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 meetings. Lauren Wychevic said many parents she stopped while walking to school “had no clue” about the discussions. John Maroli, an engineer and parent, pressed the board to consider pedestrian-safety impacts if students must cross major streets to reach consolidated schools.

Several speakers asked the board to pause decisions until after the district’s operating levy and to conduct more inclusive, in-person outreach. Cindy Streebig, a member of the elementary facility task force, said she found the task force process “professional, inclusive, appreciative, and open to suggestions,” while other speakers described a breakdown in trust and asked the board to “pause, rebuild trust, reevaluate priorities and needs after the levy,” language voiced by teacher Allison Gall.

The meeting also included routine board business. The board approved the consent agenda and a slate of personnel resolutions and service agreements by roll call.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to adopt agenda: moved and seconded; roll-call indicated board members present and the item advanced (roll-call names recorded in transcript: Ms. Katzenberger, Ms. Shaughnessy, Miss Clark Sutton, Miss Callahan, Miss Dotman; outcome: adopted). - Approval of minutes: moved and seconded; all in favor (voice vote); outcome: approved. - Consent agenda (standard items): moved and seconded; roll call recorded “Aye” votes from members (transcript roll call included Ms. Casper (Aye), Ms. Shaughnessy (Aye), Ms. Clark Sutton (Aye), Mr. Callahan (Aye), Ms. Dotman (Aye)); outcome: approved. - Human Resources resolutions and certified personnel actions (one-reading approval): board voted to adopt personnel actions that the superintendent described as totaling 60 certified-employee actions, plus multiple classified and extracurricular appointments; roll call indicated approval (names appear in transcript during the votes); outcome: adopted. Clarifying detail published by staff: certified actions total 60; certified non-employee coaches/advisors 7; classified actions 11; classified non-employee coaches/advisors 15; community recreation actions 57 (52 aquatics, 4 athletics, 1 field maintenance). - County educational service agreement (ORC 3313.843) for fiscal years 2026–2027 with the Northeast Ohio Educational Service Center: approved on one reading. The agreement provides supervisory and curriculum services and is paid as a deduction from the district’s state foundation payment at $6.50 per student plus any additional contracted services; roll call reflected approval; outcome: approved.

Speakers urging retention of neighborhood schools cited neighborhood identity, student routines and safety concerns as core reasons to keep seven elementary buildings. Several commenters also said the perception of mismanagement—particularly around timing, inconsistent information and the release of proposed solutions before a clearly defined problem—has eroded community trust and could make future levy campaigns difficult.

Ending: Following public comment and the routine votes, the board adjourned. Several public speakers asked for continued, inclusive engagement and for the board to “make decisions with us, not for us,” a plea repeated during the meeting.