Due to a significant shortfall in the Lawrence school district budget, the school board is considering closing neighborhood elementary schools.

We the undersigned support the rich tradition of Lawrence neighborhood schools and oppose their closure. We believe there are alternatives to solving this crisis. This is a temporary budgetary crisis that demands temporary solutions. Closing a school is a permanent action that harms education. It also threatens neighborhoods by reducing property values, causing an exodus of homeowners, and eliminating a community focal point. Studies show smaller neighborhood schools reduce the achievement gap, provide better education and bridge socio-economic differences. Neighborhood schools are sites of educational excellence, and are anchors for their neighborhoods and our historic downtown.

The district serves our entire community. We need to share the burden of this economic crisis.