A Third-Generation Lakewoodite’s Plea: Keep Lincoln Open. Support Families. Honor Our Community.
- Preserve Lakewood Schools
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 15
[This post was submitted to us and requested to post without reference to the author's name.]
"As a third-generation Lakewoodite, I’m heartbroken and angry about what’s happening with the proposal to close or repurpose Lincoln Elementary.
My grandfather used to say: “When Lakewood stops passing school levies, that’s when you know it’s time to move out.”
And yet here we are — not because a levy failed, but because the district is talking about closing a school without even offering any other strategies. That should alarm every single one of us. Especially since we, the taxpayers, will continue to pay for a school (that hasn’t been paid off yet) that’s no longer there.
This process has been rushed and removed from public voice. Meghan George, our mayor, even said the plan lacks justification and is against it. The Elementary Task Force — made up of residents — was disbanded. And now a single unelected administrator is pushing a plan that undermines our neighborhood school model, with outdated data and no community buy-in.
And if that’s not enough, one Board member even said recently she’s “tired of the focus on parents who can stroll to school and chat with each other.”
Would you rather we all sit alone in cars, stuck in traffic, rushing between work, daycare, school pickups — with zero interaction with our neighbors or community?
We already live in a world where our heads are buried in phones, where connection is harder to find. Lakewood is one of the few places where connection still thrives — where we walk, talk, and show up for each other. That’s not something to roll your eyes at. It’s something to protect.
The financial gain is not worth the long term social impact to our city. There are other ways to be fiscally responsible, but in this situation, closing a school is not one of them.
What you can do:
Vote for Katie Slife Rustad and Monica Bruaw in the upcoming election on Nov. 4th.
Email the School Board. Here’s an email you can copy and send:
SUGGESTED EMAIL TO SEND TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
Subject: Keep Lincoln Open. Support Families. Honor Our Community.
Dear Board Members,
As a Lakewood resident and parent, I urge you to reject the proposal to close or repurpose Lincoln Elementary — and to pause this entire rushed process.
What’s most alarming is that this drastic decision is even being considered before any other strategy. Lakewood has always supported its schools. We’ve passed levies. We’ve invested hundreds of millions to rebuild — including Lincoln, which taxpayers are still paying off. Closing a brand-new school should not be Plan A, B, or even C. It shouldn’t be on the list at all.
Your role is not just to manage decline. You were elected to find solutions, create strategies, and protect what makes Lakewood vibrant — not to dismantle it quietly.
Equally concerning was a comment from a Board member expressing frustration with parents who “stroll to school and chat with each other.” That’s not a flaw in the system — it’s a feature. It’s the foundation of what makes Lakewood special.
Would you rather we sit behind the wheel, in traffic, rushing between school and work, with no interaction or connection? In a world already overrun with screens and stress, you’re proposing to take away one of the few places where real community still exists.
Young families are already stretched thin — balancing rising daycare costs, demanding workdays, and the constant struggle to find quality time with our children and community. Closing walkable neighborhood schools doesn’t just inconvenience us — it adds yet another weight to an already heavy load. It disrupts the delicate balance of family life, weakens our sense of community, and forces many to question whether raising children here is truly sustainable.
The plan to close Lincoln, shift critical programs like CHAMPS and RISE, and disrupt the lives of students who depend on consistency and connection is not “efficiency”, its disconnection.
And when our children suffer, our whole community suffers. Because educated children become engaged citizens. They become the nurses, teachers, small business owners, innovators, and leaders who will hold up the economy and culture of Lakewood long after we’re gone. Closing schools may feel like a financial decision today, but will have a social cost we cannot afford tomorrow.
We are not asking you to ignore financial realities. We are asking you to lead. That means:
Keeping Lincoln open
Reviewing all options
Restoring integrity, transparency, and trust in our district leadership
Remembering why you ran for this role in the first place
The people of Lakewood have done our part. Now we’re asking you to do yours — with vision, responsibility, and the integrity this city deserves.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Lakewood Resident & Voter
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