BOARD TO VOTE ON SCHOOL CLOSING AT FEB. 16 MEETING

[Bill Trentel]

Does this mean a school will close at the end of this year? Which one? I hope he gives direct answers.

And, I would add based on what criteria?

Criteria! The criteria will be that Grant will not be part of the facilities master plan.

Once the vote is official. Grant's death warrant will have been signed.

It's all about politics.
The majority of the board are entrenched politicians and Mr. Madak works for them. Their vote to close a school is all about delivering to their supporters and securing those votes for May. The final Grant closing date wont be announced until after the May vote so that it can be used to leverage as many votes as possible out of the Grant folks with the thought of it might be open for a little longer. Then following the vote win or lose they will announce remaining 2.+ million in cuts that will come on the backs of the students and staff at Grant.

Bill

[Meg Ostrowski]

Meg,

That is Lakewood, we have some busy streets, and that is why the city has adult crossing guards at every major intersection. They do a great job.

Mike, At least we can agree on this. I'll say it again, I think SAFETY TOWN should be a requirement and/or part of the curriculum for all of our students not just an optional program for a fee. I only mention safety in my posts because the community ranked it so high at the first forum in which they helped to develop the criteria for Phase III and because it is a BIG concern for Ed Favre. I do try to respect and acknowledge other people's opinions even when I don't agree. I think safety is worth some consideration in this decision. Crossing guards are not volunteers. The more we need the more it'll cost us.

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Criteria! The criteria will be that Grant will not be part of the facilities master plan.

I know what your saying, Bill. However, it is one thing to close a school because it is not part of a long term facilities plan and quite another to close a school based on financial struggles of the district. We do need answers and criteria. How irresponsible would it be to close Grant and then not have an in take school for transition?

If Roosevelt or Lincoln is part of the long-term plan and will be closed for re-building than one of those schools should be closed. Let's also consider that if we are talking about saving money now than I highly doubt Grant is more expensive to run than the older 2 schools. Grant is after all only 40 years old.

Let me make this clear. I am not surprised by a school closing this fall. It was the BOE plan all along and I was naive enough to believe in a Phase 3 process. In meeting in the Fall of 2009, I as well as others, sat in a Committee of the Whole meeting in which a document, dated September 2009, was passed out to everyone in attendance. The document is a timeline for closing a school. The BOE timeline listed that the decision to close a school would be be determined June 2009, announced by August and would not re-open Fall of 2010. Notice the dates...well before Phase 3 was underway. How many times did and still do hear BOE members say there was no discussion before Phase 3, or a pre-determined decision? Come on!

It's been the plan all along.


PS)My copy of the document was given to someone researching the Phase 3 process. They have my permission to post it, or I will post it when I get it back. Others may post if they have a copy.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Criteria! The criteria will be that Grant will not be part of the facilities master plan.

Let me make this clear. I am not surprised by a school closing this fall. It was the BOE plan all along and I was naive enough to believe in a Phase 3 process. In meeting in the Fall of 2009, I as well as others, sat in a Committee of the Whole meeting in which a document, dated September 2009, was passed out to everyone in attendance. The document is a timeline for closing a school. The BOE timeline listed that the decision to close a school would be be determined June 2009, announced by August and would not re-open Fall of 2010. Notice the dates...well before Phase 3 was underway. How many times did and still do hear BOE members say there was no discussion before Phase 3, or a pre-determined decision? Come on!

It's been the plan all along.

.

Kristine

It should be noted that it has been the plan of the BOE for a long time. We can go back
and look at posts here now 5 years old, that mention "closing Grant or another school."

But it was not mandated by Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, though from day one
they have been painted as the scapegoat on this. If you look at their criteria, probably
the last school they would close would be Grant, and/or Harrison. I believe this is one
reason some of their members have started to call and ask what is going on.

Of course the worst part of this entire process will be the disenfranchisement of voters,
and residents in this city who will once again end up feeling used and abused, at a time
we should be encouraging involvement in all forms of aspects of the schools and the city
for that matter.

.

[Christina McCallum]

My head must have been in the sand, I missed this press release dated Feb.2:

http://www.lakewoodalive.com/downtown/2 ... house.html

Basically, it announces an open house for homes-for-sale within 10 minutes' walk of "a revitalized downtown." While touting all the amenities within this walking area (library, restaurants, etc.) IT DOES NOT MENTION A SCHOOL.

Later, the Excellent rating of the School System is a noted asset, but no central school is highlighted.

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

http://www.lakewoodalive.com/downtown/2010/02/lakewood-open-house.html

Hey, LakewoodAlive forgot to mention that downtown also has a school....

I wonder.

[Rhonda loje]

Will someone please post what happens tonight? I'm still gone and really would like to know what is going to happen.
Rhonda

[robert klann]

Four votes keep Lincoln, one vote keep Grant.

Board is in recess now.

[Rhonda loje]

What is the reaction of those attending?

[robert klann]

I did not attend but received a phone call with the reults.

It sounds as if those in attendance, unhappy with the vote, did voice their concern and asked for an explanation from the Board why they voted the way they did.

But the Board went into recess.

[Rhonda loje]

Thank you! If you hear anything else let me know.
Rhonda

[Bill Trentel]

I'm sure Ms. Gordillo will have a glowing press release tomorrow morning.

And the edited Podcast will be online on the schools website soon.

Bill

[Jim O'Bryan]

WOIO's Channel 19' coverage and in depth story.
http://www.woio.com/global/story.asp?s=11995432


WKYC Channel 3 were also there
no link right now.



.

[Dave Mechenbier]

I applaud the board for making the decision. Popular or unpopular, now there can be no 11th hour surprise surrounding Lincoln or Grant in regards to the levy.

I did not take part in the planning meetings and haven't read all the postings. Although I appreciate the issues raised on the Deck, I prefer the answers to be based on fact. I do think the board, and I repeat the BOARD owes all of us some definitive answers.

Why was the Kaufmann Park proposal dismissed? By the way, "it would be too hard" isn't a valid answer.

What are the regulations surrounding the sale of a closed building? What is the timetable to dispose of the already closed buildings? If there is no timetable what are the annual carrying costs?

[Danielle Masters]

Last night a lot of people saw first hand that the board has no criteria that they are using if they did they would have said what it was. Every person that spoke asked the same thing, but the board feels that they don't need to tell us why. I feel for all of those that spent time away from their families to work on the phase III process, I am so sorry you can't get that time back and that your time was for naught.

And Dave, don't you know the board doesn't answer questions? Ed called us paranoid and conspiracy theorists, funny Ed everything we've been saying for the past several years went down last night, all the data that was represented was ignored and no answers were given so I don't think that qualifies as paranoia, it's justified by the boards activities and refusal to give any criteria for their decision. Is it so hard for them to justify a decision that some of them have said they've talked about over and over again. I've been to the board meetings and I have yet to hear any criteria and it looks like I never will.