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Parents and teachers urge board to pause school‑closure proposals, warn of harm from fast timeline
Summary
Hundreds of residents, parents, teachers and students told the Cedar Rapids school board to slow or stop proposed closures and a plan to create intermediate (5–6) schools, citing harms to vulnerable students, gaps in data sharing, transportation burdens and special‑education continuity.
Hundreds of community members spoke at the Cedar Rapids Community School District board meeting on Jan. 12, urging the board to pause proposed school closures and reconfiguration options the district is exploring to close a projected budget gap.
The board opened a second public comment period specifically for the budget and consolidation proposals; more than 40 speakers used their allotted three minutes to tell the board they felt blindsided by a rapid timeline and insufficient data. "This feels less like thoughtful leadership and more like a scramble," said Jill Ozarowicz, a parent, noting that many schools proposed for…
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