Photos: Price Lab Supporters Not Ready To Give Up On Their School

Price Lab is a family, supporters say.

That was one of the chants heard as hundreds of students, parents, teachers, education students and other community members marched across the UNI campus Friday.

The march came two days after UNI President , effective June 30.

Malcolm Price Laboratory School, which has 366 pre-K to 12th grade students enrolled this year, serves as the Research and Development School for Iowa and assists with UNI's teacher training program.

Allen said closing the school would save the university about $2 million annually, as well as the cost, estimated at up to $30 million, needed to renovate the aging building.

Supporters at the march said they aren't ready to give up on their school. Besides organizing the walk, they've started an online petition that had garnered over 4500 signatures as of Saturday morning.

They have also set up a website, Youtube channel, Facebook and Twitter pages and are planning trips to Des Moines to talk with legislatures.

The recommendation to close the school must be approved by first the Iowa Board of Regents, which to consider the issue for Monday, Feb. 27, as well as by the Iowa Legislature.

A community meeting to discuss the proposed closure as well as will be hosted by Sen. Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, at the Sunday, Feb. 26.

Organizers said they would march again next Friday.

Watch a video from the march: 

What do you think of the plans to close Price Lab? Tell us in the comments.

Here are some quotes from march participants:

"This is a really good school," Gus Andrews, a Price Lab first grader, said. "It has lots of students that help other students with learning."

"The main point here I think is closing Price Lab School really effects parents, teachers and students. It effects the whole state," said David Grant, who has children in kindergarten and third grade at Price Lab. "This is the premiere institution that promotes some quality among future educators."

"I support Cedar Falls schools, that's what this is about to me," Dave Deibler, a protest organizer and Price Lab parent, said. "There are people all over Cedar Falls and Iowa who want to see the UNI education program remain strong and to grow."

"I understand its tough. I get this, but I'm just not hearing any good answers. Where's the data on the best way to train student teachers?" Ron Hoofnagle, who has children in ninth and 11th grade at the school, said. "I'm here to listen. And to help push UNI to put a plan together. This is a big resource for getting teachers out in the world."

"I've been here since kindergarten. I'm a senior now," Price Lab student Jaren Bergman said. "We help the student teachers, and they help us so much."

"There have been threats of closing us in the past. We've always had the opportunity to make a case to save the school. Not this time," said Suzanne Freedman, a UNI faculty member who has done research at the school. 

"I'm quite honestly disgusted and heartbroken," Josh Thompson, a Price Lab 11th grader, said. "I would like to have them reconsider the decision and look at other options that are outside the box. They should give the school the same image and glory it had when it opened."