PORT ST. LUCIE — Shirley Littlefield’s eyes filled with tears as she picked up her daughter, third-grader Elizabeth, from what was truly her last day of school at Port St. Lucie Elementary.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Littlefield said. “We’re getting split up, and it hurts.”

The 34-year-old building closed its doors to students, teachers and staff on Wednesday as part of a plan to deal with St. Lucie County School District budget constraints.

Closing the school, as well as Southbend K-8 and Anglewood Center, which taught pregnant teens, is expected to save $30 million next year.

Littlefield wanted to spend all day at the school that is scheduled to be demolished. She witnessed a lot of hugging and T-shirt signing as teachers remained optimistic.

“They’re going to hug the kids, and they’re going to cry,” Littlefield said, “but they’re going to tell them how great they’re doing and how wonderful they’ll do no matter where they will go.”

She and her daughter are excited to go to Northport K-8 School next year where Principal Glenn Rustay and Assistant Principal Latasha Scurry are moving to fill their same positions.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much that sets my heart and my mind at ease,” Littlefield said.

Jennifer Gasparre’s kids, first-grader Marissa and kindergartner Joseph, are supposed to go to Mariposa Elementary, but she requested a transfer to Northport because so many of her children’s classmates are going there.

She went Wednesday to their last lunch time at the school that scored an “A” last year from the state Department of Education.

“It’s very upsetting,” she said. “The last couple days have been hard just knowing it’s happening.”

As a reading coach who has taught at the school for 31 years, Deb Mock will join about 13 other teachers at Northport.

Even though all faculty and staff got new jobs, she said the atmosphere has been bittersweet.

“We don’t want to leave,” said Mock as her voice cracked. “I’m very sad. There’s children here whose parents I had, and I’m watching them leave today.”

Former students who are now in high school visited her this week. She received many messages on Facebook, too.

“Everybody’s really sad because it’s such a good school,” Mock said.

During morning announcements, Port St. Lucie Vice Mayor Jack Kelly read a proclamation that honored Port St. Lucie Elementary Day.

Fort Pierce United Methodist Church provided breakfast for faculty and staff.

Mock also planned to hold an open house for them at her home after school.

“It’s such a family atmosphere,” Mock said. “We’ve done so much for the community. I’m sure that will continue, but I don’t know to what extent.”

By Laurie K. Blandford, TCPalm.com

Tags: budget, children, church, coach, communication, crack, education, elementary, housing, jobs, kids, kindergartner, parents, reading, Schools, students, teacher, teachers, teen, teens

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