School Board Moving Forward With $79 Million Construction Project

After last week’s announcement that the Lakewood City Schools would receive $50.4 million in state money to build — or rebuild — three schools in the district, the Lakewood Board of Education approved the proposal to move forward on Monday.  

The final phase of the school district’s Master Facility Plan would demolish Grant, Lincoln and Roosevelt elementary schools, as well as the eastern portion of the high school, then rebuild them.  

“The district and the community have been waiting for a number of years,” said board member Emma Petrie Barcelona.

“It is very exciting that it appears that the construction of our facilities is imminent. It’s great to be a part of a community that not only supports education, but supports the buildings and the facilities.”  

The school district recently received word — after a few years of waiting — that the state had given the preliminary green light for $50 million in funding of the new facilities.  

The local share would be an expected $28.6 million.  

“We need to finish the projects to provide all of our children the same access to technology and better learning spaces,” said board vice president Linda Beebe. “The community has waited far too long for these projections to come to completion."
 
“I will be relieved when July 11 comes, and we are finally approved.”  

Petrie Barcelona pointed out that the resolution was more a formality to obtain funding from the state — which could officially grant the money to Lakewood by July.  

“It’s making sure that we have quality — and ever-improving — classes and course offerings, but now we have the opportunity to think about the facilities where this education takes place,” Petrie Barcelona said.  

“This is the time to invest.”  

The school district would need to place a bond issue, as well as a “small” permanent improvement levy, before voters as soon as this November. According to district officials, the bond issue is expected to be between 3 and 5 mills.    

Superintendent Jeff Patterson hosted a community meeting to announce the news last week.  

“We must do much more than cobble together rectangular classrooms in an efficient configuration,” Patterson said. “We must do our best to envision the educational needs of the future and ensure that our new facilities complement the efforts of our students and staff housed in them.”  

In 2009, the district decided to shutter Grant Elementary School. However, the district recently shifted gears when presented with new data suggesting that enrollment is projected to climb during the next several years.  

The school will stay, but like the others it will be rebuilt.  

At the high school, everything east of the Civic Auditorium will be demolished and rebuilt.  

Demolition on the buildings could begin as soon as summer of 2014, with construction beginning that fall. Details, such as where classes will be held during the construction, still need ironed out.  

The project is the third part of a plan that’s been in the works for years.   The first phase of the district’s Master Plan built Hayes and Harrison elementary schools and Harding and Garfield middle schools in 2004.  

Renovations of Horace Mann and Emerson elementary schools, as well as the western portion of the high school, were part of Phase 2 in 2007.  

Widespread financial hardships prevented the district from moving forward with the third phase then.  

Patterson said he will host additional community meetings in the months ahead to address residents questions and concerns.