DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – Atlantic Beach Elementary held a birthday celebration Friday morning just days after learning the school will not close as part of the district’s Master Facility plan.
At the latest school board meeting, a revised Master Facility Plan was presented. Within that plan, it was announced that Atlantic Beach Elementary was no longer a part of the consolidation plans.
“It’s a big relief,” Emily McCarthy said. “This is a big part of our community. The heartbeat of it. And knowing that this is the 85th birthday celebration, it’s extra special this year because we know that the doors will stay open for the foreseeable future.”
For months, parents, teachers and students have packed school board meetings to try and keep the school open.
RELATED | Community members gather in hopes to ‘Save Atlantic Beach Elementary’
Members of the group Save ABE, like McCarthy, were out at the school today to update the signs and shirts as part of the campaign to save the school.
They stamped the shirts to change them to “I Helped Save ABE” and handed out “We Saved” stickers for the yard signs.
Nearly two dozen schools are still slated to close under the current plan. With a 1.4 billion budget shortfall to try and overcome, many schools do not face as friendly a fate as ABE.
That includes Kings Trail Elementary, which is expected to merge with Beauclerc.
Families gathered Thursday night to learn more about the change.
“One of my solutions that I thought would be helpful would be re-zoning. We have a whole apartment complex just across the street. We’d be at full capacity,” Jennifer Kennedy, a Kings Trail parent, said.
A public hearing on the recommended closures is scheduled for Oct. 29.
A final vote on the plan is expected Nov. 4.