NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING,
WORKSHOP AND PUBLIC HEARING

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA

RULE TITLE: Attendance Boundaries for various schools in Pasco County.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: This action implements the School Board’s power to assign students to schools and adopt school attendance areas as deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the District school system. Changes are being considered based in part upon consideration of school capacity and the efficient utilization of district resources for New River Elementary School, Watergrass Elementary School, Centennial Middle School, Raymond B. Stewart Middle School, Thomas E. Weightman Middle School, Wesley Chapel High School, and Zephyrhills High School, as well as the planned closure of Gulfside Elementary and Paul R. Smith Middle, and the re-opening of these two (2) schools as Paul R. Smith K-8 School.

SUMMARY OF RULE: Recommending changes to student attendance boundaries for students’ assignments within the current Gulfside, New River, and Watergrass Elementary Schools; Centennial, Paul R. Smith, Raymond B. Stewart, and Thomas E. Weightman Middle Schools; Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills High Schools, and Paul R. Smith K-8 to be effective July 1, 2026.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Sections 1001.32(2) and (3); 1001.41(1), (2) and (6); 1001.42(4) and (28), 1001.51 Florida Statutes. Pasco County School Board Policy 5120.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Sections, 1001.41; 1001.42. Florida Statutes.

INITIAL PRESENTATION of this proposal to develop or amend a rule regarding the subject matter herein will be brought before the School Board for consideration on September 23, 2025.

A PUBLIC WORKSHOP regarding rule development has been scheduled for October 20, 2025, at 5:00 P.M. in the gym of Paul R. Smith Middle School (1410 Sweetbriar Dr. Holiday, FL, 34691). School district staff will be available to address the proposals and to respond to questions and/or comments regarding the rule being developed. Staff will be available to answer questions of attendees who arrive between 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. The public may provide comments electronically via this link: www.pasco.k12.fl.us/planning/page/rezoning.

A PUBLIC HEARING on the final proposed rule has been scheduled for November 4, 2025, at 9:30 A.M. at the School Board Room, Building #3, 7205 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, Land O’Lakes, Florida 34638.

It is anticipated that final rule boundary changes will be adopted on November 18, 2025, at the regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:00 P.M., at the School Board Room, Building #3, 7205 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, Land O’Lakes, Florida 34638, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

Any person, because of a disability, requiring a special accommodation to participate in the meetings above noticed should contact 727-774-2649 (West Pasco), 813-794-2649 (Central Pasco), or 352-524-2649 (East Pasco), 48 hours in advance of the meeting to make appropriate arrangements. If any person appearing before the School Board anticipates or expects that he or she might appeal any decision made by the School Board, that person will need a record of the proceedings, and that for such purpose, that person will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

The School Board does not anticipate the adoption of this rule will (1) have an adverse impact on small business; or (2) directly or indirectly increase regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate in the state within 1 year after the implementation of the rule. Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

The person to be contacted for information or to submit questions/comments regarding the proposed rule is:

Chris Williams, Director of Planning
Pasco County Schools
7227 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard
Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
(727) 774-7970
rezoning@pasco.k12.fl.us

Links to specific matters regarding the Pasco Schools are available at:
www.pasco.k12.fl.us

A copy of the proposed rule and access to related materials are available by contacting the individual identified above, or online at: www.pasco.k12.fl.us/planning/page/rezoning

The Superintendent’s recommendation to the School Board will be published as part of the board agenda at:
http://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/school_board/agendas-summaries-minutes
7 days prior to the board meeting. (See School Board Bylaw 0.165; F.S. 120.525; F.S. 120.81)
September 14, 2025 55121