JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — 'Save Beach Schools' signs are plastered around yards across all three beach cities as the Duval County School board considers a plan to close several schools.
The Jacksonville Beach city council passed a resolution Monday to tell Duval County Schools they are opposed to the district closing any elementary schools in the city.
Parents from several beach elementary schools filled city hall to make sure the city council knows they feel strongly about one thing.
They don’t want to see their child’s school closed.
“My mother went here," said San Pablo Elementary Parent Kendra Sharp. "I didn’t, but my kids go here now.”
San Pablo Elementary has been a part of the Jacksonville Beach community since the 1950s.
For Kendra Sharp, it runs in the family, so hearing the school could be on the chopping block as part of a consolidation plan to a budget shortfall has her concerned what the future could hold for her children.
“We live right around the corner," said Sharp. "To have it changed, uprooted, it’s very different than what I’ve known growing up out here.”
The Duval County School Board is weighing two options for San Pablo and Seabreeze Elementaries.
1 – Merging Seabreeze and its more than 500 students into San Pablo Elementary.
2 – Closing both schools and opening a Fletcher K-8 school in the middle.
“You’re going to combine those to make 1000 K-5? I mean, it’s just too many students in one school I think," said San Pablo Elementary Parent Jake Woods.
The Jacksonville Beach city council passed the resolution to inform the school board it’s opposed to closing either of the schools, pointing out the A-rated schools contribute to higher property values, a stronger tax base, and a more vibrant overall community.
At the exact same time, the Neptune Beach City Council considered a similar resolution, pushing the school board to vote against a plan to merge Atlantic Beach Elementary, stating the move would cause a 61% increase in enrollment at Neptune Beach Elementary, adding traffic to Florida Boulevard.
Duval County Schools is considering the consolidation plan due to increased construction costs and revenue sharing with charter schools.
A previous master plan called for Seabreeze Elementary to be demolished and replaced, at a price tag of about $20 million, along with $5 million in maintenance at San Pablo Elementary.
Sharp is hoping the district can find another way to cut costs that won’t have such a massive impact on the school that means so much to her.
“It’s been here for so long. It’s such a great school, always been highly thought of," said Sharp. "The fact they’re talking about closing it, I think a lot of people are very upset. I think they’re hurt. It becomes emotional as well.”
Duval County School leaders will meet Tuesday morning to talk about the plan and see if they want to move forward.