Shelly, an African spurred tortoise, has lived a pretty good life these past 24 years in the Ecology Center at Scenic Hills Elementary School in Springfield.
But now school officials are closing the Center and Shelly, along with his other creature companions, has to go.
The decision has prompted a letter writing campaign from students and parents to keep the Center open, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.
The Ecology Center is an outdoor learning environment with a pond, stream and grassy area where children learn about the importance of nature, interacting with Shelly and a myriad of ducks, box turtles, frogs and fish.
The Center’s founder and caretaker, teacher Donna Storti, is retiring, and the district can’t guarantee it can maintain the Ecology Center.
Officials are concerned about safety and health issues surrounding the facility.
Beth Ely, parent of a fifth-grader and soon-to-be second grader, started a change.org petition Friday to save the Ecology Center.
It has already gotten over 2,100 signatures. A protest outside the school is scheduled today.
“The kids are devastated,” said Ely. “The community is outraged. We built this little ecosystem and now they are destroying it.”
Read more about Scenic Hill’s Ecology Center in the Daily Times.
