The Observation Deck

The regular Board of Ed meeting tonight is preceded by a Special Board meeting for the purpose of discussing with City Council the sale of a building... Sounds like McKinley's on its way to being City property.

SPECIAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

Mr. Edward Favre, President
6:30 p.m., Monday, October 7, 2013
Garfield Middle School Cafetorium 13114 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107


AGENDA


I. Call to Order – Pledge of Allegiance

II. Roll Call

III. Discussion

A. For the purpose of discussing with Lakewood City Council the sale of property

B. Other

IV. Adjournment


The next one is there also.


The Board of Education Agenda for Regular Meeting – October 7, 2013
Garfield Middle School Cafetorium
Mr. Edward Favre, President

I. Call to Order – Pledge of Allegiance – Roll Call

II. Adoption of Agenda (ROLL CALL VOTE)

III. Approval of Minutes of the Regular Board of Education Meetings Held on August 5 and August 19, 2013, the Special Board of Education Meeting Held on August 22, 2013; the Regular Board of Education Meetings Held on September 3, 2013 and the Special Board of Education Meeting Held on September 5, 2013.

IV. Superintendent’s Report
A. Danny Toner – two-time selection to All-National Honor Orchestra
B. Nancy Seibert – Library Board of Trustee Appointment

V. Discussion of Agenda Items for the Second Regular Monthly Meeting
A. Finance Report: Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Beebe
1. Investments Purchased and Matured – August 2013
2. Financial Information – August 2013
B. Buildings, Sites and Major
Purchases Report: Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mrs. Shaughnessy
C. Education Report: Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Einhouse
1. Agreement between the Lakewood Board of Education and Applewood Centers, Inc.
2. Agreement between the Lakewood Board of Education and Rose-Mary Center
3. Interdistrict Service Area Contract for 2013-2014 between the Board of Education of the Lakewood City School District and the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County (ESCCC)
4. Resolution to Approve Out-of-State Field Trips
5. Resolution to Approve High School and Middle School Clubs
6. Waiving of Tuition Non-Resident Seniors
7. Resolution to Approve Transportation Reimbursement
8. Gifts to Lakewood Schools

VI. Human Resources and Community
Services Report: Mrs. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona
A. Certified
B. Certified – Athletic Coach/Advisor (ECES)
C. Classified
D. Classified Athletic Coach/Advisor (ECES) – Employee
E. Classified Athletic Coaches/Advisors (ECES) – Non-Employees
F. Community Recreation and Education

VII. Communications

VIII. Other Board Business Mrs. Beebe, Ms. Petrie Barcelona
A. Certified – Appointment – Request Approval on One Reading
B. Certified – Resignations – Request Approval on One Reading
C. Classified – Resignations – Request Approval on One Reading
Mrs. Shaughnessy, Mr. Einhouse
D. Library Board of Trustee Appointment – Request Approval on One Reading (ROLL CALL VOTE)
E. Instructional Materials for School Year 2013-2014 – Request Approval on One Reading
Mr. Einhouse, Mrs. Beebe
F. Resolution WSSA Lakewood LLC Valuation Settlement Agreement (First of Two Readings)
Ms. Petrie Barcelona, Mrs. Shaughnessy
G. Resolution Authorizing the Board to Enter Into Real Estate Purchase Agreement (Second of Three Readings)
H. Other

IX. Recess for Executive Session (ROLL CALL VOTE)
A. For consideration of the sale of property at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure or information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest
B. For consideration of the sale of property at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure or information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest
C. For consideration of the employment of a public employee

X. Adjournment

Since the Lakewood City Schools began its rebuilding project, some sites were shuttered and maintained for potential future use. Recall that we initially razed and built new Harrison and Hayes Elementary Schools. We also razed the old Madison Elementary and Harding Middle Schools and built the new Harding Middle School. We razed the old Garfield Elementary, saving the front wall, and built this new Garfield Middle School where we now sit, which opened in 2007.

Due to current classroom standards, we knew we could save and rebuild our two remaining old middle schools only as elementary schools. So our next step was to rebuild Emerson and Horace Mann Middle Schools into elementary schools, along with refurbishing the west half of Lakewood High School, opening in 2009. That left us with the old Taft, Franklin, and McKinley Elementary Schools in mothballs.

Our rebuilding progress was interrupted by the Great Recession and the disruption of the State’s facilities process. At the time our project was stalled, the State would only co-fund two more elementary schools, which were to be Lincoln and Roosevelt. Although we knew we would need Grant for swing space during rebuilding of Lincoln and Roosevelt, the need for the other closed buildings was unsure. We anticipated having four closed elementary schools at the end of the project.

We continued to do research during the pause. We had been watching Lakewood’s population decline from the time of the 2000 census and learned that it had leveled in the middle of the decade and that the City would remain above 50,000 in the 2010 census. It is important to recall that the census data the State had used to limit Lakewood to 6 elementary schools was based on the 2000 census.

By 2012, it appeared State school funding would resume, we were just not sure when. Superintendent Patterson and his administrative team proactively worked with professionals to re-analyze Lakewood’s future enrollment projections. The Board was pleased to hear that Lakewood School’s population decline had not only stopped, but had reversed and we should expect a student population increase through 2022.

We communicated this new research to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for their review. To our delight, they concurred with Lakewood’s enrollment projections and Grant Elementary is now online for rebuilding.

That left us with three elementary schools to rebuild and three vacant. Still waiting for word from the State, we began looking at how and where we would move elementary students during reconstruction of their buildings. We decided that we did not wish to split student bodies as we did during the rebuilding of Harrison and Hayes. We started estimating the costs of reopening the three closed elementary buildings and bringing them up to speed. We also began to look at alternative space, as we did in the past.

As you know, we did get the go ahead from the State this summer and are hoping that Lakewood will pass Issue 84 next month and enable us to get the rest of Lakewood’s students in 21st century educational facilities.

Though this process, it became apparent that McKinley would not be used as swing space, or by the District in the future, and it had no remaining educational value. In addition, it is costly to maintain. We looked at doing something else with the property. For example, we went to Gahanna to see how that school district had turned some of its property into business and retail use. In the end, we did not feel the District attempting to do something of that nature was in the best interest of Lakewood.

The Board is of the opinion that property we no longer need should be added to the tax base and put to the best use for Lakewood. The availability of approximately 3 acres of developable land is rare in Lakewood. This led us to discussion with City officials.

It did not take long to come to the opinion that the best use would be to make the property available to single family residential development. We all have long known the importance of housing stock in Lakewood and those areas where there is demand that we cannot always meet. Years ago, Mayor Summers, Council President Powers, myself, and others, were involved in a process that highlighted this need, and discussions since have been along the same lines.

To accomplish this goal, the unusable McKinley building will need to be asbestos abated, demolished and the land cleared for reinvestment and development.

These thoughts and ideas have gone into the agreement before us now; that has received first and second readings before City Council and the Board of Education. On behalf of the Board, it is our desire that this property be developed to enhance Lakewood’s home values, continue to stabilize and increase Lakewood’s population, generate revenue for the City and the Schools, and thereby give some assistance to the rest of the good taxpaying citizens of Lakewood. The Board believes this is the right thing to do and welcomes the opportunity to work with the City in the best interest of our common customers, the citizens of Lakewood.