Lakewood School Board Votes to Close Lincoln Elementary Amidst Lack of Plan and Alleged Legal Violations, But Voters Can Reverse This Decision on November 4th
- Preserve Lakewood Schools
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
LAKEWOOD, OH – Tonight, the Lakewood Board of Education voted against the expressed interests of Lakewood residents when it voted to close Lincoln Elementary School, redraw the boundary lines of all six remaining elementaries, and shuffle the locations of the district’s special education programs. The vote came immediately following a community-led protest held earlier in the evening which several hundred residents attended. See photos from the protest.
Preserve Lakewood Schools, a grassroots coalition of thousands of Lakewood resident, strongly opposes this decision as shortsighted, unnecessary, and harmful to families, neighborhoods, and the long-term health of our public school system and our city. But this decision is not final, and voters have the power to reverse it in just 15 days.
Preserve Lakewood Schools calls on residents to focus on what’s next - on Nov. 4th, reforming the school board by voting in Katie Slife Rustad and Monica Bruaw, who have committed to overturning this disappointing and misguided decision.
"The Board ignored the district's own data and the voices of thousands of Lakewood residents," said Katie Slife Rustad, who is running for Board of Education and received Preserve Lakewood Schools’ endorsement. "This decision negatively impacts hundreds of children and families, and our entire community. Lakewoodites understand that a strong public school system is essential for maintaining equity among our diverse populations, maintaining property values of residents who have set their roots here, and maintaining a good quality of life in Ohio’s most densely populated city. We don’t have (or need) school buses in walkable Lakewood, so proximity to school is of the utmost importance for children to access education.”
The School District’s Own Enrollment Data Does Not Support Closing Any Schools
The district's own February 2025 study undercuts all of the school board’s narrative about declining elementary enrollment. And that is without any targeted marketing efforts to increase enrollment. The district’s own treasurer said Lakewood has “stable enrollment.”
Despite these numbers, and dozens of other fundamental flaws in this process, the Board chose to consolidate.
The City-Wide Decision is Being Made Unilaterally by a Handful of People
The Board shut down the Elementary Planning Task Force in June 2025 after legal questions arose about Ohio Open Meetings Act violations. Yet they moved forward with the process despite not having formal community involvement.
The district spent $75,000 in legal fees addressing transparency concerns rather than doing a proper analysis or strategic plan for the future of the entire school district. The school board had little financial data on what the proposed changes would cost, despite stating that one reason for this consolidation process was to save money. And the school district has said that closing and repurposing Lincoln elementary would cost less than 1 percent of its overall annual budget.
Why This Matters to All Lakewood Residents
Lakewood residents have consistently supported school levies in recent decades, and have chosen to invest in our strong public school system. In 2020, 77% of Lakewood voters approved the most recent school levy. This is an overwhelming majority of Lakewood residents who have invested in the schools—homeowners and renters, parents and non-parents, longtime residents and newcomers. Our neighborhood schools define Lakewood's character, protect property values, and maintain quality of life.
This Decision Can Be Reversed
Tonight's vote is not final.
Two of the five Board seats will appear on Lakewood voters’ November 4th ballot—just fifteen days away. Both incumbents up for re-election voted for tonight's closure. If voters elect new board members who oppose consolidation, the Board can revisit and reverse tonight's decision before it takes effect. New board members take office in January 2026, well before any school closure would happen for the 2027-28 school year. Boards regularly reconsider prior votes when board membership changes.
Katie and Monica are both running for Lakewood’s Board of Election’s two open seats. Both commit to overturning tonight's consolidation decision if elected. Lakewood voters can vote for up to two candidates on their ballot.
Katie brings data analytics expertise from American Greetings and is responsible for managing $60 million in sales. Monica has 20 years of professional experience planning K-12 education facilities. Both say the current enrollment data does not support school closure. Both will support reversing tonight's decision, keeping all seven elementary schools open, and building trust with the community ahead of the planned May 2026 school levy.
"Lakewood voters can change this outcome and put our school district back on track," said Monica Bruaw. "Katie and I are ready to bring our extensive professional experience and personal commitment to our community to the table to lead our public school district to a brighter future. When elected, we will work together with the other board members to form a new majority to overturn this decision. This fight continues—and voters will chart the course for the future of Lakewood City Schools on November 4th."
Your vote can reverse tonight's decision. Vote for Katie Slife Rustad and Monica Bruaw.
About Preserve Lakewood Schools
Preserve Lakewood Schools is a non-partisan coalition of parents, residents, and leaders in Lakewood, Ohio, committed to preventing the closure/repurposing of elementary schools by Lakewood City Schools, and supporting the long-term vitality of Lakewood's public schools. We educate residents, provide resources for taking action, and advocate to our leaders. Join us to protect the future of our neighborhood schools—one of our community’s greatest assets. Visit https://www.preservelakewoodschools.org to learn more.
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