OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – Two Marion County School Board members said Thursday that the clearest message from this week’s meetings on the former Central Elementary School building was a plea to not tear the building down.
The district held the meetings at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in the Browne Greaton Cole Auditorium, 1614 E. Fort King St., to hear public input on the property at 512 SE Third St. In a Sept. 29 press release, Marion County Public Schools Director of Public Relations Kevin Christian said the former district office, which is also known as the former Central Elementary School, closed in December 2022 because of facility and environmental concerns. The board is considering selling the building and property and scheduled the meetings to gauge community sentiment before any decision is made, according to the release.
What the community said
Board member Nancy Thrower, who attended the Thursday, October 8, 2026, work session, said the request she heard was direct.
“My simple takeaway was the community is basically pleading with us to not tear down that building,” Thrower said during the session. “Whatever happens, whatever we do with it, whatever, please just don’t tear it down. That’s what I walked away with.”…