The debate over a new fundamental high school (high schools?) is getting real interesting real quick. Pinellas board member Carol Cook sent out this email this week, in response to emails from parents who want a new fundamental high school, pronto. Here's some of what she wrote:

Before I commit to anything I think it will be important that the Board determine the long range plans for the district. I will also need to look at the data. For example I will be asking for data from our staff including the waiting list for Osceola, where the students reside to see if there is an area more heavily represented than another, what they believe the impact of additional fundamental middle schools will have on the existing high school offerings and do we have enough of the “guaranteed seats” available to those that were promised the feeder patterns through high school. There are many more questions to be answered.
 
The Superintendent has begun to have conversations with representatives of FAN and I’m confident that we will be giving the idea of a new fundamental high school serious consideration.

FAN - the Fundamental Schools Advocacy Network - plans to have a big turnout at Tuesday's school board meeting, FAN co-chair Teresa Daiker told The Gradebook. How big? Daiker couldn't say, but the group has signed up 2,200 members since September, she said.