ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — All but three Pinellas County schools reopened Monday morning, after shutting down for three days during Hurricane Helene.

According to Pinellas County Superintendent Kevin Hendrick, it was a quick turnaround as some schools were still being used as shelters as recently as Saturday afternoon.

What You Need To Know

  • Gulf Beaches Elementary and Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 both severely damaged 

  • Students at Gulf Beaches will move to Disston Academy

  • Students at Madeira Beach K-8 will move to Walsingham Elementary & Osceola Fundamental High School for afternoon classes 

Hendrick said both Gulf Beaches Elementary and Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 were severely damaged, including the electrical systems. Students at Gulf Beaches Elementary, Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 and Disston Academy will not return to school until Wednesday, Oct. 2.

On Wednesday, all roughly 300 Gulf Beaches students will report to Disston Academy in Gulfport. Those students will utilize the entire Disston Academy campus.

Students as Disston Academy will be relocated to Lealman Innovation Academy and share a campus.

The roughly 1,400 students at Maderia Beach Fundamental K-8 will split. Grades K-5 will attend Walsingham Elementary from 11:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m., and middle schoolers will attend Osceola Fundamental High School from 12:09 p.m. to 5:10 p.m.

To accommodate the second shift of students, Osceola High will now attend school from 6:25 a.m. to 12:04 p.m.

Hendrick said while pushing start times and changing locations isn’t ideal, it’s necessary in order to get school up and running and the community to return to a sense of normalcy.

“Obviously these changes are not ideal for anyone, however they will keep their friends and teachers and their respective schools together until those schools are repaired,” he said. “I heard from many parents over the weekend who offered their support… parents at these two schools just simply asked, ‘Can you keep our children with their friends and their teachers?’ And we’ve been able to do that.”

Affected parents in need of childcare on Monday or Tuesday can bring their students to Tyrone Middle School from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Advanced registration is not needed, but parents will have to sign their students in at the gym.

Parents of Maderia Beach Fundamental K-8 are invited to a family meeting on Monday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Osceola Fundamental High School Auditorium. 

Parents of Gulf Beaches students are invited to attend a family meeting on Monday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. located in the Boca Ciega High School Main Auditorium.

In both meetings, district officials will be on hand to answer questions and brief families with the latest information. The meetings will not be live streamed.