MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Marion Military Academy closed suddenly Monday, school officials said, leaving more than 180 students without a place to attend after winter break.
The charter school in Ocala was open for 11 years. School officials said a lack of funding led to its doors being closed.
Marion County Public School District officials said they are doing everything they can to work with students and staff through the situation.
“We’re still fighting, but it’s getting tough. We don’t have anybody really supporting us,” said Camila Guerrero, a student.
On Tuesday, students and parents held a rally at the school. They also started a GoFundMe page. Donations were rolling in, but the page was deactivated.
Marion County Public Schools held a meeting Wednesday night to discuss options with parents and students. One of the options includes helping juniors and seniors stay together at the same school but at a different location.
Officials said they have plans to potentially move the students to the Marion Technical Institute.
“We want to stay together, especially the seniors. We want to graduate together. That’s our goal, to walk across the stage together,” Guerrero said.
The district has also laid out other options, such as sending students to their zoned school or a school of their choosing. Officials also said students could be home-schooled.
Officials said in order to get the juniors and seniors together in one school, they have to have enough students who want to make it happen for the plan to work.
Two years ago, the academy was rated a D school. Then it improved it to a C school. Last year, school officials said they were on pace to earn a B this year.
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