West Babylon parents and students wanted to send a message to school board members as the future of Forest Avenue Elementary School hangs in the balance - save our school.

As part of its long-range plan, the West Babylon Union Free School District is considering consolidating from five to four elementary schools, as well as shifting around the grades at each school.

If approved, the move would shut down Forest Avenue Elementary School. The district is currently determining whether to have a K-5 grade group or K-2, 3-5 grade group at the remaining schools.

Kelly Anne Zimmardi met her future maid of honor when she went to Forest Avenue Elementary. She says she doesn't get why the school would close.

"We just want answers. We just really want them to listen to us,” she said. “Listen to our kids. Listen to the parents."

The district argues it could make between $770,000 to $1.5 million if the building is leased out, a move that could diminish a budget deficit.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, a West Babylon High School student said the budget deficit has impacted a lot in the district’s schools, including AP and elective classes being offered.

News 12 asked the district how shutting down Forest Avenue Elementary could impact the budget deficit.

The district shared a Q&A sheet from December which said in part, "The savings and revenue would help maintain student programs, reinstate programs that were reduced and/or eliminated and generate additional revenue."

Forest Avenue Elementary parents, like Michael Caparso, of West Babylon, says his son’s school shouldn’t shutter because of the budget deficit. 

"And when he asks daddy, 'why is that happening?' The only thing I can come up with is, 'Well son, they're closing because somebody doesn't know how to pay their bills,'" said Caparso. "No kid should have to be affected by the incompetence of adults who failed to balance a budget."

Alicia DeMonte, of West Babylon, is the Forest Avenue PTA president and has had three generations of her family attend the school. She wonders whether the move is worth the toll it takes on the little learners.

"If your only solution is going to be you're going to close a school, where's the rest of the money coming from? And so why disrupt all this for pennies, if you don't have a longer picture in plan," she said.

There are two more public meetings to learn about and comment on the proposed plans.

A long-range planning public hearing is happening on Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. The proposed plans will also be part of the Board of Education consent agenda during the regular meeting on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Both meetings will take place at West Babylon High School.