Community Voices: "We have what other communities want. Please don’t throw it away."

The Sikes Family

Lakewood resident Bonnie Sikes shared the following comments at Lakewood School Board's meeting on May 19, at Garfield Middle School.

My name is Bonnie Sikes and I live on Arthur Ave.

I am a lifelong resident of Lakewood, and a graduate of Lakewood High.  Our two children, Michelle and Roger also graduated from LHS.  During the Roosevelt meeting they both felt compelled to speak about their positive experiences walking to Grant School.

I’ve attended recent Board meetings at Grant, Roosevelt and Lincoln.  During the last meeting board members “summed up” reasons to close a school which included lack of collaboration among teachers, a reluctance to move teachers around and uneven class sizes.  This is hardly adequate justification to close a neighborhood school.  At that meeting I agreed with an attorney who stated that closing schools is an existential community change requiring a burden of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt”.

You have asked for feedback and a concerned public has responded.  There has been an overwhelming mandate from both parents and other community members advocating to keep the 7 schools open.

So what happens now?  Do you move forward on closing a school because a task force was formed with that apparent purpose in mind?  Of course not.

There are many studies and plans gathering dust because wise people knew when not to act.  It is OK to conduct a study, listen to feedback and then maintain the status quo.

The citizens of Lakewood have enjoyed a century of value from something unique to our community.  Current trends are moving from dependence on the car to walkable solutions.  

We have what other communities want.  Please don’t throw it away.

Let’s keep all seven elementary schools.