In a recommendation that's set to go before the Pinellas school board for a vote Tuesday, Superintendent John Stewart is recommending that all school opening and closing times stay the same for the 2012-13 school year. That's not going over well with many parents at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School, where budget cuts and transportation costs led the school board to okay a much later start time this year.

At least 20 parents have emailed the board since Nov. 7. And we know there's an ongoing flurry of emails because we're being cc'd on many of them.

"Stick to the fundamental guidelines," wrote one, who mentioned a petition drive and requested a town hall meeting on the issue.

"If you can't or won' get rid of busing, don't penalize us - we've voted numerous times to get rid of it," she continued. "If you (are) insistent on keeping it, don't penalize us with the later start time."

"This schedule is grossly detrimental to our kids - who have NO TIME for after school activities - and grossly inconsiderate and unfair to the parents held hostage by it," wrote another. "Please, please ... CHANGE THE START TIME at Thurgood Marshall so our kids can attend and families' lives can get back to normal."

The school time item in the agenda packet starts on page 249.