ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

301 Fourth St. SW

PO Box 2942
Largo, FL 33779-2942
Ph. (727) 588-6000

Vision: Mission: SCHOOL BOARD OF

100% Student Success “Educate and prepare each PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
student for college, career, Chairperson
and life.” Rene Flowers

Vice Chairperson
Peggy L. O’Shea

March 10, 2018 Carol J. Cook

Terry Krassner
Joanne Lentino
Linda S. Lerner
Eileen M. Long

Superintendent
Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
To Friends of Pinellas:

Our students deserve the best schools with qualified, dedicated teachers and learning environments that meet a
high standard. This expectation comes at an increasing cost every year. We will not be able to cover the cost of
providing students the education they deserve if elected officials approve the state budget as currently proposed.

An increase of $.47 per student (.01%) equals an additional $46,497.24 for Pinellas County Schools for the 2018-
2019 fiscal year. This increase is slightly more than the cost of one new teacher.

The proposed budget would provide $2,289,744 to Pinellas. Of that, $2,944,024 must be spent on School Resource
Officers through the Safe Schools Allocation. Additionally, $2,278,163 must be spent on expanded student mental
health services. This leaves our school district with a nearly $3 million funding deficit to cover operating costs. We
understand and support the need to provide increased funding toward safe schools and mental health. However,
increased spending on safety and mental health needs to accompany sufficient funding for the heart of our work –
educating our students. It’s clear that the additional safe schools and mental health funding has come on the backs
of teachers and students.

The proposed budget provides Pinellas County Schools with an unweighted Full Time Equivalency increase of
$76.26 per student, compared to the state average of $101.50. This will not cover increasing costs for utilities,
property insurance, healthcare coverage for employees, an increased required board contribution for employees to
the Florida retirement system and other aspects of our operations impacted by inflation.

I strongly urge you to make public education a priority and contact and encourage your elected official to vote NO
on the proposed budget.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.

Superintendent

attachment

c: PCSB School Board Members

The School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, prohibits any and all forms of discrimination and harassment based on race, color,
sex religion, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation or disability in any of its programs, services or activities. Education for a Changing World www.pcsb.org
Pinellas Legislative Delegation
Senator Jeff Brandes
9800 4th Street North, Suite 200
St. Petersburg, FL, 33702
(727) 563-2100; (850) 487-5024
Brandes.Jeff@flsenate.gov
Senator Darryl Rouson
535 Central Avenue, Suite 302
St. Petersburg, FL, 33701
(727) 822-6828; (850) 487-5019
Rouson.Darryl@flsenate.gov
Representative Chris Sprowls
2364 Boy Scout Road, Suite 100
Clearwater, FL, 33763
(727) 793-2810; (850) 717-5065
Chris.Sprowls@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative James Grant
12972 North Dale Mabry Highway
Tampa, FL, 33618-2806
(813) 265-6272; (850) 717-5064
James.Grant@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative Larry Ahern
8383 Seminole Boulevard, Suite B
Seminole, FL 33772-4392
Phone: (727) 395-2512; (850) 717-5066
Larry.Ahern@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative Ben Diamond
425 North 22nd Avenue, Suite C
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-4322
(727) 552-2747; (850) 717-5068
Ben.Diamond@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative Chris Latvala
2963 Gulf to Bay Boulevard, Suite 206
Clearwater, FL 33759-4200
(727) 724-3000; (850) 717-5067
Chris.Latvala@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative Wengay M. "Newt" Newton, Sr.
695 Central Avenue, Suite 108
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 892-2468; (850) 717-5070
Newt.Newton@myfloridahouse.gov
Representative Kathleen Peters
6798 Crosswinds Drive, Suite C-105
St. Petersburg Florida 33710-5477
(727) 341-7385; (850) 717-5069
Kathleen.Peters@myfloridahouse.gov