Where I Stand After the Cross Bayou Vote: Remembrance and Responsibility

Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At Large)

Last night, I stayed.

Earlier in the meeting, I spoke in support of Oldsmar’s transition to a K–8 model. I believe in stability for families. I believe in continuity. And that vote passed.

But I stayed in my seat to see what would happen with Cross Bayou.

And I will not forget what I saw.

A young student stood up and advocated for his school to remain open. He spoke with courage. He spoke with pride. He spoke for his community.

When the vote came down to close Cross Bayou, I watched his head drop.

That moment stayed with me.

Because strategic decisions may be necessary.

But they are never without consequence.

They land in moments like last night, when a child lowers his head after doing everything he could.

Mixed Emotions, Real Leadership

Last night, I felt empathy.

I also felt the weight of leadership in real time.

Some left the room relieved.

Others left grieving.

It was a reminder that in public service, there are rarely choices that leave everyone satisfied. Every action carries a reaction. Every vote carries impact far beyond the boardroom.

The district cited declining enrollment, financial constraints, and the need to better utilize classroom space. Those challenges are real. More proposals are expected in the fall.

Restructuring is not over.

But Cross Bayou was not just a campus operating below capacity.

It was a specialized community serving students who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and visually impaired. It was a place of identity, belonging, and accessibility.

And when something like that closes, remembrance matters.

Where I Stand: Remembrance Must Be Intentional

If Cross Bayou closes as a building, its legacy should not close with it.

Here are two specific, actionable steps I believe the district should take immediately.

1. Preserve the Cross Bayou Name at the Receiving Site

The School Board should place an item on an upcoming agenda to formally designate space at the receiving campus as:

The Cross Bayou Center for Accessible Learning

How this works:

• Facilities leadership identifies a permanent wing, courtyard, or program cluster.

• The Board publicly adopts a naming item.

• Signage is installed before the transition begins.

• The name is referenced consistently in communications and district materials.

This is not symbolic fluff.

It ensures that when families walk into the new campus, they see visible proof that their history is being carried forward, not erased.

Next step: Include a naming consideration on the next transition planning agenda.

2. Establish a Board-Recognized Week Honoring Accessible Education

The Pinellas County School Board regularly adopts proclamations recognizing weeks that matter to our students and staff.

Last night, we recognized School Breakfast Week.

We should also formally establish a District Recognition Week for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Visually Impaired Education, in honor of the Cross Bayou community.

How this works:

• The Board adopts an annual proclamation.

• The week is added to the district calendar.

• Schools are encouraged to host student showcases, ASL-centered activities, and accessibility awareness programming.

• The Cross Bayou legacy is acknowledged in the proclamation language each year.

Cost: minimal.

Impact: significant.

This sends a message that while a campus may close, the district’s commitment to accessible education does not.

Next step: Place a proclamation item on a future Board agenda before the next school year begins.

To the Cross Bayou Families

I want to say this directly.

I saw your child stand up for his school. I saw the pride. I saw the courage. And I saw the disappointment when the vote was taken.

Those moments stay with you.

Declining enrollment and financial realities are real challenges. But how we handle transitions defines whether families feel managed or respected.

If we are going to close buildings, we must preserve identity.

If we are going to restructure schools, we must honor the communities they created.

Cross Bayou deserves to be remembered not only for what it was, but for what it represented.

And remembrance should not be accidental.

It should be intentional.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of Curtis Campogni, Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At Large), and do not represent the official position of any organization or governing body.