Save Foster Elementary from closing

Stephen Foster Elementary- 3800 NW 6th St, Gainesville, FL 32609

What to do next:

Join our Facebook Group

Email the Schoolboard and tell them not to close FOSTER

Sign the Petition

GO TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING on Thursday 3/12/26 at 6pm- 620 E. University Avenue (arrive early- 5:30)

Wear Red to the meeting

How to sign up to speak

Purpose

The Alachua County School Board hired a consulting firm JBPro, to give options for zoning. Rezoning is very well needed in our county. The problem is that they want to close Stephen Foster Elementary; which doesn't make sense to many people. Their data shows lots of empty seats in encompassing the whole county. Many of those more empty elementary schools are in more rural areas or at the edge of Gainesville. Foster Elementary is strategically placed so many children walk to school and offers smaller class sizes for the Magnet program. Our residential neighborhood has built itself around Stephen Foster Elementary since it opened in 1965. It is also 88% full.

The reasons for closing listed by the consulting company are below.

Foster is 88% full school. It is NOT underattended

What is a magnet program/school?

History of a Magnet schools

https://www.alachuaschools.net/o/foster/page/magnet-programs

Parents CHOOSE to send their kids to this school that emphases STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning. They apply to the magnet program and are accepted. Why is Foster being punished for having a well sort after program? Other schools are closing for lack of students. This is not the case for Foster.

The definition of a walk zone is 2 miles! That is a 30-45 minute walk for our children to get to school and across dangerous roads. Buses may not be available and alachua county has had a busing shortage for many years.