Dunedin-area families could face attendance-zone changes at five schools beginning in the 2027-28 school year as the Pinellas County School Board prepares to vote Tuesday, Oct. 13, on a districtwide consolidation plan.

The changes could affect Dunedin Elementary, Garrison-Jones Elementary, Sandy Lane Elementary, San Jose Elementary and Carwise Middle School. However, attendance-zone adjustments are expected to be considered separately from Tuesday's school consolidation decisions.

Meanwhile, more than 200 community members have submitted suggestions for naming a new St. Petersburg K-8 school that will combine Bay Point Elementary and Bay Point Middle, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

About half of the submissions favored retaining "Bay Point" in the school's name.

Bay Point community weighs new school identity

The new K-8 school is scheduled to open on the existing Bay Point Middle School campus in the 2027-28 school year. The merger was approved by the School Board in February, making the naming process separate from the consolidation proposals awaiting Tuesday's vote.

Community members submitted suggestions through Sept. 7, according to a district survey document.

Among the suggested names were three figures with ties to Pinellas County education and civic life:

• Vyrle Davis, the district's first Black area superintendent.
• Lew Williams, a former teacher, principal, area superintendent and School Board member.
• Watson Haynes II, a pastor, community activist and Pinellas Urban League leader.

Some submissions proposed honoring both Williams and Haynes, although district policy limits school names honoring individuals to one person, according to the Times.

The naming discussion highlights the importance families place on preserving school identities as Pinellas County Schools reorganizes campuses and programs in response to declining enrollment.

"The tougher part is the emotional side of when you have a beloved institution that is changing," Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said in a September Fox 13 interview.

"Whether that's consolidating, closing, repurposing, those things are emotional decisions and that takes time."

Five Dunedin-area schools face proposed zoning changes

For North County families, the district's Planning for Progress initiative includes proposed attendance-boundary changes at Dunedin Elementary, Garrison-Jones Elementary, Sandy Lane Elementary, San Jose Elementary and Carwise Middle School.

The changes would take effect in the 2027-28 school year if approved.

Students already attending a school affected by rezoning may be able to remain through a Special Assignment Request, but district transportation would not be provided, as the Beacon previously reported.

Families can compare their current school assignments with the proposed boundaries using the district's online school zone locator.

The consolidation initiative is intended to reduce operating costs and better use existing school buildings. District officials have estimated annual savings of approximately $25 million.

The recommendations have changed following community opposition.

Sexton Elementary in St. Petersburg was removed from the Oct. 13 closure vote while district officials reconsider options for schools in the Lealman area, as the Beacon reported Oct. 8.

The Tarpon Springs recommendations have also faced objections. After an Oct. 9 community meeting at Sunset Hills Elementary, School Board member Lisa Cane said she would seek to remove the Tarpon Springs proposal from Tuesday's agenda.

That request does not mean the recommendation has been formally withdrawn.

More school changes await board decisions

The district is also proposing to combine Azalea Elementary and Azalea Middle into a K-8 school on the existing Azalea Middle campus beginning in the 2028-29 school year.

No community naming survey has been announced for the proposed Azalea campus.

The School Board is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Largo.

The meeting will address the consolidation recommendations still under consideration. Families affected by potential boundary changes should continue monitoring district announcements because those decisions may be handled through a separate process.

Additional information about the proposals is available on the district's Planning for Progress website.