Future Of Historic Mayport School In Question

MAYPORT, FL - Finegan Elementary School sits proudly on the south edge of Naval Station Mayport. It was opened in 1968 --the year after the U.S.S. JFK was christened, and for generations, nearly all of its students have been from Navy families.

But after the U.S.S. JFK was retired, the loss of thousands of sailors and support staff for the carrier dropped enrollment at Finegan by one-third. Now, the Duval County School Board is considering closing the school at the end of this academic year, transferring the remaining 550 students to Mayport Elementary, about a mile away.

For parent Kim Coates, closing Finegan would be unacceptable. She says most of the students and faculty are from Navy or other military backgrounds, and with deployments and other family pressures akin to life serving our country, there is a bond among the Finegan community.

"This is a safe place for kids to come. This is a good place for them to come to be with people that are like them," said Coates.

Parent Mark Frank agrees.

"The teachers all have a military background or some sort of affiliation to the military. So everybody knows how everybody else works."

Coates says busing her daughter across Mayport would be a nightmare.

"That's several different buses going in and out of the (NAS Mayport Main) gate. Even more than there already is, and it's time consuming, and they have to be inspected every time they come through," said Coates.

Finegan parents also fear the loss of Navy security in the event of an emergency. The school has its own secure gates in and out of the naval base.

"The military police have direct access to the kids to get 'em back on base and vice-versa -- as parents we can go right out the gate and boom get the kids right back on to a secure facility," said Frank.

On November 21st, the Navy will announce what new ships, if any, will be brought to Mayport.

Kim Coates and her daughter, Rowan along with other parents hope the vacant seats here at Finegan will be filled by children of those potential incoming Naval families to keep the school's historic doors open.

"It's a special school. It's unique. And the other ones? I feel more comfortable sending her here," said Coates.

On December 2nd there will be an informational meeting for parents, teachers and students of both Finegan and Mayport Elementary Schools to discuss the options being considered by the Duval County School Board. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the Mayport Elementary School Cafeteria.