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Committee sends school-closure draft to facilities committee, urging a retention-and-growth framing
Summary
After public testimony warning of repeated closures' harms, the Policy Governance Committee unanimously voted to send the draft closing-of-school-buildings policy to the Academic & Facilities Alignment Committee for a fuller review that connects closures to a district vision for recruitment, enrollment growth and community impact.
Columbus ' The Columbus City Schools Policy Governance Committee voted June 9 to refer its draft school-closure policy (policy 7105) to the Academic & Facilities Alignment Committee for deeper analysis and public presentation, asking that the draft be reframed to incorporate retention and enrollment-growth strategies.
Committee members and public commenters said a narrow closure policy risks accelerating enrollment decline and community distrust. "I would implore our board to really consider those things and our superintendent to focus on that. Otherwise, we are going to continue to close schools and close schools," Isetta Thomas told the committee, citing International High School's door-to-door recruitment as an example of a successful retention approach.
The committee reported 23 written feedback responses collected on the draft. Top factors respondents wanted the superintendent and task force to consider included safety and access, relocation burden, accessibility and facility age and condition; respondents rated student-enrollment trends and future use slightly lower. The committee asked the receiving committee (AFEC) to examine how closure decisions connect to a broader, student-centered facilities master plan and to present a clearer budget impact analysis when closures are proposed.
Chair Engles said the committee wanted to ensure closures, if necessary, are part of a transformation effort tied to enrollment recovery rather than isolated realignment actions. The referral passed unanimously; AFEC is expected to receive the materials and community feedback for further deliberation and will report back to the board with recommendations.
