Save Tarpon Schools
October 27 meeting update · Changes begin in 2027–28 See what changed

Decision tracker

Where each decision stands.

Where each decision stands, the next known date, who decides and what we are asking for. “Not stated” means the sources reviewed here do not say. This is the list we are tracking so far, not every district action.

Decisions we are tracking

K–8 conversion

Approved · October 13

Two K–8 schools for 2027–28: Fundamental at Sunset Hills and a zoned school at the middle-school campus.

Next date
November 10, 2026: policy second reading listed. Confirm the agenda. An additional Sunset Hills community meeting is due before the end of the first semester, per the superintendent; date not stated.
Who decides
School Board
Our ask
Bring the plan back for public review and compare less disruptive alternatives.
History
September 10: initial proposal presented. October 6: two-campus revision. October 13: approved 6–1. The October recommendations also describe a school-naming process for the two K–8 campuses; dates not stated.

Source: October 13 School Board draft minutes · pp. 4–5, item 8.3. Draft minutes awaiting approval. Fundamental K–8 recommendation · p. 1, naming process.

Rezoning to Carwise

In approved item’s rationale · not named in the motion

Students attending Brooker Creek, Cypress Woods and Sutherland who are currently zoned for TSMS are rezoned to Carwise beginning in 2027–28.

Next date
November 10, 2026: Policy 5120 second reading listed. Confirm the agenda.
Who decides
School Board
Our ask
Show how the smaller middle-school zone affects our traditional schools.
History
September 10: entire TSMS zone to Carwise (59 grids, 1,117 students). October 6: narrowed to 20 grids and 469 students who live within the zone. October 13: described in item 8.3’s rationale.

Source: District recommendation, p. 2 · September recommendation · October 13 agenda item 8.3, rationale

PreK move to Little Spongers

In approved item’s rationale · not named in the motion

Sunset Hills’ PreK program moves to Little Spongers at Tarpon Springs High.

Next date
Not stated
Who decides
Not stated
Our ask
Publish current enrollment, available spaces, staffing and classroom capacity separately for VPK and PPK at both locations.
History
October 6: move described in the recommendation. October 13: described in item 8.3’s rationale.

Source: Zoned K–8 recommendation, p. 1 · October 13 agenda item 8.3, rationale

Fundamental application window

Planned · confirm dates

A district flyer lists January 5–15, 2027 as the initial application period for 2027–28. The recommendation identifies January.

Next date
January 5–15, 2027. Check the district for any changes.
Who decides
School Board. The draft minutes say “the board may give direction” on priority for Sunset Hills students at Tarpon Springs Fundamental for this year’s program. Policy 2250’s second reading is listed for November 10.
Our ask
Publish whether the 50% proximity rule now in the application manual for Tarpon Springs Fundamental will apply at Sunset Hills, and how Sunset Hills priority fits with it.
History
September 10 and October 6: recommendations say the process opens in January 2027. October 13: Policy 2250 first reading, 7–0; Sunset Hills priority discussed.

Source: Fundamental K–8 recommendation · p. 1, Recommendation · District application-dates flyer · 2026–27 application manual, p. 6 · October 13 draft minutes, pp. 5–6

Policies 2250 and 5120

Second reading listed · confirm agenda

Policy 2250 covers Fundamental and magnet schools, including the Sunset Hills K–8. Policy 5120 covers assignment and school zones, including the rezoning to Carwise.

Next date
November 10, 2026. Confirm the agenda.
Who decides
School Board
Our ask
Publish the final policy text before the vote, including how proximity and Sunset Hills priority will work.
History
October 13: Policy 2250 first reading and public hearing advertisement approved 7–0. The draft minutes reviewed here record no separate Policy 5120 first reading, though the recommendation lists one for that date.

Source: Zoned K–8 recommendation, p. 2 · October 13 draft minutes, p. 6, item 8.9

Architectural planning

Reported approved · official record pending

The organizer reports that the Board approved $188,000 for Klar and Klar to prepare the new K–8 architectural plan.

Next date
Not stated. The chief operating officer (COO) described February–July construction.
Who decides
School Board
Our ask
Publish a written schedule, public testing results, safety protections and details of the portable fallback.
History
October 27: reported approved despite parents asking for a no vote.

Source: Organizer’s live account; official vote record and timestamp pending.

Current decision status

The Board voted. Our advocacy continues.

Board action · October 13

Two K–8 schools, with different admission models.

The School Board approved combining Sunset Hills Elementary and Tarpon Springs Middle at the middle-school campus, and expanding Fundamental to a K–8 at Sunset Hills.

The plan also shrinks Tarpon’s middle-school attendance zone. Students attending Brooker Creek, Cypress Woods and Sutherland elementary schools who are currently zoned for Tarpon Springs Middle are rezoned to Carwise beginning in 2027–28. That reduces the zoned student population feeding grades 6–8 at the Tarpon campus, even as elementary grades are added.

