"Please don’t make this decision for us. Make it with us."

Comments to the School Board, April 14, 2025

100+ residents attended the school board meeting on April 14, 2025.

By JP Graulty, resident and parent

Good evening. My name is JP Graulty. I’m a Lakewood resident and work as a community engagement professional in the social work school of Case Western Reserve University.

Last week, my wife eloquently spoke about the incredible value that our local, community schools provide for our students and families from her perspective as an educator and School Psychologist. She also shared what our community schools means for my family with 2 future Rangers.

Today, I’m here on behalf of our community. As we see today and saw last week, our community is passionate about our support for our schools. We know that our walkable schools are one of the main things that attract families to Lakewood. In fact, right before this meeting, I met a family with a kindergartner who were in Lakewood looking at houses, and they asked me about the walkable schools, concerned that one or two might close. The evidence is clear - our walkable schools attract families to Lakewood.

During last week’s school board meeting, Mrs. Clark-Sutton asked for patience from the community as the administration and school board make this really big decision for our community. I think most of us Lakewood families understand and support taking time with big decisions.

But as a community engagement professional, we have an adage: nothing about us without us. Yes, this is a big decision that deserves the utmost care and consideration. AND this decision deserves robust and inclusive community engagement that allows Lakewood families to give input into this major decision. Please don’t make this decision for us. Make it with us.

I don’t know much about the underlying factors influencing this decision. I wish I knew more. But I do know that when a community is faced with external threats as we are today, our leaders can take one of two paths: leaders can make a decision behind closed doors, and then defend that decision to the community after the fact. Or, leaders can choose to be courageous, trust in the community, and make difficult decisions together.

I urge you to do the latter. Don’t make a decision about this important issue without slowing down, taking the time to engage the community, and providing us the chance to give input into this important decision. Trust and believe in this community, and we will continue to support our schools with the same passion through all of the challenges we will face in the years to come.