Florida district is closing 3 elementary schools
Key Highlights
- The school board voted 3-2 to close three elementary schools over the next three years to save at least $3 million annually.
- The district plans to expand Lincoln, Mebane, and Oak View Middle Schools into K–8 campuses to accommodate students from closing schools.
- Community members expressed concerns about the emotional and mental health impacts on students due to school closures.
The Alachua County (Florida) School Board has voted 3 to 2 to move forward with the closure of at least three schools over the next three years.
The Gainesville Sun reports that Stephen Foster Elementary in Gainesville will close at the end of this academic year. Williams Elementary in Gainesville and Alachua Elementary in Alachua will close at the end of the 2027-2028 school year.
Many patrons urged the board to postpone a final vote and explore alternatives to shuttering campuses.
Board member Sarah Rockwell said the decision could not be delayed because of encroaching state laws that would allow charter schools to co-locate on underused public-school campuses.
Each school closure will save the district a minimum of over $1 million annually, according to a consultant.
Some parents raised concerns about the potential impact the closures could have on students’ mental and emotional health.
In addition to closing Alachua, Foster and Williams, the district plans to expand Lincoln Middle, Mebane Middle and Oak View Middle into K–8 campuses to accommodate students from the elementary campuses that are being closed.