Phoenix Elementary School Board Votes to Not Close Three Schools

The Phoenix Elementary School Board voted not to move forward with the closure of three schools on Thursday night.

“I really don’t want it to close,” said a sixth grader through tears.

“Closing schools should be the last resort. It should be after we’ve exhausted all other avenues,” said another parent.

People flooded the school board meeting to fight for their schools.

“I heard a recent story of young students that approached one of these principals recently, offering to bring their spare change to save their school,” said one parent during public comment.

The Phoenix Elementary School District was considering a plan to consolidate three elementary schools within the district due to falling enrollment, but after a vote late into the evening hours, decided not to move forward with the closures. The schools that were being considered by the district were Emerson, Dunbar, and Faith North Preschool.

The district had blamed the lack of affordable housing in downtown and falling birthrates for the decline in student enrollment when considering the closures.

“Dunbar has been the heart of south-central Phoenix for the last 95 years,” said a teacher from Dunbar elementary with pride.

The families of these three schools have won their fight to keep their child’s schools open.