1. Where is Anthony Elementary going?
At this time, no formal decision has been made regarding Anthony Elementary. It has been proposed to move Anthony to the Sparr campus if a new school is built there.
2. Where is the $72 million budget coming from to “enlarge” Sparr Elementary?
While discussion is underway to build a new school on the Sparr campus, there is no $72 million budget to do so. For reference, Winding Oaks and Ross Prairie Elementary Schools were built for about $46 million each and opened this past August.
3. Are you moving Sparr Elementary? It is landlocked.
Sparr is not being moved and is not landlocked.
4. Why isn’t there a Charter school in the North Marion Middle School area?
While five charter schools have agreements with the Marion County School Board, no entity has applied to open a charter school near North Marion Middle School.
5. Is this related to the new vape shop or Equestrian Center down the street in Anthony?
Proposed school projects have nothing to do with any vape shop or equestrian center.
6. If the cost to keep Anthony running per year is $3 million, why spend $83 million to build a new school to house Sparr and Anthony combined? When $85 million could keep Anthony open for 28.33 years.
There is no $83 million budget for a new elementary school. The Anthony campus is aging and requires considerable maintenance costs every year. A new facility would be more modern in its infrastructure and daily operations, more efficient to operate, and require less maintenance funding.
7. What steps is the District taking to ensure equitable access to quality education and resources for all students, especially those from underserved communities?
MCPS is required by state and federal laws to provide equitable access to quality education and resources for all students. Some of these steps include Title funding, technology use, highly qualified teachers, and School Choice options across the district.
8. Are there any plans to add a new school on the North side?
No formal decision has been made; however, discussions are underway to possibly combine Anthony and Sparr Elementary Schools into one school and build a new facility on the current Sparr campus.
9. Why are you thinking about closing the school? Why are you closing my school?
There has been no decision made by the Marion County School Board or the district to close any schools. The conversations during work sessions and board meetings are ideas to consolidate and be better stewards of taxpayer dollars.
10. Why has my daughter, who has an IEP and autism/ADHD, been switched to multiple schools and multiple teachers every year, causing instability? How will the district ensure that all schools are prepared to fully meet IEP requirements if students are transitioned back to their zoned schools next year?
The services required on the IEP are not based on the program's location. We implement the student's IEP goals in the school they attend. As we grow and expand, we add new classrooms to support all students. If we can offer a program at the student’s base school, it is not necessary to bus students to alternate locations.
12. What is Sparr Elementary’s capacity? Will portable classrooms be required to accommodate Anthony students?
Sparr Elementary currently enrolls 423 students with a FISH capacity of 414, resulting in 102% utilization. If students are added to that campus, additional classroom space must be provided via portable classrooms, a wing addition, or a new facility to accommodate the entire enrollment.
13. What are you planning to do with a vacant school campus? Or will it sit empty?
The School Board can sell property not currently used for academic purposes and return it to the tax rolls to generate tax dollars.
14. Our community is concerned about the future of our smaller North Marion schools. Will a community impact study be done before closing any schools?
Current conversations focus on school utilization factors, including student enrollment and capacity counts. The Attendance Boundary Advisory Committee will make recommendations to the superintendent regarding the future of under-utilized school facilities. The Marion County School Board must make any final decision regarding a school’s status.