School Board votes to close Franklin

[Danielle Masters]

I will try and make this simple. Last night the school board voted in favor of closing Franklin Elementary at the end of this school year. The only member not voting was Mr. Geiger as he was out of town. Just so everyone is clear, Franklin will still continue to belong to the district and the building will continue to be used. I am assuming that means renovations will need to be made. The board has been asked several times over the last few weeks what the building will be used for but they have stated that they are not sure. Also of note now that some elementary children will be very far from their new school on the east side there was talk of possible discussions with RTA to help provide some transportation. So much for a walking district.

The financial aspects of this is what concerns me the most. When Taft and McKinley are vacated will those buildings also continue to be owned by the district? I and many others are wondering how that will save money, especially if those buildings will be renovated for future uses.

One last note is that the parents were upset over how this issue was handled. They knew their school would close but they felt they deserved more than a few months notice. Also residents surrounding Franklin are concerned about their property values as they have absolutely no idea what use the BOE has in mind for the current Franklin building. Many citizens last night voiced concerns at their need to read between the lines due to vagueness in the answers given by the board. Another common thread in the comments was a lack of trust in general. I do hope we get some answers soon, perhaps before we are asked to vote on another bond issue. There are more meetings scheduled for next week and hopefully we will get the answer then.

[Jay Foran]

Danielle,

FWIW.

Back in 2003 when the 50 Year Committee made their recommendations to the Board, we indicated that based on our recommended plan, a minimum of 3 school properties would be vacant at the end of building program (2012?). We indicated that until that time, all existing properties would be needed in some form or fashion as valuable swing space to carry out the complicated transition steps required.

The 3 school properties would be Taft, McKinley and either Roosevelt, Franklin or Grant. We suggested that given it was 2003 and the building program would not be completed until 2012, it was premature and speculative to discuss the fate of those buildings/properties given how community needs and market conditions might change.

We recommended that at a TBD time closer to 2012, a separate citizen task force be established to make recommendations on how best to proceed with those properties. The Board accepted that approach and I believe to this day has purposedly not addressed what will happen to those properties at the end of all the building phases.

I continue to personally believe it is premature to determine what to do with those sites. With that said, we are not too far from the time (2008-2010?) to begin assembling that task force and determining as a community how best to address these de-commissioned sites.

I do not believe the district is interested in investing dollars into these sites and thus I personally see disposition of the sites as a likely outcome. These sites offer our community outstanding and much-needed economic development opportunities for Lakewood.

No doubt you have picked up on the term "minimum of 3 schools" in my opening sentence. At the time of our recommendation (2003) we only had confidence in the data (enrollment data) to recommend the closing of Garfield and Madison at the outset (2005) and a 3rd school (either Roosevelt/Franklin/Grant) around 2008. We did intimate within our presentation that at some time it may even become necessary to consider closing a 4th school. However, our data projection limitations could not allow us to say that unequivocally.

As you have since learned, even as hard as we worked on enrollment projections in 2003, actual enrollment has declined faster than projected thus leading to the decision to close Franklin School effective at the end of this school year. Simply, the facts changed. This is a difficult decision for our overall community, the Franklin community, our school leaders and the children impacted.

While continued enrollment decline may someday lead us to have confront closing a 4th school (Grant?), we (community) will be coming up to a point where we can not stretch the walking boundaries any further, either sensibly or legally (state regulations).

Sorry for the long-winded response to your post.

[Danielle Masters]

I continue to personally believe it is premature to determine what to do with those sites. With that said, we are not too far from the time (2008-2010?) to begin assembling that task force and determining as a community how best to address these de-commissioned sites.

I do not believe the district is interested in investing dollars into these sites and thus I personally see disposition of the sites as a likely outcome. These sites offer our community outstanding and much-needed economic development opportunities for Lakewood.

Jay I appreciate your candor, I only wish this had come from the board. Not once in the recent months have we heard from the board anything about the disposing of the properties, which I personally have no problem with even if it takes a few years. Last night the board told the audience (I know you were in attendance) that Franklin School would be used in some fashion for the Lakewood City Schools. I think this is part of the issue that many people have with the way the BOE is ran. A lot of questions are answered with "I don't know" when the citizens would prefer to have several possibilities laid out in front of them, knowing something is better than being kept in the dark.

