Pasco schools stayed open Wednesday. To many, that’s not OK.
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Pasco County school officials began taking heat Tuesday soon after they announced classes would take place Wednesday despite the threat of Tropical Storm Helene. Why, many people asked, would the district not follow the lead of its neighboring counties and shutter schools to give everyone more time to prepare? Reddit chains suggested the district dropped the ball. Online chat groups criticized the move as disregarding students’ and staff members’ safety. “Although tomorrow’s weather may be fine, we must prioritize safety and give ample time for preparations,” Krinn Technical High School principal Chris Dunning, who is running for superintendent in November, wrote on his Facebook page.
Superintendent Kurt Browning stood firmly by his decision, as students began arriving Wednesday morning. He said the district prepared five campuses to serve as evacuation shelters after students departed Tuesday, and they’re ready to open at 4 p. m. Wednesday as scheduled.