Lakewood parents press board to keep seven neighborhood elementary schools open; board approves routine personnel and service agreements

Dozens of parents and residents urged the Lakewood Board of Education at its April 14 meeting to abandon or pause plans to close or consolidate neighborhood elementary schools and to rebuild trust before moving ahead with major changes.

Many speakers said walkability and neighborhood cohesion are central reasons families move to Lakewood and warned that closures would harm property values and children’s daily routines. Michael Drops, Monica Bridal and others told the board that families buy homes within walking distance of schools; several speakers said consolidations would undercut that selling point.

Nut graf: Public comment at the Roosevelt Elementary meeting focused on a prospective elementary facility plan that residents say has been presented without adequate, consistent community engagement; commenters urged the board to keep all seven elementary schools open and warned that perceived mismanagement could hurt upcoming levy campaigns and community trust.

Multiple speakers told the board they were not adequately informed before this month’s public…