Ormond Beach to hold special meeting to keep Osceola Elementary School open

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The city of Ormond Beach is making a push to try and save its only beachside elementary school, which has been around for 65 years.

The Volusia County School District wants to merge Ortona Elementary School in Daytona Beach with Osceola Elementary School in Ormond.

Read: Florida reports more than 5,700 new COVID-19 cases, 127 virus-related deaths

The students would eventually all move into a new, $24 million school built on Ortona Elementary School property.

The city of Ormond Beach will hold a special meeting Monday night to try and pass a resolution to keep Osceola Elementary School open.

On Monday during the special meeting the Ormond Beach City Commission will discuss making $2 million dollars in improvements to the school and neighborhood if the district reconsiders its plan.

Read: Stimulus news: Democrats set to propose yearly payment of $3,000 per child

However, it appears the district is moving ahead with its original plan.

The two schools are about 3 miles apart from each other, with 600 students attending both schools combined.

The city of Ormond Beach has even launched its own campaign, asking residents to email and call the board telling them to keep the school because it says Osceola has more students, more space and more disadvantaged students.

Read: ‘It is the next step toward freedom’: How local counties are mobilizing to vaccinate homebound seniors for COVID-19

Parents at both schools are passionate about making sure their school stays open.

“I just want to save the school, save our school,” said Cara Hoppy, whose daughter started kindergarten at Osceola. “It would break her heart. It would break my heart. It would break a lot of families hearts.”

Read: COVID-19 vaccines sold on the black market: Who’s getting it and what’s being done to stop it?

Meanwhile, Frank Boston’s two sons both go to Ortona Elementary School. “It’s just a nice place for my kids to go to,” Boston said. Boston also added that if the district reversed its decision and decided to close Ortona instead, that it could double his commute.

The district tells WFTV that for now it is sticking with the original plan, and the new school could open by 2023.