Parents fighting to keep four elementary schools from closing in Brevard County have won an important battle.

On Tuesday, county commissioners began to take steps to protect four elementary schools in Cocoa, Satellite Beach, Titusville, and on Merritt Island.

Brevard County commissioners are urging the county's school board not to close schools.

Commissioners passed a resolution saying school closures should be the school board's last consideration.

"The question, 'Why does one elected body get involved with another elected body?' And I think the answer to that is that these schools impact our community, these are our constituents," said Commissioner Chuck Nelson.

Some of those constituents were at Tuesday's commission meeting. They represented groups like Save Brevard Public Schools, the South Lake Family, the Gardendale Elementary Magnet School and others.

"This really comes down to all of our children's education, and it comes down to the necessity for economic growth in Brevard County," said parent Christine McClure.

Even with a $30 million budget shortfall looming for Brevard Public Schools, many of the school supporters are still hopeful that Gardendale, Sea Park, South Lake and Clear Lake Middle School will be removed from a long list of proposed cuts.

"We'd like them to tough it out and look for other ways to deal with their capital needs other than closing schools," said Nelson.