Superintendent Confirms No Schools To Close In 2010-2011

In the wake of the Board of Education’s decision to include Lincoln Elementary and not Grant Elementary in the third and final Phase of the district’s Master Facilities Plan, much discussion has occurred within the community about when Grant may close its doors. Discussion has also turned to concern with what the Board and district’s plan is for the school properties that remain vacant.

At the March 1 Board meeting, Superintendent P. Joseph Madak, clarified the district’s position on these matters and wanted to especially reassure families that the district will not be closing any school for the 2010-2011 school year. Following are some excerpts from Dr. Madak’s statements to the Board on March 1:

On the scenario of a school closing prior to the end of Phase III construction: 

The administration is committed to doing its best to work with the recommendation to the Board not to close an elementary school prior to the conclusion of the Phase III construction.

We will not be closing an elementary school for next school year. Even if our May levy fails, we will not be closing an elementary school for next school year. 

The time for closing an elementary school will be determined in one of two ways:

1. The first way will be to work through the upcoming Ohio School Facilities process to develop plans to provide for transitional student housing, to develop educational and building specifications, to complete the construction, and to move into the newly completed buildings. We anticipate that the planning work will begin next school year and that it will be the fall of 2013 or later before we can occupy the new facilities.

2. The second way the timing for closing an elementary school could be determined is out of financial necessity. I repeat. We will not be closing an elementary school for next school year, even if our May levy fails.

The decision to identify which elementary school to close, if we have to close one prior to the completion of Phase III construction, will require some research and thought. The administration is not prepared to make a recommendation prior to doing its homework.

The administration works for the Board and will do what we are directed to do.

Given that we are not closing an elementary school for next school year even if our levy does not pass; given the fact that even if our levy passes, we must make an additional $4 million in cuts; given the downsizing of staff, the reorganization that it will require, and the training and preparation that will be needed to open next school year successfully for all Lakewood students; given the high stakes for our students as our community makes its decision about the levy; given the high stakes that staffing and budget decisions, in which we are currently engaged, and the impact these decisions will have on all Lakewood students ....

I believe that with all of these considerations our time is better spent getting ready for next school year first; I believe that our Lakewood students will be better served by focusing first on getting ready for next school year; I suggest that this question become one of our goals and expectations for next school year; and I suggest we commit to working on this question in an open and transparent manner and over a period of time so that there are no surprises to our community.

On the future of properties not in use at the end of Phase III construction:

First, it is important to remember that our need for our existing unused school facilities is ongoing until we identify our transition plan for students for our Phase III construction. There is a Lakewood Board of Education resolution to this effect that continues in force through the end of the 2010-2011 school year.

Second, there is no current plan in place, nor in the process of being developed, for the reuse of these properties. I have heard rumors of discussions on this topic that may have taken place prior to my returning to Lakewood. No one has initiated any of these supposed conversations with me. 

Third, it is important to keep in mind that there may be facilities needs that we cannot anticipate at this time for our Phase III transition plans for housing students. The plan will be broader than which facilities will be needed for transitional housing of elementary school students during Phase III. The challenges for transitional housing for high school students for Phase III construction will be far greater than in Phases I and II. We must also bear in mind the housing for Lakewood City Academy.

Fourth, these vacant facilities do not have the potential of generating significant income for our schools so as to reduce the need for our 6.9 mill operating levy. Having the use of these facilities for swing places is the most cost effective way to meet these needs.

Fifth, the process for disposing of or identifying reuses for these properties will be complex. The process will be impacted by many statues, rules and regulations.

Sixth, coming up with the best plan for reuse of these facilities will require the best thinking and the best insights that will come from all of us working together. The process of developing this plan should include opportunities for community input.

Seventh, since beginning work on the Long Range Master School Facilities Plan in 2002, it has been my thought that initiating work on the disposal or reuse of properties that we will no longer need after the fall of 2013 or fall of 2014 too soon, had the potential of having to do this work twice or overlooking changing needs of our community that are not yet obvious.

Since 2002, my thinking has been to begin this work at the same time or shortly after we begin the work on the transition plan for housing students during Phase III construction. This time frame should give us time to do our legal research and other homework as the transition plan is being finalized…I anticipate that we would begin work on our transition plan for housing students during Phase III construction likely at some point during next school year, as we begin our next phase of work with the Ohio School Facilities Commission.