Schools, Financial Woes Focus of Community Forums

It’s no secret that with a financial crisis looming, the may face its share of challenges in 2012.

The recent revealed that the district is likely to have a $10.5 million budget deficit by the year 2015, barring the passage of any levies.

That’s part of the reason why Superintendent Jeff Patterson has scheduled a series of community meetings to keep residents posted about the district’s goals, financial footing and to gather some feedback about the “significant fiscal issues” facing the district.

According to a press release, Patterson is hoping to shore up the district’s finances without retreating from the district’s promise to taxpayers to stretch the revenues from the May 2010 operating levy until at least May 2013. 

“Meeting this challenge will require us to harness the collective wisdom, strength, and resolve of our staff and community in unprecedented ways,” Patterson said in a statement. “It will demand that we listen intently to one another and reflect on ideas that may differ significantly from our own.”

The community meetings will take place during the next two months with the hope that Patterson will be ready to present a comprehensive financial plan to the board of education this spring.

According to the statement, the goals of these meetings include:

• To maintain and build upon the high degree of trust that currently exists between the Lakewood community and its school system leaders.
• To inform internal and external stakeholders of the community about the financial challenges of the Lakewood City Schools and the need to affect decisions to balance the budget.
• To inform the community about Phase III of the Lakewood City Schools’ construction project.
• To secure feedback from the community about how they view the current challenges and opportunities of the district.
• To identify the best short- and long-term solutions for addressing district financial challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities of the school system.
• To maintain support for the next Lakewood City Schools operating levy.

Meetings, all slated for 7 p.m., will take place at several locations in Lakewood.

Here’s the schedule:

• Wednesday, Jan. 18, Cafeteria, 16401 Delaware Ave.
• Tuesday, Jan. 24, Gym, 1470 Victoria Ave.
• Thursday, Feb. 2 at Cafetorium, 1251 W. Clifton Blvd.
• Wednesday, Feb. 8, Gym, 14237 Athens. Ave.
• Wednesday, Feb. 15, Large Gym, 15615 Clifton Blvd.
• Thursday, Feb. 23, Cafeteria, 13439 Clifton Blvd.
• Wednesday, Feb. 29, Cafeteria, 2080 Quail Ave.