AUSTIN, Texas – An East Austin school is getting a cash boost after a board vote Monday night.

However, parents and advocates fear that boost will spell disaster for a neighboring campus.

More than $20 million is available to fix up an East Austin school, but the community said the money should help two schools instead. 

Citing under-enrollment and low academic performance, the Austin Independent School District staff recommended using the cash to modernize Norman Elementary School, which might leave nearby Sims Elementary out of the conversation.

The fear is by leaving one campus out, the school will eventually close forcing its student population to the other.

“If you take the school out of the community what you’re basically doing is breaking up that community,” said School Preservationist Jim Harrington.

Advocates said both schools serve a role that goes beyond the classroom. To them, the schools provide a sense of identity.

“Every neighborhood school contributes to the identity of that area of the town. You have, for example, Norman you have the community all around here. This is the neighborhood school,” said Harrington.

Investing in both campuses would prove that district leaders have a bigger vision for the future, according to advocates.

“This is a growing community this part of east side and they’re going to have more and more students come. It offers a good opportunity to have a very diverse pair of elementary schools,” said Harrington.