. >> we're on our way to the jose melendez ayala school, which was closed just before the school year began. but the community has refused to leave until the secretary of education pays them a visit. >> so this is the school? >> yeah, this is the school. >> so this is mainly parents? >> these are parents, teachers, that are waiting for us to get here. >> when police arrived to clear the school out, the community made a stand. they've been camped outside for three months, welding the front gates shut so no-one can get in. they still hold the keys to the back entrance, with help from a neighboring church. mayra tapia taught here for decades. >> so this was your classroom. we can go inside? it's still open. her old classroom is on the other side of this door. >> this is the first time you've been up here since it closed? >> yes. >> must be a big change for you? >> have you seen inside since then? >> i'm just waiting. >> the school's former students here have been relocated to bigger schools further away. but each day after class, many return to this one, including one of mayra's former s