It’s hard to believe it’s been seven months since I first wrote about the dozens of proposed public school closures in my hometown — a list that included my children’s well-attended and beloved Atlantic Beach Elementary. The news of these closures not only sent shockwaves throughout Duval County, it served as a wake-up call to a war being waged against public education that has been going on for decades.
Up until the news broke on April 1, many of us had been blissfully unaware of this national trend of traditional public schools being “right-sized” through closure or consolidation, primarily in underserved areas. Those who were not surprised by this dismal news were the leaders who have been advocating for the economically depressed neighborhoods within Duval County for decades now. “What a mess,” I would comment after attending hours of school board meetings and workshops that seemed to reveal more problems than solutions. Those who understood this sentiment all too well would nod their heads knowingly, having experienced more than their fair share of these frustrations, unfulfilled promises, and hardships.
On October 1st, the Duval County School Board will vote on an updated Master Facilities Plan as recommended by the Superintendent. I’m happy to report that the Save ABE community achieved our goal of getting our little pink school off the closure list, and that we did so by adhering to values of not devolving into a Hunger Games mentality of pitting schools against each other.
That said, I left the final focus group meeting last week with mixed emotions: grateful to have our school and some 23 others spared (for the time being), saddened for the 22 schools that are slated for closure, and humbled by the composure of the leaders who have endured so much and yet keep showing up on behalf of the students, families, and teachers in their communities. To me this is the true definition of serving your community, when you show up in the face of adversity time and time again.
