Negative implications of repurposing Lincoln Elementary 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 Childcare as a significant portion of their funding comes from providing before/after care to Lincoln Elementary students

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Fundamental flaws with the recommended closure and changes:
 

• fiscally irresponsibile

• 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 CSD 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 CSD 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 on the Board of Education. 

 

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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Vote for Katie and Monica on November 4th.