While continued enrollment decline may someday lead us to have confront closing a 4th school (Grant?), we (community) will be coming up to a point where we can not stretch the walking boundaries any further, either sensibly or legally (state regulations).

This where it gets personal for me. Grant is my home school, currently all five of my children attend there. Many of us at Grant know our school will close next, its just a matter of when. We know our school property is valuable. I just hope when the time comes a little more notice is given.

I have another concern regarding the placement of the schools. When Grant closes at some future date, that will leave the remaining elementary schools in the far north and far south sections of the city. Unfortunately many children will then have to cross Detroit & the railroad tracks or Madison, both options seem unreasonable for young children that that have no other choice but to walk. Back many years ago when this process began citizens overwhelmingly stated they wanted to keep schools walkable. We seem to be deviating from that desire. I do wonder if before we move forward on more renovations beyond Phase II, we should perhaps have some additional community discussion on which schools should be kept. Perhaps there are more options than are currently laid out on the table.

All that said, I have to commend you Jay for the hard work you do for the schools, especially since you're an unpaid advocate. As a parent I appreciate the insight you give, especially when many parents feel they aren't getting the answers they need from the board.

[Justine Cooper]

I have a simple question. How large are the class sizes going to be? One of the true reasons we bought another home in Lakewood is because we have been very happy with the schools and the teachers and importantly, the nice class size. There is no way I would say the same if class size jumped to 30 for elementary children. I would seek private and it would have an impact on how long we stay.

[Danielle Masters]

We have been told that the class sizes shouldn't be larger than 25.

[Jim O'Bryan]

From the school board


Lakewood School Board Approves Closure of Franklin Elementary School after 2006-2007 School Year

Planned closure accelerated three years because of declining enrollment


Seeking further ways to save taxpayer dollars while providing the best education possible, the Lakewood Board of Education approved the recommendation of the Superintendent and the committee of community leaders and voted to accelerate the planned closing of Franklin Elementary to the end of this school year.

“I know that this is a difficult decision for some families in our district, but we will work with them to make sure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible,â€Â

[Dee Martinez]

To Danielle.

Just my opinion but I think your fears about Grant are unfounded. First it is the newest and easiest of Lakewoods schools to bring up to current ADA and educational standards.
Second, closing Grant would leave a lopsided map with 3 elemntary schools (Harrison Roosevelt Hayes) to the far south and 3 (Lincoln, McKinley/Mann, and Taft/Emerson) to the far north with nothing in between.
(Also I see the Taft land being far more valuable than Grant's, but real estate is not my specialty)

With new buildilngs at Harrison and Hayes I would worry more about Roosevelt if another building has to close

[Danielle Masters]

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Danielle.

Just my opinion but I think your fears about Grant are unfounded. First it is the newest and easiest of Lakewoods schools to bring up to current ADA and educational standards.
Second, closing Grant would leave a lopsided map with 3 elemntary schools (Harrison Roosevelt Hayes) to the far south and 3 (Lincoln, McKinley/Mann, and Taft/Emerson) to the far north with nothing in between.
(Also I see the Taft land being far more valuable than Grant's, but real estate is not my specialty)

With new buildilngs at Harrison and Hayes I would worry more about Roosevelt if another building has to close

That would seem logical but Roosevelt is scheduled to be rebuilt in Phase III and Lincoln is scheduled to be renovated in Phase III. The only building they don't have a plan for is Grant. That leads many of us to believe Grant is next and those views were expressed last night with the board sitting silent. As for the Taft chunk of property being more valuable that is true, but that school will close once Emerson is renovated. They know what will happen.

[Jeff Endress]

Danielle

I would venture the opinion that the School Board will move into a renovated Franklin, making it the new headquarters. Grant will then be closed, thus creating a huge hunk of very valuable downtown Lakewood real estate for development, perhaps even coupling it with a Marc's plaza.

Taft will be sold for a cluster home development, with that little spur tunning between Lake and Clifton being turned into the access points to the cul-de-sac.

Jeff

[Meg Ostrowski]

It wasn't until 2008 that I attended my first BOE Meeting.

Since the BOE voted not to include Grant in Phase III of the Master Facilities Plan, I have been hearing from many about the time of the Franklin vote. In an attempt to educate myself, I found this thread. Old news to some, new news to many...

