The Observation Deck

I have not been able to take part in any of the Phase III School Meetings, but I find the idea of selling off Lincoln, and Grant and building a new Grant School at Kaufman Park to be wonderful!!!!! This would make Grant a super grade school and a real gem right in the middle of Lakewood across from the Library. Is this the work of the Phase III Committee? They all deserve a standing ovation, and it really shows that these committees are a great way to engage the community. Thank you Lakewood Schools for providing the format to come up with ideas like this?

This was the idea of a sole individual. It was not part of the Schools Forum, yet others noticed it at the table I was sitting at that night.

That was the work of one person? Then what did the School Committee come up with after those meetings? When I read the article, and looked at the maps, I was so interested I drove by and looked at Kaufman Park today. I saw nothing but great potential for this idea! I then drove by Lincoln and felt sorry for the students, no green space to speak of, no room to grow. Grant seems to serve more families, but again no place for kids to be kids. Imagine how great the new Grant School would be, lots of green space, and walking distance to the library! Who could ask for anything more from a grade school!

A couple of things between Grant and Lincoln there are over 750 students, currently our largest elementary school houses approximately 400 students, so I am not sure how an elementary school as large as a middle school would work or go over with the parents. And just to set the record straight Grant does have a large grass area in the back of the property behind the playground. Grant school sits on a nice large footprint and the children have a ton of room to run and play. And Grant also has two good sized parking lots with additional parking adjacent to the property in a city (or school?) lot behind Marcs. Just wanted to put these facts out there.

First, the purpose of the 4/2 Phase III meeting was not to determine specific scenarios for the three remaining schools. Data regarding residents' preferences was collected, to help in developing possible scenarios. These will be discussed at another community forum, scheduled to take place 9/15.

Second, I am certain the person who originated the "school at Kaufmann Park" idea did so NOT intending for it to house 700+ elementary students. Rather, the idea is that a school in Lakewood should exist for children who live in the central area of the City. Children from Grant and Lincoln would be redistricted to the Kaufmann Park school, Horace Mann, or Emerson, depending on where they lived. Some might even go to a new Roosevelt, depending on how far South they live.

I hope this helps clarify things.

Christina McCallum wrote:Second, I am certain the person who originated the "school at Kaufmann Park" idea did so NOT intending for it to house 700+ elementary students. Rather, the idea is that a school in Lakewood should exist for children who live in the central area of the City. Children from Grant and Lincoln would be redistricted to the Kaufmann Park school, Horace Mann, or Emerson, depending on where they lived. Some might even go to a new Roosevelt, depending on how far South they live.

I hope this helps clarify things.

Christina/Pat

Thanks for the clarification on the Committee.

Meg Ostrowski came up with the idea and the drawings for the maps. The LO merely redrew her work for printing. I was fascinated as she told me her idea and the people she had spoken to. Once again, I saw a person rising up and willing to take a chance with her idea. She did not mention 700 students, but she did mention to me a grand school with fields, green space, hills and activities.

Since the rough has come in I have spoken with members of city hall, the school board, and other "players" in the downtown and city of Lakewood and everyone has been very positive about the idea. One idea called for Taco Bell, the church and Revelations being bought and leveled for a building, why not the new Grant? Kids walking to the library, only makes sense, especially with the enlarged children sections.

I had my own ideas for Kaufman park, but this does seem like a darn good idea, and it brings into many things. Showcasing the schools and the library. Also the property is already maintained by the rec department. So they could turn some of Kaufman into other closely watched activities for kids.

I did know of one plan that had a large building going up in the park, but perhaps a land swap would give them a higher profile area where the BOE and Grant currently are.

Lincoln, as has been pointed out, would easily be one of the test areas for LakewoodAlive who at one time was looking to build large homes on larger lots south of Clifton. Why not start with the Lincoln property and see if the plan works?

A win/win for everyone, especially the library, schools and city.

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Jim, the problem is that this a new and interesting idea. You know how those go around here. "There is already a framework for ideas set up and this did not come from there, so it's no good." That is of course my conjecture about how it might be dealt with. This of course is from my experience at City Hall. The Board certainly functions in a different manner. Hopefully this idea will be given full consideration as it seems to get at the goal of going from three elementaries to two, and meets a geographical need. Explore the possibilities people! Good job Meg.

Christina McCallum wrote:[T]he purpose of the 4/2 Phase III meeting was not to determine specific scenarios for the three remaining schools. Data regarding residents' preferences was collected, to help in developing possible scenarios. These will be discussed at another community forum, scheduled to take place 9/15.

Thank you for clarifying this, Christina. And, yet, it is good to see that the 4/2 Phase III meeting participants were discussing the same ideas raised by Meg almost a week before her article was released (to read Meg's 4/7 article, please click here):

Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:It was not part of the Schools Forum, yet others noticed it at the table I was sitting at that night.

And …

Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:Hopefully this idea will be given full consideration as it seems to get at the goal of going from three elementaries to two, and meets a geographical need. Explore the possibilities people!

… this idea, and many others, will most certainly be discussed by the Phase III Steering Committee and at the next community forum … which I know Christina, Meg, Ryan, and many others will be attending.

