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South County parents urge district to slow school‑closure and consider K‑8 expansion to retain students
Summary
Multiple speakers at the April 21 meeting warned that unclear middle-school pathways and potential consolidations threaten enrollment in South County schools; parents urged exploring K‑8 expansion at Doby Elementary and asked the board to slow closure plans for Pizzo to allow community collaboration.
Parents from South County told the Hillsborough County School Board on April 21 that enrollment shifts and unclear middle-school options are pushing families out of the district and urged the board to pursue local solutions.
Sue Batigliieri, a parent of two at Doby Elementary, said South County is growing but families are choosing charters, homeschool or co-ops when they lack consistent middle‑school pathways. "We are growing but we are also seeing a shift in where families are choosing to go," she said, arguing that expanding Doby from K‑5 to K‑8 could improve retention and recommended using potential revenue from an upcoming half‑cent sales‑tax referendum to fund solutions.
Speakers from the Pizzo community urged the board to slow any closure or consolidation plans and include families, educators and local businesses in alternatives planning. Anita Bloom, speaking on behalf of Pizzo, said closing the school risks "breaking apart" community relationships and could accelerate enrollment decline as families seek alternatives within a five‑mile radius.
Why it matters: Enrollment numbers drive staffing and funding; declines can trigger consolidation or closures that deeply affect communities. Parents asked the board to prioritize community input and consider retention-focused investments.
What the board did: Chair Perez acknowledged public comments and the board continued with the meeting agenda. No formal decision about Doby, Pizzo closures, or charter displacement appears in the transcript segment; speakers asked the board to slow processes and schedule more stakeholder engagement.
Quote: "Please slow this process down. Give us time to bring all stakeholders to the table," Anita Bloom said, urging additional collaboration before decisions are finalized.
Next steps: Community speakers requested time and formal processes for collaborative planning. Board members later in the meeting asked for clearer policy communication and additional data on enrollment and class-size ratios; no binding action on Doby or Pizzo is recorded in the transcript.
