Phase III, Another Perspective

A letter to Lakewood Board of Education members.

Dear Board Members:

I realize as I write this letter that the elementary school closing decision may have already been made. It is my sincere hope that when the decision is final, it will have been based on facts and the future needs of the Lakewood District Students as a whole and not simply based on the desires of the loudest, most persistent voices. As we all know, there are two sides to every tale. Here is mine.

My family has grown by two children since moving into Lakewood five years ago. After renting for a few years, we bought a double a couple of blocks from Lincoln school. Yes, we’ve enjoyed a very close walk to the playground and now to school as well. So when I read and hear propaganda about the district, I feel attacked for living "north of the tracks". Allow me to relay what I have discovered on this end of town. Lincoln’s district spans north of the railroad tracks from the west side of Ramona to the east side of Granger. That geographical area encompasses 326 two or three family homes and over 30 multi-family (4 families or more) and single family homes on lots of various sizes, from tightly packed on Hall to bigger yards on Summit.

Lincoln itself is home to 397 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Of those, 60 students are open-enrolled. Apparently 337 call this area home and do attend their neighborhood school, so, I’m a bit puzzled to learn that north of Detroit is “not where the students live.” Of the total student body, 31 students are non-native English speakers (roughly 1 in 12). 155 participate in the reduced or free lunch program, making Lincoln a Title 1, Targeted Assistance School, as 39% qualify for assistance. I hear and read how Grant is more “diverse” so I checked out the student population’s makeup. Grant’s State Report Card states that 79.2% of Grant students are White, non-Hispanic, while Lincoln’s percentage is 80.2%.

Yes, Lincoln’s lot is smaller and the building is older. This hasn’t affected its continuous Excellence rating. Academically the children have aptly handled using all three levels of its current building hodge-podge. I fail to see how another three-story configuration on this site would be detrimental to learning. 

Another difference is that Lincoln is zoned as residential. Grant is both residential and commercial. So why are Lincoln parents stuck on this key difference? It is the prospect of dealing with another vacant school building in our neighborhood. If Lincoln is decommissioned, we’ll have three vacant school buildings north of Detroit: McKinley, Taft, and now Lincoln. Would the proposed levy cover another tax base change when property values decrease once again? It seems the Grant location has a much better future for land reuse. Perhaps using it for the Lakewood Recreation Department or Tri-C outreach courses?

I did see the possible redistricting plans. I find it interesting that "keeping neighborhoods intact" is a key factor in redrawing the borders. Current district borders have split neighborhoods up via the railroad tracks and east versus west sides of streets for years. People can see a school from their porch, but are in another school’s district. Also splitting Lincoln’s students and adding in those between the railroad tracks and Detroit means adding 225 students each to Horace Mann and Emerson’s enrollment. Sure these are larger schools, but can both buildings accommodate ten more classes of students?

I simply wanted the other side of the story told. I do not envy the decision laid before you. There will be disappointment either way.

Thank you for your time.

Lisa Majeski

Lincoln Parent