I appreciate that Mr Markling is being respectful to the people who made the proposal but there are a couple of serious drawbacks.
The schools dont own Kaufman Park the city does. The city and the schools are completely different entities and historically they have not always gotten along. A deal between the two entities is not a given.
The state of Ohio has a major interest in all of this. The purchase and sale of land, demolition and construction ect will add a bunch to the price tag. Lakewood is banking on state money for Phase 3. This adds all kind of complications.

Also I have lived in both Grant and Lincoln neighborhoods and I can tell you that the folks on Lake and Edgewater will fight this tooth and nail. They have one of the best schools in the state and they are fiercely protective of it and committed to it.

"Thinking out of the box" is one way to look at it. "Reinventing the paper clip" is another.

Dee Martinez wrote:The schools dont own Kaufman Park the city does. The city and the schools are completely different entities and historically they have not always gotten along. A deal between the two entities is not a given.

I think the City has plans for Kaufman Park that don't include a school.
It is best to keep Grant and Lincoln as seperate schools.

The previous school construction phases were well thought out and well executed. My only critisism is that for 10% more they could have expanded the foot print of some of the schools and engaged in a little creative destruction.

Just between you and me after much kicking and screaming I will vote for the bond issue to fund the final phase of construction. I would be willing to pay 20% more for a little bit of urban renewal. Perhaps the City and School Board could work together and make this a larger development effort. Keep this under your hat for now because I am still in the kicking and screaming phase.

Bill, how can you come to the conclusion that keeping both schools open is best for the community? Also, are you willing to pony up for a bond and a levy? The levy is imminent and I am not sure the community can stomach both, especially after Obama failed to deliver on school contruction stimulus money.

Ryan Patrick Demro wrote:Bill, how can you come to the conclusion that keeping both schools open is best for the community? Also, are you willing to pony up for a bond and a levy? The levy is imminent and I am not sure the community can stomach both, especially after Obama failed to deliver on school contruction stimulus money.

The need to close schools is driven in part by the decline in enrollment. My untested assumption is that sometimes closing an elementary school can lead to a decline in enrollment.

I am inclined to vote for the bond issue to complete the construction process in order to get some of the State money that was promised. Of course, the State lied about the level of funding but that's the way it is.

The Obama administration's school spending plan will give Lakewood nothing except higher taxes.

I have no intention of voting for a school levy unless the new contract contains pay cuts, benefit cuts and changes in work rules. I am not about to sign on to higher taxes just to fund another round of raises.

Bill, the key here is that the state funding is not guaranteed. That was put forth by the School Treasurer at the last public meeting. The levy is coming, the changes you are looking for are unlikely.

Bill/Dee

I have spoken with all of the players in this scenario, and the land swap is a very real possibility.

Meg has been working on this for over a month so I have had the chance to see what many have thought of this idea. NO ONE has ever said this was a bad idea. Some even thought that the land swap would be a perfect idea.

So that as you drive into downtown Lakewood from I-90, you are greeted with a large sparkling new office building at the gateway to downtown Lakewood. A huge plus instead of the BOW, Post Office.

Meanwhile the schools could get the same amount of Kaufman Park and build Grant into a world class grade school. Opposte the library, next to a baseball field, track, green space, library. With very little extra work, it could be so many great things. Small concerts outside, a safe sleding hill, a place for kids after school, etc.

While I can see the promise I really have to hand it to Meg. I really did not know her before this project. But she really put the city and the kids first. Her own children go to Grant and she is working to save Grant. But when she presented this idea she did not want a name associated with it. To keep it above the fight, and keep the idea open. She did a lot of homework, and spent a lot of time. As she approved the maps her heart was heavy as she thought people at Grant would take this the wrong way. She was hoping that parents at Lincoln would see the great expanse of green space, baseball fields and the close proximity to the library, all parents would see the possibility for a great school.

The story was done three weeks ago but she called and asked for it to be held, just so it would not cause a problem at the Phase III Committee meeting. Better to let that happen, then slip it into the paper, and let all ponder the idea, not to cause anyone wasted time or effort.

It was I who put it on the front page. She wanted it buried in the paper. However I like bold thinking out of the box. And after speaking with civic leaders, I knew this was big, and could really happen. Now lets see, does the city underachieve and give our park to a business, or give that business prime spot and the children the park?

I would ask the city to continue on our path to great schools, with a great library.

Dee

I do not have any kids in school so I am not sure, but I think when you take class size, 1st year Lakewood students, and other items into the equation the teachers and staff at Grant are working miracles. However the school sits on valuable land, certainly more commercially valuable than Kaufman Park. And the Lincoln school is perfect for the ideas generated years ago from LakewoodAlive about building larger house on larger lots north of the tracks.

A win/win for everyone!

Gary, where is that banjo thingy.


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Ah a Kaufman Park school...

I can sssseeeeiiiiiiit nnnooowwwww....

"Children, (distance rumble and blowing of horn) please open your books to page (honk, honk) fourteen, as we (building starts to shake now) will read paragraphs (HONK HONK HOOOONNNNNK) six through ellllleeeevvveeen!" (all teeth chattering by now)

Oh better yet (screaming at top of voice) LET'S ALL SING A TRAIN SONG!

And even if the building was sufficiently soundproofed against noise, there would remain the question of what might happen to a nearbly school with a derailment.