Pinellas won't hurry to create new fundamental high school

LARGO — Pinellas School Board members offered support Tuesday for creating a new fundamental high school — they just couldn't agree on when to do it.

The Fundamental Schools Advocacy Network, a parent group, has been pushing the district to add more fundamental high schools as early as next school year.

During a workshop, several board members discussed adding fundamental programs to existing high schools. Among those mentioned: Lakewood and Dunedin high schools.

Board member Mary Brown said a fundamental program at a struggling south county high school might help bring diversity and more parental involvement to that school.

"I see this as urgent," she said. "I don't feel we have a couple years to wait for diversity in south county."

Other School Board members, however, urged caution.

"I believe we need to work with a fervor and decide what we want to do and then get a year to put it in place," said board member Carol Cook.

Jim Madden, Pinellas schools' deputy superintendent of curriculum and operations, told board members there was no urgency to add a fundamental high school right away.

There were plenty of seats for the students who wanted to go to Osceola Fundamental, the district's lone fundamental high school last year, he said. Just 33 percent of the 600 fundamental middle schoolers who could have gone to Osceola chose to do so.

Any new fundamental program for the 2010-2011 school year would have to be in place by Jan. 9, when the application period begins.

Board members asked administrators to research the options. The board will discuss the issue again at a Dec. 15 workshop.

Leonora LaPeter Anton can be reached at lapeter@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8640.