Small Schools Closing Next Year: Parents Get Emotional, Asking How They Can Stop Closures

A list of 10 small schools recommended for closure next year in Colorado was released and parents are getting emotional and fearful that these closures might harm their kids.

Parents and caregivers got emotional at a meeting Thursday night with the Denver Public Schools district at Palmer Elementary while discussing the announcement that came Tuesday about the school being recommended for closure next year, CPR News reported.

Angelina Epperson was one of the parents who was greatly saddened by the news as Palmer Elementary, a small school in Denver's Mayfair neighborhood and one of the 10 small schools included in the list for closure next year, has been a huge help in the growth and development of his son.

Epperson cried in the meeting as she was narrating how his son had emotional challenges and was not doing well in his old school as he was in need of something different.

When he became a part of Palmer Elementary, however, something was lifted and now his son has friends, is getting A's, and has fallen in love with football.

"I can talk to the principal. I can go to the special ed teacher and talk to her. And they have all been supportive of my son. He had a game last weekend and his teachers showed up, so they give you that extra love that you're looking for. He was like, 'My teachers are here! They're here to watch me,'" the mother achingly expressed.

She told her son about the closure of his school and she said that he was hurt.

Decline in enrollees and budget deficit

Denver Public Schools announced Tuesday that 10 "small" elementary and middle schools with fewer than 215 students are recommended for closure. Moreover, since these schools are within 2 miles of another school who can welcome more student capacity, these small schools are said to be "unifying" with other schools.

Before a final decision is to be made on Nov 17, district officials are rounding up each school and hosting meetings with school administrators, parents and caregivers.

Palmer Elementary was the first one visited for the meeting with board members Auon'tai Anderson, Scott Esserman and Carrie Olson, a number of district officials and school principal, Dawn Salter.

Major reason for the closure recommendation was said to be the decrease of enrollees since 2014, which resulted in a budget deficit.

La Dawn Baity of the school district proclaimed that they are spending so much money just to keep these small schools open, which are actually operating at a "bare minimum."

Read Also: Parents Raising $800,000 to Buy Mountaineer's School of Autism Building to Prevent Shutdown

School district focusing only on lack of funding

Parents began feeling frustrated and angry when all the explanation they were hearing were about the lack of funds, pointing out that its was disappointing that other concerns were not taken into consideration, like the transportation going to Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment, the school Palmer Elementary will be unified with, and kids' safety as Palmer students would need to cross the busy Monaco Parkway to get to Montclair.

Eric Banner, father of 2 kids with 1 who is currently enrolled in Palmer and the other a graduate from the school, stated that kindergarteners and first graders are being asked to cross a street that does not have sidewalks. He then presented the school board members with accident data from Denver Police Department showing that there were 262 accidents for the past 5 years with 52 of these reported under hit and run.

Parents were then told in the meeting that district transportation officials are actually considering that stretch of Monaco a "hazardous crossing." Thus, the district will definitely provide a bus service.

PTA president Gabby Leavitt highlighted the community that has been built in the elementary school. She said that they may not have the money but they are a community that shows up for the children and for the school. The community must be celebrated instead of being "canceled."

Moreover, parents were also complaining that the school district was not able to see the impact the closure would have on the children. It is not only about going to school, but more importantly, the comfort and acceptance the students have received from their school community.

Palmer Elementary is noted to be one of Denver's few racially balanced schools, with 43 percent students of color and 57 percent white. Danna Morgan expressed that she chose Palmer for his grandson because he is biracial and she knew he would be accepted. His grandson is now excelling and no longer stutters.

Ashley Lorenz enrolled her daughter with autism at Palmer because she gets her needs met. The previous school was not working for her because it was overcrowded, loud, and impersonal. Thus, they are grateful to be part of Palmer's community

School district member, Richard Charles, reassured parents and caregivers in the end that their community and their voices matter, and that he is listening and will take all those voices with him to the board seat when he makes his decision.

Related Article: Frustrated Parents Start to Protest Against School Reopening Pace