Pinellas County School Board keeps 2025–26 school start and end times; new K–8 start set for Walsingham Oaks

The Pinellas County School Board voted 6–0 on May 13 to approve school opening and closing times for the 2025–26 school year, keeping existing start and end times districtwide and setting Walsingham Oaks K–8 to start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.

The decision, made at the board's regular meeting in Largo, follows routing and transportation work that district staff said has reduced late buses and produced a current surplus of drivers. Chief Operating Officer Herbeck and transportation staff told the board the district will publish any minor 15‑minute route adjustments by July 1 if they are required.

Board members had asked for the district to continue studying later high‑school start times where feasible. Superintendent Hendrick noted recent state legislation restoring local authority over start times and thanked the Legislature for the change, which the district expects the governor to sign.

Transportation staff said the district currently operates 322 routes with 326 drivers and credited the use of zoned arterial stops and flexibility of start/stop times (by up to 15 minutes) with reducing late buses and route counts. Herbeck said those routing strategies “have proven to be successful” and that routers may shift a start time by 15 minutes earlier or later if needed; any such change will be shared with affected schools by July 1.

The motion to approve was made by board member Stephanie Meyer and seconded by board member Peters. The vote was 6–0 in favor.

The board's action preserves the status quo for families and operations while leaving room for staff to fine‑tune routes and for future discussion about later high‑school starts once new routing software is fully implemented.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve opening and closing times for 2025–26 (including Walsingham Oaks K–8 at 8:30–3:00) — mover: Stephanie Meyer; second: Peters; outcome: approved, 6–0.