ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — Parents in Atlantic Beach are banding together and voicing their concerns about their beloved elementary school possibly being closed. It’s just one of several schools the Duval County School District discussed closing at Tuesday’s board meeting to make up for a budget shortfall.
Atlantic Beach Elementary has been up for over 80 years and currently has almost 500 students.
"We know this school we know what it represents to our city and we’re gonna fight for it," said Ellen Glasser, former Atlantic Beach mayor.
"Everyone is devastated in this community that’s talked about what could happen," said Emily McCarthy, parent of two Atlantic Beach elementary schoolers.
McCarthy is a mom of a 1st and 3rd grader at Atlantic Beach Elementary and said this school is a staple in this town.
"It’s the heart of our community the little pink school. You take that away and whatever it’s replaced with won’t do it justice," said McCarthy.
The little pink school has gained lots of support from many people, as a Facebook group called Save Our School: Atlantic Beach Elementary School. The group already has more than 1,000 members in just two days and a petition online has received over 1,000 signatures and nearly 300 comments.
"We’re just gonna do our very best to see this school doesn’t close," said McCarthy.
Former Atlantic Beach Mayor, Ellen Glasser was vocal at Tuesday night's meeting about the importance of keeping this school open.
"We are going to do our utmost to protect it from being privatized from being bulldozed and from other dollars coming in to turn it into a charter school," said Glasser, "I mean this does not compute with us. It’s only going to be a bigger movement I can promise you that."
In Tuesday's School Board meeting, board members did emphasize that this is only a proposal at this time and they don't have a goal of closing schools.