LARGO, Fla. - Nearly 4,000 fewer students are enrolled in Pinellas County public schools this year compared to last.

Due to that drop, and the predicted population of school -aged kids in the county remaining flat, school leaders said they’re forced to make long-term changes.

"Let me be clear, the potential recommendations will involve school closures in all likelihood," Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told the school board at a workshop on Tuesday.

Big picture view:

The recommendations Hendrick is talking about will be shown to the school board in January, and some of the changes could go into effect next school year. Those January recommendations won’t include rezoning.

"Of course, it's unsettling to people, because they're hearing about it for the first

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