Lakewood Parents Rally Against Plan to Shut Down Lincoln Elementary School
In a move that has sparked heated debate, Lakewood City Schools Superintendent Maggie Niedzwiecki has recommended closing Lincoln Elementary School, converting it into a centralized pre-K hub, and redrawing the district's elementary school boundaries. But here's where it gets controversial - some parents and task force members are pushing back, questioning the data and the decision-making process behind this significant change.
Niedzwiecki presented her proposal to the board on Monday night, citing a decline in K-5 enrollment from 2,286 students in 2015-2016 to 1,792 students this school year. She also referenced long-term projections from a hired contractor indicating no expected increase in enrollment over the next decade. Lincoln Elementary, being just over a decade old, was deemed the most suitable for closure due to its relatively minimal impact on family commute distances.
The district's seven elementary schools currently operate at an average occupancy rate of about 66%. By closing Lincoln and redistricting, this rate would increase to 69.3%, reducing the disparity between buildings. However, the plan also involves relocating various programs, including CHAMPS, RISE, and gifted classrooms, to different schools.
And this is the part most people miss - the task force, which was formed to study the issue, did not make a public recommendation. Two of its members, Jason Keiber and Zach Robock, spoke out against Niedzwiecki's proposal, arguing that there was no conclusive evidence to support the need to close a school. Keiber pointed out that community surveys showed a lack of broad support for repurposing Lincoln Elementary, with over 40% of parents expressing skepticism about using a centralized pre-K program.
Parents and community members have been vocal in their opposition, with the group Preserve Lakewood Schools stating that the board is making a 'massive decision' based on flawed data. Another group, Friends of Lakewood Schools, published a report revealing that school board members attended task force meetings behind closed doors, sparking concerns about transparency and potential violations of Ohio's sunshine laws.
Niedzwiecki maintained that board members attended as observers, not participants, but the controversy has raised questions about the legitimacy of the process. As Scott Stahl, a parent who bought his home near Lincoln Elementary, put it, 'The data, which is now significantly out of line with projections, says there is no need to close an elementary school at this moment.'
For some parents, like Autumn McKenzie, whose son has autism, the decision goes beyond numbers. She fears that changing schools will disrupt her son's social development, and she's not alone in worrying about the impact on neurodivergent students.
As the board prepares to vote on the recommendation on October 20, the community remains divided. Former Board President Linda Beebee was the sole voice of support, dismissing concerns about the process and the potential impact on students. But many parents are still asking: 'Why are we asking these kids to take another hit?' if the closure isn't absolutely necessary.
We want to hear from you! Do you think the benefits of closing Lincoln Elementary School outweigh the potential drawbacks? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
