Where I Stand on K-8 Schools

By Curtis Campogni, Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At-Large)

I attended a Pinellas County School Board work session today, and one of the big topics on the table was the district’s growing interest in expanding K-8 schools as part of its long-term plan to better use space, respond to declining enrollment, and protect student experience.

Before I share where I stand, I want to start with honesty.

I am writing this as objectively as I can. But for full transparency, my children attend a school that is proposed to transition into a K-8 model.

This means that this is not just a policy conversation for me, it is personal too. Still, I will do my best to look beyond my own situation and also focus on what this could mean for students across Pinellas County Schools.

I’m Curtis Campogni, and as a candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 (At-Large), I believe K-8 schools can be a strong option for Pinellas County Schools.

The Big Why, Stability Builds Trust

When people talk about K-8 schools, the conversation often gets reduced to buildings and capacity.

But for families, it is about something much simpler.

Stability.

Stability for kids is everything. For example, our kids rely on each other as brother and sister. Instead of our daughter transitioning to a middle school across town, she would get to remain close, within shouting distance of her little brother, and anyone who knows our son understands exactly what that means. (lol)

A K-8 model can reduce one major transition point, and for many children, fewer transitions can mean stronger relationships, less anxiety, and more consistency. When kids feel known, supported, and connected, they do better.

And in a time where enrollment is declining and public trust is fragile, that stability also has a second benefit.

It creates the conditions for trust and community to grow.

Because the main way we restore trust and transparency in public schools is not through one new policy or program. It is by building a true community of people at every level.

Parents. Teachers. Businesses. City leadership. Nonprofits. Mentors. Faith communities.

Youth organizations.

When that ecosystem is real, public schools get stronger.

K-8 schools, when done right, can help make that partnership easier to build and easier to sustain.

And I think private school and homeschool families understand this deeply. Many choose those options because they want stability, predictability, and a path forward they can trust. With how uncertain the world feels right now, that kind of peace of mind means a lot. And with moves like this, our public schools are signaling that they understand that need too.

The Risk Is Real, Rollout Can Make or Break It

Here is my biggest concern.

Rollout.

Logistics.

Communication.

Even good ideas can fail when the rollout is confusing, rushed, or unclear. Families and teachers do not just want a decision; they want a plan.

And we cannot afford to lose the benefits of traditional middle school just because we combine grade levels.

Middle school is a unique season of life, socially, emotionally, and academically. Students in those grades often need different supports, a different structure, and different opportunities.

Heck, I remember moving on to middle school. It felt like the next evolution as a kid. A step up. That experience can still happen in a K-8 model, but we have to be intentional about it. Middle schoolers still need to feel like they are growing into something new, with the structure, opportunities, and expectations that help them rise to the moment.

So if Pinellas County Schools expands K-8 campuses, we must be intentional about protecting what works in traditional middle school, including opportunities, enrichment, and a strong identity for students in grades 6–8.

Another concern that deserves honest attention.

Capacity shifts.

What I’m trying to say is this. Some families at nearby traditional middle schools may worry that a new K-8 option could pull students away from their campus. And when enrollment shifts, it can create real anxiety. Parents start wondering what comes next, whether their school could face co-location, consolidation, or even closure. That concern deserves to be acknowledged, not dismissed, and the district needs to communicate clearly about how these decisions connect to the bigger long-term plan.

What Pinellas County Schools Should Do Next

First, one thing I’ve learned is that change always creates three groups. The "yes" group, the "no" group, and the "maybe" group. Most families and team members are not extreme, they’re in the middle. They’re open, but cautious. In other words, you have people who are excited, some who are concerned, and others who are open to the idea but need clarity before they can trust it.

If this K-8 rollout is going to work, the district has to communicate clearly and consistently, because that’s how you earn the maybe group’s trust.

Change does not work as a surprise party.

Change works when you plant seeds.

Here are the solutions I support.

1. Continued open conversation at every step

This has to be a process, not an announcement. Families should know what is being considered, why it is being considered, how it impacts them, and what the timeline is. And the district should create multiple ways for people to stay informed, ask questions, and provide feedback.

2. Clear communication that is consistent across schools

Families need simple answers, not complicated documents. What changes, and when? What stays the same? How does transportation work? What happens with electives, clubs, and middle-grade experiences? Who do we contact? If communication is inconsistent, trust takes a hit.

3. Protect the middle school experience inside a K-8 model

If we are going to do this, we need to protect what works. That means planning intentionally for grades 6–8 so students still have strong opportunities, strong support, and a culture designed for their age group. K-8 should not mean “middle school, but smaller.” It should mean “middle school, still strong.”

4. Strengthen mental health supports and safety protocols

If K-8 expansion is part of the plan, then we must also be serious about the supports that make schools feel safe and stable. That includes improved mental health funding and clear safety protocols that staff and families understand. We cannot ask schools to carry bigger responsibility without giving them stronger support.

5. Hold the community accountable too

This part matters. If the community advocates for this model, then the community has to show up for it. Not just online. In real life. K-8 schools only reach their full potential when families, partners, and community organizations help build the village around them.

If we want trust back, we need participation back. That means everyone, parents, businesses, mentors, nonprofits, and civic leaders, stepping into the work together.

The good news is that the superintendent made it clear today that this announcement is only the first step. Next comes community conversation, continued school board discussion, and ultimately a vote. It is encouraging to see the district taking the time to get this right. Still, that commitment to communication cannot end once a decision is approved. It has to continue through the rollout, not just long enough to get the approval accomplished.

Let’s Keep It Real

I am not looking at K-8 schools through a political lens.

I am looking at them through a student lens.

And through a family lens.

I want stability for kids.

I want trust in public schools.

I want transparency that feels real, not performative.

K-8 schools can support that.

But only if Pinellas County Schools takes this one step at a time, and matches rising expectations with rising support for the schools and staff who will carry it out.

Look, I believe my children’s school will exceed expectations because it has strong leadership, amazing teachers, and a community that shows up. But this isn’t just about one school. This is about all Pinellas County Schools, and making sure every transition is done the right way.

My Bottom Line

I support K-8 schools as a possible path forward in Pinellas County.

But I support them only if we do them with transparency, careful planning, and continued conversation from start to finish.

Because change does not work as a surprise party.

Change works when you plant seeds, build trust, and bring people with you.

That is what Pinellas County deserves.

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.