JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County school leaders will meet Tuesday morning to discuss the possible consolidation of two schools, Anchor Academy and Mayport Elementary.
Tuesday’s meeting is a discussion between the School Board—no final decisions will be made just yet.
The plan is part of a larger effort to balance enrollment and make better use of resources.
Families from both schools have voiced their concerns about the potential consolidation, saying they’re worried about what this could mean for their children and their community.
“A lot of people on base have been just talking like, we’re gonna close, we’re going to close, we’re a small school, we are gonna close because all the schools are becoming so big. It’s been hard not knowing. We weren’t ready to move yet, like being stationed somewhere else. So having that ripped from our kids when this has been our constant is very unfortunate. They thrive here, this is their structure,” Emily Macis, an Anchor Academy parent, said.
Dana Arendt, a parent and substitute teacher at Mayport Elementary, has been involved in the working group discussing the consolidation.
“It really is just a big military community, military family. I am hoping that whatever ends up happening, we can come together and make the best of the situation because the situation is unfortunate,” Arendt said.
For more than a year, News4JAX has been reporting on DCPS’ consolidation plans as the district works to close a $1.4 billion budget gap.
The proposed merger of Anchor Academy and Mayport Elementary is just one of many proposals made by the district.
District leaders said the goal is to address enrollment imbalances and reduce operating costs across the district.
Last year, the board unanimously voted to merge four schools with others.
The board will not make a final decision until Dec.1.
Tuesday’s meeting is open to the public and is set to begin at 9:15 a.m.
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