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Neighbors oppose charter-school plan near Southern Elementary, cite traffic and environmental concerns
Summary
Two speakers urged the board not to sell a parcel near Southern Elementary for a proposed Discovery Academy of Science charter school, citing existing under-enrollment, traffic and potential harm to protected Alderman Overlay green space and well water.
During public participation the board heard residents oppose the possible sale of district-owned land near Southern Elementary for a proposed charter school.
Tony Ringelsbaugh, who identified himself as a candidate for Pinellas County Commission District 4, said he lives across from Southern Elementary and urged the board not to sell the parcel for the proposed Discovery Academy of Science. “We just we don't need this piece of land that you all own,” Ringelsbaugh said, adding the neighborhood already experiences heavy drop‑off and pick‑up traffic.
Andy Brown, representing the Alderman Overlay, said the parcel includes more than nine acres of protected green space with mature canopy trees and habitat for gopher tortoises, and he warned that development could threaten well water and septic systems for nearby homes. Brown noted that nearby schools have available capacity (he cited Sutherland Elementary at ~60% capacity) and said community petition signatures oppose the location.
Board members did not take action on the parcel at the meeting; commenters asked the board to consider alternatives such as using closed district facilities for new schools. The board will review property and real‑estate matters through its existing procedures; no sale was announced or approved at the meeting.
