Members of a Pearce Middle School Advisory Committee outlined their plans to state education officials Thursday night about why they think their school should remain open.

Recent proposals aimed to close the low-performing school and transfer its students to other campuses. But many are wary about what transfer schools officials have in mind.

One committee member said Pearce should be given the same opportunity as other previous low-performing schools that have turned things around.

"They're showing that they are improving, so it would be ridiculous to ship them out when we are in a recovery mode and we are moving forward," committee member Deanna Mercer said.

Mercer says the school's new principal and staff have made positive strides in reading, writing and arithmetic.