Save Collier Elementary: Keep Our Neighborhood School Open!

 

Collier Elementary is more than just a school building. It's a community, a place where children grow, friendships are formed, and families know they belong. Now, that community is at risk of being lost.

 

Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) has proposed closing Collier Elementary and consolidating its students into Bloom Elementary beginning in the 2027–2028 school year.

 

We are asking the TUSD Governing Board to reject this proposal and keep Collier Elementary open.

 

We understand that TUSD is facing difficult decisions as enrollment declines and financial pressures grow. We recognize that these challenges are real. But closing neighborhood schools should never be treated as a simple numbers game, especially when the consequences will be felt by children, families, and communities for years to come.

 

Collier's small size is often seen as a weakness on paper, but for many of our families, it's one of the school's greatest strengths. A close-knit school environment allows children to build meaningful relationships with their teachers, classmates, and staff. It gives families a sense of connection and belonging that cannot simply be transferred to another campus.

 

For the children who walk through Collier's doors every morning, this isn't about budgets or building capacity. It's about their school, their teachers, their friends, and the routines that help them feel safe and supported.

 

Closing Collier also raises serious questions. How much money will this consolidation actually save once transportation, staffing, and transition costs are considered? How will students and families be affected? Can the receiving school accommodate every student and provide the same level of support? And, perhaps most importantly, have all reasonable alternatives truly been explored?

 

Before making a decision that cannot easily be undone, we are asking TUSD to:

 

- Keep Collier Elementary open and reject the proposed consolidation into Bloom Elementary.

- Provide complete financial transparency, including projected savings, additional expenses, and the long-term financial impact of closing Collier.

- Fully evaluate alternatives to closure, with meaningful involvement from Collier families, educators, and community members.

- Prioritize students' educational and emotional well-being, including the importance of school stability, relationships, accessibility, and individualized support.

- Listen to the families and communities directly affected before making a final decision.

 

We are not opposed to responsible financial decisions. We are asking that those decisions truly serve the students and families TUSD exists to support.

 

Once a neighborhood school closes, reopening it is rarely simple. We risk losing not only a place of learning, but a gathering place, a community resource, and a piece of our neighborhood's identity.

 

Collier may be a small school, but that doesn't mean its impact is small.

 

We believe Collier is worth fighting for. We believe our children deserve stability, opportunity, and a voice in decisions that will shape their futures.

 

Please sign this petition to urge the TUSD Governing Board to keep Collier Elementary open. Whether you're a current parent, former student, educator, neighbor, or simply someone who values public education, your support matters.

 

Together, we can show TUSD that Collier is more than an enrollment number.

 

Save Collier. Keep our community together. 💙💛