The Jacksonville School District 117 is currently considering drastic cutbacks that may include CLOSING some neighborhood elementary schools. The undersigned urge the Jacksonville School District 117 to renovate ALL Elementary Schools instead of closing any of them. Closing our neighborhood schools would be detrimental to our neighborhoods, would lower property values, and would decrease the neighborhood population. We, the homeowners, parents, business owners and residents of Jacksonville DO NOT want ANY Elementary School closed because IT IS POSSIBLE to renovate and update older school buildings successfully. 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 help to 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 districts. By signing this petition, we want the Jacksonville School District 117 Board Members, and Administration, to know that we OPPOSE any plans to close Jacksonville's Neighborhood Elementary Schools, and ask the School Board to rescind their decision to close Franklin Elementary School.