Officials, residents debate proposed consolidation of Long Branch and R.O. Brown; implementation delayed to 2027–28

Councilwoman Pittman convened city and school officials and community members to discuss the Duval County School Board’s recommendation to consolidate R.O. Brown and Long Branch Elementary and to explore ways to preserve neighborhood schools as nearby development increases.

The matter, Daryl Willie, Duval County School Board member for District 4, said, stems from persistent underenrollment across parts of the district. "We have schools that are now under utilized and or under enrolled," Willie said, adding that the superintendent recommended consolidation and the board voted to approve it, but implementation was pushed to the 2027–28 school year to allow more time for planning and possible alternatives.

Why it matters: Council members and residents argued the timing risks losing neighborhood anchors at a moment the city expects substantial development. "When you give folks too many options… it completely eviscerates these traditional public schools," said Councilman Jimmy Palooza, who warned that new housing projects near Lot J and in the East Side could change enrollment patterns if closures proceed without coordination.

City staff described development plans that could affect student counts. Aaron Abney, chief of current planning, said the planning department is working on an East Side overlay and Land Development Regulation recommendations to make it easier to build infill housing near existing utilities and transportation corridors. Ed Randolph of the Office of Economic Development pointed to recent private investments in the East Side and Northwest Jacksonville and cited Community Benefits Agreement dollars and incentives designed to attract residential and commercial projects.

Housing staff said projects are already moving forward. "We had nine applications for the 9% tax credit deal… Phoenix Arts Village won the 9% deal," Travis Jeffrey, chief of housing, said, and several closed school sites have been repurposed for affordable housing — he identified Cedar Hills and Lake Forest as recent examples and estimated the related projects add roughly 120 units each.

Community responses were strong. Public commenters urged alternatives to closure, local control, and reuse strategies. Carnell Oliver told the panel the Northwest side needs its own governance and local investment; James Matchett warned closures lead to higher transportation costs and to school buildings being leased or converted into charters, which can further erode district enrollment. Jackie Lattimore proposed transforming a Long Branch annex into a vocational center; Diana J. Williams and others urged preserving historic school names and markers.

On service impacts and access, council members raised transportation and equity concerns about charter schools, noting some charters provide bus service and others do not — a disparity that can affect families when neighborhood schools close.

What happens next: Pittman said the city will schedule a follow-up meeting with Superintendent Christopher Bernier and school-board members to develop a joint implementation plan. Bernier told the panel he supports buying more time to work with the city to raise enrollment and to collaborate on site reuse, and said he would support retaining historical names or placing markers if buildings are redeveloped.

The conversation is expected to continue in a joint session with the superintendent and additional board members; no final change to either school’s status will take effect before the 2027–28 school year, per the board’s deferred timeline.