Where I Stand on Solutions for School Closures

By Curtis Campogni, Candidate for Pinellas County School Board, District 3 at Large

The Listen and Learn sessions are giving our community a chance to shape the future of public education in Pinellas County. As I prepare to attend my first session in Dunedin, I have spent time reviewing the questions families and educators were asked to answer.

Considering sticky notes alone won’t move us forward, and my handwriting won’t help anyone, here are the solutions I believe Pinellas needs right now.

Each session includes several guiding questions for the community, and attendees place their thoughts on sticky notes for the district to review.

What We Should Do: Repurpose Space with Purpose

I support transforming unused classrooms, wings, and buildings into:

• Workforce training centers

• Childcare centers for educators

• Mental health hubs

• After-school learning centers

• Community recreation spaces

• Vocational training labs

• Nonprofit or city partnership hubs

These ideas bring the community back into the school instead of taking the school out of the community.

My full position on co-location is in an earlier post, but the bottom line is simple:

Co-located schools become competitors, not partners. Repurposing space strengthens public education rather than divides it.

How We Make It Happen

We already have the community, partners, and programs in Pinellas County to do this. Here’s how we turn ideas into action:

1. Use Nonprofits and Workforce Partners Already in Our Backyard

Organizations like Pinellas Technical College, CareerSource Tampa Bay, YMCA, R’Club, and local cities can operate programs directly on school campuses.

2. Invite Local Donors and Businesses to Invest in Public Schools

Many alumni and business owners want to leave a legacy. Naming opportunities like “The ___ Career Hall” or “The ___ Applied Learning Center” make meaningful investments possible.

3. Start Small with Pilot Programs

Pick two or three schools with the most unused space. Launch childcare, workforce labs, or after-school hubs. Measure the results and expand what works.

4. Build a Real Communication System for Families

We need one district-wide platform for updates, support, and school information. A “Fireside Chat” model at each school can keep parents informed and strengthen trust.

5. Create a Dedicated Process for Justice-Involved and Foster Youth

A monthly “Village Committee” of DCF, juvenile justice leaders, educators, and nonprofits can prevent communication breakdowns and ensure these students don’t fall through the cracks.

Let’s Keep It Real

If we treat schools like a place kids go from eight to three, they will always be vulnerable to the mindset that someone else can do it better.

But when we fill empty space with opportunity —childcare, workforce training, mental health supports, arts, recreation, and community partnerships —our schools become stronger, safer, and more connected to the neighborhoods they serve.

At a recent School Board meeting, I compared today’s landscape to Blockbuster versus Netflix. Netflix didn’t win because it was better; it won because it adapted.

Pinellas County cannot afford to be the last one to change.

We need innovation. We need strong neighborhood schools. We need a system that chooses community over competition.

As I attend the Listen and Learn session in Dunedin, I’m focused on one thing: bringing forward practical solutions that protect our schools and the families they serve.

Your voice belongs in this conversation.

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.