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Not sure what to say? Here are some talking points!

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We keep hearing conflicting information from Lakewood City Schools about the superintendent's recommendation to close Lincoln Elementary School, close our neighborhood Pre-K programs create a centralized Pre-K building, as well as other drastic changes to our neighborhood elementary schools.


Want to talk to your friends and neighbors about this, but not sure where to start? Here are some great talking points for you! Feel free to share!


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Negative implications of repurposing Lincoln as a centralized Pre-K:

  • Removes walkability for hundreds of students

  • Limits preschool access for all of South Lakewood

  • Increases class sizes at all elementary schools

  • Disrupts most vulnerable students by moving all special needs programs

  • CHAMPS = Horace Mann to Hayes

  • RISE = Emerson to Horace Mann

  • Gifted = Grant to Hayes

  • May force the closure of Lakewood Community Child Care, as a significant portion of their funding comes from providing before/after care to Lincoln Elementary students


Fundamental flaws with the recommended closure and changes:

  • Fiscally irresponsible

  • Closing / repurposing one school results in savings equivalent to ONLY 0.6% of annual operating budget ($500,000 savings annually)

  • $49.95 million 30-yr bond was approved by 70% of Lakewood voters and issued in 2013 to rebuild Lincoln, Grant and Roosevelt and replace older half of LHS

  • Lakewood residents still responsible for paying the outstanding $42 million bond that matures on Nov 1, 2043 regardless if schools are repurposed or sold

  • Lakewood City Schools should honor collective funding of Lincoln, Grant and Roosevelt through bond maturity in 2043 given overwhelming majority of community support in 2013

  • data doesn’t support the closure + changes

  • Low enrollment has been disproved with school board’s own updated data

  • Updated projections = Lakewood would lose only 9 students per elementary school over next 10 years

  • Lakewood City Schools enrollment has remained constant at 4,200 students over last 4 years

  • Closing Lincoln increases building occupancy by just over 3% to 69.3%

  • Contradicts and opposes community sentiment and preference to redistribute and maintain all 7 elementary schools


WHAT YOU CAN DO:

  • November 4: Vote for Katie Slife Rustad and Monica Bruaw for Lakewood School Board

  • October 20: Join a peaceful protest outside of Lakewood HS at 6pm and stay for the board’s final vote at 7pm


Even if the 10/20 vote is to accept the superintendent’s recommendation, it is possible to reverse the decision, but we MUST have the right people — Katie + Monica — at the table.


Lakewood was successful in reversing the recommended closure of Grant Elementary in 2012…let’s make it happen again for Lincoln + unnecessarily shuffling of special needs programs / centralization of Pre-K!


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