Pinellas School Board Pushes Start Of School Back 2 Weeks

LARGO, FL — Following in the footsteps of abutting Hillsborough and Pasco counties, the Pinellas County School Board unanimously voted this week to push back the start of school two weeks due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Students will start school on Aug. 24 instead of Aug. 12.

The decision came after teachers and parents protested opening up schools at a time when Pinellas County is experiencing a hike in coronavirus rates.

Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Mike Grego recommended the delay "in an abundance of caution for the safety, health and well-being of students and staff."

Nevertheless, 60 percent of families that responded to a survey said they won't be sending their students back to brick-and-mortar schools in August. Instead, they are opting for either e-learning (mypcsonline) provided by the student's school or Pinellas Virtual School.

That number, however, is skewed by the fact that 40,000 families of the county's 104,000 public school students didn't respond to the survey by the July 27 deadline. That means these students will automatically be added to rolls at brick-and-mortar schools.

Grego said the school district is still reaching out to those parents who did not respond.

See what parents had to say during a town hall meeting July 22.

Depending on what course the coronavirus takes, Grego reminded the board that the reopening plan isn't set in stone.

The district was under the gun to submit a school reopening plan to the state for approval by July 31 to meet the Florida Department of Education's July 6 emergency order mandating that all school districts open brick-and-mortar schools at least five days a week in August to be eligible to receive state funding.

"This document is based on what we know today," Grego said. "We're staying in close contact with the Florida Department of Health. If things continue to go in a downward trajectory, we're prepared to pivot and go virtual."

Face masks will be required for both students and staff as well as social distancing. To learn more about the reopening plan, click here.

See related stories:

• Some Pinellas School Board Members Want To Delay School Reopening
• Pinellas Releases Draft Back-To-School Plan