Pinellas School Board sets April 28 hearing on policy changes tied to Cross Bayou Elementary closure

The Pinellas County School Board on March 11 set a public hearing for April 28 to consider amendments to Policy 5120, which would revise the district's grid atlas after the board's earlier vote to close Cross Bayou Elementary School.

Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told the board the policy change is a "corresponding change" following the prior decision to close Cross Bayou and that the recommended grid updates would divide the former Cross Bayou zone between Bardmoor Elementary School and Pinellas Central Elementary School. Leanna Eisen, director of strategic planning and policies, said the revised grid splits Cross Bayou's current zone into two and adds those portions to the adjacent zones "to accommodate the closure," noting the schools are located about five miles or less from Cross Bayou and that 66th Street serves as a natural dividing line.

Eisen said the district's grid atlas, the tool used to create attendance zones, currently divides the county into 1,123 grids and that the proposed amendments are intended to promote operational efficiency and take effect for the 2026–2027 school year. She recommended the board set the April 28 public hearing so families can review and comment on the proposed map changes.

Board members moved and seconded the item and approved setting the hearing. Ms. Hein moved and Ms. Blacksberg seconded; the board voted 5 to 0 to schedule the hearing and approve the first-reading amendment process.

What happens next: the board will publish the proposed Policy 5120 amendments and the revised grid atlas, hold the April 28 public hearing to receive community comment, and then consider final action as required under the district's policy-adoption procedures.

Action recorded: the board set a public hearing for April 28 on amendments to Policy 5120 (Assignment within the district) and approved the motion 5'0to'00.