Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Dunedin and Pinellas Schools officials are now on the same side in a fight for about 50 San Jose Elementary students who may have to cross State Road 580 to get to school next year. Officials are readying to battle the state.
Dunedin and Pinellas Schools officials are now on the same side of a fight for about 50 elementary students who may have to walk across State Road 580 to get to school next year. Now city and school officials are preparing to take the busing battle to the state level. And Dunedin's list of allies is growing, City Manager Rob DiSpirito said during a recent commission meeting. "We've got some ammunition," DiSpirito said. Dunedin leaders publicly criticized Pinellas County Schools officials for "bureaucratic silliness" in January for their plan to discontinue transportation for about 50 San Jose Elementary students who, as a result, would be made to walk across the awkward-angled intersection at State Road 580 and Bass Boulevard. The plan …
Friday, February 1, 2013
City Commissioner Ron Barnette sends an email plea to Pinellas County Schools to reconsider a plan that forces some Dunedin children to walk across a five-lane state highway to get to San Jose Elementary next year.
City Commissioner Ron Barnette spoke passionately against a Pinellas County School Board plan to end busing for about 50 elementary students in Dunedin. The plan would force children to either find alternate transportation to school or to walk across State Road 580. He recently reinforced his position in an email plea to the School Board. Barnette's email exchange with Debbie Beaty, administrative assistant to the board, follows: Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 7:23 PM To: +Board Office Subject: A Dunedin Commissioner's Plea for Child Safety Dear Board members, I am Ron Barnette, a Dunedin City Commissioner, who is writing to PLEASE address responsibly our City Resolution sent to you regarding the continued safe bus passage for some 50 …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
"My God, if we can't figure out an effective way to communicate to a school board, how do we expect residents to?" Mayor Dave Eggers said during a Jan. 24 meeting at City Hall.
No one on the Pinellas County School Board seems to care, Dunedin officials say. Their concerns for children forced to cross a busy five-lane road because of the school district's decision to drop bus services next year may not be heard — not unless city leaders can sum it up in three minutes or less, a Jan. 23 city memo from Rob DiSpirito explains. "My God, if we can't figure out an effective way to communicate to a school board, how do we expect residents to?" Mayor Dave Eggers said during a Jan. 24 public meeting at City Hall. "We should be able to effectively get in front of our representatives." DiSpirito says that if city leaders can provide information to the school district before the end of the month, then their concerns would be …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Dunedin commissioners are reviewing a resolution against the Pinellas County School Board's plan to stop busing elementary students across State Road 580 at Thursday's public hearing at City Hall. Discontinued busing could cost taxpayers up to $56,000 a y
Dunedin taxpayers could be on the hook to shell out an extra $56,000 a year because the Pinellas County School Board refuses to bus students across State Road 580. The school district's plan to stop busing about 50 elementary students deemed close enough to walk seems to defy common sense and undermine public safety, commissioners said, picking it apart during a Jan. 10 meeting at City Hall. Dunedin leaders are expected to formally oppose the school district's plan on Thursday. The move would save the Pinellas School Board about $28,000 a year — the cost of one bus. After city leaders called it "crazy" and "bureaucratic silliness," they vowed to "fight the fight" for roughly 50 San Jose Elementary students who would be forced to either …
28.028712
-82.781934
San Jose Elementary School
1670 San Helen Dr, Dunedin, FL
/articles/dunedin-leaders-to-challenge-pinellas-schools-on-student-safety
943902
/locations/8666403
28.012849
-82.785374
Dunedin City Hall
542 Main St, Dunedin, FL
/articles/dunedin-leaders-to-challenge-pinellas-schools-on-student-safety
944000
/locations/8666404
Christine Tsotsos
8:49 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Way to go, Ron. Mrs.Beatty is the board's secretary. Sometimes emails reach the board through her, sometimes they don't. I would strongly suggest you get to a board meeting and speak on camera. Bring the Mayor with you so both of you can have your 3 minutes each at the podium. News crews cover School Board meetings....2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month. An email is not enough. more ›