Approved October 13 for 2027–28, by a 6–1 vote. Lisa N. Cane voted no. Her motion to postpone the decision did not receive a second. The district records this action in its draft minutes.

District recommendation, p. 2: middle-school boundary changes

October 13 School Board draft minutes · pp. 4–5, item 8.3

Decision history

From the revised recommendation to the vote.

The revised campus arrangement was presented October 6 and approved October 13, seven days later. Earlier proposals had already been discussed and community feedback collected. On October 6, Bay News 9 quoted Superintendent Hendrick: “It’s not something you can just lay out a recommendation and vote the next week.”

The district’s draft minutes record a motion to postpone that did not receive a second, followed by approval of the campus changes by 6–1. Families can keep pressing for a public review, documented answers and changes to the plan. The vote does not resolve the capacity and alternative-site questions raised here.

October 13 School Board draft minutes · pp. 4–5, item 8.3 · Bay News 9, October 6, 2026

From proposal to implementation

The public record, in order.

The budget came first. By September 8, the final budget included $3 million for Planning for Progress campus renovations—two days before the September 10 school proposal presentation. Families deserve a clear account of what was already planned financially and what their feedback could still change. The school reorganization itself was approved separately on October 13.

  1. Tentative budget · 6–0

    The budget moved ahead before families saw the school proposal

    The Board voted 6–0 to adopt the tentative 2026–27 district budget on July 28—more than six weeks before the September 10 presentation of the Tarpon Springs school proposal. Katie Blaxberg moved approval; Lisa N. Cane seconded. Stephanie Meyer was absent. Families deserve to know which Planning for Progress assumptions were already built into that budget and how public feedback could still change them.

    Official budget hearing and minutes · item 6.1

  2. Final budget · 7–0

    $3 million budgeted before the school proposal was presented

    On September 8, the Board approved the final 2026–27 district budget by 7–0—two days before the September 10 presentation of the Tarpon Springs school proposal. The budget book already allocated $3 million to Planning for Progress campus renovations. The money was in the budget before families saw that proposal. The allocation is not evidence of spending and has no campus breakdown. Laura Hine moved approval; Katie Blaxberg seconded. Families deserve to know which campus changes that allocation assumed and how their feedback could still change the plan. The separate school reorganization vote followed on October 13.

    September 8 budget book, p. 35 (PDF page 41): $3 million for campus renovations

    Official budget hearing and minutes · item 6.2

  3. Historical proposal

    Initial proposal presented

    Fundamental K–8 was proposed at the Tarpon Springs Middle campus. This arrangement was later revised.

    Original Tarpon Springs recommendation · pp. 1–2

  4. District publication

    Two-campus revision

    Revised recommendations put Fundamental at Sunset Hills and a zoned K–8 at the middle-school campus.

    Sunset Hills / Tarpon Springs Middle recommendation · pp. 1–2; see Fundamental PDF too

  5. Board action

    Board approves the campus changes

    Item 8.3 approved combining Sunset Hills Elementary and Tarpon Springs Middle into a zoned K–8, and expanding Fundamental to a K–8 on the current Sunset Hills campus, beginning in 2027–28. The vote was 6–1, with Lisa N. Cane opposed. Dawn Peters moved approval; Stephanie Meyer seconded. Lisa N. Cane’s motion to postpone until October 27 received no second and was not considered. The minutes reviewed here are a draft.

    Official October 13 meeting and minutes · School reorganization, item 8.3

    October 13 School Board draft minutes · pp. 4–5, item 8.3

  6. Reported Board action · official record pending

    Architectural payment approved; construction and testing concerns raised

    The Board approved $188,000 for Klar and Klar to prepare the new K–8 architectural plan despite parents asking for a no vote. The chief operating officer (COO) described February–July construction and portables if work is unfinished for the August opening. The district also said lead-paint and asbestos testing must occur during construction. Families need a written schedule, public testing results, safety protections and details of the portable fallback.

    Verification: Organizer’s live account; agenda item, vote tally and recording timestamp pending.

  7. Planned · confirm agenda

    Policy second reading listed

    The October recommendations list a second policy reading. This is a planned milestone, not a completed action.

    Fundamental K–8 recommendation · p. 1, Policy implications

  8. Planned · confirm dates

    Application period identified

    The recommendation identifies January for applications for 2027–28. A district flyer lists January 5–15, 2027 as the initial application period. Check the district for any changes and for admission priorities.

    Fundamental K–8 recommendation · p. 1, Recommendation · District application-dates flyer

  9. Approved future implementation

    Campus changes begin

    The zoned K–8 opens at TSMS and Fundamental moves to Sunset Hills. The October PDF phases Fundamental grade 6 in during 2027–28, grade 7 in 2028–29 and grade 8 in 2029–30.

    Fundamental K–8 recommendation · p. 1; Board action in minutes pp. 4–5

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