will go to school if they buy a home or condo in the area. This will help our Pinellas County real estate market in two ways.

Those relocating will be able to make informed choices about schools and education for their kids and
Those families who wanted to move but couldnt risk losing their ˜grandfathering can now know what neighborhoods allow their kids to go to the same schools if they want or they can choose other ones,

Cyndee and Jack Haydon, Clearwater Florida Real Estate Agents, Charles Rutenberg Realty 1545 S Belcher Rd Clearwater FL 33764 (727) 710-8035

About Cyndee Haydon

Posted by Cyndee Haydon | Currently Comments Off on Pinellas County Real Estate and Pinellas County Schools NOW match – See Maps

Tampa Bay Florida Education- Complete List of Professional -Techincal Schools in Clearwater-St Petersburg-Tampa area

December 30th, 2007 Categories: Community News, Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Guide to Professional and Technical Schools

Clearwater Florida Freeway sign careers next exit Many readers ask us about going to pursuing a technical / professional education in the Tampa Bay area ( Clearwater St Petersburg Tampa area).

Looking to start your career or learn an new trade heres the first stop on your new career path. We have created a comprehensive list of local resources for you.

Tampa Bay offers lots of choices of technical / professional institutions such as:

Tampa Bay Technical/Professional Schools

The Art Institute of Tampa Tampa Florida
International Academy of Design Tampa Florida
Southwest Florida College Tampa Florida
Devry Graduate School of Management Tampa Florida
Pinellas Technical Education Center Clearwater and St Petersburg Florida
ITT Technical Institute Tampa Florida
Erwin Technical Center Tampa Florida

You might also find our Guide to Tampa Bay Colleges and Universities helpful.

Other Helpful Resources

CollegeNet – college application service
U. S. Department of Education

For more information on Florida scholarships and financial aid programs, visit the Florida Department of Education Office of Financial Assistance.

Tampa Florida Real Estate

Are you looking to buy a Clearwater Condo or Tampa Beach Real Estate where you can enjoy our beautiful beaches? Heres what some of our past clients have to say about how we helped them….

** CLICK ON PHOTOS BELOW TO SEE CLIENT VIDEO TESTIMONIALS **

Buyers tell us that selecting the best Clearwater Beach Real Estate Agent, online or from a distance, can be a challenge. Some of our past clients agreed to share their experiences and tell you why they think you should work with us.

Click on the photos below and meet some of our clients and now friends…wed love to be YOUR choice too!

Want more info, click to Search all Clearwater MLS listings includes all the homes and condos for sale in the Tampa MLS!

Looking for Real Estate in Clearwater Florida or Waterfront Condos on Tampa Beaches Give us a Call. (727) 710-8036.

The above information and images are Copyright © 2007 Jack and Cyndee Haydon, REALTORS and your Clearwater Beach Real Estate Consultants and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published. All rights reserved. Plagiarism will be detected and is punishable by law.

About Cyndee Haydon

Posted by Cyndee Haydon | Currently 1 Comment »

« Previous Entries

Next Entries »

Clearwater Real Estate

Community News Topics

Community News

Pinellas County Schools Assignment Update at Pinellas Realtor Organization

Key Components of the new Pinellas County School Plan

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