PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Some Pinellas County parents say they’re confused and frustrated with the school district after receiving conflicting information about their children returning to school for the second quarter.

On Monday, Superintendent Michael Grego told Spectrum Bay News 9 that there was plenty of room for students who wanted to return to the classroom, and no wait lists would be necessary. But parents with children on wait lists say that’s not the case.

“Whether it's 9400, or 9500, or 20,000, we would be able to continue practicing those safety precautions and welcome them back into our schools," Grego said Monday in a Zoom interview.

Michelle French said when she heard that, she was shocked because her daughter, who is a junior in high school, had been trying to get back into the classroom since last month and was currently on a wait list.

“The reason I’m told is obviously safety. You can't sit six feet apart from everyone, but again, what was the school system going to do had every single student wanted to go back?" French said. "So, that accommodation still should have been a plan B.” 

District officials told Spectrum Bay News 9 some school principals started their own lists to keep track of how many students would be returning for the second quarter, and every student who wanted to go back would be able to, but now that may not be the case.

District officials sent a link to an “Updated Learning Option Page” on the PCS website. It says, “Submissions received before October 7 are being reviewed and scheduled based on available instructional staff at each school.”

It goes on to say, “All decisions regarding requests to change a learning option will keep the health and wellness guidelines set forth in the district’s reopening plan at the forefront.” Officials did not respond when asked if this meant there are now wait lists, adding to the confusion.

“Get on the same page. Make a decision. And we'll deal with the fallout of it, but there's too much conflicting information out there,” said French.

The second quarter starts on October 27. The district said all families who submitted a change request prior to October 7 will be contacted by school staff no later than the week of October 19.