Gainesville City Commission Expresses Concerns Over Proposed School Closures in East Gainesville

Commission hears Gun Violence Prevention Alliance's 5-year Strategic Plan and voices worries about impact of school closures on community

Feb. 17, 2026 at 9:31pm

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At a recent Gainesville City Commission meeting, the Commission heard the Gun Violence Prevention Alliance's 5-year Strategic Plan and expressed concerns about proposed school closures in East Gainesville. The Strategic Plan outlined 10 key objectives for reducing gun violence, including starting early with kids, helping young men build strong futures, and improving data transparency. However, several commissioners voiced worries that closing elementary schools in East Gainesville could negatively impact the community and undermine efforts to address gun violence and improve education access.

Why it matters

The proposed school closures in East Gainesville are seen as potentially undermining the city's investments in the area and could have a detrimental impact on the community's psyche and trust in local government. Commissioners argued that access to quality education is a key factor in preventing gun violence, so the loss of neighborhood schools could exacerbate the very issues the Gun Violence Prevention Alliance is trying to address.

The details

The Gainesville City Commission heard the Gun Violence Prevention Alliance's 5-year Strategic Plan, which outlined 10 key objectives including starting early with kids, helping young men build strong futures, improving anger management and conflict resolution skills, and increasing data transparency. However, several commissioners expressed concerns about the School Board's plans to close Rawlings Elementary, Foster Elementary, and Duval Early Learning Center in East Gainesville. Commissioners argued these closures could undermine the city's investments in the area and make the community less walkable, as well as potentially discouraging students from attending school altogether.

  • The Gainesville City Commission met as the General Policy Committee on February 12, 2026.
  • The School Board plans to vote on the rezoning maps on March 12, 2026, to be ready for the Fall 2026 school year.

The players

Brandy Stone

Director of Community Health Initiatives who introduced the Strategic Plan presentation.

Roslyn Rice and Renee Scott

Consultants from the firm DPI who developed the Strategic Plan.

Brittany Coleman

Gun Violence Intervention Program Manager who listed the 'success measures' and objectives of the Strategic Plan.

Mayor Harvey Ward

Gainesville mayor who expressed concerns about how data on gun violence is communicated to the public.

Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker

Gainesville city commissioner who voiced concerns about the proposed school closures in East Gainesville.

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What they’re saying

“If we're letting [the media] lead the conversation on what is happening with gun violence, that doesn't help our community, or components of our community, see the story and understand what is really happening.”

— Mayor Harvey Ward

“I hope that as that staff grows,… that we're doing that in a very conscious and very intentional way, and that members of the leadership team will expand to include African American men and individuals who represent the most impacted communities.”

— Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker

“If you can't read, you can't do anything, and when we understand the statistics that young African American students are staring down the barrel at — because that's the equity issue — we're looking at potential catastrophe amongst a certain group of students because of a lack of access.”

— Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker

What’s next

The Gun Violence Prevention Alliance Strategic Plan will be presented to the Alachua County Commission on February 24, 2026 and discussed at a joint City and County Commission meeting on March 9, 2026. The Gainesville City Commission is also considering sending a polite request to the School Board to delay its decision on the proposed school closures, which is currently scheduled for a vote on March 12, 2026.

The takeaway

The Gainesville City Commission's concerns about the proposed school closures in East Gainesville highlight the complex interplay between education access, community investment, and efforts to address gun violence. As the city and county work to implement the Gun Violence Prevention Alliance's strategic plan, maintaining neighborhood schools and educational opportunities will be crucial to the long-term success of these initiatives and building trust within impacted communities.