Large hole develops on grounds of Florida high school

The hole at Tarpon Springs High School is at least 20 feet wide and 12 feet deep, and has forced students in one building to relocate.

A large hole was discovered Friday morning at a Florida high school, and some students have been relocated to other buildings on the campus.

Fox 13 Tampa Bay reports that the hole on the campus of Tarpon Springs High School in Tarpon Springs is at least 20 feet wide and 12 feet deep, with several openings. The area has been roped off with temporary fencing.

The affected area is near the school's Culinary Arts Academy building. Anyone who is in that section of the school is being moved to another part of campus, officials say. Otherwise, school is resuming its normal operations.

School officials say they do not believe the hole is the result of a broken pipe, but they also have not determined whether it is a sinkhole. 

"This is concerning," Pinellas County school district spokesperson Lisa Wolf-Chason says. "Anytime there is a change in the campus's structure, that is a cause for concern."

According to the school's website, the culinary arts building is a $13.5 million facility that opened on the high school's campus in 2009. 

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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