A new declaration of intent wrinkle

And in another bit of confusing news about the declaration of intent ...

The declaration of intent, sent to 103,000 students, only mentions the school a student attends. For instance, if a student is part of the criminal justice magnet program at Pinellas Park High School, that student's declaration wouldn't mention the program at all. It would simply state that the student could check a box to remain at Pinellas Park High School.

Only it's not that simple.

Say that student happily participates in criminal justice for ninth grade, but then decides he isn't interested in becoming a lawyer. Instead, he wants to be a writer and so would rather take a more traditional high school course load.

It would seem, based on the declaration of intent, that this student could stay put at Pinellas Park High. After all, he indicated on his declaration of intent that he planned to stay there.

But that's not what would happen should that student decide to leave the magnet program, said choice plan director Jim Madden. That student's seat at the high school was in the magnet, and that's the only seat reserved by checking off the "grandfathering" box on the declaration.

So, where does he go? If Pinellas Park High has room, he could stay. Otherwise, he would have to participate in the choice process to find another school.

Pinellas County is an ever-changing place, with lots of families moving in and out and around. How does choice affect them?

Say you live in Pinellas but are building a house or planning to move elsewhere in the county. You have all the headaches and paperwork to prove it, but you won't actually settle in your new home until next spring, long after the school district's Dec. 13 application deadline.

Call Kathy Walker, the director of pupil assignment, at 588-6210. She wants to handle "special causes" personally, she said. She will need to see documents that prove the house is really being built or that you're really moving in. She then would work to help the family select a school in its new attendance area.

"It would be ludicrous to punish them and make them go to the end of the line when upfront they have informed the school district," Walker said.

The situation is different for families who will be new to Pinellas County after Dec. 13. They will need to contact one of the Family Education and Information Centers (either 552-1595 or 298-2858) for information on participating in choice.

Mark your calendar

OCT. 28: At 6:30 p.m. at Northwest Elementary School, 5601 22nd Ave. N in St. Petersburg, the district will hold an information meeting about special education programs and where they will be located during choice. Bear Creek, Blanton and Tyrone elementaries are invited. District officials will be available to help parents (even those who don't attend the meeting) fill out choice paperwork or to collect it.

OCT. 30: At 6:30 p.m. at Eisenhower Elementary School, 2800 Drew St. in Clearwater, the district will hold a second meeting about special education programs. McMullen-Booth and Skycrest elementaries are invited. District officials will be available to help parents (even those who don't attend the meeting) fill out choice paperwork or to collect it.

NOV. 5: Pinellas voters will elect a School Board member, decide whether to create single-member districts and consider a lease purchase of land for an alternative high school.

NOV. 7: At 6:30 p.m. at Campbell Park Elementary School, 1200 37th St. S in St. Petersburg, the district will hold another information meeting about special education programs. Fairmount Park, Gulfport, Mt. Vernon and Woodlawn elementaries are invited. District officials will be available to help parents (even those who don't attend the meeting) fill out choice paperwork or to collect it.

NOV. 9: District officials and volunteers will canvass neighborhoods where few families have returned declaration of intent forms. The event takes place all over the county, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To volunteer, call 588-6405.

-- Send questions about choice to Kelly Ryan Gilmer, and please indicate whether your name can be used in the column. E-mail ryan@sptimes.com. Write to St. Petersburg Times newsroom, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Or fax (727) 893-8675.

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