To the Florida-Bahamas Synod (ELCA) and Bishop Pedro Suárez,

We, the undersigned parents, educators, and community members, are updating our appeal with a sense of profound betrayal. While we originally sought a collaborative solution to address a "fiscal deficit," we have now uncovered that the Florida-Bahamas Synod has quietly listed the Good Shepherd property for commercial sale and demolition, with an aggressive all-cash offer deadline of March 20th, 2026.

The Timeline of Deception
While Bishop Pedro Suárez publicly claimed to be "actively exploring" partnerships with parents to find a sustainable model, the Synod was simultaneously marketing our children’s school as a "rare development opportunity" for "immediate delivery."

You do not "explore options" with families while setting a 24-day deadline for demolition offers. This is not a "season of sadness"—it is a calculated fire sale designed to liquidate a community asset before the families who built it can react.

 
A Thriving School, Not a "Fiscal Burden"
The Synod’s narrative of a "financial shortfall" is directly contradicted by the immense community and federal investment in this school:

• $250,000 COVID Grant: Federal funds intended to stabilize this business.
• $60,000 Private Donation: A brand-new playground that is now being marketed as part of a "demolition" sale.
• Annual Support: Tens of thousands of dollars raised annually by parents who have been ignored by leadership.

Good Shepherd is a financially sound organization serving 67 children and 58 families, and employing 14 dedicated professionals. To dismantle this successful community lifeline during a regional childcare crisis—where waitlists are currently 2–3 years long—is an ethical failure of the highest order.

 
Our Urgent Demands
We have made two formal requests to meet and bridge the "financial gap." Both have been ignored. We now demand the following:

1. Halt the Sale: 
   Immediately withdraw the commercial listing and cancel the March 20th offer deadline.Immediate Meeting with the Synod Council: We demand a meeting with Bishop Suárez and the Council to discuss a path forward that preserves the school.
2. Financial Transparency:
   Disclose exactly where the $310,000+ in recent grants and donations has gone.
3. Community Partnership:
   We are prepared to use our professional resources to ensure the school’s sustainability, but we will not be displaced for a real estate check.

Good Shepherd belongs to the children and the community that sustained it, not to a Synod looking for a payday.

We will not stand by while 67 children are traded for land value.

Sign to demand the Florida-Bahamas Synod stops the sale and saves our school.