Ortega Elementary in Jacksonville is set to close, with the School Board voting on whether to add the building to the district’s surplus list. The move has sparked concerns among parents, who claim the district is not following its own rules for closing schools.

Background

The district says the School Board authorized Ortega’s closure seven years ago as part of a facilities planning document called The Bold Plan. However, parents argue that the process has not been transparent and that they were not adequately informed about the decision.

A consultant’s report from two years ago suggested closing Ortega and several other schools. Superintendent Chris Bernier had reassured stakeholders that the list was a draft and did not represent a final decision. Nevertheless, the district has started the project to rebuild Venetia Elementary, which will have 1,200 student stations.

Community Concerns

Parents are worried about the size of the new school, which will be four times larger than Ortega. They are also concerned about the impact on the community and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. The district says it wants to find the right buyer for the historic Ortega building and will take its time to vet potential buyers.

The School Board’s vote on the surplus list is scheduled for Wednesday. Parents and community members are urging the district to reconsider its decision and to involve the community in the process.

Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.