Lansing board directs superintendent to pursue closure of early childhood center, approves related staffing reductions

The Lansing Board of Education on a 5-1 vote directed Superintendent Kobza to pursue the legal process to close the district's early childhood center as an attendance center effective July 1, 2026, and approved a companion set of staffing reductions and transfers intended to reduce operational costs and address long-term facility liabilities.

Board members said the package is aimed at stabilizing district finances after the failure of a recent bond measure and addressing an estimated $30 million in infrastructure needs. Superintendent Kobza told the board the recommended actions include moving roughly $1.4 million in salaries from capital outlay to the local option budget or general fund, increasing cash reserves toward a $4 million target from the current $1.2 million, and consolidating some positions to maximize revenue and reduce exposure to future risk.

"By closing the early childhood center we estimate cost savings in the range of $385,000 to $405,000 and remove an estimated $5 million facility liability tied to that building," Kobza said, noting the district would retain early-childhood programming for district employees and seek to repurpose most affected staff where possible.

Public commenters urged caution. Vera Daniels, a Lansing homeowner and retired teacher, said invoking scripture to justify policy risks legal exposure: "This is a public school board, not a church, not a Christian school," she said, arguing that religious arguments for policy risk violating the Establishment Clause. Parent Jason Leon Van Hassell told the board he opposed any closure: "I don't want the early child care center to close, or even have a discussion about the possibility," he said, warning that delays will raise future repair and replacement costs.

Board members debated alternatives, including a phased closure to mitigate family and staffing impacts. Kobza warned that a phased two-year phase-out would require keeping the building open and maintaining utilities and custodial costs, delaying full realization of the proposed savings for roughly two years. "If we phased it out over two years, none of the cost savings that have been lined up for you would be realized for at least two years," he said.

After discussion the board voted 5-1 to direct the superintendent to begin the attendance-center closure process and later approved a motion that, if the center is closed, would eliminate the director of emergency services position, transfer the early childhood principal to an assistant-principal/special-education coordinator role at Lansing Elementary School, reduce nursing staff by one (the ECC position to be absorbed into existing vacancies), reduce custodial staff by three (from the ECC, with reassignment where possible) and eliminate building substitute positions at LES and LIS. Proponents said many affected employees would be repurposed to other district roles; one board member requested contractual mitigation for some emergency-preparedness compliance tasks.

The board did not adopt a specific timeline for reassignments beyond the July 1, 2026, attendance-center effective date and acknowledged some families and staff will feel immediate impacts. Mrs. Workman, who voted no on the closure, said she was concerned by the level of community input and the potential burden on families. "I heard from too many people in the community; I was surprised by the number of people who would be negatively impacted by this decision," she said.

The motions passed 5-1. The board president said the superintendent will begin the closure process, which requires additional resolutions and legal steps before the district may close an attendance center under state law.