School board members were considering a proposal from Superintendent James McCalister to repurpose or close some Bay County campuses, but students and teachers spoke out in strong opposition, and Monday board members voted unanimously to withdraw those policy changes. This means Millville Elementary and A.D. Harris will remain open.

"Education is not one size fits all. We have to have that resource available and I feel very strongly about that, so I'm happy today that A.D. Harris is going to be around for those kids next year and we really do need community support for that," said Melanie Kelley, former A.D. Harris employee.

Originally, board members said this would be a good opportunity to move Margaret K. Lewis students into Millville's building because the current campus is in need of renovations.

"I want Margaret K. Lewis to get the coverage they need for their portico done as soon as possible so those children can load their buses and not get absolutely rained on all the time. But we're going to start stepping up to the plate before we do other things to make sure Margaret K. Lewis is not left behind," said Pat Sabiston, a school board member.

School officials also need to decide whether to move forward with canceling the Emerald Bay Academy Contract.

Unlike annual contract employees with the county, who were notified in May they would be losing their job, Emerald Bay employees are still waiting.

"I am one of the annual contract teachers who’s done everything I was supposed to, but I was told I did not have a job based on the budget. So if this is the case, I feel sorry for the teachers at Emerald Bay who don't know whether or not they have a job come August," said Francis Gordon, annual contract teacher with the county.

No matter which way they slice it, the bottom line is they have to cut $20.2 million from the budget, and time is quickly running out.

"Somebody somewhere, somehow, some facilities are going to be on the burner and it's getting hot," said Ginger Littleton, a school board member.