Update on School Closure Decision Timeline & Our Sprint into a Month of Action

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our rally, and packed the school board meeting earlier this week!  If you missed it, please watch Fox 8's news story, "Lakewood families fighting to keep all the city’s elementary schools open."  

Please read below for important updates, news and opportunities to be involved as our school board plans to vote in the coming weeks on whether or not to close and repurpose one or even two of Lakewood's neighborhood elementary schools.  Thank you for supporting our schools and our children!  

The Final Sprint

The Superintendent has revealed the school district’s new timeline for voting on the potential closure and repurposing of Grant, Lincoln, and/or Roosevelt Elementary School(s):

While many community members have urged the school board to set a clear vision and strategic plan for the district, and proceed with caution before making an irreversible long-term decision with no plan in place, it is clear they are now aiming to hold a vote before Election Day (November 4). In essence, the school board has decided to put this decision, and their leadership, to a community referendum. 

For all of you who care deeply about Lakewood’s public schools system and have shown your support for this cause over the past year, we are now in the final sprint. Your voice and your actions are more important now than ever. 

Turbo Charging Our Month of Action

With this update, we’re intensifying our “Month of Action”. Please save the date for the district’s Community Meeting on Monday, September 29th (time and location to be announced). According to the district, this will include tabletop conversations where the public can share thoughts and ideas. We expect there to be more details announced soon, but here’s what’s most important: this meeting is the one and only opportunity for your voice to be heard in the process before the superintendent makes her recommendation and the Board votes.  And a wide variety of public voices need to be in that room. After that point, Board meetings will still matter for information and to see the remainder of the recommendation and vote, but the direction will largely be set by then.

The Superintendent’s recommendation will be followed by a final Board vote on October 20th, and then elections for two school board seats on November 4th. We’re lacing up our running shoes to push for transparency, accountability, and a real strategy from our elected leaders. 

Our walkable neighborhood schools are worth fighting for, and the community deserves an honest, inclusive process for how our publicly funded facilities are handled.

Quick reminders:

• This Saturday, September 6th: Join us at the Lakewood Community Festival at Madison Park. Stop by our booth to learn the latest updates, ask questions, share ideas, and get involved. This counts toward your Month of Action checklist!

• Mark Your Calendar! Monday, September 29th: District’s final Community Meeting - the only opportunity where the school district will be collecting public feedback on whether or not to close and repurpose elementary schools before the Superintendent’s recommendation to the school board. Mark your calendar and we’ll fill you in on more details once they are released by the district. Your Voice Matters!

Your Support: Don’t have time to volunteer? Your donations are always appreciated and help us cover the costs of website/blog hosting, printing, room rentals, event displays, and more. Thank you!

In Community,

Preserve Lakewood Schools

Stay Connected

News is moving fast. Sign up to get updates directly from Preserve Lakewood Schools so you’re always in the loop. Sign Up Here!