A new recommendation could postpone the proposed consolidation of Long Branch Elementary and R.L. Brown until August 2028.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The future of two longtime Jacksonville elementary schools took center stage at a community meeting Thursday, where Duval County Public Schools leaders discussed allowing families more time before proceeding with a proposed consolidation.
District officials are recommending a pause on school closures and consolidations in Jacksonville’s historic Eastside through August 2028. If approved, the move would delay the planned merger of Long Branch Elementary School and R. L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy.
Parents at Long Branch said the additional time could give residents a chance to develop a plan to preserve their neighborhood school.
“When I heard that Long Branch was going to close, I was pretty devastated. Long Branch does a lot for me and my child,” said Megan Sims, whose child attends the school.
Dialin Morales, a parent of two Long Branch students, said the school has created a welcoming and dependable environment for children and their families.
“To have somewhere loving and caring, providing education and pouring into the kids as an adult should in the educational system — I will say that Long Branch does it for me,” Morales said.
Long Branch Elementary has been part of Jacksonville’s historic Eastside since 1917.
In December 2025, the Duval County School Board approved a plan to combine Long Branch with R. L. Brown Elementary. The consolidation was later pushed to 2027 to provide more time for community conversations.
District staff are now proposing that the timeline be extended again, this time until 2028.
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The additional time would be used to work with parents, residents and community partners on a sustainable plan as development and investment continue across the Eastside.
School Board Member Reginald Blount, who represents District 5, said Jacksonville’s ongoing growth was one reason leaders wanted to reassess the consolidation proposal.
“We’ve pushed it because we realize the city is changing, with the Jaguars and all the development. We felt it was time to take another look, talk with the community and come up with better plans and ideas rather than the school district simply putting plans out and saying, ‘This is what it is.’ We wanted to hear from the community,” Blount said.
Sims and Morales both said they plan to attend Monday’s School Board meeting and speak in support of keeping Long Branch open.
“We’re just thankful, and hopefully everything works out so Long Branch can stay open because we need that school,” Sims said.
Morales said she believes the Eastside community has the strength to influence the decision.
“We’re just hoping for a positive outcome. The Eastside community is strong — much stronger than a lot of people may give it credit for. We can make it happen,” Morales said.
Even with the proposed delay, parents said major questions remain about what it would take to keep Long Branch operating, including enrollment, transportation and the resources required for long-term stability.
The School Board is expected to vote on the recommendation Monday. Thursday’s community meeting did not result in a final decision.
