Closing Sir Guy Carleton Elementary would rip the heart out of the surrounding community, school supporters said Sunday.

Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix, joined by Parents’ Advisory Council member Ann Wong made an impassioned plea to keep the elementary school off Vancouver School Board’s chopping block as it attempts to bridge a $16 million budget gap.

“It is simply wrong to have this impact on a school community in pursuit of what are quite minimal savings on a half-a-billion-dollar budget,” Dix said.

Closing Carleton Elementary would save the board about $400,000 but disperse more than 380 students to eight surrounding schools, according to Dix, who was behind a 7,000-signature petition to save the school.

He added school enrollment is expected to remain steady over the next decade with potential for a spike in numbers as property development continues along Kingsway.

Grade 6 student Kaitlin Wong said she wants to stay at Carleton Elementary because it’s the only school she’s ever known.

“I’d be really sad about it and all my friends would be too. I think that maybe, if I do move, I would go into some kind of sad emotions and be really mad at the school board and I don’t want to feel like that.

“I just want to stay here.”

A public forum on the fate of f the school is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight at Windermere Secondary School.

Click here for more from 24 Hours