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School district scraps one boundary change

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 21, 2006

TAMPA

A proposal to force students from Pride Elementary to Heritage Elementary is off the table.

Hillsborough school officials said Monday they had scrapped a proposed boundary change in New Tampa. The idea generated heated opposition from parents at Pride Elementary. Officials expect that Pride will have enough space after the addition of a classroom wing and that growth will fill Heritage Elementary's excess space.

The district is kicking off community meetings to discuss boundary changes that could affect two dozen schools. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.:

- Potter Elementary students to move to James and B. T. Washington elementaries; Nov. 29 at Potter.

- Schmidt Elementary students to move to Kenly Elementary; Nov. 30 at Schmidt.

CLEARWATER

Costs could change developer's plans

Developer Elias Jafif has grand plans to build a movie theater and megacondominium tower in downtown Clearwater.

But if he can't secure financial help from the city, he'll probably build something else there.

More and more, it looks as if the alternative plan has the upper hand.

Local leaders said the city needs a first-run theater to help lure residents and visitors into a downtown that they are trying to revitalize. But, they said, they don't think the city can afford what Jafif is now asking.

Clearwater initially was going to put up about $9-million for the project, but now local leaders will probably have to sign a much bigger check - at least $27-million.

Jafif will meet with council members in December to talk about whether the city can help.

[Last modified November 20, 2006, 23:57:32]