Can anyone help increase my level of understanding?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Meg

As we struggle to get the Deck back together, so sorry for the delay!

Try these threads to help understand.

School Board votes to close Franklin
http://lakewoodobserver.com/deck/viewtopic.php?t=3435&highlight=franklin

Community Meeting to Discuss Future of Franklin Elementary
http://lakewoodobserver.com/deck/viewtopic.php?t=3384&highlight=franklin

Franklin school closing speculation
http://lakewoodobserver.com/deck/viewtopic.php?t=3374&highlight=franklin

[Jim O'Bryan]

It wasn't until 2008 that I attended my first BOE Meeting.

Since the BOE voted not to include Grant in Phase III of the Master Facilities Plan, I have been hearing from many about the time of the Franklin vote. In an attempt to educate myself, I found this thread. Old news to some, new news to many...

Can anyone help increase my level of understanding?

Maybe you should call Lakewood's psychic, and regionalism maven.

Found this while going through the old Deck, I am telling you potentially better
than Madame Marie, oddly enough out of LA(Los Angeles), hmmmmmmmm

Danielle,

FWIW.

Back in 2003 when the 50 Year Committee made their recommendations to the Board, we indicated that based on our recommended plan, a minimum of 3 school properties would be vacant at the end of building program (2012?). We indicated that until that time, all existing properties would be needed in some form or fashion as valuable swing space to carry out the complicated transition steps required.

The 3 school properties would be Taft, McKinley and either Roosevelt, Franklin or Grant. We suggested that given it was 2003 and the building program would not be completed until 2012, it was premature and speculative to discuss the fate of those buildings/properties given how community needs and market conditions might change.

We recommended that at a TBD time closer to 2012, a separate citizen task force be established to make recommendations on how best to proceed with those properties. The Board accepted that approach and I believe to this day has purposedly not addressed what will happen to those properties at the end of all the building phases.

I continue to personally believe it is premature to determine what to do with those sites. With that said, we are not too far from the time (2008-2010?) to begin assembling that task force and determining as a community how best to address these de-commissioned sites.

I do not believe the district is interested in investing dollars into these sites and thus I personally see disposition of the sites as a likely outcome. These sites offer our community outstanding and much-needed economic development opportunities for Lakewood.

No doubt you have picked up on the term "minimum of 3 schools" in my opening sentence. At the time of our recommendation (2003) we only had confidence in the data (enrollment data) to recommend the closing of Garfield and Madison at the outset (2005) and a 3rd school (either Roosevelt/Franklin/Grant) around 2008. We did intimate within our presentation that at some time it may even become necessary to consider closing a 4th school. However, our data projection limitations could not allow us to say that unequivocally.

As you have since learned, even as hard as we worked on enrollment projections in 2003, actual enrollment has declined faster than projected thus leading to the decision to close Franklin School effective at the end of this school year. Simply, the facts changed. This is a difficult decision for our overall community, the Franklin community, our school leaders and the children impacted.

While continued enrollment decline may someday lead us to have confront closing a 4th school (Grant?), we (community) will be coming up to a point where we can not stretch the walking boundaries any further, either sensibly or legally (state regulations).

Sorry for the long-winded response to your post.

Meg

Damn, makes you want to ask who is going to win the fifth race at Santa Anita!


.

[Danielle Masters]

Only problem is that our elementary enrollment is back up. We have about 50 elementary students less than we did in the 2006-07 school year but more than we had in 2007-08 and 2008-09. And the 2006-07 numbers were higher than the 2005-06 numbers.

[Danielle Masters]

To add to my previous statements. Looking at enrollment numbers I will voice again my concerns about closing any elementary school. Back three years ago I said the district didn't want to go over class sizes of 25. Right now the schools are designed for 24 kids in a class and the capacity numbers reflect that but currently there are 28 elementary classrooms with 25 or more children, two of those classrooms have 30 kids in them and another 8 classrooms at 24. One concern that parents were told back 3 years ago was that eliminating schools would lead to smaller class sizes but that doesn't seem to be the case. I will say it again I am concerned about large class sizes and over-crowding, this isn't limited to just a few schools, every elementary school in the city has several large class sizes. And it will only get worse if the levy doesn't pass, so please vote for the levy.