TAMPA, Fla. — Leaders from Bay area school districts say they've depended on the University of South Florida to supply educated applicants for teaching positions for decades.

And those school officials are concerned once the school’s College of Education closes there will be a large void of qualified local teacher candidates.

Superintendents from six Bay area school districts took part in a community meeting Friday to discuss the issue.

They were shocked when USF announced its plans and they call it "devastating.”

School districts rely heavily on USF for teacher training, hiring hundreds of USF graduates each year.

At the meeting, superintendents said the Bay area is still growing and the demand for teachers is strong. They said if the College of Education closes it will affect the entire community.

"The phasing out of the College of Education's undergraduate program will essentially send our areas most talented future teachers to other communities," said Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis. "Away from our local school districts and ultimately impact our children."

The superintendents are asking USF to re-consider, saying they'd like to work with the school to find ways to boost enrollment and improve the courses being offered.

"There are many, many examples of fine universities across this country that take colleges of education seriously," said Pinellas County Superintendent Michael Grego. "We just want to be one of them."

USF officials say the move is due to budget cuts and a drop in enrollment for its decision to only offer graduate degrees in education.

Judith Ponticell, interim dean of USF's college of education, says they're looking for the best options.

"We have challenges but we have no intention of abandoning teacher preparation," she said.

The university says the move is still in the early stages and that USF is willing to hear from the superintendents and work together to find a solution.