Teachers, former students and concerned citizens showed up at the March 17 DeLand City Commission meeting with a request: Help us save Starke Elementary School.

The Volusia County School Board plans a final vote on its school-closing plan at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 31, in the DeLand High School auditorium, 800 N. Hill Ave.

DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar told citizens attending the commission meeting the city already has written to the School Board, expressing concern about eliminating "a neighborhood school and a focal point of activity for the Spring Hill area of DeLand."

The letter also questions the potential effect on future development of losing the student capacity at Starke.

The citizens had a lot more concerns to add to the list.

Currently, about 80 students are bused to Starke, West Volusia NAACP Branch President David Staples said, noting more than 300 would need to be bused to Elementary School Z, the yet-unbuilt elementary on Hazen Road where the School Board plans to transfer students now zoned for Starke.

Starke has 442 students, with a capacity of 600. All of the schools being considered for closing have fewer than 500 students.

Staples said several years ago, Starke was a failing school, and the School Board sent letters to parents asking if they wanted to move their children to another school. When Starke brought its grade up to an A and won a national award for excellence, no such letter went out to parents asking if they wanted to move their children back.

"We have an issue with that," he told the City Commission.

Staples asked commissioners to urge the School Board to keep Edith I. Starke Elementary open for the benefit of the community. Staples is a retired longtime educator. He was principal for 14 years of Bonner Elementary in Daytona Beach, another of the schools slated for closing. Staples is also working with a group to try to keep Bonner open.

Terry Dilligard Sr., a former DeLand city commissioner and now a candidate for the District 27 seat in the Florida House, also mentioned the prestigious High Flying School Award Starke received this year.

"They are one of four schools in the United States to win this award," Dilligard said. "It has historical value. I think it would be to our benefit to keep it open."

Kyle Gibson is a fourth-generation educator. He said the closing of a school should always be a last resort.

Gibson said an increase in crime can follow the closing of a school. He reminded commissioners state law establishes a 1,000-foot perimeter around schools where the selling of drugs is a more-serious crime.

"If you have an abandoned building, it attracts crime," Gibson said.

Deltona resident Mike Williams chimed in about the potential harm to students.

"When you have to relocate students, they have to be bused," Williams said. "The kids have to get up earlier in the morning."

Commissioner Willie Bright was in favor of adopting a resolution.

"I think, from my point of view, we should consider sending a resolution," Bright said. "I think it would be prudent."

Commissioner Charles Paiva talked about the community's use of Starke Elementary for after-school activities and meetings. He also said it is important to maintain the school as a piece of Spring Hill history.

"I do think it's important for us to voice our opinion," Paiva said.

He said he would support either a letter or a resolution.

Commissioner Leigh Matusick said taking away Starke would defeat a lot of things the community wanted.

"You hear people want neighborhood schools," Matusick said. "Here you have a neighborhood school."

Matusick also worried about children who are involved in the after-school activities at Starke Elementary.

"Right now, they have day-care at the school," she said. "They could all become latchkey kids. Starke also has the additional hour to help those students."

Mayor Bob Apgar was also supportive of Starke Elementary.

The general consensus of the commission was to see what response the School Board has to the letter already sent, and to take additional action as needed after that response.

Retired DeLand Public Works Director Bo Davenport said Starke is important not only because it is an award-winning school, but for its role in the community's history.

"I live right in the Spring Hill area," Davenport said. "All of my kids went to Starke. My grandkids are there now."

Davenport told The Beacon he understands the need to save money, but said the School Board is overreacting.

"I want to get people to send a copy of their voter cards to the School Board members," Davenport said. "That's going to send a message. We, as voters, need to stand up and be counted."

Davenport talked about Elementary Z, planned on DeLand's northwest side, on Hazen Road just south of Plymouth Avenue. He said it isn't right to close down an important part of Spring Hill history to fill seats in a new school.

"I don't think they've really thought this thing out. You're going to close down a school and build a new school? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me," he said. "They say they don't have any money for maintenance. Well, use the construction money."

Davenport said the NAACP is collecting signatures on a petition to keep Starke open.

This article was provided by: Beacon News
Written by: Jen Horton