Beaches leaders fight to preserve schools

Leaders in both Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach are urging Duval County Public Schools not to close or consolidate Beaches schools as part of a countywide plan.

Both city councils passed resolutions this week similar to one approved by the Atlantic Beach City Council last week.

The Jacksonville Beach Coity Council urged Duval Schools to keep both Seabreeze Elementary School and San Pablo Elementary School open.

According to an outline from consultants hired by Duval Schools, Seabreeze Elementary could close and be consolidated with San Pablo Elementary.

In Neptune Beach, the City Council approved a resolution Monday opposing any plans to close Atlantic Beach Elementary School or any other school within the Beaches community from being consolidated into Neptune Beach Elementary.

The school district consultants suggested Atlantic Beach Elementary could close and merge with Neptune Beach Elementary.

Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown said merging the two schools could lead to overcrowding and an underperforming school.

“It’s a long process, but we’re jumping on it now to make our voice one voice so that the Beaches are together and that people will understand that these schools are high performing,” Brown said during the meeting Monday. “We want them to stay that way, and we want our children to get the very, very best education.”

Interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar has said that any decision on potentially closing any schools is far from final . The potential school closures and consolidations at the Beaches are among 37 potential school closures in the plan from school district consultants.

The school district plans to have campuses with at least 85% capacity.

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