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Pinellas board approves 2026–27 bell-time changes, including later starts for two high schools
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Summary
The Pinellas County School Board approved school opening and closing times for 2026–27, moving St. Petersburg and Dunedin high schools roughly 20 minutes later and combining Largo Middle and High schedules to improve bus routing and move schedules closer to an 8 a.m. target.
The Pinellas County School Board on April 14 approved new school opening and closing times for the 2026–27 year, including modest later starts for St. Petersburg High School and Dunedin High School and a combined schedule for Largo Middle and Largo High to create transportation efficiencies.
Superintendent Hendrick introduced the item and said the transportation department and district leadership had discussed start-time strategies at workshops this year. Transportation director Mark Hagglewood (introduced by the superintendent) told the board the department reviewed enrollment projections, historical bus ridership and routing efficiencies before recommending three changes: move St. Petersburg High and Dunedin High from a 7:25–1:55 schedule to about 7:45–2:15, and combine Largo Middle and Largo High bell schedules (with the middle school proposed at 7:35–2:05 and the high school at 7:25–1:55) to allow more efficient runs.
Hagglewood said the recommendations stem from multi-year work to move secondary start times closer to 8 a.m., including a March workshop, and that the district has held 10 public meetings since 2023 and kept an online feedback channel open. He said the district had received five inquiries about the Largo adjustment; four were opposed citing middle-school sleep needs and childcare availability, and one asked for bus-stop information. Board members noted those concerns and asked staff to continue community communication and to ensure childcare options where needed.
Board member Hine and others recounted an ongoing effort since 2018 to study start times and referenced the state’s prior legislation on minimum start times; Hine said the board’s goal remains to gradually move high-school starts later when feasible.
After discussion the board moved to approve item 8.1, authorizing the superintendent to make any additional adjustments required by statute or operational factors. The motion passed unanimously.
What happens next: Hagglewood said staff will finalize routing and stop details, continue family outreach and present any technical changes required by state rules. The board also flagged the issue for continuing oversight in future workshops.
