Fox 8 News: "Why some elementary schools in Lakewood could close"

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By Stacey Frey

LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW) – A battle is brewing over the future of elementary schools in the city of Lakewood.

The school board is currently considering a proposal to close two of the city’s seven elementary schools to save money.

Parents are outraged and have been gathering support, most recently showing up in numbers at the Monday, April 7 school board meeting.

In next month, the Elementary Planning Task Force, which was “created to explore the optimal use and maintenance of District facilities” will make a recommendation to the superintendent.

The district says declining enrollment has left schools with excess capacity, and that closing 1 or 2 schools will save an estimated $500,000 a year.

Grant, Lincoln and Roosevelt are on the list for potential closure.

Those are the same schools which were rebuilt as part of a $100-million project a decade ago.

Addressing the school board on April 7, Lakewood resident Susan Hutner told them, “The community is saying they want their schools open. The community is saying that fiscal responsibility is not asking the community for bond money to rebuild three schools and then to abandon them.”

Alaina McCourt, the mother of two children who attend Lincoln Elementary told the school board, “The sentiment shared by myself and thousands of other Lakewood residents is that these costs to the quality of school district are not worth the savings.”

McCourt went on to say, “Closing or repurposing school buildings is a short term solution that doesn’t come close to covering the financial deficit that we find ourselves in.”

Many parents stood up to argue that the walkability of the community is a huge asset for families.

Amanda Keiber told school board members, “Walkability is about more than a mode of transportation to school. It’s about community building, environmental impact, physical well-being, and empowerment of our children.”

One father grew emotional. James Burge, the father of four children in Lakewood schools, apologized, saying, “Sorry, I’m kind of shaky. It’s because I’m so angry. I feel like, like my grandpa would say, I’m being zoomed. And that means that somebody’s taking advantage of you very quickly.”

Parents who formed “Preserve Lakewood Schools” plan to be in attendance for Monday’s regular school board meeting which will be held at Roosevelt Elementary School, 7pm, April 14.

The Task Force plans to give its recommendation to Superintendent Maggie Niedzwiecki in May.

Niedzwiecki will then pass on her recommendation to the Board of Education for a vote.