SAVE Our Neighborhood Schools

Protecting our neighborhood Eau Claire schools and the kids who depend on them

WE NEED YOUR HELP

The Eau Claire Area School District has shared preliminary proposals to close one neighborhood elementary school and to close and repurpose another as a choice program school only, with Flynn, Longfellow, and Roosevelt Schools under consideration. Closing neighborhood schools hurts kids, families, and the entire Eau Claire community. We believe in equity, transparency, and strong neighborhood schools and we want real community input in any final decisions.

This means:

Neighborhood kids would be bussed out and split across multiple elementary schools.
Families would lose access to a walkable, community school.
Property values will decrease without the appeal of top-tier schools.

We believe there’s a better way.

Why NeighBorHood Schools Matter

Equity & Student Impact

Flynn, Longfellow, and Roosevelt are meeting state expectations while serving higher concentrations of vulnerable students than the district overall.
Closing schools that are working risks widening achievement gaps and displacing the very kids who need stability most.
Closing and repurposing a neighborhood school into a “choice” program can exclude the children most affected by that school's closure.

Community Impact

Neighborhood schools are anchors of community identity- once lost, they can’t be replaced.
Closing neighborhood schools and moving kids out can hurt neighborhood vitality and lower property values.
Shuffling displaced students increases class sizes at other schools, straining resources for everyone.
Eau Claire is one of the fastest-growing cities in Wisconsin. Closing schools now means capacity problems in the future.

Accountability & Transparency

Families deserve to be part of this decision-making process: “Nothing about us without us.”
The district should pause its consideration of closures until there is a clear, transparent plan that centers on equity and includes meaningful community involvement.

View Report

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Sign the Petition

Sign Now

Take Our Survey

Take Survey

Show Up

Meeting Schedule

Contact School Board

Contact

FAQ

1. What’s happening with our neighborhood schools?

The school district is considering closing two neighborhood schools as part of a long-term facilities plan. These closures would mean longer bus rides for many students, larger class sizes in the remaining schools, and fewer walkable options for families. We believe there’s a better way forward — one that prioritizes keeping our neighborhood schools open, investing wisely, and putting students and communities first.

2. Won’t saving our neighborhood schools make our taxes go up?

No — keeping our neighborhood schools open does not increase taxes. The school district’s budget comes from a fixed pool of state and local funding that is already approved. Closing schools doesn’t save as much money as it seems, because buildings still require maintenance and transportation costs often go up when students are bused farther away. In other words: we’re advocating for better use of existing resources, not higher taxes.

3. If we close schools, won’t class sizes get smaller for my child since the staff will follow to their schools?

Actually, the opposite tends to happen when schools close. When neighborhood schools are shut down, students are moved into already full classrooms elsewhere — leading to larger, more crowded class sizes. Keeping schools open helps maintain manageable class sizes and ensures every child gets the attention they deserve. It’s about balancing enrollment across the district, not creating excess classrooms.

4. Isn’t this campaign just against the Montessori school or its expansion?

Not at all. We support all forms of quality education, including Montessori. Our campaign isn’t about one school — it’s about ensuring all Eau Claire students have access to strong neighborhood schools close to home. The concern is about how decisions are made and the potential impact on equity and resources across the district, not about any single program or school.

5. How can I help?

There are lots of ways to make a difference!

Stay informed: Follow our Facebook page for updates and share posts to spread awareness.
Show up: Attend school board meetings, neighborhood meetings, and rallies to make your voice heard.
Speak up: Write or call school board members to share why neighborhood schools matter to you.
Take action: Sign our petition, take our survey, and invite others to join. Every voice helps us show the community cares deeply about our schools.