We are requesting to keep Largo Central Elementary open. Many of our Largo Central families have had second generations of students attending the school and take pride in that. We are currently and have been an A school, Title 1 school, 5-Star Awards school, and an Award Winning PTA; proving how huge our Parent and Grandparent Involvement is. We promote Character Commitment, peer mentoring, responsibility and safety, with our safety patrols. We are conviently close to the library where our classes take many field trips a year and able to keep costs down by walking (it's so close). Many families moved into their homes, knowing they can attend all 3 levels of school with a good sense of safety and stability for our children(which is needed for many of them)and knowing they would never be forced to ride a bus. Having Largo Central, Largo Middle and Largo High all within a 1 mile radius has allowed more children to stay in school and not drop out. They are more apt to stay in school and graduate. Largo Central is a community school with a strong begining for our children. Closing our school will break bonds between the 3 schools. We have volunteer and mentor students from Largo High that come and help our children. We understand you want to close Largo Central in order to make renovations to Largo High. Some alternatives: 1)make a two story school and parking lot for Largo High. 2)move our school closer to Largo Middle. Thousands of dollars was just recently put into our school to make it suitable for an evacuation site, being in the highest flood zone area in Largo. Where will those evacuees go There was also a new kindergarten playground installed and a new air conditioning unit. Why do all that and spend that money to close us down Keeping Largo Central open simply means - keeping a "family" school open with tremendous parental support and involvement supported by an outstanding staff, faculty and administration.