LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After 65 years, Miss Selma’s School announced the elementary school will be closing in a statement on Wednesday, July 21.
"We will not open next month for the 2021 – 2022 school year, as we had hoped and planned," the statement read.
Miss Selma's School referenced "heartbreaking events of last year" that have caused the school to close before the beginning of the new school year.
In May, a teaching assistant was arrested and charged with producing child pornography.
April Teoulet, whose child was enrolled at the school, said everything was going smoothly up to that point. She said after after that incident, enrollment went down and the school was unable to recover.
"I had heard rumors, you know, on different mom groups that the school might be closing, but we hoped and hoped it wouldn't because it really is such a great place to send your kid," she said.
Teoulet said she is devastated by the news. She sent her child there for several years and spoke highly of the institution.
"The educational system was absolutely amazing," Teoulet said. "I cannot stress enough how much those teachers loved their students and poured their all into teaching them everyday."
With the school now set to close, they're currently preparing to reimburse families that have already paid tuition for the school year.
"We are in the process of making arrangements to issue full refunds to all families for the upcoming school year," the school said.
"We are deeply sorry to have to take this step. It has been our deepest joy and highest honor to teach your children over the years, and we thank you for that opportunity. Please tell your children how much we will miss them and how much we love them."
Miss Selma's School taught children beginning at age 2 to the sixth grade.