Springfield Elementary School
Important information about Springfield Elementary School:
Capacity is listed at 73%. This percentage is higher than that of several other schools in Bay County.
Springfield Elementary School currently has 425 students enrolled with more than one half (228) of those students identified as Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students.
Of the 228 ESE students, 98 are enrolled through the School Choice Program. This is a testament to the dedication and support of the teachers, the parents and the community to our children’s education.
Springfield Elementary School currently has 9 full time ESE classes, 7 in grades kindergarten through 5th and 2 dedicated to Pre-K.
Springfield Elementary School is 1 of only 2 regular elementary schools in Bay County that provides cognitive classes for functional ESE students and is the only elementary school in Bay County that provides educational services for visually impaired ESE students. Many of the visually impaired students have been attending Springfield Elementary since they were babies and have learned to navigate the school’s campus with ease. The impact on these students alone could create enormous setbacks in their educational development.
Money should not be the most important issue in deciding our children’s educational needs. Our emphasis has to be on providing substantial, sustainable education for our children in order to continue the economic growth needed in Bay County. Saving money by combining schools will only provide a short term gain if at all. The loss may not be felt immediately but eventually it will cost all of us for years to come.
The proposed closure of Springfield Elementary is something that I am in strong opposition of. I urge every citizen and every parent of a child that attends Springfield Elementary to attend the Bay County School Board Workshop at Springfield Elementary School in the Cafeteria on January 15th, 2009 at 5:30p.m. It is very important for all of us to show our support and stand up for our school to ensure future generations have the opportunity to receive the quality of education that we have, generation after generation. Contact the members of the Bay County School Board. Tell them about the rewards of commitment to our children’s education by keeping Springfield Elementary open. By defending our school, each of us will be preserving our community and a way of life for our children. We are the stakeholders. Our children are the stakeholders. Our community at large is a stakeholder and our voices need to be heard.
Thank you.
Mayor Robert E. Walker
